Recommendation for best (most reliable and versatile) LibreDrive for 2024?

Discussion of LibreDrive mode, compatible drives and firmwares
MartyMcNuts
Posts: 4339
Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2017 11:45 pm

Re: Recommendation for best (most reliable and versatile) LibreDrive for 2024?

Post by MartyMcNuts »

felix488 wrote:
Sat May 10, 2025 4:50 pm
I am new to this scene and a bit confused by everything going on. Can I safely buy a Verbatim 43888 on Amazon and it will just work for ripping 4k discs? I also heard someone say the LG BP60NB10 could work. Will I have to flash one of these? I am comfortable flashing one of them but I just want to know if I actually can because I keep seeing talk that many of them cannot be flashed.

Side question, I plan on doing all of this from my Linux server, is that possible? I understand if it's not that simple. In that case I would just do it from my PC and transfer the files.

Thanks
All drives need to be flashed to be UHD compatible. The 43888 contains a LG BU40N inside and can easily be flashed.

The only drives that can't be flashed are the Pioneer models that contain firmware post 11/2022.
Cheers :D
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For UHD enabled drives (AU/NZ/SG + Others) & DIY Single Drive Flasher (WW): https://uhdenableddrives.com
tomatodory
Posts: 8
Joined: Sat Oct 25, 2025 10:25 am

Re: Recommendation for best (most reliable and versatile) LibreDrive for 2024?

Post by tomatodory »

asmcom wrote:
Sat Jan 13, 2024 2:13 am
Based on our sales data, the Pioneer BDR-S12UHT is the most reliable drive we have ever sold. We sold 973 units of this model and none of them turned out to be faulty. The Pioneer BDR-S12XLT is also a very good drive, and we have not received any complaints about it being faulty. Among the slim drives, the BDR-XS07TUHD, BDR-XS07TS, and BDR-XD07TB/S are the most reliable according to our experience.

On the other hand, the BH-16NS40 is the least reliable drive we have sold.

UHD Friendly Drives Team
Now, nearly two years later, has the sales data changed in any way? Are the newer BDR-S13 and BDR-XS08/XD08 more reliable than their respective previous gen, or is the BDR-S12 and BDR-XS07/XD07 still the most reliable?
Billycar11
Posts: 5155
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2014 5:49 am

Re: Recommendation for best (most reliable and versatile) LibreDrive for 2024?

Post by Billycar11 »

tomatodory wrote:
Fri Dec 12, 2025 10:49 am

Now, nearly two years later, has the sales data changed in any way? Are the newer BDR-S13 and BDR-XS08/XD08 more reliable than their respective previous gen, or is the BDR-S12 and BDR-XS07/XD07 still the most reliable?
The 13/213 series is about the same as the s12/212 in reliability
I have found the xd08 to be the most reliable yet over 500 sold in the last month not 1 bad or damaged in shipping
Buy a UHD drive from the guide and how to video maker: https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic ... 20&t=17831
UHD Drives Guide: https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic ... 16&t=19634
Auto flash kit $25 Email me for one Billycar5924@gmail.com
asmcom
Posts: 943
Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2019 3:26 pm
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Recommendation for best (most reliable and versatile) LibreDrive for 2024?

Post by asmcom »

Billycar11 wrote:
Fri Dec 12, 2025 12:51 pm
tomatodory wrote:
Fri Dec 12, 2025 10:49 am

Now, nearly two years later, has the sales data changed in any way? Are the newer BDR-S13 and BDR-XS08/XD08 more reliable than their respective previous gen, or is the BDR-S12 and BDR-XS07/XD07 still the most reliable?
The 13/213 series is about the same as the s12/212 in reliability
I have found the xd08 to be the most reliable yet over 500 sold in the last month not 1 bad or damaged in shipping
We agree with Billy on this. The BDR-XD08 is a great drive and very reliable. We have secured a couple of pallets US stock which will hopefully arrive after Christmas 🎄

Happy Christmas Everyone from the team at UHD Friendly Drives that is us finished up for Christmas.

Kind Regards

Asmcom
b***t (Fantastic service, comms and item. Best ebay experience ever)
h***i (49) Best communication ever, extremely fast shipping, excellent seller!
Click Here! viewtopic.php?t=19387
tomatodory
Posts: 8
Joined: Sat Oct 25, 2025 10:25 am

Re: Recommendation for best (most reliable and versatile) LibreDrive for 2024?

