While researching the drive I came across this post on cdrlabs:
http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtop...=143965#143965

It basically says the prior generation DVR-109 does not have the honeycomb pattern on the bottom for noise reduction, nor is it compatible with the Quiet Drive utility. I also remember reading something about
DVR-110D (OEM) not compatible with Quiet Drive, but DVR-110XLB (Retail Box) is.

Question:
Bottomline, if I purchase the Pioneer DVR-110 D - OEM from newegg (http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16827152060) , will I be able to use the "A10 Quiet Drive Utility" on it, or will the options be greyed out? If not, which specific Pioneer or Asus drive do I need to buy. I can't even find DVR-110XLB or DVR-A10 for sale at the usual online shops.

Question:
If I can use the Quiet Drive utility, will the program's "Save Settings to drive" option remain in effect, even when the drive isn't connected to a PC?

I ask because I won't be connecting the device to a computer, but to an independent USB media player, as I explained in a related thread:
http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread....96#post1327796

I need to get this drive's read speed down to at least 5x when reading DVD-R, DVD+/-RW disc containing .avi files.

There are three models of the PIO 110 (110, 110D, A10XL).
There electronics are the same.
Three versions of firmware one for each drive.
QuietDrive Utility only works on the A10XL firmware.
You can "force flash" any of the three firmwares on the 110D...