- CD Format

Using both Pressed and CDR media along with the Nero CD-DVD Speed utility, we got the following values regarding the DVR-110D's transfer rate capabilities.

Just like the DVR-109, the DVR-110 supports 40X max reading speed for the CD format and was slower than the other two drives, both of which support 48X. With USRW media, the max supported speed is 32X for the Pioneer drives while for the other two comparison drives, it is up to 40X. Nevertheless, in all three tests, the Pioneer drive reached its max reading speed.

- DVD Format

We repeated the procedure, this time using Pressed Single and Dual layer DVD media, as well as DVD±R-RW media. The results are presented in the following graphs.

All three drives support up to 16X CAV reading speed with DVD SL media. The BenQ was the fastest but speed differences between the three drives are negligible.

The two layers of a PTP DVD-ROM disc are read sequentially with the drive starting reading from the inner part of the disc, which is the beginning of each layer, progressing towards the outer range, for each layer. Max supported speed is 12X in this case. The Pioneer drive gave its best and managed to achieve fastest reader, making fast work of the PTP DVD test media.

The above graph shows the reading performance of the drive with OTP dual layer media. The first layer of an OTP dual layer DVD-ROM is read exactly the same way as the first layer of the PTP disc we tested previously. The difference here is the reading strategy of the second layer of the disc. The beginning of the second layer is located in the outer part of the disc, so the drive starts reading from the outer tracks towards the inner part of the disc. Once more, the Pioneer drive was the fastest reader.

Unfortunately, the Pioneer drive is not that fast with both write once and rewritable DVD media.

You may remember that the DVR-109 had the riplock feature, restricting the drive from achieving a fast ripping speed. With the DVR-110D, riplock has been removed, so the fastest ripping speed was achieved. The Pioneer DVR-110D has now taken over from the Plextor 740A as the fastest ripper. Great performance indeed.

- DVD-RAM

The drive can read read DVD-RAM but at only 2X CLV, according to the specs. For our test, we used a 5X DVD-RAM disc from Maxell burned with the LG GSA-4120B. The disc was read without any problems at 2X CLV.

-Appendix

Nero CD-DVD Speed Graphs

• CD Pressed / CD-R / US-RW
• DVD Pressed SL / DVD Pressed PTP DL / DVD Pressed OTP DL / DVD-R / DVD-RW / DVD+R / DVD+RW