Pioneer External Blu-ray Drive BDR-XD08EMB-S (New!) Matte-Black Body USB 3.2 Gen1 (USB Type-C) / 2.0 Slim Portable BD/DVD/CD Writer high-Grade Rubber Coating

Bought as a replacement for a Hitachi-LG drive that gave sterling service over 5 years. It was somewhat fiddly to set up to work with my laptop. There is a bit of downloading required. So far it plays CDs/DVDs and BluRay discs. I use it primarily to rip CDs into the computer. This needed no adjustment to the laptop and was faster than my previous drive. Pleased.

Having only ever had desktops with internal Bluray / DVD Rewriter drives, I was not sure what to expect.After an unsuccessful cheaper drive (which was not even recognised by my machine), I purchased this Pioneer BDR-XD08EMB-S drive and was pleasantly surprised:-Works with Ventura (Mac OS 13.4)-Plugs in (and works) with Thunderbolt-Considering it's external, it burned a DVD (4GB) in just under 10 minutes-Plays various Bluray discs-Noise levels is what you expect (sounds the same as my old internal drive); if put behind the screen / speakers, I found you can hardly hear it when playing a DVD/Bluray.-Would recommend 'Burn' for OSX as a DVD burner software: it's free-The only purchase I made was to pay for a bluray player software; used manufacturer directly, Apple Store was more expensive.-Comes with some Mac Software (Photo and Power Director) - not sure if these are trial versions but the licence key that came with the purchase worked.-Recognised by the computer as soon as I plugged it in (a bonus)All in all, I am happy with the purchase.May leave follow up if need be but that will be in a few months' time.

This neat little drive allows me to watch regular BluRays on my Linux box. I haven't tested it with any Ultra HD disks, but one of my regular BluRay disks enables "bus encryption" mode and still plays correctly with VLC and MakeMKV.No problems so far running the drive from either a powered USB 3.0 port or a powered USB 2.0 port, i.e. without connecting it to an external power supply.The drive's PureRead and Eco functionality must first be enabled using Pioneer's drive utility program.Pioneer's UltraHD playback software requires a CPU with Intel SGX extensions, which Intel has decided to phase out of future CPUs. This software is therefore unlikely to be useful. Reading UltraHD disks is also (apparently - untested) blocked via the drive's firmware, although this seems to be true for all recent BluRay drives - not just Pioneer ones. The MakeMKV forums on the Web can probably explain this better.UPDATE:If you want to play or rip UHD BluRays (i.e. 4K ones) then you probably DON'T want this drive because:a) there is no longer an official way of doing that, andb) you would need a drive with firmware older than December 2022 in order for any unofficial way to work.

As described, software a bonus, arrived fast works fine.

This is quite possibly the slowest burner I have experienced. If you're writing bluray content, do not buy this device. takes 4x as long as comparably priced models. Complete waste of money.

As someone who still values the versatility of optical media in today's digital age, the Pioneer External Blu-ray Drive BDR-XD08EMB-S has exceeded my expectations in every way.From the moment I unboxed this sleek drive, I was impressed by its premium build quality and elegant design. The matte-black finish not only looks stylish but also resists fingerprints and scratches, ensuring that it maintains its pristine appearance over time. The addition of high-grade rubber coating adds a layer of durability and comfort, making it a pleasure to handle.In terms of performance, this drive delivers on all fronts. Whether I'm burning files onto a DVD, watching my favorite Blu-ray movies, or ripping audio CDs, it handles each task with speed and precision. The USB 3.2 Gen1 connectivity ensures that data transfer rates are blazing fast, saving me valuable time during intensive tasks.One minor drawback is the lack of support for Blu-ray 4K playback. However, considering the affordability and versatility of this drive, it's a compromise I'm willing to make. For anyone in need of a reliable external Blu-ray drive that offers exceptional performance and portability, the Pioneer BDR-XD08EMB-S is an excellent choice. It's a true testament to Pioneer's commitment to quality and innovation in the world of optical media.

I decided to upgrade my DVD drive to a Blu-ray one as i watch a lot of DVDs on my pc. As i now have a collection of Blu-rays i wanted the chance to watch these also on my pc. The setup is quite easy with just a USB to connect. Then make sure you have the software to play/record disc. The drive comes with software to install but you could also use any if you have a preference. As i had been using DVD software in the past i could play DVD without problems. Playing Blu-rays i had to install software which was easy to do. I haven't used the recording facility yet. Overall as long as you have a fairly decent pc which can handle playing all formats of video then you should find no problems. Quality is superb and the drive just sits on top of my desk. The software is free so make sure you use it. Recommended