Plextor PX-LB950SA

[Gigi75]

Hello,

I'm looking to buy a BD drive.
Does someone knows the Plextor PX-LB950SA?
I'm looking RPC1 firmware on http://tdb.rpc1.org/#PX760A
but it seems that nobody yet did it...

My question is :
Does Plextor PX-LB950SA is a good BD drive and is it well compatible with AnyDVD?

-> I would like to rip blu-Ray ;)

Thanks

[BurnerHEAD]

Hello,

I'm looking to buy a BD drive.
Does someone knows the Plextor PX-LB950SA?
I'm looking RPC1 firmware on http://tdb.rpc1.org/#PX760A
but it seems that nobody yet did it...

My question is :
Does Plextor PX-LB950SA is a good BD drive and is it well compatible with AnyDVD?

-> I would like to rip blu-Ray ;)

Thanks

Plextor is not what it used to be in the past. Forget it.

Have a look at the Pioneer BDR-205 or BDR-206. These are the best drives at the moment ;) Attention: do not buy the BDR-206D Model if you're located in the EU

Best Regards,
BurnerHEAD

[Adbear]

I'd have to disagree, the LG and Lite-on drives are just as good as the Pioneer and cheaper

[Gigi75]

Hello BurnerHEAD,

Ok, thanks. Why not the BDR-206D model in EU (I live in France)
Do you know if it exists RPC1 for Pioneer BDR-205 and BDR-206?

Do you think that LG / Lite-on drives are as good as Pionner - I mean, for rip Blu-Ray... and in terms of fiability...

Thank you BurnerHEAD and Adbear

[BurnerHEAD]

Hello BurnerHEAD,

Ok, thanks. Why not the BDR-206D model in EU (I live in France)
Do you know if it exists RPC1 for Pioneer BDR-205 and BDR-206?

Do you think that LG / Lite-on drives are as good as Pionner - I mean, for rip Blu-Ray... and in terms of fiability...

Thank you BurnerHEAD and Adbear

The former Plextor PX-B940SA Model was a Pioneer BDR-205. The PX-LB950SA Model is a Lite-On iHBS212. I read a review in the "ct" (computer magazin, must also exist in France) and it said that the 940 Model is far better than the 950 Model.

As regarding RPC1 Firmware, you probably won't need it, if you own AnyDVD ;) (I don't use RPC1 on any drive and my US discs work)

I was one of the first in the EU to get the BDR-206 and it was a bulk model called BDR-206DBK. If you have the chance to get the BDR-206 normal than you should take that one. the D model is specially for Europe I guess and the firmware are different. In February update 1.05 was released for BDR-206, while in late March the 1.05 update was released for the BDR-206D. So I guess, the BDR-206D might get firmware updates later than the normal BDR-206.

But nowadays the BDR-206BK Model is offered now in Europe so check out for that one.
http://www.heise.de/preisvergleich/eu/a608735.html

Pioneer is one of the only manufactures than constantly supports you with updates.

LG is crap (sorry Adbear, I disagree) because it has a rip-lock and bluray ripping is slow without doing several patches, etc.

I used several different drives (LG, Sony, Samsung) before and I must say that Pioneer is doing the best job.

It's just my opinion and others might say different. Other drives might get similar results with doing some patches, I don't know.

All I know is that Plextor is way overprized, so if you want one of those Plextors get the real drive instead.

Another tip: Read reviews on myce.com or similar pages that have good reputation. All those reviews I read about BDR-205 and BDR-206 showed to me, that the burning results of Pioneer are outperforming the competitors.

Best Regards,
BurnerHEAD

[Gigi75]

Thank you so much BurnerHEAD for your clear and detailed explanations.
I will for sure buy a BDR-206BK or BDR-205.
You totally had convinced me!

