Poor Compatibility of Dual-Layer DVD Discs


An extensive test of Lite-On's SOHW-832S DVD-9 dual-layer DVD writer by Hardware.fr, noted by MacBidouille shows that early tests of Dual-Layer burners are somewhat disappointing.

Hardware.fr's tests found that finalized DVD-9 discs could be read by only 42% of DVD readers, 37% of DVD writers, and 60% of DVD players.

This is vastly inferior to a wide-ranging test carried out by CDRInfo earlier this year, which looked at the compatibility of DVD-R and DVD+R discs with domestic DVD players. In these tests, DVD-R was compatible around 96% of the time, whereas DVD+R was compatible in only 87.32% of cases.

Analysis: It appears that dual-layer writable discs have some way to go before they can be seen as a reliable medium, and you might not trust your data to first-generation models. Rushed to market? Maybe, as it's not as if home DVD players have any trouble playing pressed DVD-9 discs. On the compatibility ratio of DVD-R/DVD+R, I frequently use DVD+RW for temporary DVD video copies, and there's never been a problem with them. On the other hand, both cheap and name brand DVD-RWs have turned become unerasable after little use. My Pioneer 107 also has trouble with DVD+R (4.7GB) discs, identifying them as 8.5GB and fails to write them correctly. But the firmware upgrade may fix that. With DL DVD, some corrective firmware better come out soon, or there are going to be a lot of unhappy consumers out there.