Pioneer DVR-115D review
DVD recording technology has not taken any quantum leaps recently. The recording speeds are pretty close to the velocities physically possible, and overall the technology is quite mature. Nevertheless it is nice to see the vendors still releasing new and improved models. Pioneer DVR-115D continues the famous product line of Pioneer Electronics and while it doesn’t anything dramatically new or different, it has some improvements over the previous models.Pioneer has definitely been one of the better manufacturers of DVD recorders and from the out side the Pioneer DVR-115D seems very similar to the previous model that we tested (DVR-112). It has a pretty rigid feel to it, which makes it positively stand out from the cheapest recorders out there. But the interesting question is of course how does it burn?
The specs: 
The full list of technical specifications is probably longer than this whole review, so we will not go through in detail, but you can check it out at the Pioneer website and here are the key features:
- 20X CAV (27.70 Mbytes/sec) writing speed for DVD-R/+R
- Write Speed DVD+RW 8X Z-CLV (11.08 Mbytes/sec) and DVD-RW 6X CAV (8.31 Mbytes/sec)
- 10X Z-CLV (13.85 Mbytes/sec) writing speed for DVD-R DL / +R DL (Dual / Double Layer media)
- Multi-effect LCD Tilt Servo Compensator Mechanism
- Ultra-DRA (Dynamic Resonance Absorber) low vibration mechanism
- Performance adusting firmware
- Disc-Resonance Stabiliser
- Supports “Buffer Under Run” protection (CD and DVD)
Ever since the DVR-110 the Pioneer models have been incremental upgrades of the previous models, and the DVR-115D is no exception. This strategy has the benefit that the product is pretty mature from the first day. If we compare the recording quality of DVR-115D and DVR-112, we can notice that they are highly similar, but DVR-115 in some occasions can improve over the older model. It offers 20x over speed recording for certain top quality 16x media, and 18x for some as well. It also looks like that the firmware has been tuned to handle certain media better – at least we found speed and quality improvements with Prodisc made discs.
Test results
As of today (3-Jan-2008) we have tested 12 different medias with this drive and the results have been submitted to MediaBase, but we will continue testing and using the drive in our tech bench and every media test we make in the future with the DVR-115D will be added to the database as well. The tests so far focus on single layer DVD-R and +R media and we have now a pretty good idea what the drive can deliver. Read the full test results here, and on the right there are three examples.
First example shows how Pioneer DVR-115 records a Verbatim Advanced AZO+ DVD-R (16x) at 20x speed with great results. The second example shows 18x recording with a Datawrite (Prodisc) DVD+R - usually DVD recorders offer only 12x speed for this media. The last example shows 10x recording with Verbatim DVD-R DL media. So if the media is good, the Pioneer will deliver great quality and top notch recording speeds. Pioneer also has a pretty good after sales support typically delivering a few firmware updates for added media support and quality improvements later in the product life cycle.
Despite the excellent results with quality media, the Pioneer is not the best drive for low quality and/or faked MID media. Pioneer drives in general do not seem to be as flexible for adjusting themselves for low or varying quality or faked MID medias. Pioneer doesn’t have a feature like Lite-Ons HyperTuning which allows generation of write strategy on the fly, nor it is currently supported by DVD media testing software for making quality scans.
Conclusions
The Pioneer DVR-115D continues Pioneer’s tradition of delivering rock solid and durable recorders, but with nothing especially new or surprising. The firmware has been fine tuned since DVR-112 and the write speeds accelerated. The DVR-115 offers 18-20x over speeding possibilities for more 16x media than it’s predecessor. It does not offer any geeky extra features to play around with, but if decent or premium quality media is used, the DVR-115 will deliver very good results. Pioneer’s traditionally good firmware support combined to good built quality will give it a good and long life cycle. If you simply want a recorder that just works, then we consider Pioneer DVR-115D as one best choices on the market and give it 4 out of 5 stars
“…if the media is good, the Pioneer will deliver great quality and top notch recording speeds.”
What firmware support, there is none for the 115d
Well, the 115D is a brand new model, so there is hardly any need for firmware update yet. Especially due to the fact that the drive is based on the older 112D, so the firmware is very mature already at product launch.
So why have pioneer released the drive with 3 different firmwares ?
I am sorry, can you be more specific what you mean? Give more detail and I can even check with Pioneer Europe.
I mean I have 2 of these drives the 1st one I bought came with 1.06 the 2nd 1.13 I know a couple of people who also bought this drive and theirs came with 1.12 and another had the 1.13 pioneer are hoping to release 1.15 in January sometime when they get the flasher sorted
To date they have not released a firmware on any of their sites for the 115d.
Jitter is a bit high on these drives and these drives also produce spikes
I just bought a 115d from New egg, I’m running Xp. It came in a esd bag with no box or installation cd… is this normal…I have slaved it to my cd drive and the comp recognizes it…However It has not yet played anything…seems I need a driver but where can I find one since there doesn’t appear to be one for the 115? thanks.
I had the chance to discuss with Pioneer very briefly, and they are hoping to release an updated firmware v1.18 in the very near future. Possibly as soon as next week.
Thanks although pioneer have been telling me the same for over 3 weeks now.
C hris - if you buy a bulk drive, you only get the drive. No driver is required.
You should really be using the Pioneer drive set as master on an 80 wire IDE cable with the cd rom being the slave.
XP does not need an additional drive as XP will install anything it needs for the Pioneer drive.
The same with any other brand of internal dvd writer
Here are the new firmware versions, as promised by Pioneer:
http://www.pioneer.eu/eur/content/support/support/software.html
Thanks but I could not wait for pio eur so got them from japanese site
I also rec’d DVR 115 from eggware w/o software.
Using Roxio to burn discs but burner will not recognize SONY disc DVD R .
