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I am interested in purchasing a new cd/dvd burner but I am having a hard time deciding which one to get. I will mostly use it for ripping mp3 to audio cd, dvd ripping and copying, and data backup for mp3 and video files. I am not really concerned about speed, but quality is of high importance. Whichever drive I purchase I am going to use it as an external drive, and am wondering if that makes a difference in deciding which one to purchase. I have done a lot of research the past week and have narrowed it down to 4 that I like and that are available as external drives, either retail or with enclosures already constructed. These are the four I have narrowed it down to: Pioneer DVR-111D, Samsung SH-S182M, Lite On SHM-165P6SX, and LG GSA-H42 (read that the H22 is better but cannot find an external one available). If any one has some feedback about my dilema it would be greatly apprecitated. Also, I am hoping to get a burner that can burn 99 min media, but quality is more important and I would be willing to sacrifice some features. Price is not really and issue, all of them are basically the same exact the Lite On is around $15 cheaper. Thanks for any help given!

I'd get an internal Pioneer and stick it in a separate USB case.

The Pioneer does everything well and I have successfully used it in an
external case without problem. It's a great recommendation. I have been using LG drives in external cases for years with great success also. Right now I use an LG to rip CDs (they are very good at reading less-than-perfect discs) and the Pioneer to rip DVDs.They both burn cds and dvds very well, but again I think the Lgs are a little better at cds and the Pioneer a little better at dvds. Only problem with the LG is that it is a mighty slow DVD ripper, thought good quality. I have bought and returned two differecnt LiteOn burners in their own external cases as they gave me nothing but trouble. However, if you are into quality scans, they can do them while the Pioneer and LG can't.

Both the LG and the Pioneer can use UDMA 4, which helps them burn at high speed when used in an external enclosure.

Personally, between my LG H22N and my Pioneer 111D, I prefer the Pioneer, which gives better write quality to a bigger range of DVD media than does the LG. There's region free firmware available for both but the Pioneer is a much faster DVD ripper than the LG, faster even than my BenQ's.

With the right media, the LG gives great writing quality and very fast burns, but it seems to have a particularly long disc recognition time which can be annoying.

2Dogs, check my avatar.

Bdr187 wrote:I am interested in purchasing a new cd/dvd burner but I am having a hard time deciding which one to get. I will mostly use it for ripping mp3 to audio cd, dvd ripping and copying, and data backup for mp3 and video files. I am not really concerned about speed, but quality is of high importance. Whichever drive I purchase I am going to use it as an external drive, and am wondering if that makes a difference in deciding which one to purchase. I have done a lot of research the past week and have narrowed it down to 4 that I like and that are available as external drives, either retail or with enclosures already constructed. These are the four I have narrowed it down to: Pioneer DVR-111D, Samsung SH-S182M, Lite On SHM-165P6SX, and LG GSA-H42 (read that the H22 is better but cannot find an external one available). If any one has some feedback about my dilema it would be greatly apprecitated. Also, I am hoping to get a burner that can burn 99 min media, but quality is more important and I would be willing to sacrifice some features. Price is not really and issue, all of them are basically the same exact the Lite On is around $15 cheaper. Thanks for any help given!

Go to the www.frys.com and order DVD Burner "HI-VAL" for cost of $29.99, this drive is repackage of BenQ 1650 which is very good quality drive. Good Luck