i finally got around to installing my 2nd (black) LTR-52327S.
well, i discovered that, unfotunately, it's one of the 2nd revesion, without the EEPROM. came with firmware QS5A (the latest). which means no QS0B for this drive!
here's some scans of discs burned on the new one and also on the old one for comparison.
all discs are Verbatim DataLife Pastels (yellow color), 48x, 700MB, Taiyo Yuden 97m24s01f.
on the whole they seem much the same. the old drive does better at 52, the new one better at 16x. in any case all burns are good.
the dip at the end of the burn speed on the new drive when burning at 52x - that's concering though (it's repeatable - happened on 2 discs).
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the land of Mordor, where the Shadows lie
-- JRRT
M.C. Escher - Reptilien