For all Blu-Ray media burning tests, we used either Nero Burning ROM or ImgBurn. We created 25GB, 50GB, 100GB and 128GB ISO files from our HDD and we burned them at the disc. Max writing speed was set to the burning software. Reading speeds were performed with OptiDriveControl (for 25GB/50GB discs) and with QPxTool (for 100GB/128GB discs). Note that the Pioneer drive doesn't support Blu-Ray measurements so we used only the HLDS BH51N Blu-Ray drive to "measure/scan" the burned discs for burn quality.

According to the official specifications, the Pioneer BDR-X13J/S can write BD-R at 16X, BD-R DL at 14X, BD-R TL at 8X, BD-R QL at 6X, BD-R (LTH) at 8X, BD-RE at 2X, BD-RE DL at 2X, BD-RE TL at 2X, M-DISC (BD) SL at 6X, DL at 8X and TL at 6X.

Note that in order to get above 12X recording speed you have first to enable high-speed recording with the Pioneer BD Utility and second to have the following supported media for the current firmware 1.02

• 12X Recording
  • CMCMAGBA5
  • MEI_RA1
  • RITEK_BR3
  • RITEK_BR4
  • SONY_NN3
  • VERBATIMe
• 16X Recording
  • RITEK_BR4
  • SONY_NN3
  • VERBATIMe

Lets start our recording tests with all the available media we had in our labs for testing...

PlexDisc 6x 25GB BD-R

The drive can write the PlexDisc 6X BD-R media up to 8X and used P-CAV recording strategy.

The drive can read the burned disc without any real problem up to 12X.

The HLDS BH51N produced a general good scan with slight increased errors at the end of the disc.

Verbatim 6X 25GB BD-R

The drive can write up to 12X with specific media and used CAV writing strategy.

The Pioneer drive can read the same disc perfectly.

The HLDS BH51N drive seems not to like very much the burned disc and drops reading speed at the end of the disc.

Dual Layer Recordable Media (50GB)

Ritek Pro 6X 50GB BD-R

The drive can write up to 8X with specific media and used P-CAV writing strategy.

The Pioneer drive can read the same disc perfectly.

The HLDS BH51N also can read the disc perfectly.

Verbatim 6X 50GB BD-R

The drive can write up to 8X with specific media and used P-CAV writing strategy.

The Pioneer drive can read the same disc perfectly.

The HLDS BH51N also can read the disc perfectly.

while the reported errors are kept low most of the surface area.

Triple Layer BD Recordable media (TL)

Verbatim 4X 100GB BD-R Printable Top (M-Disc)

The drive can write up to 6X with specific media and used CLV writing strategy.

The Pioneer drive can read the same disc perfectly at 6X.

The HLDS BH51N also can read the entire disc without any problems.