Wasn't it just a few short months ago when a 24x CD burner was top dog? It seems like every couple months CD burner get faster and faster. I've been very happy with my PlexWriter 24x with burn proof technology as I have NEVER burned a single coaster. Not one error, not one bad disk. Not one single problem since I purchased it when it they first hit the shelves. Just recently, ClubOC received one of the first review samples of Plextor's 48x version. At 48x burn speed, we where afraid that we would start seeing coasters again, but new technology have made 48x burners even more reliable at even faster speeds. Unfortunately, you must pay quite a hefty price for the Plextor name. This is why we looked to a less expensive version that could do the same thing.

     Okay, we have seen the upper end of the burner scale, but what about on the low end? At the other end of the price scale you find the name "Lite-On". However, Lite-On CD burners have out performed and out lasted many of our burners in our labs that cost two or three times as much. Now it is time to look at Lite-On's 48x version, the LTR-48246S, 48x24x48x CD-RW Drive.

     I've heard nothing but good things about the Lite-On 48x24x48x burner. I've even heard that it is the ONLY burner that can burn past the latest CD Copyright Protection. Not that I can confirm or deny this, it is just what I have heard... If this rumor really is true, then this reason alone is enough to purchase this burner. Anyway, I would rather leave this subject up to the "dark side" of the web so it's best that you investigate this subject on your own.   Sorry...

     Let's take a look at the features and specs of this drive.

Features

• E-IDE Interface, support up to Ultra-DMA mode 2
• Innovated SMART-BURN® technology to automatically check media quality and set limit to burning speed to ensure successful writing sessions & data retainability (*1)
• Buffer under run error free & automatically adjust writing strategy plus running OPC to meet various burning condition
• Innovated SMART-X technology, support up to 48x speed Digital Audio Extraction (DAE) and high speed VCD data extraction
• VAS (Vibration Absorber System) to reduce vibration & noise during recording & reading
• Support Fixed Packet, Variable Packet, TAO, SAO, DAO, Raw Mode Burning & Over-Burn
• Read/Write CD, CD-R, CD-RW Disc up to 99min.
• Easy-Tray® design for both horizontally & vertically use
• Use FlashROM supports internet firmware upgrade
• Gear-Driven tray disc-loading mechanism to Improve reliability & life, no any belt-loose belt-broken issue

Specifications

• Speed :
  48x CAV Write CD-R
  24x CAV Rewrite CD-RW
  48x CAV Read CD-ROM Speed
• Interface :
  ATAPI / E-IDE, support up to Ultra-DMA Mode2 (33.3MB/sec)
• Access Time :
  80ms (typical)
• Buffer Size :
  2MB
• System Requirement :
  CPU Pentium 166MHz or faster, 128MB DRAM required
  HDD must have access time < 20ms, with a minimum of 100MB Free space
• Compatibility :
  Windows 95/98/NT/ME/XP/2000
• Disc Format :
  CD/CD-R/CD-RW formats both 8cm & 12cm discs (up to 99 mins)
• MTBF (Life) :
  70,000 Power On Hours with 25% Duty
• Dimension :
  190.0 (D) x 145.8 (W) x 41.3 (H) mm
• Weight :
  < 1000g