Dang, I don't understand wtf is up with these damn 1640's. Everytime I look in the Benq forum, there's another thread about read problems with this drive. I have the same kind of thing with the whacked out speed drops (only with the 1640, NOT my other drives). People will say, "it's maybe the media" or whatever, and maybe for some it's true. But for me, pristine discs can't even be read well with this drive.


And ya, I turned off the riplock and that's when it happens, some people will talk about that if it works with stock fw then there's nothing wrong. BS man, is this thing king ripper or not? I'm saying not, along with a alot of other people with this drive. I think people who say that are one of the real lucky ones who got one that always reads well, or people who don't wanna believe this drive isn't as great as some think. I don't think it deserves the pedestal some people put it up on. If I wanted a drive that worked well with stock fw only, I'd buy a second rate drive, which is how I'm starting to view this 1640. My 1625 kicks it's ass all over the place for reading stability, so do 3 other drives I have, and this even my second 1640. I mean why does this drive ALWAYS struggle to keep it's read speed when others, even cheap crappy drives don't. I been doing all my ripping with my 1625, cause I just don't trust this drive. I'd get another, but I think I'd have a 50% chance of gettin another just as bad or worse.

Sorry to rage on about it, but I think this drive gets too much good press. It burns very well sure, about as well as my 1625 or my NEC3500, and not any better. But for reading, my damn NEC does better, and the 3500 is even known to be a mediocre reader. If I can get 2 discs in a row to read without severe read speed drops, I'm lucky. And NO, it's not all due to how fast this drive is trying to read. The 1625 goes nearly as fast, and reads every disc the 1640 craps out on flawlessly. I mean, look at his scans (just like mine) dropping to 2x over and over and over....