LiteOn DVD-ROM communism

[Mercutio]

Just thought I'd let everyone know that new Lite On XJ-HD166S 16x DVD-ROM drives appear to be locked at 2x for DVD ripping, just like Toshiba drives. The last drive I have that does fullspeed rips was made in January. The two I got today were both made in early March, and both hover around 2x copy speeds even on pristine DVDs.

 

[honold]

hacked firmware could show up soon enough - monitor cdrinfo.com

 

[Pradeep]

Wow, bad news indeed. Probably work if you use one of the older firmwares for the 166S (is the XJ some new designation?)

 

[blakerwry]

i supose the practical benefit is quieter operation while watching a movie...

 

[Mercutio]

The only time LiteOn drives seem to make noise is if they're reading a data disc, and when you first put a disc in. Mine seem to be fairly quiet if I'm just watching a movie.

The other 16x models I have are LTD163s. They're cosmetically identical to the newer model.

 

[blakerwry]

The only time LiteOn drives seem to make noise is if they're reading a data disc, and when you first put a disc in. Mine seem to be fairly quiet if I'm just watching a movie.

The other 16x models I have are LTD163s. They're cosmetically identical to the newer model.

my ltd122 12x used to be loud even when just playing a DVD movie, upgrading to the newer firmware fixed that. I assume by slowing it down to 2x. It, however, does not affect ripping speeds.

 

[Mercutio]

Well, Nero tells me that this thing can't read a pristine DVD-R at anything more than 6.8x. That tears it. I'm sending this POS back.

After playing a bit today, I'm pretty sure this drive is a Sony. I've got a gen-u-ine Sony 48x CD-RW sitting here, a DRU500AX, a LiteOn 52x burner and this XJHD166S, and they're all essentially identical. The 52x LiteOn CD-RWs are visibly different from the 40x and 48x models I've seen (they're smaller, for one thing, and have a different faceplate.)

 

[Pradeep]

Merc: I have a 166S and it rips fine at full speed, no 2x shenanigans. But mine was probably manufactured in January or so. Looks like it is a recent thing. www.cdrlabs.com has some links in the forums to firmware revisions, dimitri is the guy to ask.

 

[Pradeep]

F####ing Jebus. I was just trying to rip a rather scratched DVD, and the Sony 500A still insists on maintaining a steadfast 2x speed. The disk isn't bloody protected with CSS! Arrrghh. I would use the LiteOn 16x but the POS dies in the arse with this particular DVD.

 

[Mercutio]

I've noticed that, too. The DRU500AX isn't even particularly good as a playback device. It might as well be burner-only.