In House Review - LG GGW-H20L Super Multi Blue

[Ian]

CDRLabs kicks off the week with a review of LG's second generation Super Multi Blue drive, the GGW-H20L. This all in one solution combines a Blu-ray Disc writer and HD DVD-ROM drive, giving users the ability to enjoy movies in both formats. The GGW-H20L is also capable of 4x BD-R DL and 2x BD-RE writing speeds, and is the first drive with the ability to write to BD-R media at 6x.

In this review we'll take a look at some of the features found on the GGW-H20L and see how it compares to some of the Blu-ray Disc writers from the competition. Are 6x BD-R writing speeds enough to put the GGW-H20L on top? You'll have to read the review to find out.


LG GGW-H20L Super Multi Blue

If you have any comments or questions about this review or the LG GGW-H20L, please post them in the forum.

Also, if you enjoyed the review, please digg it.

[Grain]

Thanks for the review Ian. Looks like the drive to watch for come Boxing Day sales!

[frank1]

I have been reading with a lot of intesterest your review of this LG GGW-H20L Blu-Ray burner
and I have a special interest in the play-back of burned BD-R’s or BD-RE's:
http://www.cdrlabs.com/reviews/index.ph ... erformance

. . .
Discs burned with the bundled Cyberlink software were finalized correctly and could be read back at the fastest possible speed.

It is easy to find on the Net playback tests of pressed BD-ROM movies in computer drives such as the present LG burner
but I have not beeen able to find one single test of of burned BD-R in a standalone Blu-ray player

I mean especially HD content coming from a HD camcorder and authored and burned according to the blu-ray specs for BD-R’s and BD-RE’s.
Some people believe that these burned BD-R's discs even if they correctly authored and burned
- play in a Sony PS3 console
- but don’t play in the majority od the standalone blu-ray players

I like to know your opinion about the major issue for the BD-R format.
Is this only a question of firmware update for standalone players or has it to dor more deeply with the AACS or other protections ?
I have seen in some places
- that AACS is mandatory in the BDMV format for standalones
- the AACS is not mandatory for ther HD-DVD format

[Ian]

I don't have a standalone player so I really can't comment on my own experiences, but reading the Blu-ray.com forums, I've seen a lot of complaints about discs not being read back by some players. This seems to be more of a software issue though as some packages aren't creating BDMV discs to spec. Here are a couple of good threads:

http://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=2562
http://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=13873

AACS can't be mandatory for BDMV as discs burned at home do not have this protection.

[Wesociety]

I believe I remember reading somewhere that the playback of BDMV on 'standard' BD-R Discs is not required to be supported by player manufacturers. I also remember hearing something about a 'special' BD-R disc for authoring BDMV's, which players are required to support.

[frank1]

. . . about a 'special' BD-R disc for authoring BDMV's, which players are required to support.

I found some complaints about Blu-Ray from people working in the professional authoring business on PAGE 23 of this document here:
« The way to HD AUTHORING »
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emedial ... ceguide07/

There are also talks about this problem in the slysoft forums here:
« Safest way of burning blu-ray discs for stand-alone playback ? »
http://forum.slysoft.com/showthread.php?t=6218

Unfortunaly in both cases my lewel (in english and technical knowledge) is not sufficient to really understand the problem they describe.

Anyway thanks a lot for your interest in this issue.
I think that this a real problem for Blu-Ray because of the HD content coming from HD camcorders, and if they don't fix that in the future I might even have to switch to a HD-DVD burner

[dolphinius_rex]

Anyway thanks a lot for your interest in this issue.
I think that this a real problem for Blu-Ray because of the HD content coming from HD camcorders, and if they don't fix that in the future I might even have to switch to a HD-DVD burner

So you've got your choice between a disc that won't play because the formating isn't properly supported by players (or possibly the authoring tools need fixing), and a disc that won't play because the only burner options available can't burn it within the format's own specifications....

wow... sucky

[tutu]

Can you confirm it does DVD+R DL bitsetting to DVD-ROM? On the picture provided in the review it says "n/a" on DVD+R DL.

