1. Installation/Package
Teac
DV-516E IDE DVD-ROM - Page
1
- Introduction
decided to enter the DVD market for PC with a new DVD-ROM proposal, the Teac
DV-516E. The multifunctional drive supports 16X DVD-ROM reading among with 48X
for the CD-ROM/R media. Whether TEAC decided to enter the DVD recording market
as well or not, testing this new product is definitely interesting for all the
candidate buyers and the fans of the optical storage technology.
- Drive features
Teac DV-516E came with the firmware revision v2.01 installed. The supported
reading speed for DVD-ROM is 16X CAV for single layer and 12X CAV for
dual layer discs.
As for the CD-ROM/ CD-R media, the supported reading speed is 48X CAV and
20X for the HS-RW. The The DAE speed is set to 16X and 4-10X for audio playback
(CD-DA). The applied cache buffer 512MB and is compliant to the RPCII regulations,
allowing user to change the region code of the drive 5 times. The supported
disc formats are: DVD (single layer/dual layer), DVD-R (General in case of writing),
DVD-RW (Ver 1.0& 1.1), DVD+RW, CD-ROM Mode 1, CD-ROM XA Mode 2, Photo CD,
CD-DA, CD-Extra, CD-R.
- The package
The
retail kit contains the drive itself, the Intervideo WinDVD v.4 DVD playback
software and the necessary IDE cables and leads. In the package you can also
find a CD pen and a multilingual quick installation guide. The Teac DV-516E
retail kit will be available from Teac Europe distributors and dealers, in the
retail price of 59 Euro. Teac offers a 2-year warranty for the drive.
On the disc loading tray there are the "DVD-ROM" and the "Compact
Disc " logos. The eject key is placed below the tray on the right side
of the front panel, as usually. The busy indicator ( LED) indicates the drive
status. Last, the head-phone jack or volume control knob are available, as you
can see in the picture below.
On the black-colored rear panel there are the usual connectors, such as the
power connector, the IDE interface, the device configuration jumper, and the
analog audio output.
After removing the screws on the bottom we can see the drive's internal design.
- Installation
The Toshiba drive was identified as "TEAC DV-516E" under
WinXP. The drive was installed to the secondary IDE channel of our test PC as
a "Master" and worked in Ultra DMA Mode 2 transfer mode. The October
2002 model came with firmware version v2.01 installed. In the following tests
we compare the Teac drive with three already tested 16X DVD-ROM drives, the
LiteOn LTD163, the Asus E616 and the Toshiba SD-M1612.
2. CD Data Reading Tests
Teac
DV-516E IDE DVD-ROM
- Page 2
Data CD Tests
- Pressed CD results (Click
to see the CD Speed Graphs)
Teac DV-516E supports 48X CAV CD-R reading speed. The drive almost
reached that speed by the end of the reading process, and gave an average reading
speed of 36.30X. In the same test, Asus E616 was slightly faster with 37.17X
average.
Teac reports that the drive supports 85 msec medium access time for both
CD and DVD-ROM. The seek time we measured is 83 msec for the random stroke,
94 msec for the 1/3 and 155 msec for the full stroke. The drive seems to have
a precise and fast mechanism and is the faster in the test, with a small difference
in the Full seek mode.
- CDR Media results (Click
to see the CD Speed Graphs)
All the drives gave better results with the CDR media. Teac
DV-516E gave a 36.39X average reading speed but speaking with numbers, the fastest
drive comes again from Asus.
In the seek test, the results were not very different than in
the pressed CD test.
- HS-RW media (Click
to see the CD Speed Graphs)
For the RW tests we used Verbatim HS-RW media. The
drive gave a 26.11X average speed. The fastest drive is the Toshiba SD-M1612
which supports 48X CAV reading speed for the HS-RW format..
3. CD Error Correction
Teac
DV-516E IDE DVD-ROM
- Page 3
Error Correction Tests
In the following tests we examine the error correction capabilities of Teac
DV-516E.
- Test Results (Max Reading)
Errors total
|
Num: 5058159
|
Errors (Loudness) dB(A)
|
Num: 25069
|
Avg:-21.2 dB(A)
|
Max: -7.2 dB(A)
|
Error Muting Samples
|
Num: 1038
|
Avg: 2925.4 Samples
|
Max: 3584 Samples
|
Skips Samples
|
Num:0
|
Avg: 0 Samples
|
Max:0 Samples
|
Total Test Result
|
71.9 points (of 100.0 maximum)
|
The errors within the black triangle defect, reached -7.2dB in specific areas.
The average Loudness errors level is 21.2db(A). The score is 71.9 out of 100
(max), which is a medium performance.
