Recommended Optical Drive - Sep 2025

[newsoftheworld]

Hi All,

New to the forum. Reading through this forum it seems like it's easy to make a mistake when buying an optical drive as some drives can be upgraded to UHD and some can't. with this in mind I had been considering the options below.

option 1: ASUS BW-16D1HT drive inside a Vantec NexStar DX2 USB 3.0 caddy
option 2: ASUS BW-16D1X-U External Drive USB 3.0

I've had a slimline drive in the past and enjoyed it but was thinking I'm needing more a workhorse that will last a long time and not only be able to facilitate ripping of UHD discs but also be accurate and not fussy about reading second hand cd's.

I welcome your thoughts and advice. Thank you

[flojo]

...not fussy about reading second hand cd's.

For UHD you should try to get a Pioneer and see if you can get it flashed to Libre.

CDs are a different game and none of these UHD drives are great at ripping CD. Some will read from the cache, some won't read CD-TEXT, some wont' read subchannel data. Although you don't really need all of that if all you care about is the CDDA and use a verification database like cuetools or whatever (although if it's a really, really old CD you'd want subchannel data read).

[newsoftheworld]

...not fussy about reading second hand cd's.

For UHD you should try to get a Pioneer and see if you can get it flashed to Libre.

Hi Flojo,

thank you for your reply. I currently have a Pioneer BDR-XD07TS (Mfd Dec 2020) which I mainly have used for ripping CD's but also some DVD's and Blu-rays It has recently started playing up not reading some cd's and and after cleaning the lens it works sometimes but most times behaves flakey. I had thought that many Pioneer drives weren't able to be upgraded to Libre, so have been looking to get a more reliable replacement that can be flashed to libre but don't want to buy the wrong thing.

Drive Information

OS device name: /dev/rdisk7

Current profile: BD-ROM

Manufacturer: PIONEER

Product: BD-RW BDR-XD07

Revision: 1.06

Serial number: TLDx

Firmware date: 2024-10-09

Bus encryption flags: 13
Highest
AACS version: 75



LibreDrive Information

Status: Possible, not yet enabled

Drive platform: Pioneer RS8D30

Firmware version: GENE

[Billycar11]

...not fussy about reading second hand cd's.

For UHD you should try to get a Pioneer and see if you can get it flashed to Libre.

Hi Flojo,

thank you for your reply. I currently have a Pioneer BDR-XD07TS (Mfd Dec 2020) which I mainly have used for ripping CD's but also some DVD's and Blu-rays It has recently started playing up not reading some cd's and and after cleaning the lens it works sometimes but most times behaves flakey. I had thought that many Pioneer drives weren't able to be upgraded to Libre, so have been looking to get a more reliable replacement that can be flashed to libre but don't want to buy the wrong thing.

Drive Information

OS device name: /dev/rdisk7

Current profile: BD-ROM

Manufacturer: PIONEER

Product: BD-RW BDR-XD07

Revision: 1.06

Serial number: TLDx

Firmware date: 2024-10-09

Bus encryption flags: 13
Highest
AACS version: 75



LibreDrive Information

Status: Possible, not yet enabled

Drive platform: Pioneer RS8D30

Firmware version: GENE

To bad you updated the firmware pioneers are the best

[Lizard]

...not fussy about reading second hand cd's.

For UHD you should try to get a Pioneer and see if you can get it flashed to Libre.

Hi Flojo,

thank you for your reply. I currently have a Pioneer BDR-XD07TS (Mfd Dec 2020) which I mainly have used for ripping CD's but also some DVD's and Blu-rays It has recently started playing up not reading some cd's and and after cleaning the lens it works sometimes but most times behaves flakey. I had thought that many Pioneer drives weren't able to be upgraded to Libre, so have been looking to get a more reliable replacement that can be flashed to libre but don't want to buy the wrong thing.

Drive Information

OS device name: /dev/rdisk7

Current profile: BD-ROM

Manufacturer: PIONEER

Product: BD-RW BDR-XD07

Revision: 1.06

Serial number: TLDx

Firmware date: 2024-10-09

Bus encryption flags: 13
Highest
AACS version: 75



LibreDrive Information

Status: Possible, not yet enabled

Drive platform: Pioneer RS8D30

Firmware version: GENE

A lot of people are liking the LG WH16NS40 or the BH16NS40 that you can cross flash.
It should hold up better being an internal drive too.
$95 us over at CDW.com is not a bad price either. $120 amazon.
You can read about people having success over here:

viewtopic.php?t=20054&start=15

—Lizard

[newsoftheworld]

