LTD163 vs LTD166S

[Jim]

Is there any functional difference between the two models? I am planning on buying a LTD166 to replace the drive in my Apex DVD player that failed. I have an original LTD163 in the PC. If the LTD166 offered some functional advantage like being able to read protected music cd's or something along those lines, I would put it in the PC and use the LTD163 in the DVD player.

Comments welcome...

Thanks!

[aviationwiz]

Wait, since when can you place the drive in a set top DVD Player with a half height drive for a PC? I'm 100% sure you can't.

[dhc014]

You can when all that's inside is a PC DVD-ROM drive like in this KiSS Model:

Pitcure from Hijacker's KiSS Region Free Page

The LDT-166S is a MultiRead capable drive so it will probably read recordable DVD's better than an LTD-163. It is also smaller in length.

[aviationwiz]

dhc014,

Very intresting, I can assure you that none of my DVD Players are like that, I'm assuming that happens mostly with cheaper DVD Players?

As far as recordable media goes, my LTD-163D passes with flying colors on all types of media from CD to DVD to anything.

[dhc014]

Very intresting, I can assure you that none of my DVD Players are like that, I'm assuming that happens mostly with cheaper DVD Players?

There you go with your "I only buy the most expensive stuff" crap again avwiz Some things are not really necessary to say all of the time...

They're more common in players that play DivX and mp3 and other file formats. I'm pretty sure that inside the LVD-2001 and other Lite-ON Set top boxes are variations on the LTD-166S.

[dodecahedron]

I'm pretty sure that inside the LVD-2001 and other Lite-ON Set top boxes are variations on the LTD-166S.

interesting what those variations are.

[dhc014]

Something like this (no case):

LTV-023



I've never taken one apart though.

[Dartman]

The early lvd 2001 players used a 163 reportedly, mine uses something with a belt drive as part of the works. I think they got tired of people thinking the player was broken becuase of the rattle when the ABS spins up and changed drives. It looks kinda like the BenQ drive guts like the 48x one I returned a long time ago. As far as I know every LiteOn dvd drive, even the 166 is all gears unless they designed a special one later for units like mine.
It seems to work just fine and the door and loading is fairly quiet campared to my 163 and 166 I have.
The Chinese made haier HD 700 and Apex ad 700 use IDE loaders that don't have a case kinda like your picture. The CyberHome dv500 I have uses a Cyberdrive PC dvd rom, and my 163 would bolt right in and work also.

[dodecahedron]

from the page dhc014 linked to:

Gear-Driven or Belt-Driven Tray Loading Mechanism on Demand

[Dartman]

Well I guess that solves the mystery for me anyways. I wondered how come mine was belt with no ABS rattle and everyone else was saying they got a 163 in theirs. Hopefully it will still take the standard pc drive mount in case I ever have to replace the drive.
At least it is all LiteOn. I wasn't about to pop this one open to check, I only paid 69 for the Cyberhome so I wasn't real worried about poping it open and My Haier hasn't been opened yet. I had to repair my parents unit I bought them so thats how I found out what drive it uses.

[aviationwiz]

Very intresting, I can assure you that none of my DVD Players are like that, I'm assuming that happens mostly with cheaper DVD Players?

There you go with your "I only buy the most expensive stuff" crap again avwiz Some things are not really necessary to say all of the time...

No, not necesarily. My latest DVD Player was only $94.10, and had just a few weeks later, the price dropped to $79 with a MIR. If I always bought the most expensive things, I'd buy a Set-Top burner, or Disc Changer. I can think of a few reasons why I didn't buy one for each.

Reasons for not getting set-top burner:
I already have a great DVD Burner (Ricoh MP5125 at the time)
Don't need one
Nothing to burn really from my TV

Reasons for not getting a disc changer:
I'm not that lazy to need a changer
More moving parts means there is a higher chance of disaster (breaking)

[Bhairav]

I have an el cheapo Chinese DVD player.. Hong-Kai or something. Has a Benq DVD drive inside (yep, I've opened it and checked!).
Doesn't play DivX though.