2nd drive alongside Pioneer BDR-XD08TB - should I buy an LG BU40N, or an I-O DATA BDR-S16QZ/HA?

[Blu-Shield]

I need a Blu-ray drive for the following purposes:

• Ripping (more often):
  • Blu-rays
  • DVDs
  • Data CDs
  • Audio CDs
• Writing (less often):
  • M-Disc Blu-rays
  • Data DVDs
  • Audio DVDs
  • Data CDs
  • Audio CDs

I'm unlikely to ever rip Ultra HD Blu-rays or 3D Blu-rays.

Based on what I've read on these forums, it seems to me that I should use one drive for ripping DVDs/Blu-rays (and UltraHD / 3D Blu-ray, if I ever need to), and a separate drive for ripping CDs / writing anything (as well as ripping discs that failed to rip in the other drive), ideally with different firmware (LibreDrive for ripping DVDs/Blu-rays/UltraHD, official updated firmware for CDs/writing). Is this correct?

I've currently got a USB-powered Pioneer BDR-XD08TB, and I'm willing to buy a 2nd drive (it can be internal or external), if people think it would help. I've found several reliable online retailers selling rebranded LG BU40N USB drives. It also seems that I-O DATA has launched a new range of desktop Blu-ray drives (the "BDR-S16QZ/HA"), based on Pioneer's BDR-212 technology (see viewtopic.php?p=184921#p184921), available at https://www.iodata.jp/product/storage/e ... /index.htm (note that I-O DATA provides a disclaimer that translates to something along the lines of "The country of origin of the drive may be overseas", and I've read mixed reviews on these forums of Pioneer-branded drives manufactured in China - but those reviews were based off purchases from ebay or Amazon, not a major Japanese company like I-O DATA). How have people's experiences been with the I-O DATA drives? Would you recommend them over the rebranded LG BU40Ns?

Also, if I do buy a 2nd drive, which firmware/tasks should I run on my Pioneer BDR-XD08TB, and which firmware/tasks should I run on my LG BU40N / I-O DATA BDR-S16QZ/HA?

[Coopervid]

This is much too much to read. Post the Makemkv info of your drives.

[MartyMcNuts]

I need a Blu-ray drive for the following purposes:

• Ripping (more often):
  • Blu-rays
  • DVDs
  • Data CDs
  • Audio CDs
• Writing (less often):
  • M-Disc Blu-rays
  • Data DVDs
  • Audio DVDs
  • Data CDs
  • Audio CDs

I'm unlikely to ever rip Ultra HD Blu-rays or 3D Blu-rays.

Based on what I've read on these forums, it seems to me that I should use one drive for ripping DVDs/Blu-rays (and UltraHD / 3D Blu-ray, if I ever need to), and a separate drive for ripping CDs / writing anything (as well as ripping discs that failed to rip in the other drive), ideally with different firmware (LibreDrive for ripping DVDs/Blu-rays/UltraHD, official updated firmware for CDs/writing). Is this correct?

I've currently got a USB-powered Pioneer BDR-XD08TB, and I'm willing to buy a 2nd drive (it can be internal or external), if people think it would help. I've found several reliable online retailers selling rebranded LG BU40N USB drives. It also seems that I-O DATA has launched a new range of desktop Blu-ray drives (the "BDR-S16QZ/HA"), based on Pioneer's BDR-212 technology (see viewtopic.php?p=184921#p184921), available at https://www.iodata.jp/product/storage/e ... /index.htm (note that I-O DATA provides a disclaimer that translates to something along the lines of "The country of origin of the drive may be overseas", and I've read mixed reviews on these forums of Pioneer-branded drives manufactured in China - but those reviews were based off purchases from ebay or Amazon, not a major Japanese company like I-O DATA). How have people's experiences been with the I-O DATA drives? Would you recommend them over the rebranded LG BU40Ns?

Also, if I do buy a 2nd drive, which firmware/tasks should I run on my Pioneer BDR-XD08TB, and which firmware/tasks should I run on my LG BU40N / I-O DATA BDR-S16QZ/HA?