To bad you updated the firmware pioneers are the best
[/quote]
Hi Billycar11,

Thank you for your reply. I flashed it myself, my mistake, thinking I need to stay on top of all updates. I hadn't realised that the firmware couldn't be erased and another firmware installed. Most things on a computer can be erased and you can start again. I'll be more cautious with firmware going forwards. So, I may purchase either of the the following new off Amazon so that I get 1 or 2 years warranty. Would you be able to advise me if this is a good idea to enable me to rip UHD or do I need to buy old stock with old firmware?

option 1: ASUS BW-16D1HT drive inside a Vantec NexStar DX2 USB 3.0 caddy
option 2: ASUS BW-16D1X-U External Drive USB 3.0

Best Wishes

[Billycar11]

Thank you for your reply. I flashed it myself, my mistake, thinking I need to stay on top of all updates. I hadn't realised that the firmware couldn't be erased and another firmware installed. Most things on a computer can be erased and you can start again. I'll be more cautious with firmware going forwards. So, I may purchase either of the the following new off Amazon so that I get 1 or 2 years warranty. Would you be able to advise me if this is a good idea to enable me to rip UHD or do I need to buy old stock with old firmware?

option 1: ASUS BW-16D1HT drive inside a Vantec NexStar DX2 USB 3.0 caddy
option 2: ASUS BW-16D1X-U External Drive USB 3.0

Best Wishes

would never recommend a lg/asus drive again
pioneer only now
get a 212v or dbk

[Lizard]

Thank you for your reply. I flashed it myself, my mistake, thinking I need to stay on top of all updates. I hadn't realised that the firmware couldn't be erased and another firmware installed. Most things on a computer can be erased and you can start again. I'll be more cautious with firmware going forwards. So, I may purchase either of the the following new off Amazon so that I get 1 or 2 years warranty. Would you be able to advise me if this is a good idea to enable me to rip UHD or do I need to buy old stock with old firmware?

option 1: ASUS BW-16D1HT drive inside a Vantec NexStar DX2 USB 3.0 caddy
option 2: ASUS BW-16D1X-U External Drive USB 3.0

Best Wishes

would never recommend a lg/asus drive again
pioneer only now
get a 212v or dbk

Thanks Billycar11, good to know.

While significantly more expensive ($160/$190 US), I wholeheartedly agree with Billycar11. Especially since newsoftheworld brings up warranty as a concern. (hence the lifespan and durability being a larger factor)

Pioneer BDR-212V
Pioneer BDR-212BDK

—Lizard

[newsoftheworld]

[/quote]

Thanks Billycar11, good to know.

While significantly more expensive ($160/$190 US), I wholeheartedly agree with Billycar11. Especially since newsoftheworld brings up warranty as a concern. (hence the lifespan and durability being a larger factor)

Pioneer BDR-212V
Pioneer BDR-212BDK

—Lizard
[/quote]
Thank you Lizard and Billycar11 for your thoughts. I live in the UK and I've been trying to find these drives above new and haven't been able to source a reputable supplier to buy these new. Either they're astronomically expensive because they're so rare or you can buy them second hand but still go for the price of a new LG or Asus drive.

Does anyone (who is no doubt more experienced shopper of these drives than me) know where I can buy them new for a reasonable price delivered to the UK?

Thank you

[dcoke22]

Asmcom is seller on this forum that services the UK. (https://forum.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=19387) Unfortunately, they're closed at the moment as Asmcom has had some health difficulties. I don't know what their stock will be when they reopen or what their prices will be.

In any case, while you're looking for a BDR-212 elsewhere, it is worth monitoring for when Asmcom re-opens the shop. They'll undoubtedly modify the first post on their seller thread when they do.

[newsoftheworld]

Asmcom is seller on this forum that services the UK

Thanks dcoke22,

Good advice. I've posted a message on the link you posted and will wait until Asmcom is open again. Best wishes.

[outlier]

If this video is to be believed then nobody makes optical drives anymore (both Pioneer and LG stopped this year), so get what you can find.

I'm just not sure I believe it yet. I thought that Pioneer sold off their business, so presumably that acquiring company ("Shanxi Lightchain") will eventually start/resume operation--it wouldn't make sense for them to buy it and do nothing with it. I suppose they could make drives for other purposes besides PCs.

[Billycar11]

If this video is to be believed then nobody makes optical drives anymore (both Pioneer and LG stopped this year), so get what you can find.

I'm just not sure I believe it yet. I thought that Pioneer sold off their business, so presumably that acquiring company ("Shanxi Lightchain") will eventually start/resume operation--it wouldn't make sense for them to buy it and do nothing with it. I suppose they could make drives for other purposes besides PCs.

we contacted them they said they bough them only for the laser patents.
will that change when they see the demand for drives maybe but who knows