The Pioneer BDR-2207 BDXL burner is the company's most powerful and full-featured drive released so far. The drive, also available outside the U.S. as BDR-207M (generic model), BDR-207MBK, BDR-207JBK and BDR-207UBK, is the successor of the BDR-206M(BK), which we have already tested here at CDRInfo.com. Compared to the to BDR-206M, the new new drive offers faster burning and reading speeds with CD, DVD and BD and BDXL media.

The internal SATA drive can read and write to all BDXL disc formats, including BD-R and BD-RE triple-layer 100GB media, BD-R quad-layer 128GB media, as well as conventional recordable Blu-ray Disc (single-layer 25GB media and dual-layer 50GB media).

In addition, the drive features PowerRead and Pioneer's PureRead2, Auto Quiet mode, QuickStart, and Peak Power Reducer technologies.

The BDR-2207 is packaged with CyberLink software that gives users the ability to play standard Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D titles on correctly configured computers, as well as author and record high-definition Blu-ray Disc content and standard-definition DVD content.

Through its PowerRead feature the BDR-2207 provides smoother movie playback when a disc is marked with fingerprints or has minor surface scratches. When the drive is not able to read through these obstructed areas of a disc, it will quickly move forward to the next available data point, resulting in smoother Blu-ray and DVD movie playback.

Clicking or popping sounds that might normally occur due to minor scratches and fingerprints on CDs can be prevented on some discs with the drive's PureRead2 technology, which allows the drive to dynamically adjust its optical playback settings through the use of a special algorithm.

The drive also features an Auto Quiet mode that minimizes its operating noise based on the type of use. The rotation speed changes to a quieter mode (slower speed) when watching Blu-ray and DVD titles or listening to conventional audio CDs.

Pioneer also claims that the amount of time between inserting a disc and the disc being ready for use has been reduced by up to 42% over Pioneer's previous generation models.

Some computers do not provide enough power to the drive during operation. In the case of a write operation, an error will occur and cause the disc to become useless. To prevent this, the Peak Power Reducer feature, when enabled, monitors the power and can reduce the drive's peak power to ensure stable operation.

The BDR-2207 is available with a suggested retail price of $99.99

Here are the drive's complete specifications:

Below you see the retail package of the Pioneer BDR-2207 drive.

The BDR-2207 is bundled with CyberLink Media Suite 8, which includes PowerDVD 10 BD3D, PowerDirector 9, and Power2Go 7. PowerDVD 10 BD3D delivers playback software and supports playback of Blu-ray Disc 3D titles. PowerDVD will even convert your 2D video files and DVDs into 3D, and will upscale standard-definition content to high-definition quality. PowerDirector 9 allows you to import your home movies, edit them, and then author them to Blu-ray Disc or DVD, or upload them to social media sites. Power2Go 7 gives you the ability to burn your valuable files to Blu-ray (including triple and quad layer BDXL discs), DVD or CD media.

The package also includes a SATA cable, a piece of TDK BD-R TL (100GB) disc and an operating instructions leaflet.

The drive's external design hasn't changed since the BDR-206M, with a single operation led next to the eject button and the certifications (logo) embossed on the front panel and the disc tray. The rear panel is typical with the SATA interface:

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Information about the drive is available on the top side of it, where you will find the sticker you see below. Notice that the drive's power consumption has changed since the BDR-206M. The BDR-2207 (BDR-207M) is rated at 12V -- 1.1A, 5V -- 1.4A while the BDR-206M was rated at 12V -- 0.6A for and 5V -- 1.2A.

Let's take a look at the drive's internal board. It is recommended not to open the case of your drive since that would void its warranty.

The drive is based on the RENESAS R8J32740FP44 chipset. This is a different chip that the one used by the Pioneer BDR-206MBK drive (R8J32730FP44)

The drive uses Pioneer's high-performance pick-up unit that supports the BDXL format:

The new pick-up unit is composed of the Movable Lens, the Liquid Component and the Movable Collimator Lens. The pick up is sensitive to adjust the right and precise position when focusing on the track of the media, especially when it deals with unbalanced media, or Tilt/thickness media.

The new lens control technology is able to correct the distorted signal caused from lens' rotation direction and radius direction.

The Liquid Component is able to correct the distorted signal caused by optical system. It is also helpful to correct the bad signal caused by a twisted disc.

The Movable Collimator lens can correct the bad signal caused by unbalanced disc.

In the following pages we will test the reading and writing capabilities of the BDR-2207 DDXL burner with CD, DVD and BD media.