Error Correction Tests

In the following tests we check the drive's behavior when it comes to reading scratched / defected discs. The test discs that we are using are the ABEX Test Discs series from ALMEDIO.

- ABEX TCD-721R

Errors total	978630
Errors (Loudness) dB(A)	Num: 49784	Avg: -73.1 dB(A)	Max:-12.4 dB(A)
Error Muting Samples	Num: 9279	Avg:4.6 Samples	Max: 579 Samples
Skips Samples	Num:46	Avg: 6.5 Samples	Max: 12 Samples
Total Test Result	62.8 points (of 100.0 maximum)
C2 Accuracy	97.7 %

Toshiba drive had average quality results with the 721R Abex test disc, although the reported c2 accuracy of the drive was adequate. The 721Abex test disc is hard to be read accurate by most drives . The average error loudness was -73.1 dB(A) and according to EAC author, such level is acceptable and does not lead to audible problems in the output signal. However there are some high peaks, as we can see on the graph above (max -12.4 dB(A)), that may create some problems. The drive had to mute few samples but also skipped an average number of 6.5samples. The total score of the drive is 62.8 points out of 100, while the C2 Accuracy is 97.7%

- ABEX TCD-726

Errors total	Num: 44
Errors (Loudness) dB(A)	Num: 12	Avg: -85.3 dB(A)	Max:-62.5 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	93.1 points (of 100.0 maximum)
C2 Accuracy	100.0 %

On this test, Toshiba SD-R5112 had a good performance, no samples were skipped or muted. The average error loudness is -85.3dB(A) and the total score of the drive is 93.1 points. The C2 Accuracy on this test is 100%

- Conclusion

Test Disc	Reading Speed	Score
ABEX TCD-721R	Max	62.8
ABEX TCD-726		93.1
Average Score		77.95

Combining the two scores from the 721R and 726 test discs we estimate an average total score of 77.95 points out of 100. The behavior i shighly acceptable.

- CDSpeed Quality Test

As we can see from the photo above the C2 accuracy of the drive is average at 76.13% while the quality score is 82.0. The software reports a lot of c2 errors while 250021 of them where missed. Nero Cd speed also report 297 Sync errors.

- 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 difficult tests. These tracks are referred as Check Level-1 through Check Level-5.

The files are reproduced (played) through a software multimedia player (i.e. Windows Media Player). Each level is considered as passed, if the tone coming out from the speakers is smooth, continuous without interruptions, skipping or looping. The higher the Check Level passed, the more reliable the sound reproduction of the tested device.

Each file was played 5 times. A 5/5 score donates that the file was played flawlessly without problems.

Error Level	1	2	3	4	5
Toshiba SD-R5112	5/5	5/5	5/5	5/5	2/5

Toshiba successfully passed the first 4 Check Levels of the test. The performance reveals very good sound reproduction and error correction. The fifth level includes an error size of 1.5mm, and the drive gave back audible clicks.