Lite-On iHBS112 12x Blu-ray Disc Writer Preview

[Ian]

My Lite-On iHBS112 showed up this week. A full review is still a ways off, but I wanted to post a few screenshots.

Lite-On iHBS112 DIP.png (99.61 KiB) Viewed 25047 times

Lite-On iHBS112 InfoTool.png (27.55 KiB) Viewed 25042 times

Unlike their previous BD writers, the iHBS112 supports all Lite-On's technologies (SMART-BURN, SmartWrite, OverSpeed, etc).

Lite-On iHBS112 SMART-BURN.png (23.14 KiB) Viewed 25041 times

[Ian]

When writing at 12x, the iHBS112 took 11:26 to burn an entire 25GB disc. This is slightly slower than the Plextor PX-B940SA (Pioneer BDR-205).

Lite-On iHBS112 CD Speed Write Sony BD-R.png (19.49 KiB) Viewed 25042 times

No rip locks or anything when reading BD movies.

Lite-On iHBS112 CD Speed BD-ROM.png (16.01 KiB) Viewed 25035 times

[Jim]

Thanks for the preview. Strongly considering this one. Can you bitset DVD+R SL to DVD-ROM? Looking forward to meaningful review as always.

[Ian]

I'm guessing it can but I will check tonight and get back to you.

[Ian]

Yep, it does.

Lite-On iHBS112 CD Speed Booktype.png (6.59 KiB) Viewed 24984 times

[Jim]

Thanks for checking. NewEgg just got them back in stock today but at $159.99 plus shipping. Superbiiz had them for $119.99 with free shipping a couple days ago. If they drop again in price, I'll probably pick one up unless something negative burn quality wise is reported. Still interested in the long ago announced 12x LG, but I haven't seen much of it other than a few listings on ebay on imported units.

[Ian]

Here's what the writing quality testing results look like with this drive. This is with CD Speed, which hangs at the end, but you get the idea.

Lite-On iHBS112 CD Speed Write Quality.png (18.34 KiB) Viewed 24647 times

[Scour]

Do you know the error-limits for BD? I can remember with CD it was C1 max 800 etc.

[Ian]

At one point c't magazine said that the average LDC should stay below 13 and the maximum BIS should not exceed 8 but I'm not really sure where they got those numbers from.

[Scour]

And who knows from where are the quality-index for CDSpeed? 35 sounds not that great.

[cwy]

What bundled software does it come with? I've heard conflicting reports. Some have got PowerDVD 8, and some have got PowerDVD 9, and some both. Does it also come with PowerProducer and PowerDirector and what versions are they (6, 7, ultra, etc.)?

[Jim]

I ended up buying this drive after NewEgg got them back in stock and they went on sale awhile back. It apparently is getting ripped apart on NewEgg for its lack of compatibility with its burns and standalone players, especially the PS3. I guess there is a problem with the drive. I just installed it in my new Core i7 rig (just upgraded from a Q6600) and the PC is undergoing burn-in currently so I haven't been able to test it.

My OEM drive came with the drive, a SATA cable, and PowerDVD 9 BD, PoweProducer 5, PowerDirector 7, Power2Go 6, PowerBackup 2, LabelPrint 2, and InstantBurn 5 all on the same CD Rom.

Jim

[Ian]

Thanks for pointing that out Jim. I brought it up to Lite-On. Hopefully a fix will be coming.

[cwy]

My OEM drive came with the drive, a SATA cable, and PowerDVD 9 BD, PoweProducer 5, PowerDirector 7, Power2Go 6, PowerBackup 2, LabelPrint 2, and InstantBurn 5 all on the same CD Rom.

Hi Jim, is PowerDirector 7 the ultra version? I know ultra allows authoring of blu-ray and avchd, while the cheaper deluxe edition doesn't.

[Jim]

Thanks Ian for relaying the message. Aside from those complaints, I've only read positive, albeit limited, reviews so far. Looking forward to your review when you finish it. Saw a post on cdfreaks where Lite On confirmed the next firmware release will support LTH BD-R. Unfortunately my Oppo standalone doesn't support LTH.

As for PowerDirector 7, it comes as Cyberlink's Bluray Suite v6.0. I checked on the CD-ROM and it only says it is the OEM version with build version 3708. It doesn't specify ultra versus deluxe. I really don't want to install the suite right now to find out, but the CD-ROM is plastered with Bluray 3D support for what it's worth. Looks like PowerDirector 8 is the current version too.

[Ian]

I have a CL0B firmware that supposedly fixes the compatibility issues.

[Ian]

Okay, CL0B is supposedly available via SmartPack even though it doesn't show up for me. Either way, here is the firmware update.

http://www.cdrlabs.com/View-details/Fir ... -CL0B.html

[Jim]

Cool. Thanks for facilitating that. A couple reviews on Newegg are confirming the fix too. Still not on Lite On's USA website. I'm off to install the update.

Jim

[Ian]

CL0D should be released today. I have the bin file, but that won't help most people.

According to the history, this is the final fix for the PS3 compatiblity problems.

[Ian]

Drive updated to CL0D.

Lite-On iHBS112 DIP CL0D.png (94.61 KiB) Viewed 23616 times

[Ian]

Here's CL0D for those that need it:

http://www.firmwarehq.com/download_1702 ... D.EXE.html

[Ian]

CL0D also fixes the problem people have been having with Verbatim 2x BD-R LTH media.

Lite-On iHBS112 CD Speed Write Verb BD-R LTH.png (14.73 KiB) Viewed 23276 times

[Ian]

Full review is finally online: http://www.cdrlabs.com/Reviews/lite-on- ... riter.html

[jalyst]

Thanks for the review Ian!
Think I'll hold-out till Q3 2011 for a BD writer, BD combo will do fine for me for now.

[Scour]

Looks like it´s better for SL-DVD than the Liteon DVD-writers