Advice on external Blue-Ray drives

[Alpha Centauri]

Hi all,

there's quite many offerings in this regard and I'm a bit lost. So specifically Blu-Ray if a rare moment presents itself. Mainly though a reader/ writer for CD's and DVD's. and to be used with a M2 MBP running MacOS 15.4

1. preferably a larger known manufacturer.
2. native USB-C interface.
3. USB 3.0 preferred but USB 2.0 not a deal breaker.
4. slim housing and lightness preferred.
5. not externally powered.
6. ideally tray fed? Had many Super Drives fail but also less risk of disc getting scratched...parhaps.
7. relatively quiet but that just be a luxury.

Some I found so far:

Verbatim 43888
Pioneer BDR-XD07UHD (possibly won't ship to the EU )

Open to suggestions really.

Cheers

 

[macnavarra]

https://www.memoryc.com/53072-hitachi-lg-super-multi-blu-ray-writer.html + https://www.roxio.com/en/ for Bluray burn and play.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

https://www.memoryc.com/53072-hitachi-lg-super-multi-blu-ray-writer.html + https://www.roxio.com/en/ for Bluray burn and play.

Thanks for the link but I'm rather looking for a slim external with USB-C interface.

 

[Fishrrman]

If I was going to buy another CD/DVD/Bluray, it would be the Pioneer you linked to above...

 

[Alpha Centauri]

If I was going to buy another CD/DVD/Bluray, it would be the Pioneer you linked to above...

It absolutely fulfils my criteria quite nicely. Problem: I looked on the US Amazon site but am in the EU, where it appears to be unavailable in the larger electronics stores even.

Then found a "similar" LG unit, same story, not for EU. Clicking on similar items seems to dead-end to the Verbatim offering I had a link to in my OP. They're really pushing that unit here as almost always this redirection occurs. The hunt goes on.

 

[Guenter]

In Germany you can get this

Verbatim External Slimline USB 3.0-Blu-ray-Brenner, externer Blu-ray-Brenner schwarz

Blu-ray Discs werden immer mehr zur besten Speicherlösung bei der Archivierung wertvoller Daten: Im Vergleich zu Festplatten oder Magnetbändern bie...

www.alternate.de

 

[fricotin]

What I use

 

[Alpha Centauri]

In Germany you can get this

Verbatim External Slimline USB 3.0-Blu-ray-Brenner, externer Blu-ray-Brenner schwarz

Blu-ray Discs werden immer mehr zur besten Speicherlösung bei der Archivierung wertvoller Daten: Im Vergleich zu Festplatten oder Magnetbändern bie...

www.alternate.de

Thank you. Was just commenting before how all focus is on that Verbatim product in DE. If looking at similar iteration by LG, Philips, or Pioneer, there's a redirect back to that model. I guess that's all that's available here.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

What I use

Thank you. Here's the crazy part (I'm in DE). I input that model you have into Amazon search, it "sees, recognises it. I click on it and just end up with a similar Verbatim product, followed by no name stuff. It's insane.

 

[fricotin]

Thank you. Here's the crazy part (I'm in DE). I input that model you have into Amazon search, it "sees, recognises it. I click on it and just end up with a similar Verbatim product, followed by no name stuff. It's insane.

It is over 10 years old, on Amazon ca I can see it and similar ones.

Pioneer BDR-XD05W 6X Slim Portable USB 3.0 Blu-Ray Burner (White) - Supports BDXL/BD/DVD/CD - Bonus CyberLink Media Suite 10 Windows Software

The BDR-XD05W is one of the world's smallest and lightest BD/DVD/CD portable burners supporting BDXL. The ultra-compact USB 3.0 drive is ideal for Mac users or for those who already have software. The BDR-XD05W can write to BDXL1 discs, Blu-ray discs and is backwards compatible to support DVD and...

www.amazon.ca

 

[Alpha Centauri]

It is over 10 years old, on Amazon ca I can see it and similar ones.

