CDFreaks Poll
Are you HD Ready? What's the resolution of your HDTV?
720p
1080i
1080p
I don't have an HDTV
Based on 1320 ratings
Samsung TS-E552U external DVD Burner
Post reaction (5 reactions)
Stay updated on this item
Mail to ...
Print

detail information

Posted by Jan S.
Posted on 06/03/05 17:37
Number of views 9594
Menu
 Conclusion
 Introduction
 Features
 Reading performance
 CD-R/W Writing performance
 DVD+R/RW Writing performance
 DVD-R/RW Writing performance
 DVD+R9 DL Writing performance
 Advanced tests
Text Size  Text Size
Introduction
 

 

Review: Samsung TS-E552U
Reviewer: Jan70
Provided by: Samsung Europe (NL)
Firmware: US03
Manufactured: January 2005

Samsung Europe (NL) was kind enough to send us their latest External DVD writer - the Samsung TS-E552U. This drive supports 16x DVD±R, 4x DVD±RW and 6x DVD+R9 DL writing technology - allowing dual layer discs of 8.5Gb to be written.

Company information:

We are sure that most of you know Samsung already, but let us take a look at some of the company information found at: www.samsungoms-europe.com


As a world leader in the field of digital media, Samsung Electronics produces Optical Disc Drives (ODD) since 1994. In the past few years Samsung was able to take a central market position in this field.

With subsidiaries all over Europe and a large part of the former USSR, Samsung Europe can offer the consumer a complete selection of disc drives, for all types of computers.

With large and continuous investments in research and development Samsung is able to be more and more at the forefront of disc drive technology.
As one of the first companies developing COMBO drives (DVD-ROM and CD-RW combined in one disc drive), Samsung is a frontrunner in this technology.
In the field of slim-line technologies, Samsung is expanding the line-up, in order to meet the demands of the market for desktop and notebook PCs.

Samsung offers a wide range of Optical Disc Drives, allowing customers to choose the exact combination of capabilities and features. Our products feature the latest noise suppression technologies. If you are looking for a high performance Optical Drive, you need look no further than Samsung.

If you are interested in reading more company information, please visit: www.samsungoms-europe.com

Drive specifications:

The listed specification of this drive was found on the retail box:

Reading Speed

  • DVD±R/±RW-/ROM : 8x/8x/16x
  • CD-R/-RW/-ROM : 48x/32x/48x 

Writing Speed

  • DVD±R : 16x 
  • DVD±RW : 4x  
  • DVD+R Double Layer : 4x
  • CD-R : 40x 
  • CD-RW : 32x

Supported Discs 

  • DVD+R
  • DVD+RW
  • DVD-R
  • DVD-RW
  • DVD-Video
  • DVD-ROM
  • CD-R
  • CD-RW
  • CD-ROM
  • CD-ROM/XA
  • CD-Audio
  • Video CD
  • Photo CD
  • CD-I (FMV)
  • CD-Extra
  • CD-TEXT

Buffer

  • 2 MB

Interface

  • USB 2.0

Supported OS

  • Windows 98 SE / ME / 2000 / XP

Dimensions (W x H x D)

  • 175 mm x 54 mm x 245 mm 

Weight

  • 1450g 


What's inside the box?

On this page we will take a look at what the drive came shipped with and take a look at the drive and its technology.


Front


Back


Top/Bottom


Left side


Right Side

Below you will see the contents of the retail box:

  • The external drive itself
  • AC/DC Power adapter
  • Power supply cable (Euro connector)
  • Power supply cable (UK connector)
  • USB 2.0 Cable
  • Quick install guide
  • Samsung external DVD±R/RW Writemaster CD:
    1. User's Manual
    2. Pinnacle Instant CD/DVD 8 OEM

Now it's time to take a look at the drive itself:

A standard bezel with logos of supported writing formats - except for the DVD+R9 DL logo - which is missing. Head phone connector and volume knob is missing too. The drive uses one small coloured led (green) for read and write (we prefer a different led colour though for writing). The eject knob is transparent and in 'the dark" it 'flashes" together with the read/write led.


Top

On top of the drive we also find an imprint of the Samsung Logo.


Underside

On the underside of the external case we found one stickers and we can read it was made in Germany, dated January 2005. (The external case).

On the back of the drive from left to right: Audio out connector, USB2.0 connector, on and off switch and power connector.

We installed the drive without any problems and here is a screenshot from Nero info tool:

 

From the screenshot of Nero Info Tool above, we miss Mt.Rainier support and a larger buffer size. Our drive came shipped with firmware US01, and was automatic updated to US03 with Samsung LiveUpdate.

And another shot from Nero Burning ROM:

 

We do not really find anything alarming here, but Mount Rainier and a larger buffer would have been nice.

But let us continue this review and see how it really performs.

On the next page we will take a look at the test machine, the software, the drive features and the included software…………
Conclusion
Features
Want to submit your own review? Click here
Reactions on this item
Posted by BenTony on Monday 14 March 2005 14:36
The product looks an TS-H552B unit (same fatures) enclosed into a brekout box with the USB2 I/O interface.

I just hope anyhow this unit doesn't show the troubles I'm facing with the internal TS-H552B brother model, which after a couple of months stopped recognizing blank CD-R supports, even Verbatim branded supports, not just bulk unbranded ones... And this is a common pattern for my model, as I've read from various forums around the net (search on Google for 'TS-H552B')

The bad is at now the official Samsung Optical Disk Drive website http://www.samsungodd.com/eng/ has shut down both the firmware download pages and the forums. :c

I just hope this is not a move from Samsung to hide all the rants (= many messages in the forum about this issue) from people who bougth "this" double layer DVD recorder.

I hate have to put other bucks to send back the unit to Samsung :( But since the FW download page seems have been closed I see little hope for the future of my new DVD unit. :( :( :(
Posted by BenTony on Tuesday 15 March 2005 14:38
To be completely honest, I checked today, and their fourm, along its firmware download pages have been reappeared.

Along all the rants for the TS-H552B model (about not just this model, anyway) :+
Posted by atomic_zORRo on Tuesday 07 June 2005 13:23
My TS-H552B can write the booktype DVD-ROM with Nero. Use latest fw....

atomic_zORRo :g
Posted by sandra bento (guest) on Thursday 25 October 2007 18:12
I've got a samsung dvd, but i need this driver, for an external dvd r/rw TS-E552U.

Can you please answer me
Thanks
Posted by jake ball (guest) on Sunday 11 November 2007 21:26
try this link has drivers
:B
http://www.samsungoms-europe.com/samsung.php?section=product&id=TS-E552U&group=multi
Post your reaction
What do you think? Leave your comments!

Your message
:) :( ;) :r :d :B :X :c :o :g :+ :p :* :S

Your name
Your e-mail


Type in the code

Don't like to type in this code? Please register or login.
Post it
Related tags
A tag is a relevant keyword or term associated with or assigned to a piece of information (like picture, product, or video clip), thus describing the item and enabling keyword-based classification of information it is applied to. We use it to make searching our database easier and enable all our users to contribute to our database.

Add related tags
CD Freaks allows items to be tagged with objective specifications, no opinions or subjective descriptions. When your start typing our system will suggest tags, if this is what you mean, please use these first. Our system will also check for spelling mistakes and correct them to keep our database consistent. Finally tags are moderated by our team members.

    Related reviews/articles
    Samsung TS-H552U DVD Burner
    Samsung TS-H552B DVD Burner
    Samsung SE-W164C DVD Burner Review
    Samsung SE-S184M DVD Burner Review
    Get the latest reviews via RSS RSS