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Lite-On 40/12/48X CD-RW
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Posted by Robin
Posted on 23/06/02 16:00
Number of views 10816
Menu
 Conclusion
 Introduction
 Package content
 The specifications
 Data reading tests
 Music reading tests
 Reading scratched discs
 Writing tests
 Write Quality
 Backing up protected data discs
 CD-ReWriting Performance
 Special CD-R disc tests
 General & Conclusion
Text Size  Text Size
Conclusion
 

General usage

This is not a quiet drive, but we have heard worse. The LTR-48125W do make some noise while writing, LTR-40125S with ZS0A firmware do also make a bit noise when writing every time it have changed writespeed(due to Zone-CLV). The LTR-40125S with firmware ZS0J is not very noisy when writing due to the reduced rotation speed that P-CAV writing with this firmware gives. All drives makes the same amount of noise while reading. The tray screams a bit when opening and closing, this is due to the gears used when opening and closing the tray. The drive acts fast and good as a reader as well. This is not the best looking drive available as it looks pretty plain and boring compared to some other drives. But all in all we are pretty satisfied with the drive, so now it's time to make a conclusion:

Lite-On LTR-40125S:

  • +40X Writing, Partial-CAV writing with firmware ZS0J.
  • +12X ReWriting
  • +48X Reading
  • +Mount Rainier supported with firmware ZS0J
  • +Extremely good Mount Rainier performance.
  • +Supports RAW-DAO and subchannel reading
  • +Backups most protected games and applications.
  • +Supports 'Correct EFM encoding of regular bit-patters" which makes backing up safedisc 2 protected games easier.
  • +Retail package
  • +Nero burning ROM software included
  • +SMART-BURN
  • +SMART-X
  • +Supports writing 99 minutes disc (overburning)
  • +Supports CD-TEXT
  • +Very good DAE performance
  • +Attractive price compared to many other drives.
  • +Many selectable writespeeds between 4X and 40X
  • +SMART-BURN could be disabled for 'Experimental usage", although it's not really fully disabled as the drive still drops the speed if needed on low quality media.
  • -Relatively bad documentation
  • -IDE cable and printed manual not included in retail package.
  • -Only 2Mb buffer
  • -Can't read many protected audio discs
  • -A bit noisy
  • -SMART-BURN allows writing to disc at higher speeds than what the discs are certified for and then results in discs with less than excellent quality in some cases.
  • -Shipped without Mount Rainier support although this was advertised as supported on the webpage, but is now supported with firmware ZS0J.
Scores when overclocked to a LTR-48125W will be identical except for the write speed that is 48X CAV.

Now what score do this drive really deserve? Let us compare the drive to our other 40X Writer; The TEAC CD-W540E which we gave a 10 out of 10 score. The TEAC includes a bit more in the retail package, and have a larger 8Mb buffer. But on the other side the Lite-On could backup some games where the TEAC failed and have better DAE reading speeds and better write speed. To make it even better it's superior when it comes to Mount Rainier performance. We had some problems when it came to write quality, but we suspect this to be due to the fact that none of the disc we used was certified for more than 32X or even lower. When 40X and 48X media hits the stores and the drive have got some more firmware updates we think this problem will disappear. The TEAC and Lite-On both have their strong sides and their weak sides. Lite-On is offering very good performance and a retail package for a very low price compared to many competitors. It's not perfect but close, so we give it a 9.5 out of 10 score. To some this may seem a bit low since the TEAC that is not perfect either got a 10 out of 10 score, and to other the negative point may be important and they think the drive deserves less than 9.5 out of 10.

A Note: OC-Freak and CD-Freaks do not recommend or take any responsibility for overclocking CD-RW drives. Overclocking your CD-RW drive voids your warranty and may damage the drive. It may also shorten down the lifetime of the CD-RW drive and give less writing quality, which may result in unreadable CD-R discs and loss of data.

The lowest listed price on www.pricewatch.com is $54 for the LTR-40125S and $80 for the LTR-48125W, these prices is without shipping costs (prices from 22.06.2002).

Introduction
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Posted by MP|3 on Thursday 27 June 2002 03:10
Complete review uploaded! Have fun with this great review :p
Posted by OC-Freak on Thursday 27 June 2002 21:52
PLEASE comment this review. Over 5000 views and no comments?

Both positive and negative comments wanted. Quetions welcomed as well.
Posted by on Friday 28 June 2002 06:34
Great review, already own the drive, wanted to see where you had it rated. Speed is great, even though I think its not as loud as listed, but other than that and its boring looks, this drive rocks! Good tests, indepth and professional, keep up the good work!
Mike
Posted by ExSport on Saturday 29 June 2002 01:59
Very good review. But I don't understand why Lite-on has only 9.5 and Teac 10. In 90% of tests Liteon was the best and TEAC was second. LITEON has best price,speed,game backup,and so on).I think it's minimally the same as TEAC, maybe better. I have LITE-ON, I know what I say.
Posted by on Saturday 29 June 2002 21:42
If you want more comments how about fixing the pull down menu code so it works in netscape6/mozilla/opera so people can create a login, or better still allow anonymous posting.

