Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide Updated 2025

[DC-2187]

Just to clarify if I'm buying a Pioneer drive that is a 4k model and would not need to be flashed and was made in 2023..that would still work with makemkv?

[MartyMcNuts]

Just to clarify if I'm buying a Pioneer drive that is a 4k model and would not need to be flashed and was made in 2023..that would still work with makemkv?

Not for UHD currently. Only Pioneer drives with firmware prior to December 2022 are/can be made UHD compatible.

Sometime in the future, those with firmware from December 2022 onwards will be able to be flashed for UHD compatibility.

[DC-2187]

Just to clarify if I'm buying a Pioneer drive that is a 4k model and would not need to be flashed and was made in 2023..that would still work with makemkv?

Not for UHD currently. Only Pioneer drives with firmware prior to December 2022 are/can be made UHD compatible.

Sometime in the future, those with firmware from December 2022 onwards will be able to be flashed for UHD compatibility.

Oh I see thanks for the response. I guess I will hold off. I figured maybe a 4k model drive would work but oh well. Good thing I asked before buying

[MartyMcNuts]

Just to clarify if I'm buying a Pioneer drive that is a 4k model and would not need to be flashed and was made in 2023..that would still work with makemkv?

Not for UHD currently. Only Pioneer drives with firmware prior to December 2022 are/can be made UHD compatible.

Sometime in the future, those with firmware from December 2022 onwards will be able to be flashed for UHD compatibility.

Oh I see thanks for the response. I guess I will hold off. I figured maybe a 4k model drive would work but oh well. Good thing I asked before buying

The issue is, to be able to rip UHD discs, LibreDrive mus be enabled for the drive and any Pioneer (UHD/Non UHD) with firmware from Dec 2022 onwards cannot currently have LibreDrive enabled. This is expected to happen sometime in the future.

[qnixgamer]

Drive Information
OS device name: E:
Current profile: CD-ROM
Manufacturer: ASUS
Product: SBW-06D5H-U
Revision: E102
Serial number: ,,,
Firmware date: 2023-04-20
Bus encryption flags: 1B

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible, not yet enabled
Drive platform: Pioneer RS8511
Firmware version: ID26

Is there way to make drive UHD compatible?

[Packers948]

Hi - Please let me know what LG firmware would be best for this drive WH16NS46. Thank you

MakeMkv information as below.

Drive Information
OS device name: G:
Manufacturer: HL-DT-ST
Product: BD-RE WH16NS46
Revision: 1.05
Serial number: NA
Firmware date: 2122-01-14 11:38
Bus encryption flags: 17
Highest AACS version: 77

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible, not yet enabled
Drive platform: MT1959

No disc inserted

[MartyMcNuts]

Drive Information
OS device name: E:
Current profile: CD-ROM
Manufacturer: ASUS
Product: SBW-06D5H-U
Revision: E102
Serial number: ,,,
Firmware date: 2023-04-20
Bus encryption flags: 1B

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible, not yet enabled
Drive platform: Pioneer RS8511
Firmware version: ID26

Is there way to make drive UHD compatible?

Not at this time. Firmware is too new. You need to wait until some time in the future when Pioneer drives with firmware from December 2022 onwards are supported.

[Jimothy]

Hi there,

Ive been reading through the board here and would like to ask somebody if they know whether or not my drive can be successfully flashed?

Drive Information
OS device name: /dev/rdisk5
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: BUFFALO
Product: Optical Drive
Revision: BU14
Serial number: 00000000000
Firmware date: 2121-06-21 13:30
Bus encryption flags: 1F
Highest AACS version: 72

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible, not yet enabled
Drive platform: MT1959

No disc inserted


that's the info from MakeMKV info panel, it seems as if I have firmware from a hundred years in the future?!?!? some help would be most appreciated, thanks

[MartyMcNuts]

Hi there,

Ive been reading through the board here and would like to ask somebody if they know whether or not my drive can be successfully flashed?

Drive Information
OS device name: /dev/rdisk5
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: BUFFALO
Product: Optical Drive
Revision: BU14
Serial number: 00000000000
Firmware date: 2121-06-21 13:30
Bus encryption flags: 1F
Highest AACS version: 72

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible, not yet enabled
Drive platform: MT1959

No disc inserted


that's the info from MakeMKV info panel, it seems as if I have firmware from a hundred years in the future?!?!? some help would be most appreciated, thanks

Yes, MakeMKV shows the firmware date as 2121 instead of 2021.

Yeah, you can flash it to BU40N 1.03-MK.

[tyme2tb]

Would the below be able to be flashed to do UHD

Drive Information
OS device name: G:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-209M
Revision: 1.10
Serial number: xxxxxxxxxxx
Firmware date: 2013-09-10
Bus encryption flags: 13

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8600
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-209
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.10/ID60
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

[nathanm5764]

Hi, I appear to have a newish (2020) drive with oldish (2017) firmware, could you advise on what (if any) firmware I can flash with to get LibreDrive functionality?

Drive Information
OS device name: E:
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: ASUS
Product: SBW-06D2X-U
Revision: 1.10
Serial number: T*********L
Firmware date: 2017-04-18
Bus encryption flags: 1B
Highest AACS version: 12

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible, not yet enabled
Drive platform: Pioneer RS8511
Firmware version: ID22