I have a 2021 Apple iMac with the M1 chip and currently use an Apple Drive for CD/DVD external which is a USB-A connection. I would like to upgrade to a USB-C external CD/DVD drive. Are there any recommendations or any drives considered the best to use with Mac?
iMac 24″, macOS 14.3
No, the USB C connection will not improve the read and write speed of the Apple SuperDrive. Even with a USB C adaptor it's still a USB A machine. It's an old design and is maybe the slowest on the market.
I would look at what OWC (MacSaes.com) offers sin the way of optical drives. I have an older version of this one, OWC Mercury Pro 24X Super-Multi DVD/CD Burner/Reader External Optical Drive with M-DISC Support.
I use it primarily for ripping audio books. You can get essentially the same drive but with BlueRay capability (you'll also need a BlueRay burn and read app to read or burn BlueRay discs). They have several other drawer loading, self powered optical drives that might meet your needs.
It has its own power source so can be connected via a hub or dock. Non self powered optical drives should be connected directly to the Mac unless it's a self powered hub or dock.
OWC is considered the premier hardware supplier for Macs by most of the experienced contributors here.
Note: if you burn video DVDs always burn at the slowest speed available to insure the best burn possible.
No, the USB C connection will not improve the read and write speed of the Apple SuperDrive. Even with a USB C adaptor it's still a USB A machine. It's an old design and is maybe the slowest on the market.
I would look at what OWC (MacSaes.com) offers sin the way of optical drives. I have an older version of this one, OWC Mercury Pro 24X Super-Multi DVD/CD Burner/Reader External Optical Drive with M-DISC Support.
I use it primarily for ripping audio books. You can get essentially the same drive but with BlueRay capability (you'll also need a BlueRay burn and read app to read or burn BlueRay discs). They have several other drawer loading, self powered optical drives that might meet your needs.
It has its own power source so can be connected via a hub or dock. Non self powered optical drives should be connected directly to the Mac unless it's a self powered hub or dock.
OWC is considered the premier hardware supplier for Macs by most of the experienced contributors here.
Note: if you burn video DVDs always burn at the slowest speed available to insure the best burn possible.
There's no reason to stop using your Apple Super Drive CD/DVD burner.
All you need is this:
Search for USB-C to USB-A adapter and you'll find many for ~$10 or so.
The USB-A vs USB-C physical connector makes no difference unless the connected device supports USB "Gen2" speeds (10Gbps or 20Gbps), which the Apple Drive does not. (And I do not know of any CD/DVD/BDR drive that supports anything faster than USB 2.0 or some at USB 3.x Gen 1).
I have the Pioneer BDR-XD08S and it works like a champ. It does have a USB-C cable, if that's important to you. But like nearly all other such drives, it's USB 3.x Gen 1/USB 2.0.
In the case of CD/DVD drives, the port speed is more or less irrelevant with modern Macs.
The performance limiting factor of DVD drives is not the port speed, but the nature of the devices themselves. Like HDDs, they use a spinning platter to store the data that is written to and read from it by the laser mechanism. The data transfer speed of USB 2, USB 3 and 3.1 and above is far greater than the data transfer capability of a CD/DVD drive.
If the question is one of quality and performance of a slot loading drive vs a tray loading drive, then I'd say each has its advantage and disadvantage. I've used both and have no particular preference for one over the other.
If it isn't broken, don't fix it.
I'm quite happy with this drive...
https://www.amazon.com/External-Portable-Ultra-Thin-Rewriter-Compatible/dp/B08B1MLYRJ/ref=sr_1_9?
I just bought a MacBook Air with the M3 chip. I have a MacBook Air with the Intel Chip. Both are running Sonoma. The ASUS dvd player I have works on the Intel Chip, but not the M3. Any ideas? Both are using usb-c.
The port is relevant if you have limited free ports. I'd rather not use an adapter or expansion dock if there's a cleaner solution available. I have pretty much used all the ports on my Studio.
As a former Mac Pro user, I'm baffled by the logic of ultra-clean industrial design, when it forces the user into rat's nest of cables and 3rd-party products. If I have a single free usb-c port, I'm shopping for a device can take a usb-c cable, if possible.
Is that something you use and have you used the Apple Drive previously. I am trying to find out if a USB-C connection might offer better performance than the Apple Drive with a USB-A connector and using an A-C adaptor to connect to my iMac
As I described above I am using the Apple Drive with the Apple USB-A to USB-C adaptor but still wondering two things. Would a straight USB-C connection to a drive offer any better performance, accuracy, speed, etc. and I have read some negative things about the slot drive (none that I have experienced) versus a drive with an opening drawer.
No longer available, but what was YOUR experience with it since we're looking for recommendations here?
Do other USB things work on the M3?
BDAqua - do you have a Macbook Air M2? Thanks for your help/info.
Sorry, no, I do not.
Best USB-C CD/DVD Drive For Use With My iMac