Great review, very thorough.

I must stress that the drive is ugly looking and the loader try is very loud and cheap feeling. I prefer the LG 40X over the Lite-On 40x because of this although technically they both perform well.
Posted by Fish3669 on Saturday 29 June 2002 22:09
I thought the review covered the drive very well, as do the other reviews here. I already have this drive and I like it :7
Posted by cj2304 on Sunday 07 July 2002 12:09
Good, indepth & informative review. Well done! I have this drive myself and can't fault it.
Posted by on Friday 12 July 2002 19:59
Fantastic review. I will have to read your reviews about other drives as well. I like the speed and performance of this drive, but there was one aspect which seemed unclear. These discs that are written with SmartBurn, shouldn't they be completely free of all bad sectors or damaged sectors? I can understand that some CD-R's are crap, but I would think that the Smart-Burn would be able to lower the speed to the point where one could expect 100% perfect burns. I have an old Plextor 8X, and am looking to upgrade, these fast burners are great, but what I still want is 100% perfect recording, even if the drive drops to 24X writing, I would expect that if the media is good enough (certified 24X), it would always write perfectly.

I want to check the rest of your reviews to see which drive writes perfectly every single time, whenever it's "active-media detection" technology is engaged.
Posted by on Friday 19 July 2002 21:25
Great review. I went right out and bought one. What is the difference between thew S and W models? Do you lose anything?
Posted by on Monday 29 July 2002 04:15
Australian PC User has reviewed the 40125W the "best buy". They found it both cheap and reliable. I checked with the elby CloneCD 4 web site (http://elby.ch/english/products/clone_cd/writers/l.html#liteon) and it says it supports DAO96.

So there you go. Looks like this will be the first CD-burner for this newbie. :4
Posted by on Sunday 04 August 2002 13:26
Great review. I was trying to decide whether to get the Asus 4816A or the Lite-On 40125S after my Acer 4x4x32 finally died :4. Thanks for making my mind up :) I'm going to buy the Lite-On this week.
Posted by MythosGR on Tuesday 03 September 2002 13:55
Great review as always. But I had the teac in my mind till now and Im more confused cause of the score you gave both!
Posted by on Friday 06 September 2002 04:49
first thang first...CD Freaks!? mega indepth and wicked review you've got here! LTR-40125S IS THE KING!!! it's a supurb burning machine! i bought the drive five days before reading the review, mainly cuz a friend told me that it can be overclocked. on the first day i got it, i burned more than 20 perfect cds consecutively. i very much enjoy it's lightning speed. i believe that your review should give it 9.9 (cuz nothing is perfect in the world) for the time being as there will be more great drives in the near future, and teac should only get 9 outta 10. i'm not being bias or anything..as i have never used teac before, but the review clearly speaks for itself, that the performance of liteon surpassed teac. the best part is flashable firmware enabling anyone to overclock it and still running rock solid. sometimes, overclocking isn't all that bad cuz it can show what a hardward is capable of. for me the strongest factor which makes liteon superior to other brands is "value of money". it's not the cheapest rw in town, but it surely has one of the lowest caparable price on today's market. especially when overclocked it will make 40125S the cheapest 48X drive available..so worthy you can even buy a spare in case you wreck the first one. the noise the tray makes and the plainess and dullness of the front to me are bearable. i simply just luv everything about my 40125S. LITEON RULES MAN!!!
Posted by on Wednesday 30 October 2002 09:34
gr8 review. made me buy the Liteon.
Please explain on the possiblity to use a x48 firmware on this machine.
although not legal/voids warranty / with risks, is it simple to do? possible?
Any elaboration is welcomed. Thanks.
Posted by theunbeatable on Friday 06 December 2002 23:31
For better support on copy-protected cd's you could use the newest firmware ZS0P. So makes that a 10 out of 10 ;)
Posted by megod on Tuesday 10 December 2002 06:32
Just did a Quick test burning a Simulated 699mb file 588 solid Win RAR File & a 111mb Video file on a 16x Certified Go Tech "Cheap shit media",
LTR-48125w Safeburn off 48x "2.43min"
LTR-48125w Safeburn on 40x "3.09min"
Yamaha CRW3200e Write speed Off 24x "3.52min"
Yamaha CRW3200e Write speed On 24x "3.53min"
I must say I am Impressed with the LiteOn.
Cheers
megod:9

Posted by on Friday 21 February 2003 23:25
I've got this LTR-48125S. Whenever overburning is involved, any speed higher than 16x will be successful, but Scandisc shows Unreadable sectors! How could the reviewer managed to get a fully readable burn on a 99min CDR with 48X?!?! This drive must be something!

Besides, my drive shows success on overburning test using this CD Speed, even @ 99min using an 80min CD-R
Brand: Arita
Manuf: RiTEK
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