Pioneer BDR-XD05W 6X Slim Portable USB 3.0 Blu-Ray Burner (White) - Supports BDXL/BD/DVD/CD - Bonus CyberLink Media Suite 10 Windows Software

The BDR-XD05W is one of the world's smallest and lightest BD/DVD/CD portable burners supporting BDXL. The ultra-compact USB 3.0 drive is ideal for Mac users or for those who already have software. The BDR-XD05W can write to BDXL1 discs, Blu-ray discs and is backwards compatible to support DVD and...

www.amazon.ca

Thank you. Not available in Germany. All that ever shows up is that one Verbatim drive...every single time.

 

[Reimulo]

I bought the Verbatim 4K Slimline Blu-ray Writer, thats the 43888 you linked, and im very happy with it, works native on Windows and my Mac.
You probably want to make sure to get the USB-C version of it, the one linked from Alternate seems so have the wierd USB Micro-B connector.

Verbatim is just the manufacturer of the enclosure, the actual drive is a Pioneer BD-RW BDR-UD04, at least in August last year when i bought it from amazon. Might have changed by now.
Thats also a "LibreDrive" which is nice if you might want to save your movies on your HDD sometimes. But thats also a serious rabbit hole easy to avoid if you dont want to copy your discs

 

[Alpha Centauri]

I bought the Verbatim 4K Slimline Blu-ray Writer, thats the 43888 you linked, and im very happy with it, works native on Windows and my Mac.
You probably want to make sure to get the USB-C version of it, the one linked from Alternate seems so have the wierd USB Micro-B connector.

Verbatim is just the manufacturer of the enclosure, the actual drive is a Pioneer BD-RW BDR-UD04, at least in August last year when i bought it from amazon. Might have changed by now.
Thats also a "LibreDrive" which is nice if you might want to save your movies on your HDD sometimes. But thats also a serious rabbit hole easy to avoid if you dont want to copy your discs

Good to hear. I was unsure as reviews mainly complain about 1. won't play DRM DVD's 2. 3rd party software required for Blu-ray 3. Noisy. Have you come across any problems for the length you've had it?

I'm glad you brought up the various versions re connectors. Here are the options as listed on Amazon DE:

A: 4K Slimline Blu-ray
Released:2019
€ 107,00 (from € 145);
USB 3.0, USB-C, USB-3.2 Gen1 ATA
With USB-A to USB-C adaptor

B: Blu-ray Writer
Released: 2016
€ 94,99 (from € 120)
USB-3.2 Gen1 ATA
No mention of Adaptor

C: Slimline Blu-ray Writer
Released: 2019
€ 99,99
USB-C; USB 3.0
With USB-A to USB-C adaptor

These interface descriptions are quite unclear as to which model has the USB-C Port on the unit, without an adaptor being at play. I'm finding it could be option B, just because don't mention any adaptors but I'm also unsure as that one is 2016 versus the other two from 2019.

Any ideas? I do realise that Amazon might simply have been lazy with the contents.

Cheers

 

[Reimulo]

Your first two questions about DRM and 3rd party software have the same answer, yes.
The only way I'm aware of to play any DRM content (DVD and Blu-ray) directly from the disc is with VLC player and some files you have to download and manually copy to the right places. There is a nice guide on the official Apple Forum and from a YouTuber if you prefer videos. I did it the YouTube way with Homebrew and it actually worked. But its easier on Windows.
The much easier way that I prefer is to rip the movie and save it as a file without DRM protection using MakeMKV. However those files can be quite large (50GB+).


About the noise, well it's an optical drive. If you ever had a older desktop or laptop with a built-in drive, that's exaclty how that one sounds. My iPhone app measured 30-35 dB right next to it, so not silent but also not notably louder than I expected.


The version i bought is called "4K Slimline Blu-ray Writer" in the "size" USB, USB-C for 107,99€. If you cycle the different versions you can see that the model number changes in the Amazon product information, the one i have is 43888.