Post by tomatodory »

asmcom wrote:
Fri Dec 12, 2025 4:21 pm
Billycar11 wrote:
Fri Dec 12, 2025 12:51 pm
tomatodory wrote:
Fri Dec 12, 2025 10:49 am

Now, nearly two years later, has the sales data changed in any way? Are the newer BDR-S13 and BDR-XS08/XD08 more reliable than their respective previous gen, or is the BDR-S12 and BDR-XS07/XD07 still the most reliable?
The 13/213 series is about the same as the s12/212 in reliability
I have found the xd08 to be the most reliable yet over 500 sold in the last month not 1 bad or damaged in shipping
We agree with Billy on this. The BDR-XD08 is a great drive and very reliable. We have secured a couple of pallets US stock which will hopefully arrive after Christmas 🎄

Happy Christmas Everyone from the team at UHD Friendly Drives that is us finished up for Christmas.

Kind Regards

Asmcom
That's great news that it's so durable, I'm always worried about shipping because you never know who or how are handling the packages. Merry Christmas to all of you!
darknight
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Dec 23, 2021 8:30 pm

Re: Recommendation for best (most reliable and versatile) LibreDrive for 2024?

Post by darknight »

Can someone tell me if I bought the wrong drive? I got this Pioneer BDR-XD08 drive but I am not seeing any of the LibreDrive information when I open MakeMKV.

Drive Information
OS device name: H:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BDR-XD08TC
Revision: 1.00
Serial number:
Bus encryption flags: 1B
Highest AACS version: 82

No disc inserted
MartyMcNuts
Posts: 4339
Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2017 11:45 pm

Re: Recommendation for best (most reliable and versatile) LibreDrive for 2024?

Post by MartyMcNuts »

darknight wrote:
Mon Dec 22, 2025 8:44 pm
Can someone tell me if I bought the wrong drive? I got this Pioneer BDR-XD08 drive but I am not seeing any of the LibreDrive information when I open MakeMKV.

Drive Information
OS device name: H:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BDR-XD08TC
Revision: 1.00
Serial number:
Bus encryption flags: 1B
Highest AACS version: 82

No disc inserted
Unless you got a UHD model (BDR-XD08UMB-S or similar) it won't be able to read UHD discs or be cross-flashed unless the firmware is pre 12/2022.

Try inserting a blu-ray disc then open MakeMKV and see if the info appears. Never heard of an XD08TC. After a little googling, this model looks fake to me. I doubt it's a real Pioneer.
Cheers :D
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For UHD enabled drives (AU/NZ/SG + Others) & DIY Single Drive Flasher (WW): https://uhdenableddrives.com
darknight
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Dec 23, 2021 8:30 pm

Re: Recommendation for best (most reliable and versatile) LibreDrive for 2024?

Post by darknight »

MartyMcNuts wrote:
Mon Dec 22, 2025 11:13 pm
darknight wrote:
Mon Dec 22, 2025 8:44 pm
Can someone tell me if I bought the wrong drive? I got this Pioneer BDR-XD08 drive but I am not seeing any of the LibreDrive information when I open MakeMKV.

Drive Information
OS device name: H:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BDR-XD08TC
Revision: 1.00
Serial number:
Bus encryption flags: 1B
Highest AACS version: 82

No disc inserted
Unless you got a UHD model (BDR-XD08UMB-S or similar) it won't be able to read UHD discs or be cross-flashed unless the firmware is pre 12/2022.

Try inserting a blu-ray disc then open MakeMKV and see if the info appears. Never heard of an XD08TC. After a little googling, this model looks fake to me. I doubt it's a real Pioneer.
So I put both a UHD and regular Blu-ray disc inside. I don't think it can read UHD, but the regular Blu-ray worked just fine but no LibreDrive details appeared. What kind of world do we live in that there are fake Pioneer drives? :lol:
MartyMcNuts
Posts: 4339
Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2017 11:45 pm

Re: Recommendation for best (most reliable and versatile) LibreDrive for 2024?

Post by MartyMcNuts »

darknight wrote:
Tue Dec 23, 2025 12:29 am
MartyMcNuts wrote:
Mon Dec 22, 2025 11:13 pm
darknight wrote:
Mon Dec 22, 2025 8:44 pm
Can someone tell me if I bought the wrong drive? I got this Pioneer BDR-XD08 drive but I am not seeing any of the LibreDrive information when I open MakeMKV.