Anyone else experiencing this problem
txs
I got my 115D today and had a fine collection of Philips, Sony and Maxell DVD-R coasters in no time. What Newegg’s site didn’t show is the burner is designed for VISTA. I’ve since found two updates of the firmware, the latest being 1.33. I’m waiting to hear what others have found using 1.18.
ABS
Vista compatibility is not an issue. I run 115D under WinXP and it performs great.
Tell us more about your coasters - do the discs actually burn to the end?
ljpp,
Thanks for responding.
Initially, the disks show they are burning, with estimated burn times of about 52 (yes, 52) minutes. The countdown continues for about 40-45 seconds, then the disk is ejected. Regardless of brand (including Memorex, which I forgot to mention), they show a band about an eighth-inch wide where the initial burn took place.
I used two different burner programs (MyDVD and Record Now), which have been rock steady for me previously. Going into the tools sections of each, the Pioneer burner shows a max speed of 1X in both.
I tried the jumper on MA, SL and CS (the 1,2 and 3 pin positions). All gave same results, but by then I was using rewitable DVD disks to save agita.
All internet searches for an updated XP driver ultimately give me a firmware update to 1.18 (or, once, 1.33). Newegg will let me exchange the unit for another, but that would seem dumb. BTW, I have another DVD burner, an internal Memorex, and the Pioneer is in an external case. The 115D replaces an NEC 3500A which developed incompatability problems with certain disk brands over time.
Let me know if you need anymore info.
A.B. Shuman
DVD-recorders operate with a generic IDE/ATAPI driver under Windows, so your problem is not a driver issue. It may very well be that you have a defective unit and should get it replaced.
You might want to out rule software issues first though. One thing you could try, is download Ubuntu or some other LiveCD Linux that can read Windows partitions, and burn a file from there - if the drive works properly, there is a problem in your software configuration.
You could also make a test burn with Nero CD-DVD Speed.
ljpp,
Between shovelling snow Friday (we had 10″) and trying to d/l ubuntu from several sites (best I could do was 653 MB out of the 696), I tried different software, upgraded to firware 1.18 and even changed from USB to Firewire, all only to produce more coasters.
So, I’ll take Newegg.com’s offer of a refund and search out another drive. I’m also providing an assortment of ruined CD-R and DVD-R disks for the girls and boys in forensics. No charge.
I really appreciate the help, but now think it’s a defective unit (duh), as you suggested.
BTW, when I was in the Navy I flew a patrol plane (pp) and our squadron’s designation was LJ, so your screen name brings a smile.
A.B. Shuman
LJ-2 PPC (Patrol Plane Commander) Ret.
Well too bad it didn’t work for you. Pioneer is one of the better drives on the market. I wonder if the external case / USB adaptor has something to do with this - I don’t have experiences with those.
Well, I did my military service in the navy too, on a small mine sweeper ship. But the screen name actually comes from my initials, as I hate “cool” nicknames. So I use a very uncool one.
You do have USB2 as a speed of 1x Indicates no usb 2 or corrupted or broken usb port/drivers.
Or the enclosure has had it.
Try the pioneer internally on an known good 80 wire ide cable set to master and install ImgBurn and then look at the filter driver load order in the tools section of ImgBurn
http://www.imgburn.com
lj (if I may be familiar),
This is off bitburners topics.
But, another coincidence, I was the squadron’s attack officer and THE aerial mine warfare expert. (Good thing we never had to use ‘em.) Went to AMW school in Charleston, SC. and became the self-described King of Actuation Widths. We did a few excercises with LantFlt mine sweepers…one was Hummingbird, or some kinda bird. (Flip-a-bird?) Always, thought those guys (you) were nuts. When we were based in Sicily, there were two Soviet mine sweepers anchored off a small Greek island east of Crete (Kithira) for months. Months at sea, just sitting there. Have no idea what was going on underneath.
I’m thinking of getting a Lite-On LH-20A1S to replace the Pie-on-Ear. Any opinion on that?
A.B.
Sorry for the late response - I have missed your question somehow. I would never by a Liteon as the primary recorder - they are good for tests, but the overall quality is less than impressive.
I have not used the 20A1S, but I am more than familiar with 20A3P.
Two things: Newegg was gracious enough to refund my money for the Pioneer (via a credit to my card). But, since I didn’t see anything I felt would be a good replacement on their site for a few weeks, I got a Sony DRU-840A on special at Best Buy. About $20 more and not flawless, but I’m happy with it.
A.B.
A.B.,
That’s great. Any chance you could run some scans and update to http://media.bitburners.com ? I don’t think we have any Sony recorder data in the database, so it would be interesting to see.
Hi
I’m thinking about buying a Pioneer DVD Burner, and I’ve found this model: DVR-115DDK (does this model exist? I mean, is it DDK or DBK?).
My other question is, whether the burner is DVR-115DDK or DVR-115DBK, can I install it in a Mac G4 (Mirrored Doors) without a problem?
I’ll appreciate your comments… thx.
Antonn,
115DBK - the “D” refers to a model without DVD-RAM support, like the one we reviewed. “BK” is the color code for black. “SV” represents silver. Pioneer.eu does not list a “DK” models, so possibly it’s a typo?
ljpp,
Thanks for the info.I’ve already bought it and your’re right, there is a mistake with the model, it is “DBK”.
I installed it in my Mac and it works, but suddenly, I don´t know why, it freezes (the computer)even if I´m not using the burner, so, I want to defrag the HD, just looking for the possible trouble…
Thank you very much, and I´ll write again if I could find the solution to this issue, I hope it is not related to the burner itself.
hi, my pioneer 115 will not burn faster than about x2 speed,even though i have got ritek traxdata 16x,and set my speed to 12x its just slow any clues to whats wrong,