LG GSA-4167B

The last Super Multi DVD writer to emerge from LG's factory was the GSA-4163B, which was one of the earliest models to mass retail with 6x DVD-RW and 8x DVD+RW write speeds on top of the usual set of 16x DVD±R, 4x DVD+R DL and not to mention its distinctive 5x DVD-RAM write specifications. Since the introduction of the GSA-4163B, the company has been pretty quiet while its competitors are hard at work updating their respective product lineups and improving compatibility with media from second and third tier media manufacturers.

After more than six months of inactivity for their line of desktop DVD writers, LG has finally broken the long silence with the release of the GSA-4167B. As per practice of manufacturers with each new release, the new LG drive is pepped with some new improvements to give it the edge needed for the drive to compete well in a crowded market.

LG GSA-4167B

Going down to the specifics, the GSA-4167B now features a new 4x DVD-R DL write specification and updated write speeds for CD-R, CD-RW and DVD+R DL media, coming in at 48x, 32x and 6x respectively. One puzzling point however, is that although the LG GSA-4167B is succeeding the older GSA-4163B, DVD+R DL write speed is still pegged at a slower 6x and not the faster 8x write speed as expected of DVD writers launched in this timeframe. This write speed disparity means the GSA-4167B would consume more time filling an 8.5GB DVD+R DL disc than competing drives with 8x DVD+R DL write speed.

Whether or not the slower 6x DVD+R DL write speed affects the overall value of the LG drive still remains to be seen, but if the read speed, write performance and media compatibility can make the cut and the pricing is competitive enough, the newest kid from LG might just get our full recommendation despite having a slower DVD+R DL write speed.