Pros & Cons
Pioneer DVR-A07XL Specs
| CD Read Speed: | 40x |
| CD-R Record Speed: | 24x |
| CD-RW Rewrite Speed: | 24x |
| DVD-R Record Speed: | 8x |
| DVD-RW Rewrite Speed: | 4x |
| DVD+R Record Speed: | 8x |
| DVD+RW Rewrite Speed: | 4x |
| Interface: | ATAPI |
| Internal or External?: | Internal |
Company:
Pioneer North America Inc., www.pioneerelectronics.com
Price:
$190 street
Spec Data:
Internal; 8X DVD-R speed, 4X DVD-RW speed, 8X DVD+R speed, 4X DVD+RW speed, 40X CD read speed, 24X CD-R speed, 24X CD-RW speed; ATAPI
Review:
The Pioneer DVR-A07XL combines excellent performance and sophisticated hardware with a top-notch software bundle. Read our of the
The Pioneer DVR-A07XL combines excellent performance and sophisticated hardware with a top-notch software bundle. We'd rather not have to download additional codecs or upgrade the software bundle for full functionality, but anyone who can live with limited MP3 and DivX support will have a hard time finding a better performer.
The DVR-A07XL is essentially a revised version of Pioneer's DVR-A07U drive, upgraded with an attractive faceplate and multiple firmware tweaks.
The DVR-A07XL ships with Ulead's DVD MovieFactory 3 suite and VideoStudio 7 video editor, which together provide a powerful, integrated toolset for creating Video CDs, Super Video CDs, and DVD-Video discs. Other modules in the Ulead bundle let you assemble photos into slide shows, perform system backups, create audio and data discs, play audio and video files, copy CDs and DVDs, and edit, organize, and share digital images.
The DVR-A07XL has unique hardware features, such as a resonance-absorbing suspension, which stabilizes the servo system; a liquid-crystal control system, which helps ensure precise recording on uneven disc surfaces (caused by warping or variations in disc thickness); and an auto-adjusting laser mechanism, which attempts to compensate for the deterioration that occurs every time a rewritable disc is recorded or erased. The drive also offers Pioneer's trademark defect-management technology, which improves performance and helps prevent imperfections from rendering a disc unusable.
This DVD burner easily captured first place among 8X drives on the key DVD-R and DVD+R performance tests and ranked a close second on the DVD±RW packet-writing tests. It also did well on our DVD-ripping and CD-R–recording tests, but couldn't complete our VCD image–creation and audio CD–ripping tests because it lacks a DivX codec and MP3 encoder.
The Pioneer DVR-A07XL is fast, solidly built, and packed with innovative features that help guarantee the quality of the discs it burns. We recommend it without reservation for almost any type of business or home DVD-burning application.