Drive Information
OS device name: H:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BDR-XD08TC
Revision: 1.00
Serial number:
Bus encryption flags: 1B
Highest AACS version: 82

No disc inserted
Unless you got a UHD model (BDR-XD08UMB-S or similar) it won't be able to read UHD discs or be cross-flashed unless the firmware is pre 12/2022.

Try inserting a blu-ray disc then open MakeMKV and see if the info appears. Never heard of an XD08TC. After a little googling, this model looks fake to me. I doubt it's a real Pioneer.
So I put both a UHD and regular Blu-ray disc inside. I don't think it can read UHD, but the regular Blu-ray worked just fine but no LibreDrive details appeared. What kind of world do we live in that there are fake Pioneer drives? :lol:
Did the log window say anything about creating a firmware dump? Hopefully it did. If so, it will be located in the MakeMKV data directory. Email the dump to support@makemkv.com.

There's fake LG drives too!
Cheers :D
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For UHD enabled drives (AU/NZ/SG + Others) & DIY Single Drive Flasher (WW): https://uhdenableddrives.com
darknight
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Dec 23, 2021 8:30 pm

Re: Recommendation for best (most reliable and versatile) LibreDrive for 2024?

Post by darknight »

MartyMcNuts wrote:
Tue Dec 23, 2025 12:54 am
darknight wrote:
Tue Dec 23, 2025 12:29 am
MartyMcNuts wrote:
Mon Dec 22, 2025 11:13 pm


Unless you got a UHD model (BDR-XD08UMB-S or similar) it won't be able to read UHD discs or be cross-flashed unless the firmware is pre 12/2022.

Try inserting a blu-ray disc then open MakeMKV and see if the info appears. Never heard of an XD08TC. After a little googling, this model looks fake to me. I doubt it's a real Pioneer.
So I put both a UHD and regular Blu-ray disc inside. I don't think it can read UHD, but the regular Blu-ray worked just fine but no LibreDrive details appeared. What kind of world do we live in that there are fake Pioneer drives? :lol:
Did the log window say anything about creating a firmware dump? Hopefully it did. If so, it will be located in the MakeMKV data directory. Email the dump to support@makemkv.com.

There's fake LG drives too!
Hi, no message about making a firmware dump, and I checked the installation folder and I don't see a data folder either.
Billycar11
Posts: 5155
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2014 5:49 am

Re: Recommendation for best (most reliable and versatile) LibreDrive for 2024?

Post by Billycar11 »

darknight wrote:
Tue Dec 23, 2025 1:20 am
MartyMcNuts wrote:
Tue Dec 23, 2025 12:54 am
darknight wrote:
Tue Dec 23, 2025 12:29 am


So I put both a UHD and regular Blu-ray disc inside. I don't think it can read UHD, but the regular Blu-ray worked just fine but no LibreDrive details appeared. What kind of world do we live in that there are fake Pioneer drives? :lol:
Did the log window say anything about creating a firmware dump? Hopefully it did. If so, it will be located in the MakeMKV data directory. Email the dump to support@makemkv.com.

There's fake LG drives too!
Hi, no message about making a firmware dump, and I checked the installation folder and I don't see a data folder either.
email me about that xd08 on 1.00 it should be old enough to crossflash to do UHD
Buy a UHD drive from the guide and how to video maker: https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic ... 20&t=17831
UHD Drives Guide: https://www.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic ... 16&t=19634
Auto flash kit $25 Email me for one Billycar5924@gmail.com
darknight
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Dec 23, 2021 8:30 pm

Re: Recommendation for best (most reliable and versatile) LibreDrive for 2024?

Post by darknight »

Billycar11 wrote:
Tue Dec 23, 2025 1:58 am
darknight wrote:
Tue Dec 23, 2025 1:20 am
MartyMcNuts wrote:
Tue Dec 23, 2025 12:54 am


Did the log window say anything about creating a firmware dump? Hopefully it did. If so, it will be located in the MakeMKV data directory. Email the dump to support@makemkv.com.

There's fake LG drives too!
Hi, no message about making a firmware dump, and I checked the installation folder and I don't see a data folder either.
email me about that xd08 on 1.00 it should be old enough to crossflash to do UHD
Email sent, thanks!
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