[Ian]

Can you confirm it does DVD+R DL bitsetting to DVD-ROM? On the picture provided in the review it says "n/a" on DVD+R DL.

You have to use Nero. For whatever reason, CD Speed's bitsetting function hasn't been working with a lot of the newer drives.

[Ian]

New firmware for the GGW-H20L and GGW-H20N.

[ES_Revenge]

Can someone let me know what version of EAC was used to extract audio from this drive in the test? In the test setup it doesn't mention EAC or the version; in the test text for DAE it indicated EAC was used but doesn't specify the version.

The reason I ask is because I'm having problems ripping audio CDs on the non-BD-writing version of this drive, the GGC-H20L, as described in this thread:
http://www.cdrlabs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=24108

It would be helpful to know what version EAC was used to test the GGW so I could see if using that version (if I'm not already) solves my problems.

Thanks!

[Ian]

It was an older version. I think like .95 or something.

I'm testing the GGC-H20L right now. I'll see if I can reproduce your problems. Also, there is a 1.02 firmware available for the drive.

[ES_Revenge]

It was an older version. I think like .95 or something.

Hmm I see, maybe I will try that. I'm posting the question on EAC's forums too, see if anyone knows anything there.

I'm testing the GGC-H20L right now. I'll see if I can reproduce your problems. Also, there is a 1.02 firmware available for the drive.

Oh cool, nice to have someone else testing this drive. There seem to be a lot of HTPC owners using this drive for BD/HD-DVD/DVD but ask them about CD audio extraction over at AVSForum and it's like people don't have a clue what you're talking about, lol.

I was thinking about the 1.02 update but a few people have had issues with flashing it from what I've read (usually I wouldn't be too concerned but I don't really feel like bricking a $250 drive, heh). The update states it improves DVD writing performance so I figured it was unrelated anyway...

If you could keep me posted about your testing results it would be appreciated

[burticus]

This bad boy is down to $279 at Fry's after rebate. When they get under $200 and if decent bd-r media can be had for less than $4-5 a blooray burner might be in my future....

[MonteLDS]

what a horrible person i am.. I didn't consult with my friends here at CDRLabs.. but I see this drive got flying colors. i bought the drive from Frys open box for 265.95

this was cheaper then the SONY drive that was the 1st to do + / - DVD's

[Dartman]

I was at Fry's Thursday getting a Sony standalone HD Radio for my system so I wandered around after I found it and saw the empty slot for the drive.
Drone said they would be getting more here the 29th, I think it was like 280 maybe a bit less.
Was tempting but luckily they were out or I may have bought it because there it was and not a horrible price for it and what you get. I'd all ready spent 100 on the radio so maybe it was for the best for now

[Dartman]

Well I got one today ordered it last week for 259 shipped, finally showed up. I think they ran out for a bit and didn't want to say anything seeing how they figured they'd get more in quickly. For that price I figure a tiny bit longer wait was OK, their reseller ratings were good, cept a few complaints about outa stock and slightly slow shipping
Here's the link for it in case anyone else wants to stimulate the economy http://www.acnt.com/product.asp?pf_id=D ... _id=11-004 They do have a 800 number that is open normal business hours for questions and to check stock and order if ya want.

[Ian]

New firmware for the GGW-H20L and GGW-H20N.

Improvement Point
-.Write strategy improvement for new BD-R and BD-RE Media
(BD-R : 24kinds, BD-RE : 4kinds)

[Bhairav]

I'm getting this drive for 8900 rupees, which is ~180$ US. Good price?

[Ian]

Yeah, that's pretty good. Cheapest retail box version I found online was about $180.

[Bhairav]

Yeah, that's pretty good. Cheapest retail box version I found online was about $180.

Sounds good then. You getting one?

[Ian]

I still have the one LG sent me.

[Bhairav]

Got it! Clearance sale, 120$ equivalent. Woohoo!
Also came with 1xBD-RE and 1xSony 2X BD-R. Awesome deal!

[Ian]

Wow.. that's a great price.

[Alejandra]

If I put this on a Mac Pro could it fit easily?


Hello btw, long time no see.