Need a new burner. Don't like current one.

What's up guys.

I currently have a Memorex Dual Layer burner and a TDK Single Layer. The TDK is a little older and still works great but the Memorex isn't so good. I burn SL and DL DVDs depending on what the original copy is. I also like burning my DVDs at the slowest speeds possible. The Memrex DL doesn't like burning single layers anything slower than 6X and that's after I did a firmware upgrade. Also when ripping DVDs the Memorex rips it at like Mach speed times 2!! haha I'm just wondering what is the best DL burner out there right now. I don't really mind the price. I was thinking about getting a Sony and giving my Memorex to my dad but like I said I'm unsure as to what is a good/ the best brand to get. Again this will be used mostly for DL since my TDK is used for SL. I would like it to be very compatible with all speeds too. Thanks.

 

well i have a pioneer dvr-109 , but i am upgrading to dvr-110
i have never had any problems with my pioneer, i find it reliable.
hope this helps

 

i would suggest waiting or buying a blu-ray drive since theyw ill be the future...

 

Get a BenQ and burn at 8x ... BenQ is simply the best for the money ...  http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?DEPA=0&type=&description=dw1650&Submit=ENE&Ntk=all&N=0&minPrice=&maxPrice=&Go.x=15&Go.y=30

By the way .. most of the new Sony drives are made by BenQ

 

I prefer to rip at 8X and burn at either 2-2.4X. I get the best playback and quality with these speeds.

I will eventually get a Blu-Ray but not anytime soon. It's going to be extremely expensive when it first comes out and ofcourse the first wave of new technology always sucks.

 

@Tomimoto: What catfreak is saying is that if you get a new drive, and some decent media (or even not so decent, as it will still turn out the same quality), you can burn at 8x and get the same quality as burning at 2.4x, sometimes even better, as some media "prefers" being burned at faster speeds. And the Benq is a great drive. I bought a DW1655 and it works great with any media I use so far (Sony, Taiyo Yuden, and Verbatim, currently).

 

Maybe with the Memorex that you're not happy with ... However, most of the new, high quality drives (such as the BenQ) prefer to burn at 8x and you will get the best results doing so ...

 

All I use is Verbatims and when I burn the Dls at anything over 4X the picture quality gets a little distorted and the menus freeze up on me.

I only burn my Verbatim SLs at 2X anything above 4X it does the same thing stated above.

It's not my DVD player either. I have a Denon. I also tried them on other players too. This is why I prefer to rip and burn slower.

 

I have burned several hundred Verbatim MKM001 (DL) discs at various speeds with a BenQ DW1640 and DW1655 (cross-flashed to a DW1650) and I know what I'm talking about when I say that the 'better' burners like to rip and burn fast ...

I suppose that if I was using a Memorex anything, that I'd have to slow down ...

 

I heard that, just junked my Memorex burners for a PX740A (crossflashed to a Benq1640) and a Benq1655. I had to burn all of my media, even my Verbs (MCC04) at 2-2.4x with the Memorex drive because anything higher than that, I get playback issues with all standalones. Now I rip and burn like the wind baby...8x...must go faster...

 

... another satisfied BenQ owner .. feelin' the need for speed

 

@catfreak

...just wondering why you crossflashed your DW1655 to a 1650? Do you still have Lightscribe functionality? Benefits from this crossflashing?

 

I already had a HP740b that LightScribes™ ... I bought a DW1655 when the DW1650 wasn't available in North America and I wanted one ... so I made my own .. The burner no longer LightScribes™, but my scans improved slightly ...

I guess basically, I cross-flashed it to see if I could ...

 

Nice =) Do you just use your HP740b strictly for Lightscribe? I had a 740i that Lightscribed (now Lightscribe can be used as a verb I guess =)) perfectly but couldn't burn worth full o'crap, that's why I got rid of it and picked up the DW1655. The 740b, that's an external drive is it not or is it a variant of the 740i?

 

The 740i is internal, the 740e, external ... My 740b is a 740i and the 'b' refers to the firmware version that it's running ... and, yes .. all I do with it is burn labels and sometimes CDs ... I usually use either one of my BenQ drives, a NEC a LiteOn or a Plextor PX712a for burning DVDs ...

 

Any links for these BenQ drives? Also are they Dual Layer?

 

My first post has a NewEgg link for the DW1650 and here's a link for a DW1655 test ...

http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/Reviews/Specific.aspx?ArticleId=16050

 

i got a i guess you could say "cheap" dvd burner a couple months ago at Best Buy. It was the cheapest on the market. A Dynex 16x Dual Layer DVD Burner. It hasn't made one bad disc yet! So i guess its good afterall! ha! it was about $50

 

Nice! But they got BenQs on sale at NewEgg for only $3 more. =) So you went to Best Buy eh? Happen to see the shiny new Plextors they have there. Mmmm...I drooled when I saw that PX760SA Serial ATA interface and capable of writing at 18x on a single layer DVD+R disc...oooh if only we can get good burns off that speed...

 

You're using verbatim media.

What speed are they?

If they are 16x,then the benq 1640 and 1650 will burn them better at 8x speed. Be cautious of burning MCC-004 verbs at 2.4x. I get too many crc errors. Verbatim designed these 16x discs to perform at their best at the faster speeds.

Benq 1655 can be had at newegg.com for $50 including shipping.

Newegg.com is out of the 1650s. These hot burners like the Benq 1620/1640/and 1650 do not last long there. They are awesome burners,and excellent prices.

Meritline.com has the 1650:

http://www.meritline.com/search.htm...pMaxPrice=&N=1&imageField.x=26&imageField.y=5

These 1650 drives will go quick. Newegg.com always has the 1655 in stock.

Benq: You can ditch the dash format. These babies booktype the plus format to dvd-rom. Good luck on finding a drive that won't play them. These drives will burn everything you throw at them,even cmags/AML/moserbauer/and UME.I wouldn't even dare burn those crap discs at 8x though,more like 2.4x

Using verbatim media and a benq drive:Using verbatim plus format media/booktyped to dvd-rom, and at least 8x burn speed- any playback issues is usually stand alone players fault.

And yes, they do Dual layers very well. Verbatim +DL is the finest DL media out on the market.Just use the right programs.

I have the HP 640c Lightsribe. The backups off that drive are way inferior to my 4 benqs. Too many crc errors and coasters. I burn my lightscribe media with any of my benqs,and use that HP pc of crap to do the lightscribing. That HP is a pretty good reader,just a pc of crap burner.