- ABEX TCD-721R
- Test Results (Max speed)
Errors total
|
Num: 148445352
|
Errors (Loudness) dB(A)
|
Num:702283
|
Avg: -25.4 dB(A)
|
Max: -4.8 dB(A)
|
Error Muting Samples
|
Num: 58563
|
Avg: 1411.0 Samples
|
Max: 3584 Samples
|
Skips Samples
|
Num: 5
|
Avg: 2371.8 Samples
|
Max: 2939 Samples
|
Total Test Result
|
46.3 points (of 100.0 maximum)
|
The score for Teac DV-516E is only 46.3 points, which is a less than average
performance. The total errors are more than in the previous test, as it was
expected, since the disc is heavily scratched. The average level of the Loudness
errors is -25.4dB(A).
- ABEX TCD-726
- Test Results (Max Speed)
Errors total
|
Num: 84
|
Errors (Loudness) dB(A)
|
Num: 4
|
Avg:-45.8 dB(A)
|
Max:-32.2 dB(A)
|
Error Muting Samples
|
Num: 2
|
Avg: 18.0 Samples
|
Max: 18 Samples
|
Skips Samples
|
Num: 0
|
Avg: 0.0 Samples
|
Max: 0.0 Samples
|
Total Test Result
|
91.2 points (of 100.0 maximum)
|
The total amount of errors only 84 with the TCD-726 disc. The scratches on
the disc is not as heavy as in the TCD-721, and the rest defects and fingerprints
produced only a few errors while reading. The Loudness errors were only 4 and
the average level was -45.8dB(A), which is an acceptable level. The amount of
error muting samples is 2 leading to a very good score of 91.2 points.
- Conclusion
Test Disc
|
Reading Speed
|
Score
|
EAC CD-R
|
Max
|
71.9
|
ABEX TCD-721R
|
46.3
|
ABEX TCD-726
|
91.2
|
Average Score
|
69.8
|
Teac DV-516E gets an average 69.8 score out of 100 in the reading error
correction tests.
- C2 Information accuracy
- Tests Results (Max Speed)
The drive was extremely slow since it slowed down the reading speed in order
to read accurately. We had to stop the task after approximately 22 hours (!)
as you can see from the elapsed time indication in the above picture. You can
also see that the drive started to report unreadable sections (red spikes) from
the 20 min of the test disc, where the scratch became larger. Assuming from
the results until the moment we interrupted the process, the quality score is
very low (many compare errors) and the C2 accuracy is also very low.
EAC software also gave the a very low accuracy (66.7%) in the corresponding
test.
Test Disc
|
Reading Speed
|
Score (%)
|
EAC CD-R
|
Max
|
50.1
|
ABEX TCD-721R
|
50
|
ABEX TCD-726
|
100.0
|
Average Score
|
66.7
|
4. DVD Data Reading Tests
Teac
DV-516E IDE DVD-ROM - Page
4
DVD reading tests
- Test Method
We used Nero CD Speed to run DVD tests. All tests were performed at least
3 times with the same DVD title (we show the average results). The tests discs
were one single sided, single layer DVD-ROM, one single sided, dual layer DVD-ROM,
and DVD-R,-RW, +R and DVD+RW media.
- Single Layer DVD-ROM reading: (Click
for CDSpeed results)
Teac DV-516E supports 16X CAV reading speed for the DVD-ROM format. The drive
is the fastest among the competitors on the test with 15.82X average speed.
LiteOn LTD163 follows closely with 11.36X.
The seek times of Teac DV-516E are low for the DVD-ROM format. The random
seek test gave an 82 msec result, and the Full seek around 164 msec. The LiteOn
drive is faster only in the Full seek mode, with a small however difference.
- Dual Layer DVD-ROM reading: (Click
for CDSpeed results)
The drive supports 12X CAV reading speed for the dual layer DVD-ROM
discs. It started reading at 8.92X and finished the task at 11.92X, with an
average speed of 8.92X.
The seek times for the dual layer DVD-ROMs are the same as in
the previous test.
- DVD Ripping Tests
We measured the DVD Ripping speed using the "Matrix" DVD Video title
and DVD Decrypter v3.0 software.
The ripping speed of Teac DV-516E is high and reaches the 8302
kb/sec (6X). However, the Asus E616 is faster with 9110 kb/sec.
- DVD reading Tests
The charts below shows the Nero DVD Speed results with the following media.
Non of the drives on the test support reading of DVD+R media. Teac DV-516
seems to support almost 7X CAV reading speed for the supported DVD formats.
The drive read the inserted discs in a similar average speed of approximately
5.1X. LiteOn LTD163 is the faster reader for all the formats, followed by the
Teac drive, for the DVD+RW and DVD-RW formats.
