Go straight ahead and read it here: http://www.cdfreaks.com/article/237

As usual, please comment on the review in this thread

And here are my usual ratings according to the points in my signature:

10 points is max.

1: 5 points, The writing quality is good for most media, EXCEPT for ReWritable media. If they fix the ReWritable media writing quality the score would be 7-8. Writing quality with some 16x DVD-Media still needs improving.
2: 7 points, Overall good media compatibility, but no overspeeding (Except a few DL discs). Doesn't support verbatim 2.4x DVD+R DL at 8x.
3: 7 points, nothing special, there is faster drives on the market, only 4x -R DL and 24x CD-Rw.
4: 7 points, very mixed. Good CD-Reading and audio reading and 16x DVD+/-R reading. But only 8x DVD DL reading as well as only 6x DVD+/-RW reading.
5: 9 points, supports many features and have a great community support.
6: 9 points, good drive for both 99min CD-R discs and backing up protected PC games.
7: 8 points, good bundle. A few empty discs and a better printed manual and it would have been perfect.
8: 7 points, Short drive that will not take much space in small computers. Lacks headphone jack connection and volume knob on the front. A bit noisy (like most 16x DVD-Writers).

Overall: 7 out of 10. (and then I'm maybe a bit too kind )

I am gald to see that CDFreaks is reviewing mainstream Liteon burners again. Many of us have given up on ever seeing a review of the 1693S here.


Does anyone know if the drive tray is black or white?

The 1693S was not reviewed/published since it looks like the drive had a defect.

As simple as that.

The tray is black.

Thanks for clearing it up.

Thanks OC-Freak. Great review.

Been reading review in details, I can see my SOHW-1693 is still one of the best Lite-On DVDRW's ever made.

Thanks. Very good review.
Have you noticed that Lite-On have released new firmware just few hours after you have posted the review?

Great review, as usual.
I have some question for you, OC.

1) The tray is more silent than previous models?
2) Do you still have contact with the Lite-On engineers to explain the drive problems, especially with +-RW disks, for a future firmware upgrade?
3) I would like to see some tests, with the BenQ, of that disks written for the review (if you haven't already thrown them in the trash ), especially for the MCC004 and MCC03RG20.

Thanks.

Sorry, I forgot...YS0P, YS0R and YS0Q are beta firmware?

no, they are stock firmwares but simply don't released to the public. oc-freak has some connection to get these ones.

Excellent review OC - up to your usual high standard.

Thanks for all your time spent writing the reviews and your feedback to the manufacturers, which sees the release of improved firmware (well most times ).

Nice review!
1693S KS0A/KS0B writing quality seems to be a bit better than this drive.

Nice review

Liteon improved the drives much, if I comapring the 1635 with older 16x-drives from Liteon.

But the DVD RW-section is very bad, Liteon should improve the writing-quality and the reading-speed fast

Yes, you are too kind.
Up to now, I never burn my data with LiteOn DVD Writer.

Mr. Karr, you sure know why

What do you use for writing ?

I always burn my data with LiteON combo drive.
For dvd video, I use LG drive.
But I seldom burn DVD.

Nice to know this

Greetings Karr!
Thanks for stopping by and for all your great work on K-probe.

Without Kprobe, I would never have had nearly the fun I have had for the last 2-3 years. Great thanks to you.

I guess I will have to look more closey at Liteon Combo drives.

1: YES!!!
2: Unfortunately there is hardly any communication with the egineers. I could get firmwares early, but they rarely respond to my bug reports
3: I'll see about that

Here you go.

Bäh, real ugly.

Now I know why Mr. Karr use a LG for burning DVD

OC, you are unbeatable.
As I suspected, BenQ doesn't like a lot of LiteOn burns. I don't understand why.
If you make the tests of that disks with the Nec 3540, that is not a so good reader, or the Plextor 716A you will see that the PI/PIF values are very good.
The Plextor TA test is much better with a MCC004 written with a LiteOn than BenQ. I have tried more times with my old SOHW-1673S and MCC004 made in India and Taiwan.
With my actual BenQ 1640 I have written some MCC003 and MCC004. For the BenQ jitter is always very low, for Plextor often is good but not excellent. A lot of time Plextor TA test has given 3 for jitter and 2 for peak shift, with a "bad" global judgment.
I begin to believe that all is very relative.
Thanks for your attention.

I don't bear theirs "Match more media".

Like someone said before: Every review you made with a MediaTek-based-drive you need to scan the burned media with a Benq

Very awful, your scans