The Pioneer DVR-110 is an upgrade of the previous model, the DVR-110D in terms of DVD-RAM capabilities. It retains all the characteristics of its predecessor, but introduces 8X DVD-R DL writing and further improves the DVD-RAM reading speed from 2X to 5X while adding a 5X max burning speed for the specific media.

CD reading speed also remains the same as the DVR-110D, at 40X, while the drive still has problems in reading 90/99min AudioCDs. The DVD-ROM reading speed is set to 16X, as in the previous model, while for Pressed DL media, the reading speed is 12X. No changes in the riplock either, were it is still off, enabling fast DVD ripping, ideal for ripping enthusiasts.

As for the error correction, the drive retains the previous CD error correction capabilities, while improving on the DVD error correction mechanism as we saw in the previous pages, where the 545 defective media was read flawlessly.

With protected media, the scene is also the same as with the 110D. The Safedisc media was hard to rip, completing in an hour or so, while the other two tested games, with PSX and Securom protection, were ripped fast and flawlessly. Protected audio media ripping capabilities of the drive also remained the same as the previous model, with the Key2Audio protected audio disc unsuccessfully ripped, resulting in an unplayable backup. Both the other protected audio discs were ripped and backed up successfully.

CD writing quality has been slightly improved according to the Plextools scans, while with the CDX Clover Systems tests, two out of five media reported a "PASS" indication. Moreover, no E32 errors were reported with any media which is very good. The writing speed is dependent on the inserted media, as only with TY media was the drive able to burn a CD image at 40X burning speed. All other media were burned at 32X max speed, and a further improvement on the supported media list would be welcome.

With DVD media, the drive produced some good burns, although once more the quality and speed is dependent on the inserted media. We encountered media which was not supported by the drives media list, such as Optodisc -R 16X media burned at 4X. Most 8X certified media was oversped at 12X for both formats, while some 16X media were burned at 12X or on a few occasions, at 8X.

The DL writing quality is satisfactory, depending on the inserted media, where Verbatim media was burned at 8X for both ±R formats, while Traxdata DL media resulted in low quality or even unreadable burns. As for DVD-RAM media, the write and verify strategy is present, without a disable option given, rendering the burn slow, but at high quality. The DVD-RAM burning speed is 5X max.

In the case of bitsetting, the drive is set by default to DVD-ROM only for DVD+R DL media without the ability to change this. In the drive's features, we can add measurement of writing quality on media.

The Pioneer DVR-110 can be found on the market ranging from US$48 to US$54 including VAT.

- The Good

- Supports 8X DVD±R DL
- Very good DVD error correction
- Supports 5X DVD-RAM reading/writing
- Supports overspeed for 8X media at 12X
- High ripping speed for DVD-Video

- The Bad

- Limited CD overburning
- Doesn't support overburning for DVD
- DVD+RW compatibility list

- Like To be fixed

- Writing quality for specific DVDRW media

Reading
Error Correction
Protected Discs
Writing
Features