I need a black slot-loader DVD ROM drive

[xortam]

What's the best black slot-loader DVD ROM player available (Gurm would know the answer)? I won't pay extra for recording support as I have a -RAM burner for that but +R/RW burning would be worth a little something. I only need to support DVD-Rs (along with pressed DVDs) but DVD-VR support would also be nice, especially -RAM media. I'll hunt through http://www.videohelp.com but they don't support my search criteria. Thanks for any good input.

[Wombat]

Does anyone besides Pioneer make a slot loader? I don't think so. You'll have to order a custom bezel for it, or finish it yourself.

[Tjalfe]

The bezel comes off really easy on the Slotload Pioneers and a layer of black spraypaint looks quite nice.
I did this myself back 3 years ago, and it is still looking good.

As far as compatibility, .. well check their specs
it has worked for everything I have thrown at it so far

[xortam]

I can get a black painted ("bumper black") Pioneer DVD-120S for $65.00 from the same folks who sold me my case. I guess I'll check up on the Pioneer specs and see if this is their best slot loader.

[GNEP]

Yup Pioneer for the slot-loaders. I have had problems with one (CD-, not DVD-) though - they do seem a lot more susceptible (sp?) to breaking down than conventional tray-loaders.

[xortam]

Originally posted by GNEP
Yup Pioneer for the slot-loaders. I have had problems with one (CD-, not DVD-) though - they do seem a lot more susceptible (sp?) to breaking down than conventional tray-loaders.

I've had a SCSI Pioneer slot loader for years in this PC (P2B-S). I did start having problems playing DVDs though I stopped using it as a DVD player after I bought a DVDR last year. The drive still handles CD media just fine. The new HTPC will be my new DVD player (much superior to commercial products) and I really want a black slot loader in there (taking the cart'ed -RAM burner out to an external case). I think I can recalibrate the laser for DVDs given the time so I'll worry about that when the time comes with this new drive.

It looks like I can get the 120S for $35-$40 so I guess I'll just order one and get some black bumper paint and fix it up myself.

[leech]

I have a SCSI Pioneer slotload DVD in mine as well (have had it for years) This is my third drive like this though... the first one I got came DOA, so that wasn't my fault... the second one lasted about 2 years... I think those were CD-ROM's though, then I got a DVD-ROM about '99 or so, and have had this one since. A friend of mine had one that went out on him, and new SCSI ones are STILL 110 bucks!

Well... anyway, to have a use for this post... You could try using a DVD lens cleaner on your PC's DVD rom, to see if that'll let you play DVD's on it again...

Putting a Slot-loaded DVD player into an HTPC is a cool idea, though in my experience they're kind of loud, tending to make squeaky noises after a while...

Leech

[xortam]

Originally posted by leech
... Well... anyway, to have a use for this post... You could try using a DVD lens cleaner on your PC's DVD rom, to see if that'll let you play DVD's on it again...

I doubt a lens cleaner would help since the CDs are fine but I could run my old CD lens cleaner (bristle brush imbedded CD) through it to see what happens. I read on some site how to recalibrate the drives and there are two different calibrations ... one for CD and one for DVD. I think the problem is likely that it slipped out of calibration. I had Greebe help me with my last CD burner (Yamaha CRW4416S) but I never got it working again without errors after taking it apart, including the lens. I didn't want to tear into the Pioneer as long as CDs were fine as I didn't need it for DVDs any more.

Originally posted by leech
... Putting a Slot-loaded DVD player into an HTPC is a cool idea, though in my experience they're kind of loud, tending to make squeaky noises after a while...

I haven't noticed squeaks coming out of my SCSI Pioneer though my 120mm fans in my case and the external SCSI box do up the dBs a bit and may mask some noises. At $35-40 the ATAPI Pioneer is disposable so I'll just replace it if it starts having problems.

[Greebe]

Biggest issue those cdrom lens cleaners have is that they only clean one side of the lens

[xortam]

What are you doing up so late?

Are the DVD cleaners different than the CD cleaners?

That poor old Yamaha had a thorough cleaning but I don't think I ever got the lens retention spring back in quite right or something. I kept getting the same error all the time when I fired it up. Replaced it with a SCSI Plextor that's burned thousands of CDs and still going strong.

[Greebe]

been like this for weeks now.. neighbour got divorced and decided to celebrate with her GF's 3-4 nights a week til 4:30am keeping me up with their drunkin noise out back

[leech]

I haven't noticed squeaks coming out of my SCSI Pioneer though my 120mm fans in my case and the external SCSI box do up the dBs a bit and may mask some noises. At $35-40 the ATAPI Pioneer is disposable so I'll just replace it if it starts having problems.

Yeah, it seems to me that it's only with certain disks, mostly CD-R's that squeak in it, DVD's I don't notice any sounds. And just like you, I use 120mm fans in my case (2 of them to be exact. Got to love these Antec P160 cases...)

I use a DVD lense cleaner in mine. Though I didn't have any problems with it before hand anyhow... it was just a possibility, since I find it kind of odd that CD's work just fine, but DVD's don't...

I also have a Plextor SCSI CD-RW in my case.. got to love the SCSI, I just wish they made a DVD burner for SCSI... I have NO ide devices inside my case right now. (The only IDE device I do have is the 200gb drive I have in an external USB2 case)

Leech

[Wombat]

Greebe,
Could you post a link about recalibrating drives? I have my first Pioneer CD/DVD drive in a nearly-useless condition.


Leech: The CD and DVDs use different lasers. They may use different lenses, I'm not sure.

[Greebe]

no link to be had... but if you can access the lens assembly (difficult at best) try to clean by hand.. I've used a small piece of chamois glued to whatever thin enough to get the job done along with something like Windex... much older drives used to have a manual tracking adjustment (dither adj) which would help, but all of todays are done digitally, no tweaking anymore

[Greebe]

I've also used windex dripped onto the lens () from above, allowing the particulate to be rinsed off... doesn't always work tho. Just not enough scrubbing action to lift the ick off... and be very gentile, the lens is made of plastic... rinse, rinse again, clean with chamois and rinse again