If memory serves, we used Toshiba, IBM and Fujitsu drives. As far as brand differences go I found them all to be as reliable as each other.

We did have a lot of Fujitsu drives fail, but that may have been down to the spindle pressure problem and the fact that we manufactured more players with those drives.

Players with good drive mountings and intact cables rarely had problems, at least while they were within the warranty period.