The Kit:

After receiving the drive from Lite-On via FedEx next day delivery, I was anxious to get a look at the SOHW-1673S!

Kit Contents:

• DVD±RW Drive
• Quick Installation Guide
• Nero 6 & PowerDVD 5
• User's Manual
• Audio Cable
• Mounting Screws
  

The SOHW-1673S comes with a pretty standard kit. I was a bit disappointed that there was no recording media supplied in the retail packaging. Lite-On did send me media however, to conduct testing on the drive. But as I said there's not any media supplied normally.

The Drive:

The SOHW-1673S itself is also pretty standard, but there's not much that can be done with a bezel. Most people have either a black or beige case, and DVD/CD drives conform to these standards too.

It is a half-height drive, so its design is up to par with its technology.

Features:

• ATAPI / E-IDE Half-Height internal DVD+R / DVD+RW / DVD-R / DVD-RW / DVD+R9 / DVD-ROM / CD-R/ CD-RW / CD-ROM combination drive
• Support Double Layer DVD+R9 Recording Function
• SMART-BURN avoiding Buffer UnderRun Error, Automatically adjusting writing strategy & running OPC to provide the best burning quality
• SMART-X function adjusts CD-DA / VCD / DVD data extraction to a fastest allowable speed according to both data request rate from host and disk quality
• VAS system reduce vibration and noise during recording and reading
• Support Fixed Packet, Variable Packet, TAO, SAO, DAO, Raw Mode Burning & Over-Burn
• DVD read compliant : DVD single / dual layer ( PTP / OTP ), DVD-R ( 3.9 GB / 4.7 GB ), DVD-R multi-borders, DVD+R, DVD+R multi-sessions, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW
• CD read compliant : CD-DA, CD-ROM, CD-ROM / XA, Photo-CD, Multi-session, Karaoke-CD, Video-CD, CD-I FMV, CD Extra, CD Plus, CD-R, and CD-RW
• Support both 8 cm and 12 cm disc of CD and DVD family
• Conform to Orange Book : Part 2 CD-R Volume 1, Part 2 CD-R Volume 2 Multi Speed, Part 3 CD-RW Volume 1 ( 1x, 2x, and 4x ), Part 3 CD-RW Volume 2 : High Speed, Part 3 CD-RW Volume 3 : Ultra Speed
• Supported transfer mode : PIO mode 4, DMA mode 2 and Ultra DMA mode 2

Specifications:

Drive	SOHW-1673S
DVD Read CAV	16x (21,600 KB/s)
DVD+Record CAV	16x (21,600 KB/s)
DVD-Record CAV	16x (21,600 KB/s)
DVD+Record (Double Layer) CLV	4x (5,400 KB/s)
DVD+ReWrite Z-CLV	8x (10,800 KB/s)
DVD-ReWrite CLV	6x (8,100 KB/s)
CD Read CAV	48x (7,200 KB/s)
CD-Record P-CAV	48x (7,200 KB/s)
CD-ReWrite Z-CLV	24x (3,600 KB/s)
Access Time	160ms
Buffer	2MB

I personally think the SOHW-1673S has a sleek aesthetic feel.

Tests & A/V Extraction >>