5. DVD Error Correction Tests
Teac
DV-516E IDE DVD-ROM
- Page 5
DVD Error Correction
tests
In the following tests we examine the DVD error correction capabilities of
Teac DV-516E. For the tests we used CDVD Benchmark v1.21 and Nero DVD Speed
. The reference test media comes from ALMEDIO.
- Single Layer media
ABEX TDR-821
This is a single sided, single layer DVD-ROM with a 4.7GB capacity, in which
there are scratches with dimensions from 0.4 to 3.0 mm.
Teac DV-516E seems to have no problem finishing the reading task with no errors.
The graph is not interrupted, meaning that the drive read the disc smoothly
and no errors were reported. The performance is high revealing increased error
correction capabilities.
ABEX TDR-825
This is also a single sided, single layer DVD-ROM with a 4.7GB capacity. The
data structure of the disc is exactly the same as the TDR-821, with the difference
that there not scratches on it but defected areas with dimensions from 0.5 to
1.1 mm. There also fingerprints sized from ø 65
to 75 micro meters.
The drive read the disc smoothly the "black band" and the "fingerprint"
areas. The reading speed was not reduced and no errors were reported. The yellow
dots correspond to the current speed in each area of the disc.
- Dual Layer media
ABEX TDR-841
This is a 8.5GB dual layer, single sided DVD-ROM disc with artificial scratches
with dimensions from 0.4 to 3.0mm, in both layers.
The result is very good, as it was expected, judging from the
reading test with the single layer disc. If you compare the two yellow transfer
lines with the one we had in the TDR-821 test, you will see that the drive showed
a similar good reading behavior, in both layers.
ABEX TDR-845
The disc is a single sided, dual layer DVD-ROM disc with a capacity of 8.5GB.
The only difference between the TDR-845 and the TDR-841 is that the first includes
defected areas and fingerprints. The dimensions of the defected areas are ranged
from 0.5 to 1.1 mm and the fingerprints are sized from ø
65 to 75 micro meters.
Again the drive easily overcomes the defected areas and successfully finishes
the reading test.
ABEX TDV-541
The TDV-541 is a single sided, dual layer DVD-VIDEO disc, with capacity of
8.5GB. The current TDV-541 checks the error correction capabilities of the drive
and includes scratches from 0.4 to 3.0 mm.
The test showed that the reading speed by the end of the first layer reached
the 12X. The average speed for both layers was 8.39X. The scratched areas in
the second layer made the drive slow down in some areas but it seems that there
were no reading problems. The average random seek time time 89 msec.
ABEX TDV-545
The TDV-545 disc is based on the TDV-540 series. It is a single sided, dual
layer DVD-VIDEO disc with a capacity of 8.5GB. The TDV-545 includes artificial
black dots on the data surface, sized from 0.4 to 1.0 mm. It has also ø
65 - 75 micro meters fingerprints.
Black dots and fingerprints were not a problem for the drive. The test was
successful, with an 8.88X average speed and 89 msec for the average random seek
time.
6. CloneCD Reading Tests
Teac
DV-516E IDE DVD-ROM
- Page 6
CloneCD Reading
Tests
- Procedure
We used CloneCD and 4 original CDs - Serious Sam 2 (SafeDisc 2), Desperados
(LaserLock 2), V-Rally 2 Expert (SecuROM 2) and NBA Jam Extreme (PSX) - in order
to test the reading time of the drives. We also tested the reading performance
with backups of the original CDs, since the reading speed varies between original
and backup media. The following pictures show the drive reading/writing capabilities
as CloneCD reports:
- PSX Pressed Media
For this test we used the PSX game 'NBA Jam Extreme' and we ripped the image
to the HD with CloneCD. Teac DV-516E finished the task in just 55 seconds. The
Asus drive was 7 seconds faster.
- SafeDisc v.2 Results
The Teac drive is not recommended for such tasks, since it is extremely
slow reader for SafeDisc v.2 discs. The drive needed 1 hour and 10 minutes to
finish the task. The Toshiba SD-M1612 is the leader in this test.
- LaserLock v.2 Results
With the LaserLock v.2 protected disc, the drive finished the
pressed disc reading in 24 minutes. The performance is low but compatible for
the category. The Asus drive is the fastest with the pressed disc, but the Toshiba
SD-M1612 takes the leads in the backup CD test with 1819.28 sectors /sec reading
speed.
- SecuROM Results
All the drives can read SubChannel data from Data/Audio tracks. Although
Teac DV-516E gave a good performance, the LiteOn drive was faster and finished
both tasks in approximately 2 min.
7. DAE Tests
Teac
DV-516E IDE DVD-ROM
- Page 7
DAE Tests
- DAE features
EAC v0.9 reports that Teac DV-516E supports caching of data, gives "Accurate
Stream" and retrieves "C2" error info, with low accuracy, however,
as we experienced in the previous tests.
