In the following tests we check the drive's behaviour when reading
scratched / defective audio discs. The test discs used were the ABEX series
from ALMEDIO.
- ABEX TCD-721R
|
Errors
total
|
Num:
839032 |
|
Errors
(Loudness) dB(A)
|
Num: 45971 |
Avg:
-73.6 dB(A) |
Max:
-11.0 dB(A) |
|
Error
Muting Samples
|
Num: 2673 |
Avg:
8.1 Samples |
Max: 3584 Samples |
|
Skips
Samples
|
Num: 0 |
Avg:
0 Samples |
Max:
0 Samples |
| Total Test Result |
75.0 points (of 100.0 maximum) |
Low total error count and low average loudness error level. There were no skipped samples and the Total Test Result score of 75.0 is quite good.
- ABEX TCD-726
|
Errors total
|
Num:
0 |
|
Errors (Loudness) dB(A)
|
Num: 0 |
Avg:
-174.0 dB(A) |
Max: -174.0 dB(A) |
|
Error Muting Samples
|
Num: 0 |
Avg:
0 Samples |
Max:
0 Samples |
|
Skips Samples
|
Num: 0 |
Avg:
0 Samples |
Max: 0 Samples |
| Total Test Result |
100.0 points (out of 100.0 maximum) |
As with most drives, the 726 media test disc is an easy task for the drive's reading capabilities. A perfect Total Test Result score of 100 points, indicating good CD error correction capabilities for the Plextor 740A.
- CD-Check Audio Test Disc
The CD-Check Test Disc is a very useful tool for evaluating the Sound Reproduction
/ Error correction capabilities of a CD player. The disc offers a signal combination
with disc error patterns to rate the drive's abilities to read music and reproduce
it completely. Five tracks on the disc contain a sequence of progressively
more difficult tests. These tracks are referred to as Check Level-1 through
Check Level-5.
The
tracks are reproduced through a software multimedia player (i.e.
Windows Media Player). Each level is considered as passed, if the tone
is smooth, continuous without interruptions, skipping or looping. The higher
the Check Level passed, the more reliable the sound reproduction
of the tested drive.
|
Error Level
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
|
Plextor 740A |
5/5
|
5/5
|
5/5
|
5/5
|
4/5
|
Few drives have ever managed to reach the fifth level of the CD-Check Audio test disc. The 740A is one of them, and although it did not manage to achieve 5/5 for the fifth level, its performance in this test can be described as excellent.
- Summary
Overall, very good CD error correction capabilities from the Plextor 740A drive, with the 726 test media being read flawlessly and managing to reach up to the 5th level with the CD-Check Audio test disc, an accomplishment we've seen from very few drives.
