- Writing Performance

The Pioneer DVR-108 supports 16X ± R (Z-CLV) writing speeds among with 4X CLV for DVD±RW, 4X CLV for DVD+R9 media.Nero Burning Rom reported speeds, are shown below, after inserting a DVD-R media.

By using Nero CD-DVD Speed with DVD-R and DVD+R media, we are able to see the 12X/8X Z-CLV recording technology being used by the recorder.

The Pioneer DVR-108 uses Zone-CLV recording strategy, meaning the disc area is devided to zones, where the speed is linear. In order to reach the 16X recording speed, the drive uses 4 zones (6X->8X->12X->16X).

As Pioneer explains "...ZoneCLV is a method for data writing in which the writing area within a disc is separated into "zones", between the inner, mid, & outer circumferences. Within each zone, writing speed is maintained at one fixed speed, this allows for the writing speed to be perfectly stable. Pioneer considers ZoneCLV writing as an important method for ensuring high quality writing and maintaining data integrity..."

The 16X speed will be reached at the 4.15~4.20GB point, meaning that unless you are burning a full 4.36GB project, you will most likely never reach the promised 16X speed.

• DVD-R media @ 16X

By using the Maxell 8X DVD-R media that is supported by the Pioneer DVR-108 at 16X writing speed, we can see the writing strategy graph. As you might notice, the drive didn't reach the 16X writing speed but only 13.66X.

• DVD+R media @ 16X

By using the TY 8X DVD+R media, the Pioneer DVR-108 again didn't reach the 16X writing speed. Below is a table that lists the maximum average writing speeds from other tested drives.

The BenQ DW1600A is the fastest 16X +R recorder since it uses CAV writing strategy, while Plextor PX-712A comes second with P-CAV writing strategy. All Z-CLV recorders are slower than CAV/P-CAV, which affects the writing times.

• DVD-R media @ 12X

• DVD+R media @ 12X

According to the condition of the used media, the drive may drop its writing speed from 12X to 8X, especially at the end of the disc. We have seen this with various media, including TDK's 8X DVD-R media:

The writing speed drops to 8X at 3.8GB and stays there till the end of the project. The drive seems to have some kind of WOPC, checking the burning quality, mostly at the outer area.

- Supported media list/Burning Tests

We burned 4315MB of data on various DVD±R, DVD±RW media. We used the maximum allowed writing speed for each disc. With current firmware (v1.06) not many media are supported at 16X, we decided to burn only ±R media supported at 8X+ speeds and not at 4X. All 4X rated media will burn only at 4X, while new ±R media only at 4X (like RitekG06 and PhilipsC16):

DVD-R

• Pioneer 4X-R PVCR001002 -> 4X
• Maxell 4X-R TYG01 -> 4X
• Princo 4X-R PRINCO->4X
• CMC 4X-R CMC MAG. AF1 ->4X
• Promedia 4X-R AML ->4X
• RitekG06 8X-R ->4X
• RitekG04 4X-R ->4X
• Mam 4X-R MAM4XG02 -> 4X
• Mmore 4X-R MBI 01RG20 ->4X
• Optodisc 4X-R OPTODISCR004 ->4X
• BenQ 4X-R SONY04D1 ->4X
• 3X 8X-R POMS3A ->4X
• SKC 4X-R SKC Co.,Ltd. ->4X

DVD+R

• TY 4X+R YUDEN000T01 ->4X
• Optodisc 4X +R OPTODISCOR4->4X
• MMore 4X MBIPG101R03 ->4X
• 3A 4X+R POMSC001002 ->4X
• 3X 8X+R Plasmon1C01 ->4X
• SKC 4X+R BeAll000P40 ->4X
• BenQ 4X+R DAXON AZ1 ->4X
• PHILIPS 16X+R PHILIPS C16->4X
• MCC 4X+R MCC002 ->4X
• CMC 4X+R CMC MAG F01 ->4X

Future firmwares expected to support more media at 12X/16X. You can also visit Pioneer's DVD Supported media website.

