Quiet DVD CDRW Combo Drive?

[SmallQuietComputing]

I have found that both DVD CDRW combo drives I have tried are loud as heck when playing music CDs. I have tried both the Samsung SM-332 (12X DVD, 32X12X40 CDRW) and the LG GCC-4320B (16X DVD, 32X10X40 CDRW).

The problem is that both units start off at full spin when playing music CDs. The Samsung times out, slows down and then at some apparently random moment, spins back up. As I recall, the LG basically ran at full spin all the time when playing CD music. I find this rather annoying in my Shuttle SK41G when listening to CD music at low to moderate volumes.

In contrast, I found a Samsung SD-612 DVD to be much much quieter when playing music CDs.

Does anyone know of a DVD CDRW that does not suffer from this problem? Perhaps later generation 16X48X24X48 combos (Samsung SM-348 or LG GCC4480B3) have solved this problem?

If there are no quieter DVD CDRW combos, I will likely opt for an external CDRW.

Thanks in advance.

[mudboy]

I have an SM-348; it is very quiet and I have been very please with it. It replaced a Plextor 16/10/40 and a Pioneer 106S.

Pete

[SmallQuietComputing]

Upgrading the firmware from T404 to T405 seems to have solved the problem. CD audio playback is now quiet. http://www.samsung-odd.com/eng/LiveUpda ... wnload.asp

[bowler_dk]

Hi,

nice to see regarding playing AudioCD's.

but what about DVD playback - is it quiet or even noiseless too or can you hear the drive spinning ?

Thanks,

Bowler

[SmallQuietComputing]

DVD playback is quiet, though not silent. It is a tad bit louder than playing DVDs on a Samsung SD-612 12X DVD drive. I rather doubt that anyone watching a DVD, as opposed to listening to the drive, would notice. With my noise-reduded, small form factor SK41G about 1.5' from my head and on my desktop, I don't find the noise disturbing/noticeable.