Advice for new optical drive purchase

Discussion of LibreDrive mode, compatible drives and firmwares
Coopervid
Posts: 3611
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2019 10:32 pm

Re: Advice for new optical drive purchase

Post by Coopervid »

Imgburn.
Grendizer
Posts: 9
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2025 4:30 pm

Re: Advice for new optical drive purchase

Post by Grendizer »

Hello Va1der

Thanks for all the information.

I didn't really want a external slim drive, I already have one : Hitachi LG hl-dt-ST- BD-RE BP55EB40. But thanks for your help.
If you know of any nice newly release internal drive, for 5.25" drive bay, able to burn all kind of discs including 100 and 120 Gb blu-rays, able to read or rip 4K Blu rays (with a Firmware patch), please let me know!
As for the burning app, I use Ashampoo. It's very nice and I pay only 10€ per year, with all updates.

See you!
Gz
standforme
Posts: 17
Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2025 6:44 pm

Re: Advice for new optical drive purchase

Post by standforme »

I've just been buying flashable used and NIB/NOS Pioneers, from eBay, to hopefully not have to revisit the subject any time soon. As more 4K discs come in, I'll flash and use the NIB ones a little. I'm kind of surprised how long very flashable drive listings hang around, TBH. Watch them, wait for offers, and take them. But, I do like slim drives, especially the clamshell form factor.

ImgBurn should be good to go, with WINE, on most distros.
Grendizer
Posts: 9
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2025 4:30 pm

Re: Advice for new optical drive purchase

Post by Grendizer »

Hello Standforme, what do mean NIB and NOS ?
dcoke22
Posts: 4153
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2020 11:25 pm

Re: Advice for new optical drive purchase

Post by dcoke22 »

Grendizer wrote:
Tue Nov 11, 2025 10:23 am
Hello Standforme, what do mean NIB and NOS ?
I assume standforme means New In Box (NIB) and New Old Stock (NOS).
standforme
Posts: 17
Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2025 6:44 pm

Re: Advice for new optical drive purchase

Post by standforme »

Yes, that ^.
Grendizer
Posts: 9
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2025 4:30 pm

Re: Advice for new optical drive purchase

Post by Grendizer »

Ok thanks, so let's see what the ideal Pioneer internal drive to check on Ebay: On https://pioneer-blurayodd.eu/ there are 4 recent drives and according to Copilot, 3 of them were released in 2023 : BDR-S13E-X, BDR-S13EBK, and BDR-213EBK. Comparing the specs, the BDR-S13EBK is the best one, and the better looking too!
But on Ebay.com this drive is nowhere to be found and I'm sure if I find it, it will cost about 1500$ !
Coopervid
Posts: 3611
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2019 10:32 pm

Re: Advice for new optical drive purchase

Post by Coopervid »

Grendizer wrote:
Wed Nov 12, 2025 11:31 am
Ok thanks, so let's see what the ideal Pioneer internal drive to check on Ebay: On https://pioneer-blurayodd.eu/ there are 4 recent drives and according to Copilot, 3 of them were released in 2023 : BDR-S13E-X, BDR-S13EBK, and BDR-213EBK. Comparing the specs, the BDR-S13EBK is the best one, and the better looking too!
But on Ebay.com this drive is nowhere to be found and I'm sure if I find it, it will cost about 1500$ !
Forget it. You want a drive that has old firmware before Dec. 2022. Good news is that asmcom will reopen soon.

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