- Pressed AudioCD results
In this test we examine the speed of the DAE of the drive. The drive ripped
the audio files at 30X average. The drive gave the second best performance behind
LiteOn LTR163, which was faster by 2X.
- CDR AudioCD results
With CD-R media, the ripping speed is again 30X. The LiteOn drive improved
its performance to 33.4X, and takes the first place in the test.
- EAC Secure Extract Ripping mode
EAC's secure extract ripping mode results, which ensures maximum produced
WAV quality. Note that for each drive we used the build-in detection function:
Tested Drives
|
Average DAE Speed (X)
|
Pressed
|
CDR
|
Teac DV-516E
|
9.4
|
9.3
|
Toshiba SD-M1612
|
12.3
|
12.5
|
Asus E616
|
20.9
|
20.8
|
- Advanced DAE Quality
Teac DV-516E got a 100 score (out of 100) in the Nero CD Speed Advanced DAE
test. The average speed for the drive was 29.32X. The drive can also read data
from SubChannel and CD Text.
- CD-Check Audio Test Disc
Error Level
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
Teac DV-516E
|
5/5
|
5/5
|
5/5
|
4/5
|
0/5
|
The Teac drive showed average error correction / concealment abilities with
the CD-Check audio test disc. The first three audio tracks were playbacked correctly
without any error noises. The rest tracks produced audible errors.
- Bad CDR Media results
We used CD DAE software in order to rip the whole disc (756539616 sectors)
to the hard disk. Unfortunately, the drive could not recognize the disc and
the test could not be done.
- Ripping 90 and 99mins AudioCDs
Tested drives
|
Ripping up to
|
Teac DV-516E
|
The drive cannot playback/rip any track
|
- Reading/Ripping Protected AudioCDs
For the test procedure we used 2 protected AudioCDs, which we
tested in both recognition and ripping (with EAC) processes:
* Pressed AudioCD with Sony Key2Audio (Celine Dion - New Day Has
Come)
* Pressed AudioCD with Cactus Data Shield 200 (Natalie Imbruglia - White Lilies
Island)
|
Key2Audio
|
CDS200
|
EAC
|
Teac DV-516E
|
Cannot recognize disc contents
|
Recognizes disc contents, cannot rip
|
The drive cannot handle the "Key2Audio" and "Cactus Data Shield
200" protected discs. The disc contents of the CD200 disc were recognized,
but ripping was impossible.
8. Conclusion
Teac
DV-516E IDE DVD-ROM
- Page 08
Conclusion
Positive (+)
|
Negative (-)
|
- 16X DVD-ROM /48X CD-ROM drive
- Fast reader for CD-ROM/-R discs
- 30X DAE speed
- Good seek times for CD/DVD
- Can read DVD-R/RW, DVD+RW discs
- Fast DVD reader for the supported formats
- Good DVD ripping speed
- Good DVD error correction/reading quality
- Supports reading of SubChannel data
- Supports CD-Text
|
- Cannot recognize DVD+R media
- Low CD error correction capabilities
- Cannot "handle" any audio protected disc
- HS-RW reading speed lower than competition
- C2 error information is present with low accuracy according to the EAC
test
- Very slow CloneCD reader
- Does not support 99 min discs
|
Teac DV-516E performed adequately in the most of the tests and the results
were confirmed by the drive's specifications. The supported 16X DVD-ROM reading
speed for the single layer discs and 12X for the dual layer DVD-ROMs turned
out to be adequate and faster than the competition in the reading tests. Reading
of DVD-R/RW and DVD+RW media is also not excluded but in a lower speed. However,
the DVD+R format is not supported. As for the DVD ripping, the drive gave a
good performance, slightly slower than the other DVD-ROM drives.
The drive did not have any difficulties to read the ABEX DVD-ROM test discs,
and the corresponding error correction tests gave no read errors. In some cases
the drive lowered the reading speed in order to maintain reading accuracy, with
successful, however, results.
CloneCD users would better choose another reader for their tasks with protected
discs, since the drive is extremely slow. The 48X reading speed for CD-R is
high enough and the seek times are very low for a drive in this category. As
for the CDDA format, the drive is fast and the DAE speed reaches the 30X. The
HS-RW reading speed could also be set to 48X and not at approximately 34X, as
our test results showed.
Staying in the reading part for the CD format, we could say that the error
correction capabilities of the drive are average and the DAE quality should
be also improved. As for the audio protections, the drive will disappoint users
since it cannot handle the "Key2Audio" and "Cactus Data Shield
200" modes. The drive can retrieve C2 error information but the reliability
is low.
The Teac DV-516E is generally a reliable DVD-ROM drive but also a fast one.
The CD/DVD-ROM combination could be very handy for the candidate users among
with the 2 year-warranty offered by Teac. The retail kit is priced at 59 Euro