Best Drive Option

[datmony]

Hoping for some insights. I am going to be wanting a drive that will burn very high quality audio discs as well as I have a lot of live music that I am wanting to put on CD for my various stereo systems. Many many moons ago I would have used a Plextor drive or something equivalently high end.

For a external USB drive I am thinking about something like a OWC Mercury Pro but wonder if folks have a better option for something that can support UHD if I want to but also be able to really shine with audio CDs as well.

Thoughts? Many thanks in advance.

[dcoke22]

Pioneer probably makes the best drives these days, both for ripping and burning.

Unfortunately, to get one that'll work for UHD ripping, you have to get one with old firmware; the current Pioneer firmware specifically disables MakeMKV support. But, there are sellers on this forum that can sell you a new, modern Pioneer drive with an older firmware that'll work.

[datmony]

Thank you. I am definitely interested in picking one up. What is the best pioneer in people's views?

[Billycar11]

overall i would recommend the s13UBK but once this batch runs out i will be out until at least mid march maybe longer.
212's are almost out too.
but yeah i would not even consider a LG/asus as long as pioneers are available with old FW.

[MartyMcNuts]

Hoping for some insights. I am going to be wanting a drive that will burn very high quality audio discs as well as I have a lot of live music that I am wanting to put on CD for my various stereo systems. Many many moons ago I would have used a Plextor drive or something equivalently high end.

For a external USB drive I am thinking about something like a OWC Mercury Pro but wonder if folks have a better option for something that can support UHD if I want to but also be able to really shine with audio CDs as well.

Thoughts? Many thanks in advance.

You should look at the Pioneer BDR-S13U-X or BDR-S13J-X depending on where you are located.

[datmony]

What about one of these? BDR-X13U-S

I don't actually have any desktops left around so I would like something with USB natively. @Billycar11 - what all versions do you have available?

[dcoke22]

I have 4 'internal' optical drives that are in powered external enclosures that connect to my computer via USB. You don't have to get a drive that is designed to only be used externally.

The Vantec enclosures work pretty well with Pioneer drives.

Also, the sellers typically maintain the first post in their threads in the seller's area. Here's Billycar11's: https://forum.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=17831

[Billycar11]

What about one of these? BDR-X13U-S

I don't actually have any desktops left around so I would like something with USB natively. @Billycar11 - what all versions do you have available?

The u-s is just a ubk in a USB case I can't have stock of so many different variations of the same thing just get a vantec to go along with it. See below for what I have currently I have 212 s13 ubk and s13ux all sata drives

[Ruckus]

I just got my LG BP60NB10 off amazon and I am ripping on MKV with zero issues. No firmware changes. I feel like I either got very lucky, or I didn't understand the point of flashing firmware in the first place lol.

[dcoke22]

I just got my LG BP60NB10 off amazon and I am ripping on MKV with zero issues. No firmware changes. I feel like I either got very lucky, or I didn't understand the point of flashing firmware in the first place lol.

MakeMKV can rip DVDs and regular blu-rays with most drives without flashing. You'll need to flash to get support for LibreDrive. When your drive supports LibreDrive, you'll be able to rip 4K UHD discs.