In House Review - LG BH08LS20 8x Blu-ray Disc ReWriter

[Ian]

Today, CDRLabs brings you an in depth review of LG's 8x Blu-ray Disc rewriter, the BH08LS20. This new Super Multi Blue drive is capable of 8x BD-R, 8x BD-R DL and 2x BD-RE writing speeds and a maximum BD-ROM read speed of 8x. The BH08LS20 is also backwards compatible with all major CD and DVD formats and includes features like HP's LightScribe Direct Disc Labeling system.


LG BH08LS20 Super Multi Blue Blu-ray Disc ReWriter

[burticus]

Nice review Ian.

I picked one of these up at Fry's for $189 2 or 3 weeks ago. The hardware performs well, but I am struggling in the movie backup department. I know it's a little off topic, but have you played around with that yet?

As BD-R media slowly comes down in price (I got a 15 pack of Ritek BD-R at Fry's for $34.99, and it has not been that cheap since) I think this is going to become a popular topic.

[Ian]

Thanks burticus.

I totally agree. Once the price of media comes down, a lot more people are going to try to back up their Blu-ray movies. Unfortunately, I really haven't found a really simple way to fit say a 50GB movie onto a 25GB BD-R disc.

[burticus]

BD-Rebuilder can be used to re-encode the movies into AVCHD to fit on BD-5, BD-9, BD-25. I have been playing with it a lot this week. It works for the most part but it is S-L-O-W, my last run took just over 24 hours (this does not include ripping or burning time, just the re-encode). Granted that machine is not a powerhouse, it's an Athlon X2 3800. A speedy quad core would be welcome here. As far as ripping goes AnydvdHD seems to be the popular choice but it is expensive. DVDFAB is dipping it's toes into BR ripping but it's hit or miss so far. Doom9 has lots of info but be prepared to read 5000 pages of forum posts.

One thing is certain, DVD-Shrink spoiled us and will be missed.

I have read about a "modified" firmware for the BH08LS20 that improves the BR movie ripping speed. However I'm not ready to void my warranty just yet, so I can live with 4X for now.

[bobmitchell]

Ian...

Question...have you found any new firmwares for the 08LS20??? I see where most have firmware 1.0

Thanks

Bob

[Ian]

Nope. Kinda surprising considering how long its been on the market. Then again, its pretty good as is.

[Ian]

ZZF has it for $155 after rebate.

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDe ... e=10010970

[Scour]

Nice review, Ian

I think it´s a pretty good drive, looks nice, but could be faster at reading some media. But overburn to 95:10 is good, it´s more than many DVD-writers can do. But tbh, I very rarely overburn CD-R, I prefer DVD

I´m also wait for better prices of BD-drives and media, atm this drive cost 163€ in germany, thats 2day ~ 245 $

[Ian]

The BH08LS20 isn't perfect, but IMO its the best 8x BD writer out there. The price will probably be dropping soon as LG's 10x BD writer is already shipping in Asia.

[burticus]

Ian,

Have you had any luck finding new firmware for this thing? I cannot even find this product on the LG website.

I just bought a 3 pack of Memorex BD-RE for $30 and I cannot format any of them to 100%. Imgburn says they are Ritek. One disc will go to 77% then bomb, another will go to 20%. My Sony BD-RE disc has no problems. Silly me for wanting to save a buck or five on rewritable media. And of course I tossed the box they came in first thing, good thinking on my part.

I have no problems burning Ritek BD-R, but these BD-RE are ticking me off and there is no firmware to be found. WAH!

I did find a reference to a Buffalo firmware for the same drive but the page was all Japanese so I didn't bother.

[Ian]

rpc1.org has a 1.00-03 listed. I have no idea if that's any different than the 1.00 that ships on the drive.

http://files.rpc1.org/index.php?act=view&id=5687

[Scour]

well, did the drive-name shows more than the first 4 letters?

[burticus]

Ian,

I tried the 1.00-03. It might be a small step forward as mine originally showed 1.00-00. After the flash it will now format 2 of the 3 BD-RE discs (#3 will not get past 70-80% no matter what, tried 3 different programs to format). However when I went to burn one it burned at 1x which is way too slow even for a BD-RE.

BUT what is perhaps more important is now I have a failsafe firmware to fall back on... so maybe I'll try the Buffalo firmware and see what happens.

[Ian]

If its burning at 1x, you probably have error checking or whatever its called enabled in the software you're using.

[Dartman]

That's also what happened to my GGW-H20L on my first try at writing a disk. Nero defualts to error checking while burning and it went at 1x or less speed.
It's a 6x combo burner but the problem and solution should apply to your unit as well. Check the setting and turn it off and you should be good to go. Some of the other burning programs do the same thing so poke around your options.

[Ian]

There's now a 2.00 firmware available.

Product Support for BH08LS20

[burticus]

Thanks, Ian! I will try that new one when I get home tonight.

I don't think I have error checking enabled, the Sony BD-RE burns at 2.4x, just these Memorex ones go at 1x. Using IMGBURN.

[burticus]

Flashed up to 2.00. The release notes only say something about Windows 7 compatibility. The one Memorex / Ritek BD-RE that wouldn't format still won't, and the other still burns at 1.1x speed.

[Scour]

Sounds not that good :\

[hoxlund]

Ok just bought this LG from newegg on the 1st: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6827136176

its the WH08LS20, whats the difference?

should be delivered mid next week

on the same order i bought this guy: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6827136168

cause when i just want to burn dvd/cd i don't want to tax the bluray burner

sorry ive been gone so long guys, miss this place

[hoxlund]

One thing is certain, DVD-Shrink spoiled us and will be missed.

thats for damn sure, but ive been using anydvd for awhile, paired with imgburn its very nice, and imgburn is great for 360 images

[Ian]

Ok just bought this LG from newegg on the 1st: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6827136176

its the WH08LS20, whats the difference?

I've been wondering that as well. Knowing LG, its probably just a different chipset or something.

[Scour]

Could it be an OEM-drive, like some LG-DVD-writer-series?

[Ian]

Could it be an OEM-drive, like some LG-DVD-writer-series?

I thought that too but the one hox bought from Newegg was retail.

[Scour]

Did LG still use Renesas-chipsets? I dunno that much about BD-writers