Hey all,

I'm looking to purchase a DVD writer (which will also function as my reader since I'm going to sell my reader). I care primarily about burn quality.

Looking at the reviews I've concluded one of these is probably the best choice. A lot of people seem to like the Benq although there have been some poor quality burners. I live in NZ the stuff we get is often a bit old but hopefully the Benq will be problem free. Assuming it is, which one would you recommend?

BTW, the LiteOn is slightly cheaper here (about 7%)

Other suggestions are welcome, e.g. NEC 3540, LG 4167, Pioneer 110

If you think I should wait and get something else e.g. NEC 4550 then such suggestions are also welcome.

Cheers

BenQ, NEC or Pioneer, stay FAR FAR away fro LiteOn.  My 1st Choice would be the BenQ 1640.

(in reply to Nil Einne)

Whatever you do (NEC, Pioneer, BenQ) ... stay away from LiteOn (and Sony which are rebadged Liteys) ... my first choice would be the BenQ 1640.

(in reply to MP3Mogul)

I think this debate is over.  The BenQ 1640 is currently the best value to quality ratio on the market.  I have one and it compliments my system very well.  I admit, I do love my Plextor PX-716A because I do a lot with audio, but I like having two drives and the BenQ is a solid drive.

LITE-ON fell from grace long ago and should not even be considered anymore; unless it is used as a reader only.

(in reply to JeanLuc)

The 1693 is the best drive in comparison to the previous LiteOn burners but still not as good as the BenQ 1640.

(in reply to SithTracy)

The 1693 is based on the same hardware as the 1673 ... believe me, it is only useful as a reader ...

(in reply to Antonio)

no doubt, but its just a little improved from 1673, maybe due to the firmware. It has some good burnings.

(in reply to JeanLuc)

If I owned one, I burn it with a match and gasoline!

(in reply to Antonio)

It serves me well as a DVD-ROM, CDDA ripper and PI/PO counter ... with ReadSpeedhack, it will read up to 16x on any media.

I don't trust its burns, though ... my Plexies 712A/716A, the LG4163B and my BenQ1620 kick the cheese out of the Litey any day ...

(in reply to MP3Mogul)

Definately worst than 712A/716A, the LG4163B and BenQ1620.

(in reply to JeanLuc)

It's interesting that some of you are so anti the 1693. Although I know LiteOns have been very poor in the past, the information I have read suggests the 1693 is quite good, not up to the 1640 of course but def close to being a top q burner.

It's moot anyway since the 1640 is the clear winner whereever I ask (and the price is nearly the same now actually) but the LiteOn is perhaps not quite as bad as some of you think..

(in reply to Antonio)

The LiteOn is not even close to the quality of most of the writers on the market... definately last place...

(in reply to Nil Einne)

I am not anti-LiteOn. I like their DVD-ROMs.

1693 is better than all previous burners but not as good as competition. This is something that reviews confirmed. Good indeed, but Pioneer, BenQ, Philips, Plextor, LG and NEC are even better in quality. So why you get a LiteOn? Who's worst than 1693, an Optorite or BTC?

(in reply to Nil Einne)

I use a LiteOn DVD ROM as well, but their writers are bottom of the barrell... I won't even DREAM of purchasing one.  It's so sad how a company went from tops to the extreme bottom so quickly.

(in reply to Antonio)

Do you think they will come back? They have a new drive, 1635 I think.

(in reply to MP3Mogul)

I think they are too far consumed with profits and too little worried about the end user or quality.  No, I don't think they will ever return to where they were.

(in reply to Antonio)