- Writing Time Results

• DVD-R media

• The only media we had in our labs and allowed 16X burning was Maxell 8X -R. As we have seen earlier, the Maxell 8X-R media won't reach 16X at the end, but 14X...Despite that didn't gave the lowest recording time.
• The lowest recording time comes with TY 8X -R with 6:54mins. We can easily notice the variation between the 12X writing speed results. This happens since the drive may lower the recording speed after 4GB from 12X to 8X.
• It's clear that the drive at 12X is faster than at 16X.

As Pioneer also explains why 12X is faster than 16X:

"...The DVR-108 and DVR-A08XL writers utilize a check system which confirms each and every media's ability to maintain high quality at high write speeds, therefore at times it may take longer to write to media. However, when at 16X, the transfer rates are faster than that at 12X. When attempting 12X/16X writing on 8X certified media, the writer selects the appropriate media specific write strategy. This is accomplished based on Pioneer's unique technology, however what must not be overlooked is the media's quality. It is also a key factor in determining transfer rate (the ability to switch to 12X/16X) and overall write time.

When it comes to DVD Writing speeds regardless of what method is used the actual time taken to complete the write is not a linear scale based on the X speed of the writer. That is from a time point writing at 8x does NOT mean that compared to 4x the time it will take to fully write a disk would be half of the 4x time. So to extend this 12x would not complete in one third of the time. As writing speed increases the actual delta decrease realized in the time taken to complete a disc write is not a direct division based on the X maximum writing speed of the disc or capability of the writer.

For example 16x writing to DVD-R compared to 8x will take from 60-90 seconds less time (at 8x the total writing time is around 9 minutes). So to extend this from 12x to 16x (based on using 8x certified media) the time saving is negligible if not a few seconds longer. The 16x writing zone only becomes active writing to the very final part of the disc.

In order to write at 12 to 16x reliably Pioneer has upgraded the power output of the laser diode from 160mW (DVR-107D/A07) to 240mW for the DVR-108/A08XL. This initiative prepares these drives for future high speed writing and ensures much improved writing reliability for existing media..."

According to our information, only three (3) media are supported at the 16X writing speed, which unfortunately were not in our tested media (besides Maxell). It's quite possible that using other -R media could give lower (better) recording times.

1. SONY 8X -R (ID Code: SONY08D1)
2. Maxell 8X -R (ID Code: MXL RG03)
3. TDK 8X -R (ID Code: TTH01)

• DVD+R media

• Only two media reached max allowed 16X writing speed. As we saw with CDSpeed, Waitec 8X media burned at 12X, not at 16X. There is 10secs difference between the two burns.
• The lowest recording time comes from Maxell 8X media at 7:11mins.
• Again the 12X is faster than 16X.
• The burning times with DVD+R are higher than with DVD-R for the same speeds.

Below are various screenshots from Nero, burning our usual project at various speeds.

8X DVD+R

12X DVD-R

16X DVD+R

- Comparison with other drives

The BenQ DW1600a is the fastest 16X +R recorder with 358secs, while the Pioneer DVR-108 comes second with 431 seconds. The ASUS drive was slower by 10secs. With DVD-R format, the DVR-108 is faster by 7secs than ASUS DRW-1604P (the DW1600A doesn't support -R writing). It's clearly that the drive is faster with DVD-R than with DVD+R format.

With DVD re-writable media, the Pioneer and ASUS burners had similar performance. Again the drive is faster with DVD-RW than with the DVD+RW format

- DVD Overburning Tests

Using Nero CD-DVD Speed, we tested if the drive can overburn using DVD+R and DVD-R media. Unfortunately, the drive does not support overburning, giving the following error with all inserted media.

• DVD-R media

• DVD+R media

- DVD+MRW Tests

The drive doesn't support the Mount Rainier feature.