The enclosure has an USB-C Port on it. If your PC has a USB-A port you can use a USB-A to USB-C cable and connect the drive with no problems.
But if your PC has a USB-C port, you can't use a USB-C to USB-C cable to connect it directly. You first have to connect the USB-C to A adaptor to the PC and then use a USB A to C cable for the enclosure. Probably some issue with the PowerDelivery protocol. Another wierd thing is that the eject button on the enclosure doesnt work with macOS. The only way is to click the eject button in the Finder app.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

Your first two questions about DRM and 3rd party software have the same answer, yes.
The only way I'm aware of to play any DRM content (DVD and Blu-ray) directly from the disc is with VLC player and some files you have to download and manually copy to the right places. There is a nice guide on the official Apple Forum and from a YouTuber if you prefer videos. I did it the YouTube way with Homebrew and it actually worked. But its easier on Windows.
The much easier way that I prefer is to rip the movie and save it as a file without DRM protection using MakeMKV. However those files can be quite large (50GB+).


About the noise, well it's an optical drive. If you ever had a older desktop or laptop with a built-in drive, that's exaclty how that one sounds. My iPhone app measured 30-35 dB right next to it, so not silent but also not notably louder than I expected.


The version i bought is called "4K Slimline Blu-ray Writer" in the "size" USB, USB-C for 107,99€. If you cycle the different versions you can see that the model number changes in the Amazon product information, the one i have is 43888.


The enclosure has an USB-C Port on it. If your PC has a USB-A port you can use a USB-A to USB-C cable and connect the drive with no problems.
But if your PC has a USB-C port, you can't use a USB-C to USB-C cable to connect it directly. You first have to connect the USB-C to A adaptor to the PC and then use a USB A to C cable for the enclosure. Probably some issue with the PowerDelivery protocol. Another wierd thing is that the eject button on the enclosure doesnt work with macOS. The only way is to click the eject button in the Finder app.

Thanks for the additional info.

The model numbers looked so similar that I missed that only one option is the 43888.

Just back to the interface as you mention PC. Are you saying I cannot just connect the USB-C drive directly to the USB-C port on my M2 MBP?

 

[Reimulo]

Are you saying I cannot just connect the USB-C drive directly to the USB-C port on my M2 MBP?

Thats correct, at least not directly from the enclosures USB-C port to the one on the mac with a USB-C to USB-C cable. It just wont get powered.
I tried every C-to-C cable i have, the braided ones from Apple that came with my iPhone 15, Anker, USB- 3.2 Gen 2x2, the one i use to connect my monitor to my M2 MB Air, USB4 - nope none of them worked.

There has to be a USB-C to USB-A adaptor in your MBP first, and from there a USB-A to C cable to the enclosure.

 

[Regulus67]

I have the OWC Mercury Pro, with a LG BD writer. It works very well on a mac.

OWC Mercury Pro (Not sure what manufacturing company it is)
edit: looks like it is only the enclosure, not the writer 😕

ebay brand new

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"3rd party software required for Blu-ray"

It's going to be like that for ALL Bluray drives with the Mac.
Apple (to my knowledge) has never offered Bluray-specific software, ever.
Nothing at all.

 

[dubiousgif]

Thats correct, at least not directly from the enclosures USB-C port to the one on the mac with a USB-C to USB-C cable. It just wont get powered.
I tried every C-to-C cable i have, the braided ones from Apple that came with my iPhone 15, Anker, USB- 3.2 Gen 2x2, the one i use to connect my monitor to my M2 MB Air, USB4 - nope none of them worked.

There has to be a USB-C to USB-A adaptor in your MBP first, and from there a USB-A to C cable to the enclosure.

That means Verbatim didn’t properly follow the USB-C specifications. Wonder if it can be reported so they fix it.

 

[iUniqueUser]

are there any that play CD/DVD/BLURAY and can be shipped to the aus?