A few weeks ago, we looked at the LG GSA 5169D, an external multi device, which featured all the latest technologies except for LightScribe. Today, we will be reviewing the LG GSA 2166D, a Super multi drive, which supports all the latest formats including Lightscribe, enabling the end user to further customize his burned CD media.

The drive supports the standard 16X burning speed for both the +R and -R DVD formats, 8X and 6X for DVD+RW and DVD-RW respectively, while the +R DL offered maximum writing speed is 8X and 4X for -R DL.

- Features

• With Lightscribe, disk label printing can be completed in under 20 minutes (530 TPI)
• All formats compatible DVD +R/RW, DVD-R/RW, DVD-RAM
• Dual layer recording enables storage of up to 8.5GB (DVD+R/-R DL)
• USB 2.0 Interface
• Portable, both PC and Mac compatible
• 2MB buffer memory with buffer under run prevention technology

- Specifications

Below are the drive's main specs as given by NeroInfoTool, DVDInfoPro and VSO inspector:

- Retail package

The retail package contains everything that is necessary to set up the drive and use all of its features, including all required software. The package contains:

• The External Super Multi drive GSA-2166D
• LG DVD Writer Solution CD containing
  • Nero Express
  • Nero BackitUp
  • Nero Cover Designer
  • InCD
  • Cyberlink Power Producer Gold
  • Power DVD
  • Owner's manual.
• a USB 2.0 Cable
• a Power Adapter/Cord for the power supply

-The Drive

Simple in design, the LG GSA-2166D comes in one color only, black, as we can see in the pictures below. The front bezel carries the following logos:

• SuperMulti
• RW DL
• LightScribe
• DVD Multi Recorder
• and of course, LG

On the bottom right are activity LED indicator and the eject button.

On the rear panel, the drive has the USB port and the DC Power Supply connection. As we said, a simple design.

- Installation

The drive was installed under WindowsXP and was recognized as "HL-DT-ST DVDRRW GSA-2166D ". The drive came with the latest available firmware installed (firmware revision 1.01), and as no further firmware releases had been made, we moved straight to the tests.

For comparison, we will be posting the results of the 2166D along with the results of the Samsung SE-W164C and LiteOn 1653S external drives.