Zoom 1608 Can i use an aftermarket cdr/cdrw

[jhcaro]

Can i use an aftermarket cd/r, Do i need any software to intall the cd/r

[ssscientist]

Here's the one that Zoom makes. It would be a longshot to find them undercutting their own product by including a SCSI port or other convenient way to hook up a CD burner. If their CD drive is too rich for your blood, they also make a usb interface for the machine. At least the zzounds listing says they do...

[honedawg]

Do a search on the ZOOMERS Yahoo group. I've seen many threads there on aftermarket burners.
Zoomers

[Carvin man]

I own a Zoom MRS-1266 and I purchased a CD burner from Radio Shack and installed it with no problems. It works great. I know that Zoom threatens to void the warranty but I took my chances and it worked.

[The_Hexx]

I can confirm that the CDRW in the MRS 1608 is nothing more than a standard EIDE drive like your computer uses.

Seems to be a common trick in UK to sell the MRS 1608 + Free CDR. Basically they sell you a 1608 and an aftermarket CDRW as a pack. It's cheaper than a 1608CD.... I just bought one.

The CDRW supplied with mine was a standard Lite-On PC CDRW drive (even came with all the PC burning software and cables to hook to your soundcard etc!). Installs exactly like a PC drive. Remove the blanking plate slide in the drive, connect the power + data connectors, and secure with the 4 mounting screws. All screws, cables & full instructions are supplied with the MRS... If you can read and you can hold a screwdriver, you cannot possibly get it wrong, the 2 cables can only be inserted one way up.

I cannot imagine that there is any practical reason why you could not use any EIDE CD drive. There may be certain features/speeds the drive needs to support but I can't imagine that'd be an issue with most modern drives.

The differences between most aftermarket PC products (CD Drives included) is simply 'badge-engineering' - most 'manufacturers' are sourcing their stuff from the same place.