Pioneer BDR-2203 Internal Blu-ray Disc Writer Review

Although Blu-ray Disc (BD) recorders have been available for years, it’s only now that they are becoming affordable, fast and practical enough to interest a broad audience. Pioneer’s new BDR-2203 internal BD writer kit is leading this charge with its reasonable price, solid performance and genuine utility.

The BDR-2203 ($249) is a straightforward retail bundling of Pioneer’s third generation BDR-203 Blu-ray recorder with CyberLink’s BD Solution v.6 software suite (OEM versions of PowerDVD 8.0, PowerDirector 7.0 and Power2Go 6.0). As well, the 5.25″half-height BDR-203 is available from Pioneer by itself ($209) or can be found integrated into many of the latest Blu-ray duplication and disc publishing systems from MF Digital, Microboards, and others.

Among its peers, the BDR-203 offers competitive operation and reads, writes, and rewrites all recordable (R), rewritable (RE/RW/RAM) and prerecorded (ROM) BD, DVD and CD disc formats. Single-and dual-layer BD-Rs burn at 8x, single-layer DVD±Rs at 16x and CD-Rs at 32x speeds. PC system requirements needed to write data or play movies are on par with other Blu-ray devices and, since connection comes through a standard Serial ATA (SATA) interface (cables not included), physical installation is effortless.

It’s imperative when setting up a BD or any other optical disc recorder to determine if its firmware is up-to-date. This ensures that the latest bug fixes, programming tweaks and compatibility enhancements are on the job. Not surprisingly, my evaluation unit arrived with outdated firmware but it wasn’t easy to find the latest version online. Eventually, I tracked it down on Pioneer’s international website. Needless to say, Pioneer should be a little more attentive to its North American customers (the update has since been posted in the USA).

Without a doubt, the most practical issue facing any high-performance BD recorder is the availability of compatible discs. What’s the use of having the latest and greatest unit when no one sells 8x-capable blanks, or if they cost an arm and a leg? Happily, the BDR-203 addresses this by writing, at full 8x speed, slower 6x and, more importantly, 4x-rated BD-Rs from most of their major producers. According to Pioneer, these include inorganic (HtL) single-layer discs from Verbatim/MKM, MBI/Glyphics Media, TDK, Panasonic, Ritek/Advanced Media and CMC Magnetics and dual-layer discs from Verbatim/MKM, TDK, Panasonic, and Sony (see chart 1, below). Be aware, however, that support for up-and-coming organic dye-based media (LtH) is limited to a few brands and 2x writing.

Pioneer BDR-203 8x BD-R Disc Writing Support
(firmware v. 1.10)

Disc
Manufacturer
Disc
Manufacturer ID
Disc
Media Type ID
Disc
Rated Speed
Maximum Writing
Speed on BDR-203
Single-Layer Discs
(25 GB)
CMC MagneticsCMCMAGBA34x4x
CMC MagneticsCMCMAGBB56x8x
MBI/Glyphics MediaMBIR044x8x
MBI/Glyphics MediaPHILIPR044x8x
MBI/Glyphics MediaMBIR066x8x
PanasonicMEIT024x8x
PanasonicMEIRA16x8x
Ritek/Advanced MediaRITEKBR24x8x
Ritek/Advanced MediaRITEKBR36x8x
SonySONYNN24x8x
SonySONYNN36x8x
TDKTDKBLDRBB4x8x
TDKTDKBLDRBD6x8x
Verbatim/MKMVERBATIMc4x8x
Verbatim/MKMVERBATIMe6x8x
Dual-Layer Discs
(50 GB)
PanasonicMEIT024x8x
PanasonicMEIRB16x8x
TDKTDKBLDRFB4x8x
TDKTDKBLDRFD6x8x
Verbatim/MKMVERBATIMd4x8x
Verbatim/MKMVERBATIMf6x8x