:bowdown:

[Adbear]

The LG drive is not crap. I've installed over 400 of them so far with no returns , they come with a 2 year warranty and so far have been the most reliable drives we've ever used. You don't have to do several patches to remove the riplock, just one. And you yourself were the one who had a lot of problems finding the correct official firmware for the Pioneer drive to flash it as your ripping speeds were really slow until you updated it. (I think you were getting less than 1 speed)
As to regular firmware updates, that isn't necessarily a good thing. If a drive is good in the first place then there's no need for newer updates. The more updates tends to mean they have to keep tweaking it because the read/writing instructions were poorly implemented in the first place
I can only hope that Pioneer learnt their lesson on Blu-ray drives after the very poor 203 range that broke down very quickly and were very poor at reading and writing discs even after all the firmware updates. We had to stop using them and ended up replacing most of them as they pretty much all failed within the first year.
The 206 drive also seems to be a bit of a scam as there appears to be no real difference between the 205 and the 206 except price

[Gigi75]

Dear Adbear,

Ok! you made me thought...
If I buy a LG, which one is the best?

Regards,

[Adbear]

Lg bh10ls30. As with all Blu-ray writers just don't burn the disc faster than they are rated for as this can cause issues, not always but sometimes they fail verification or burn. This happens on all brands of writer

[BurnerHEAD]

Lg bh10ls30. As with all Blu-ray writers just don't burn the disc faster than they are rated for as this can cause issues, not always but sometimes they fail verification or burn. This happens on all brands of writer

Unfortunately I'm not allowed to post the quality tests of the burning results of LG BH10LS30 and Pioneer BDR-205, but Adbear know them, don't you? ;)

BDR-206 uses PCAV, so it must be a little faster.

And my BDR-206 problems were not related to ripping, just to burning BD-RE media from Verbatim :D

[Adbear]

No quality issues at all with the LG drives, have written literally thousands of discs, for over 3 years using their drives with the only failures being when I try to burn the discs faster than their rated speeds, And even my earliest discs are still playing strong with no playback issues or ripping issues when I rip back to harddrive.

Oh and the LG drive also uses PCAV

[Gigi75]

Unfortunately I'm not allowed to post the quality tests of the burning results of LG BH10LS30 and Pioneer BDR-205, but Adbear know them, don't you? ;)

BDR-206 uses PCAV, so it must be a little faster.

And my BDR-206 problems were not related to ripping, just to burning BD-RE media from Verbatim :D
Dear BurnHEAD,

Do you mean that BDR-206DBK could have some troubles to burn BD-RE from Verbatim (only Verbatim?)
Does it mean that this troubles doesn't exists with 205 or BDR-206BK or an other 206 model - not EU ?

Can you give me the URL where I can find the quality tests you talk about? (you can give it to me in private mail)

Thank you very much

[Gigi75]

No quality issues at all with the LG drives, have written literally thousands of discs, for over 3 years using their drives with the only failures being when I try to burn the discs faster than their rated speeds, And even my earliest discs are still playing strong with no playback issues or ripping issues when I rip back to harddrive.

Oh and the LG drive also uses PCAV
Dear Adbear,

I don't know about PCAV. What's that?
Does it can be enable by software of need a firmware upgrade?
What is your PCs (mother board, memory, bus...)

Thank you very much

[Adbear]

PCAV is the way that it reads the discs, doesn't need enabling, it's already there.

I'm a system builder so use various Mobo's depends on what you want it for, but mainly use Asus and gigabyte. This is how I can get to test various drives and know that the LG's have no real world issues with writing or with the discs working long term

[Gigi75]

PCAV is the way that it reads the discs, doesn't need enabling, it's already there.

I'm a system builder so use various Mobo's depends on what you want it for, but mainly use Asus and gigabyte. This is how I can get to test various drives and know that the LG's have no real world issues with writing or with the discs working long term
Thank a lot Adbear

[dvdit]

I have the Pioneer BDR-205, it is the best drive I have ever used.

