Suggested Drive For Reading Iffy Discs?

[meeshu]

I've read some posts here, and also done some online searches, but there doesn't seem to be any currently available drives (DVD and/or Blu-ray writers/readers) that are specifically recommended for reading iffy discs (scratch marks, failing media etc.)(?)

I know that there were/are some drives manufactured around 2006 or so that were/are good at reading iffy discs, but it seems the current generation of drives may not be good at reading iffy discs(?)

Cleaning discs might help to some degree with scratch and/or scuff marks, but will not help with failing media itself. Also, some discs may no longer be available to purchase or to rent, so replacing discs is not always an option.

It is understood that there is often some variation in the ability of specific models of drives to read iffy discs due to drive part and assembly tolerances. But that aside, what drives that are currently available are considered good at reading iffy discs, please?

Thanks for all constructive comments!

[brispuss]

I have been and still am testing some presently available drives, including -

Plextor PX-891SAF (a LiteOn rebadge or clone)
LiteOn iHAS324 B
LG GH24NSD1
Asus DVD-818A9T (reader only, doesn't write discs)
LiteOn iHAS324 C
LiteOn iHAS124 F
Samsung SH-224GB

The best performing drive (faster reading faulty/failing data) so far seems to be the LiteOn iHAS324 C.

The next best seems to be the LiteOn iHAS124 F.

All of the other drives seem to be a bit slower at detecting/reading faulty data.

[johnmeyer]

There certainly is a difference in drive's abilities to handle degraded discs. However, my experience is that the nature of the degradation makes a difference in which drive is going to be successful.

In general, the original Plextor drives (i.e., the one's they actually manufactured themselves) were the best drives ever made, and that includes their ability to read bad discs. You have to find the one's that were manufactured by them, before they simply started re-branding other drives. I think your 2006 date is about right.

[Cornucopia]

Use ISOBuster with managed image files (IBP/IBQ) and leverage the BEST-OF multiple drives' ripping capabilities.

Scott

[meeshu]

Thanks for the comments.

Trying to get a good (working) Plextor drive and/or a BenQ DW1620 drive (which I understand is also a good reader) manufactured circa 2006 would be ideal, but it would be difficult and probably expensive also.

It is also understood that use of several different drives may be necessary in order to read iffy discs. But it would help to have a (short) list of suggested drives that are known to be good at reading data off iffy discs.

The LiteOn iHAS124 and iHAS324 drives have been noted as possible drives to be used.

Any other recommended currently available drives, please?

[usually_quiet]

Note the letter following the main model number for the LiteOn drive models listed by brispuss. It is important. LiteOn adds letters or numbers after the primary model number to differentiate the various versions of that drive that they have made over the years.

For example, Liteon used the iHAS324 model number for several years, but in that time they revised the hardware and firmware they use for that the drive more than once. The MediaTek chipsets LiteOn used made some versions of the iHAS324 superior to other versions of the same model for reading iffy DVDs. The versions up to and including "C" used these chipsets. Later versions did not use the same chipset and aren't as good.

[aedipuss]

old pioneer, optiarc and samsungs were pretty good, but if i had to buy right now i'd go with asus or samsung. i still use old dvd drives with hacked firmware in my i7 box. i have spares stored away
I 15:37:57 -> Drive 1 - Info: HL-DT-ST BD-RE BH10LS30 1.02-A0 (Y (ATA)
I 15:37:58 -> Drive 2 - Info: Optiarc DVD RW AD-5280S 1.Z8 (X (ATA)
I 15:37:58 -> Drive 3 - Info: PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-115D 1.18-GENERAL (Z (ATA)

[brispuss]

Just to add to previous comments.

The LiteOn series of drives used different controller chipsets with each revision of drive. For example, my iHAS324 B drive has a different chipset than my iHAS324 C drive. And the iHAS324 C drive reads failing data better than the iHAS324 B drive with the different chipset.

I also have a Pioneer DVR-215 drive and an Optiarc AD-7200A drive, but both are poor at reading failing DVD data, and are therefore not recommended.

[LittleGreen]

Not an answer, but a question. I gathered the old drives are better because the lenses were actual glass, not plastic that goes opaque with time. You mention assembly tolerances. What else might be important?

[meeshu]

Component tolerances are also a consideration. Each component is usually manufactured to tight tolerances, but due to these tolerances, two of the same components are unlikely to be exactly alike. The variations in component tolerances can have an accumulating effect which in turn effects the accuracy of the drive to read and/or write data.

In addition to using better quality and tighter toleranced components and also high(er) quality assembly, it is my understanding that (some of) the earlier drives were/are better at reading (failing) data off DVD's due to the use of certain controller chipsets and accompanying firmware being more adaptable to reading poor quality/failing data. The current chipsets/firmware are not as adaptable to (reading) poor data, apparently. Also the quality of components and assembly appears to have dropped off which in turn affects the ability of drives to perform to expectations.

Whether the optics were glass or "plastic" may not be a consideration, at least not in the short term. But over time the optics may deteriorate which in turn will affect drive performance.

[cornemuse]

I use only liteon drives in my desktops.
When I have problems I go to my Toshiba (A-505 laptop). It usually works when the desktop fails. If it (Tosh) doesnt work, my last resort is a really old (10-12 years +) Toshiba laptop (A-?? Satallite with xp home!) it almost always works but takes 45 min - 1 hour to read dvds. It is my last resort.
(its cdr/w & dvd read only)

-c-