Image: Pioneer DVR-111 DVD writer review
A cheap and versatile optical drive

Review: Pioneer DVR-111 DVD writer

Same speeds as Pioneer's previous burner, but the DVR-11 comes with a Disc-Resonance Stabiliser

Written by Will Stapley

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DVD writers have now become so ridiculously cheap it's almost unbelievable. Go back a few years and you'd be hard pushed to find one for under £200, but these days it's possible to pick one up for well under £50. Indeed, we found this new DVR-111 online for as little as £27.

The DVR-111 from Pioneer actually comes to market just a couple of months after the DVR-110 and very little appears to have changed.

All the speeds remain the same, but the chassis looks slightly different and Pioneer has brought in its Disc-Resonance Stabiliser.

The latter apparently controls the airflow caused by the disc spinning, therefore reducing the chances of warping - especially at high-speeds.

Although we had no problems when testing the DVR-110, there was talk of it having a few problems in terms of burn quality when using the fast 16-speed mode.

Again, our tests with the DVR-111 threw up no issues, but if you own a DVR-110 and have been experiencing burn quality issues the DVR-111 may well solve them.

Available for under £30, it's a good value for money drive that covers all the bases. If you like to colour co-ordinate, versions are available with beige, black and silver bezels.

Product overview

  • Price: £30
  • Manufacturer: Pioneer
  • Specifications: DVD-R/RW: 16x/6x

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Ratings

  • Overall rating: 4
  • Features: 4
  • Performance rating: n/a
  • Value for money: 5
  • Average user rating:
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Verdict

Pros: Supports all formats; ultra-cheap
Cons: Not a huge upgrade from the DVR-110
Overall: Not vastly different from the DVR-110, but if you're after a cheap and versatile optical drive it's a good choice

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