[Gigi75]

I have the Pioneer BDR-205, it is the best drive I have ever used.
Thanks a lot dvdit, I think I'll buy BDR-205 or BDR-206BK.
Do you have issues with Verbatim BD-RE ?
Which model do you think is better ?

[dvdit]

Thanks a lot dvdit, I think I'll buy BDR-205 or BDR-206BK.
Do you have issues with E ?
Which model do you think is better ?

I have not used a BD-RE at all. However, I have burned a lot of Verbatim BD-R (Model 96769, the only brand I trust for longevity)) and I never had a single coaster. Not only that, but all burn verified by ImgBurn after burn and then check by Nero Scan disc and all come out perfect. Even though this drive can burn the Verbatim BD-R @ x10, I only burn @ 4x for the sake of data integrity.

[Gigi75]

I have not used a BD-RE at all. However, I have burned a lot of Verbatim BD-R (Model 96769, the only brand I trust for longevity)) and I never had a single coaster. Not only that, but all burn verified by ImgBurn after burn and then check by Nero Scan disc and all come out perfect. Even though this drive can burn the Verbatim BD-R @ x10, I only burn @ 4x for the sake of data integrity.
Thank you dvdit for your answer.
I'm going to buy a BDR-205 or BDR-206BK.

[dvdit]

Thank you dvdit for your answer.
I'm going to buy a BDR-205 or BDR-206BK.

Google and read about the Pioneer 206 before you pull the trigger. I can't remember where I read it but they were recommending to stay away from Pioneer 206D. I don't know which region they sell the D model of the 206. I am looking to buy another 205 but the price seems to be around $140 where as the 206 averages around $116. Let me know if you find a 205 at a good price i.e. ~$110 range.

[Gigi75]

Google and read about the Pioneer 206 before you pull the trigger. I can't remember where I read it but they were recommending to stay away from Pioneer 206D. I don't know which region they sell the D model of the 206. I am looking to buy another 205 but the price seems to be around $140 where as the 206 averages around $116. Let me know if you find a 205 at a good price i.e. ~$110 range.
206D is for EU... the firmware are different and not recommanded. I'm from France. I'll find a 205 or 206BK.
I'll keep informed about the place and price.

Thank you again

[snowey]

hi the plextor drive in question is a supeb faultles drive and i did much research before i bought mine a couple of monts ago and have no complaints wotsoever i have no qualms about reccomending this excelent drive!!!

[Gigi75]

hi the plextor drive in question is a supeb faultles drive and i did much research before i bought mine a couple of monts ago and have no complaints wotsoever i have no qualms about reccomending this excelent drive!!!
Thank you snowey, I'm not yet make my mine...

[vbritt]

Gigi75,

I have 4 LG blu-ray burners and all 4 are still working fine after a year of continued use.

To update the firmware on the LG drives you have to locate and install the LG-ODD Auto Firmware Update program if you purchase a OEM drive. If you buy a retail drive the program in on the disc that ships with the drive. Otherwise, you can't find any firmware updates for the drives. Other than that one quirk I have nothing bad to say about the performance of the drives.

I would feel just as secure recommending LiteOn drives too. Plextor drives used to be the best burner out there and was well worth the extra money. Now they re-bandage other manufacturers drives and are way over priced.

vbritt

[Gigi75]

Gigi75,

I have 4 LG blu-ray burners and all 4 are still working fine after a year of continued use.

To update the firmware on the LG drives you have to locate and install the LG-ODD Auto Firmware Update program if you purchase a OEM drive. If you buy a retail drive the program in on the disc that ships with the drive. Otherwise, you can't find any firmware updates for the drives. Other than that one quirk I have nothing bad to say about the performance of the drives.

I would feel just as secure recommending LiteOn drives too. Plextor drives used to be the best burner out there and was well worth the extra money. Now they re-bandage other manufacturers drives and are way over priced.

vbritt

Dear vbritt,

Thank you very much for these informations.
Best regards,

Guillaume