I'm going to start ripping all of my CDs using EAC. The CDs are all in good condition with no scratches, but for some reason I've had problems with both drives I've attempted to use so far, Samsung and LG (sync errors). Can anyone recommend a drive that has worked well for ripping in secure mode with EAC? Ideally something that doesn't cache audio. I don't care if it also reads/burns DVDs or not since my other drives have that covered.

If your discs are unscratched and in good condition, have you tried burst mode with Test and Copy and/or AccurateRip? You may not need a new drive.

That said, there are probably several other threads on drive recommendations.

Yes but I challenge you to find one thread that actually gives you a good list of available drives. They always result in quibbling and then feelings are hurt and someone pulls out the TOS like a coward.

The problem is that there is no single drive that does a superior job with all instances and types of damage and defect.

Which are the models of the drives that you have? Can you post them?

I have too many to list, but I can tell you my primary drive is a Plextor PX-716A and in the event that I can't it to rip something accurately or the drive is otherwise bogged down I'll turn to a Sony CDU5221 (I think it's really a Lite-On) or a JLMS XJ-HD166S (another Lite-On).

Since I have a PlexWriter 40/12/40A, all my CDs rip perfectly (except for one that was very badly scratched).

Hmm, I was asking to the original poster, since he doesn't specify which are the models of his drives. .
I have a Samsung and a LG and I don't have any problems with them.

I've been using a NEC-3520A with firmware v3.07 and it's ripped almost all 1000+ of my CDs using EAC Secure Mode at 16x speed with little to no problems. Occasionally I'll have to re-rip specific tracks on a CD that don't match AR results when the rest of the tracks do.

However, it's no longer being made. I don't think NEC drives are being made anymore, but have instead been merged into Sony's Optiarc line.

Thus, if you purchase a Sony Optiarc AD-7200 it should give the same ripping performance as the NEC 35x0 series. I actually plan on purchasing one in a month or so to replace my aging 3520A (it's more than 3 years old).

EDIT:

Note that I've been talking about internal EIDE drives for a desktop system. If you are planning on getting an external drive for use with a laptop and USB 2.0, then you'll need to get a different model number.

If you're using C2 pointers with an ND-35X0A I hope you're also using test and copy since it is one of the drives that passes bad data off as good with EAC.

EDIT: I said ND-3500A, but I meant NE-3520A. Neither are trustworthy.

IMO, it is more important to have more than one drive than it is to try to find the best "ONE". I have an LG and an old, cheap Lite-On and when one has trouble, the other can usually get the job done. BTW, I mostly use dbpoweramp with Accuraterip.