Pioneer DVD-106S

Pioneer DVD-106S

Varun Singh, Aug 07, 2002 0000 hrs IST

Is this rather unconventional DVD-ROM drive, worth the expense?

Good performance, smooth slot-load mechanism

Expensive!

Pioneer is quite a well-known name in the consumer electronics space, but their PC components aren't, somehow, as popular. Always slightly unconventional, Pioneer was the first to introduce the concept of slot-loading for optical disks like CDs and DVDs. This DVD-ROM drive is another extension of the "go against conventional wisdom" approach that Pioneer takes.

Go against convention

First, let's take a look at the slot-load system. Instead of using a tray and transport mechanism like conventional CD-ROM drives, this one uses a slot loading mechanism, where you slide the disc in like you would with a floppy. Quicker and simpler to operate, this mechanism also reduces the chances of scratching or breaking a disc by placing it incorrectly in a tray. All you need to do is slide the CD/DVD into the slot halfway, and the mechanism automatically pulls it inside. Press the eject button, and it will slide the disc out halfway, after which you can pull it out manually. You can't insert two discs by mistake, as the mechanism won't pull another disc if one is already present in the drive. A small rubber curtain on the slot prevents dust particles entering the drive, and also cleans the discs of any possible dust/lint residues.



Then, another unconventional factor is that while reading CDs, this drive uses CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) for Data Discs, and CLV (Constant Linear Velocity) for audio discs, limiting audio read speeds to 16X, and scaling the data read speeds from 19x to 42x, from the inner edge to the outer edge of a data disc. Most other drives nowadays use CAV throughout, for both audio and data. As for DVDs, it claims a 16X read speed. Unlike other high-speed CD/DVD drives, this one is pretty much noise and vibration free.

Worthy performer

In our benchmarks, the drive's DVD-Read performance was average and just about the same as any other 16X DVD-ROM Drive. Check out the Nero DVD Speed graph results. The audio read performance because of it being a CLV read at 16X limit, was significantly lower than other DVD-drives. The CD data read speeds though, were as good as faster CD-ROMs and writers, beating most DVD-ROM drives. In our standard data CD test, it took only 2.49 minutes to copy the entire 650 MB CD to the hard drive, whereas audio took 4.39 minutes.

The Drive looks funky, is functional, performs well, and at Rs.4250 is priced about right. Overall, we'll say it's well worth the money, and is a good buy!

Test Unit Sourced From: Integra Micro Systems



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USER COMMENTS

I want to know the price of Pioneer DVD-106S.I want to buy it from kolkata. Is their any distributor/dealer in kolkata who deals in that product?

by Sajal Bhagat, Raiganj, on Jul 12, 2007 12:34 AM, Report abuse   Reply

How do i buy this pioneer dvd from delhi india please contact

by amitabh Sharma, new delhi, on Aug 19, 2005 08:20 PM, Report abuse   Reply

Can I get this product also in black, I work with this technology since 4 jear (I don't remember me which producer, but I am very satisfied, with the slide in technik *you should make more publicity*

by Martin Gautsch, CH-3280 Murten, on Jun 11, 2005 04:39 PM, Report abuse   Reply

want to know the price of Pioneer DVD Writer and Combo drive plz.

by Jagmeet Singh, Kapurthala, on Jun 01, 2005 08:06 PM, Report abuse   Reply

i have one speaker system (5.1) model no.:- SE-305 of which i want a dvd with two mic pin with or without amplifir on which that speaker may play nicely can u giude which model no. dvd i should take and fom where, with costs and other details pl mail me immidiately and send me a model no. of amplifiers 5.1 and latest models of dvds on which this speaker may work nicely.

by binod kumar pra, sitamarhi, on Jan 24, 2005 02:34 PM, Report abuse   Reply

The Pioneer DVD 106S is a far more superior product then the other brands avlb in the market..definetly worth the premuim.

by Jatin Shah, Mumbai, on Aug 08, 2002 12:00 AM, Report abuse   Reply

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