I have the Pioneer A09 drive, but have not used it for double layer, and probably won't for a long time. You should read carefully the various studies that have been recently published about double-layer disc compatibility with various DVD players. It is pretty bad (way less than 50% compatibility). Also the discs are still VERY expensive.

However, if you are using the discs for your own use, and you are sure your DVD player will be able to play them (i.e., you are not distributing your work to others), then go for it. I recommend the Pioneer without reservation.

I dnt think the Pioneer is worth the extra $100. Its a great drive but not at $200.

Why $200?

The OEM version of the latest Pioneer DVR-109 is $109 at Americal, and I wouldn't be surprised if others have it for less than that.

Here is a good place for reference prices on the various drives. So is place.
I like the NEC ND-3520A.
DL capability is slated for a future firmware update when the technology is improved. Until then I would suggest you burn two DVDs.

John

$200? There was a post a few days ago about getting this drive for $69 (with rebate). I got mine a few weeks ago, shippped, without rebate, for about $110.

IMHO 55$ NEC 3520 is an optional choice now. It has a new chip and 16x support. But DL recordable DVDs have so high price...
IMHO Blue-Ray or Taiwan FVD (if it's a not "fool day's joke") have more chances in nearest future.

get a benq 1620 pro - even has an app to modify the firmware to tweak it for the disks you use and has the BitSetting feature. Can do PI, PIF, POF and jitter scanning in Nero CD/DVD speed as well as FE/TE scanning with BenQ's Qscan utility..

They are only 69$ in Canada ($60 usa) and we have had nothing but great reports on them - they feel very solid and are well constructed. I bought 2 to replace one of my older 105's which died (the same week a 104 also died oddly enough, though i never used it to burn anything anymore, just as reader) . I am very impressed with these - Chipset is Phillips

Who makes the BenQ? What does it say on the back of the drive?

John

BenQ 1620 is made by BenQ (aka ACER) in one of the companies that make up the BenQ group.

They also OEM these drive to other companies, mostly phillips (Philips 1640)

CDFreaks has a lot of info on these burners on their forum ..

BenQ stands for Bringing Enjoyment and Quality to Life. If you are wondering where the company gets the "N" in BenQ, it is the middle letter in "and."

The BenQ Group is comprised of eight independent corporations: Airoha Technology, AU Optronics, BenQ, BenQ Guru J Software, Copax Photonics, Darfon Electronics. Darly Venture and Daxon Technology

I'd go with the Pioneer drive, I think it is the only one so far that supports the -R DL format. I just got one for $65 last week on Newegg.com

By the way, these are, as I said, + or - RW drives. The Pioneer DL writers you point out are only +R. AND THEY ARE EXTERNAL!

Thank you for the responses--all of you. I do believe the $199 Pioneer is their new technology, bu tnot sure. Anyway, I'm going to check out everything which is in the replies. I do plan on using it for my own use, internally, so format is not a problem.
Thanks, tailgait

The Pioneer DL writers you point out are only +R. AND THEY ARE EXTERNAL!

I am probably not fully understanding you, but I can definitely tell you that my Pioneer A09 is Double Layer, and for single layer it burns DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, and DVD+RW.

Pioneer and Sony both make excellent burners. http://www.videohelp.com/dvdwriters
Best deal I found was the Samsung HSS-552TB (oem) at MicroCenter for $60. Have burned dozens of dvd's and not one coaster yet.

Anybody have any experience with Lightscribe capable DVD burners? Looks like BenQ makes the 1626 which is a dual layer burner with lightscribe. Sure beats labling specially when I'm just burning mostly client preview discs for projects.

????

thanks,

Mike

Cheno,

I purchased an Hp640e DVD burner that has LightScribe. I like it. It is slow, and shades of gray only, but it looks very professional.

E-mail if you want more info.

Mike

Thanks again Jason,

... for all the help with the ordering and construction of the CD/DVD duplicator tower. The NEC burners work flawlessly and with the hard drive I installed, the 1-7 duplicator will write to 8 drives because I used an 8th NEC burner as the reader drive.

John

No problem....I've built a few more myself since then. Ever since my company realized how much money they could save by having me build duplicators they have been having me build lots of them. One thing I have found is that if you do go with the Pioneer 109 drives you need to update the firmware otherwise it can cause some problems. Other than that all the ones I have built run flawlessly as well.