phillips firmware

i have a cdrw404 which dosen't support sub channel data, is this due to its firmware or that its just incompatible full stop?

[Bl@de]

Phillips drives do not support subchannel at all, a firmware upgrade will do no in getting subchannel support. Phillips drives are Crap they are only good for sd2 and that is it.

[^Homer]

I don't care what anybody says i've got a philips 804EK, and it can copy anything. secure rom, safedisk, safedisk 2, u name it this drive works a treat. Just use clone cd, tick the fast error skip, and write away, every game works fine.
The sub channel, which it is refering to I think is used for CD+G which most normal cd drives cant even read, thats why ive got a yamaha 6416S as well.
so far ive copied
revolt
red alert 2 (works in any cd drive)
aoe 2

three different copy protections and they all work a treat.

[RedRogue]

Ignore Bl@de, he just goes around slagging off the Philips everywhere he goes, the thing is this... there are many many drives rom or writer that wont read subchannel data/audio. As long as you have a reader that can read in these modes, you'll be sorted with a Philips, as they can just as much, if not more than any other writers out there.

I know that all the Toshiba's and the Teac CD Rom drives, are highly recommended to read this mode.

Listen to "Homer" as he is spot on with his comments. I have a plextor and with it being relatively new it cannot downgrade firmware below 1.05, so I use a Philips together with a Teac Reader, to do any heavily protected software that I have to Back-up, Total Cost around £115-£120.
But as Homer says you dont always need to have the Subchannel modes selected, unless maybe you are backing up console Titles.