All in all, I was delighted with the results of my evaluation. Using Nero DiscSpeed for performance benchmarking, the BDR-203 recorded full single and dual-layer BD-Rs in less than 15 and 30 minutes respectively, single and dual-layer BD-REs in roughly 45 and 91 minutes, DVD±Rs in six minutes and CD-Rs in four minutes (see chart 2, below). Disc reading also pleased and even excelled at times. For example, unlike some recorders (LG Electronics’ BH08 series, etc.) that throttle back when dealing with AACS-encrypted BD-ROM AV (HDMV/BD-J) discs, it was full speed ahead for Pioneer’s BDR-203. Furthermore, I was impressed by being able to burn at up to 8x using readily available 4x-rated BD-Rs, such as those I tested from Verbatim/MKM, MBI/Glyphics Media and TDK. Recordable DVD support also proved extensive with 16x accessible for fourteen out of the fifteen manufacturers of 16x-rated DVD-Rs I tested and six out of the nine DVD+Rs.

Pioneer BDR-203 Test Results
(Nero DiscSpeed with Verbatim/MKM, MBI/Glyphics, TDK discs)

Disc FormatCapacityWritingReading
Time (m:s)Rotation (ID-OD)Time (m:s)Rotation (ID-OD)
BD-R SL22.56 GB14:514x-8x ZCLV15:533x-8x CAV
BD-R DL45.11 GB29:424x-8x ZCLV40:083x-6x CAV
BD-RE SL22.99 GB45:032x CLV15:543x-8x CAV
BD-RE DL45.11 GB91:012x CLV40:173x-6x CAV
BD-ROM SL (AV)22.38 GB16:173x-8x CAV
BD-ROM DL (AV)46.61 GB31:263x-8x CAV
DVD-R4.7 GB5:457x-16x CAV5:007x-16x CAV
DVD-R DL8.5 GBnot testednot tested11:285x-13x CAV
DVD+R4.7 GB5:577x-16x CAV5:087x-16x CAV
DVD+R DL8.5 GB15:566x-8x ZCLV11:335x-13x CAV
DVD-RW4.7 GB9:536x CLV6:235x-13x CAV
DVD+RW4.7 GB7:256x-8x ZCLV6:225x-13x CAV
DVD-RAM4.7 GB11:085x PCAV11:405x PCAV
DVD-ROM SL4.7 GB5:087x-16x CAV
CD-R80 min3:5716x-32x ZCLV3:1815x-34x CAV
CD-RW74 minnot testednot tested4:221x-25x CAV
CD-ROM74 min2:2918x-40x CAV
MeasurementCDDVDBD
Access time: 146 ms
Seek time: 134 ms
Access time: 149 ms
Seek time: 138 ms
Access time: 65 ms
Seek time: 51 ms
1/3Access time: 166 ms
Seek time: 154 ms
Access time: 182 ms
Seek time: 171 ms
Access time: 198 ms
Seek time: 183 ms
FullAccess time: 307 ms
Seek time: 295 ms
Access time: 331 ms
Seek time: 317 ms
Access time: 347 ms
Seek time: 333 ms

To my mind, Pioneer’s new BDR-2203 writer kit and BDR-203 recorder offer the best value of any currently available Blu-ray Disc burning systems. The blend of high-performance, obliging compatibility, and reasonable prices make both attractive for everything from HD video authoring and BD publishing to everyday data backup and archiving. Faster and less expensive units may always be around the corner, but at least for the moment, Pioneer rules the roost.

For more information: Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.: www.pioneerelectronics.com

About the Author
Hugh Bennett, editor-in-chief of Hugh’s News, is president of Forget Me Not Information Systems, a reseller, systems integrator and industry consultant based in London, Ontario, Canada. Hugh is author of The Authoritative Blu-ray Disc (BD) FAQ and The Authoritative HD DVD FAQ, available on Hugh’s News, as well as Understanding Recordable & Rewritable DVD and Understanding CD-R & CD-RW, published by the Optical Storage Technology Association (OSTA).

Review originally appeared on EMediaLive, June 17, 2009.