Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2026

[d00zah]

... Second where do you find the appropriate firmware to use on the drive?

Fwiw I may not want to take the risk considering I don't have any UHD drives and I already nudered my favorite Pioneer drive by updating the firmware. Stupid me..

Thanks

WH16NS40 on any Firmware directly to > WH16NS60 1.02MK

WH... vs BH..., same hardware. Difference is how it's sold. OEM vs Retail.

IF runnining Windows, use the SDFtool Flasher.

[disrelishing]

If I put "BU40N 1.03MK" Firmware onto an Optical Drive, will I still be able to use the drive to burn BluRays using other softwares?

Looking to do this on a "BRUHD-PU3-BK"

[MartyMcNuts]

If I put "BU40N 1.03MK" Firmware onto an Optical Drive, will I still be able to use the drive to burn BluRays using other softwares?

Looking to do this on a "BRUHD-PU3-BK"

Writing to blank discs, yes.

[zittrig]

Hi, I have here a CH12NS40 with MT1959, found in the basement room, lying around for about 7 years.

Which MK-Firmware will be the best? 1.01 oder 1.03?
Thanks!

[Coopervid]

Hi, I have here a CH12NS40 with MT1959, found in the basement room, lying around for about 7 years.

Which MK-Firmware will be the best? 1.01 oder 1.03?
Thanks!

Doesn't matter. Just flash one. And you can always go back and forth.

[zittrig]

Ok, thank you!

With MK 1.03 a 3-Layer-Disc (Chinatown) war ripped up to 75%. Then an error occurs. I'll test with another 3-Layer and some 2-Layer.....

[Coopervid]

Ok, thank you!

With MK 1.03 a 3-Layer-Disc (Chinatown) war ripped up to 75%. Then an error occurs. I'll test with another 3-Layer and some 2-Layer.....

Try WH16NS60 1.02

[zittrig]

Oh, yeah, what a difference. Speed up to 8x, only <6x with slow increase with the "original" MK firmware. And the same 3-layer-disc (Chinatown) was ripped without error.

Great, thanks a lot @ Coopervid

[Coopervid]

Oh, yeah, what a difference. Speed up to 8x, only <6x with slow increase with the "original" MK firmware. And the same 3-layer-disc (Chinatown) was ripped without error.

Great, thanks a lot @ Coopervid

You are very welcome! Good to hear that this firmware helped.

[spaceraser]

Hey all, I'm in the US, and looking for a good drive to buy right now. My main box runs linux, and I'd prefer to buy an external USB3 drive, but I can run an internal drive in an enclosure if that's the best idea. I have a few UHD discs but the vast majority of my collection is standard blu ray. Thanks!

[trimb]

For anyone who is UK-based and desperate to get hold of a decent 9.5 mm drive enclosure (ie. not brittle, plastic Chinese junk), I have a spare, brand new Vantec NST-510S3-BK listed on a well-known auction site!

[eracer1111]

PSA - Be sure to read the entire guide carefully.

I bought the OWC Mercury Pro enclosure BEFORE ordering my drive, but failed to notice the info in the guide saying that it doesn't fit some Pioneer 5.25 drives without modification. I got a BDU-S13UBK and sure enough, the drive didn't fit. Fortunately, it was last day of Amazon's return window. I bought a Vantec NST-540S3-BK, which is arriving today.

Depth dimensions:

BDR-S13UBK is 181mm deep.
Mercury Pro is 174.75mm deep.
Vantec NST is 185mm deep.

Measure twice, cut once!

[goldencow830]

Canadian here. Got my drive from BluntmanUHD@protonmail.com.
Service was exceptional, he got it out in the mail once I made up my mind on which drive to get.
Drive works right out the box.
Would highly recommend to any Canadians looking for a drive!

[mercilessming2000]

Big Thanks to the info and all the discussion in this post and all directly involved in MakeMKV, SDF GUI and firmwares. I went from WH14NS40_1.05 just bought from Amazon to the WH16NS60_1.02_MK , thus far worked with 5 blus and one 4k thus far. Not a single issue thus far, the SDF GUI was effortless to use.

I was sweating , as I haven't done non official firmware updating since the DVD un-riplock/regioning primary market media days when you hex edited you firmware. But I only had my Pioneer LibreDrive from retail pre new locked retail firmwares and didn't want to be stuck not being able to back up my 4ks if my pioneer broke from some accident , use or age.

[Naiera]

My Verbatim/Pioneer 35888 shit the bed a few days ago and now I'm looking for something more durable. I've had it for just under two years and it's already stopped reading discs. They spin and it sounds like it's supposed to, but neither the OS nor MakeMKV sees anything

I'll be buying and flashing myself or having my friend in Delaware doing the flashing. Just looking for suggestions for an external drive that plays well with MacOS and doesn't break after reading a few hundred discs.