Let's put it this way. Pioneer are the superior readers and writers. If you need to write to a disc, use the Pioneer. Pretty much any other "brand name" drive will be fine for ripping CD/DVD/BD discs and the next best drive that isn't a Pioneer would be the LG BU40N. Don't even look at the Archgon as they can no longer be flashed if you ever needed to. There are also some ASUS models floating around that may still contain a Pioneer drive inside. These would also be good.

[Blu-Shield]

Let's put it this way. Pioneer are the superior readers and writers. If you need to write to a disc, use the Pioneer. Pretty much any other "brand name" drive will be fine for ripping CD/DVD/BD discs and the next best drive that isn't a Pioneer would be the LG BU40N. Don't even look at the Archgon as they can no longer be flashed if you ever needed to. There are also some ASUS models floating around that may still contain a Pioneer drive inside. These would also be good.

Thanks for your response.

If I bought the (5.25") I-O DATA S16QZ/HA (apparently a BDR-212 under-the-hood), would this be a better writing drive than the (USB-powered) Pioneer BDR-XD08TB?

[Blu-Shield]

Post the Makemkv info of your drives.

I don't currently own the LG BU40N or the I-O DATA BDR-S16QZ/HA, so I can't post the MakeMKV drive info for those.

I do own the Pioneer BDR-XD08TB; here's its MakeMKV drive info:

Code: Select all

Drive Information
OS device name: /dev/sr0
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-XD08
Revision: 1.02
Serial number: <REDACTED>
Firmware date: 2022-12-27
Bus encryption flags: 1B

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS9330
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-BDS8
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.02
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

No disc inserted

[Blu-Shield]

This is much too much to read.

Hopefully this is more concise:

1. Will LibreDrive firmware degrade performance when ripping CDs, or when writing discs of any kind?
2. Will installing official updated firmware, provided by the drive vendor, improve performance when ripping CDs, or when writing discs of any kind?
3. I currently have a Pioneer external drive (BDR-XD08TB). I'm looking to buy a 2nd drive; either a re-badged LG BU40N, or a Pioneer internal drive (this vendor explicitly advertises their internal drive as being a Pioneer under-the-hood, and this post calls it a BDR-212). Which combo is preferable (Pioneer external + LG external, or Pioneer external + Pioneer 5.25")?
4. If I use one drive for ripping Blu-rays / DVDs, and another drive for ripping CDs / writing discs, which of the above drives are better for which tasks? (Marty McNuts' answer is to use a Pioneer for writing).

[MartyMcNuts]

Let's put it this way. Pioneer are the superior readers and writers. If you need to write to a disc, use the Pioneer. Pretty much any other "brand name" drive will be fine for ripping CD/DVD/BD discs and the next best drive that isn't a Pioneer would be the LG BU40N. Don't even look at the Archgon as they can no longer be flashed if you ever needed to. There are also some ASUS models floating around that may still contain a Pioneer drive inside. These would also be good.

Thanks for your response.

If I bought the (5.25") I-O DATA S16QZ/HA (apparently a BDR-212 under-the-hood), would this be a better writing drive than the (USB-powered) Pioneer BDR-XD08TB?

Not better. About the same.

[MartyMcNuts]

This is much too much to read.

Hopefully this is more concise:

1. Will LibreDrive firmware degrade performance when ripping CDs, or when writing discs of any kind?
2. Will installing official updated firmware, provided by the drive vendor, improve performance when ripping CDs, or when writing discs of any kind?
3. I currently have a Pioneer external drive (BDR-XD08TB). I'm looking to buy a 2nd drive; either a re-badged LG BU40N, or a Pioneer internal drive (this vendor explicitly advertises their internal drive as being a Pioneer under-the-hood, and this post calls it a BDR-212). Which combo is preferable (Pioneer external + LG external, or Pioneer external + Pioneer 5.25")?
4. If I use one drive for ripping Blu-rays / DVDs, and another drive for ripping CDs / writing discs, which of the above drives are better for which tasks? (Marty McNuts' answer is to use a Pioneer for writing).

1. No.

2. Firmware updates only ever have changes/improvements? for disc writing. Think disc brand/model support. Not really worth updating. Optical media these days has decreased in quality anyway so writing to optical disc is not a good idea.

3. Pioneer drives (all models) are superior in every way to any other manufacturer. If you have the chance at getting another Pioneer, do so.

4. Yes, the Pioneer is the superior writer.