Error Correction Tests

In the following tests we check the drive's behavior when reading scratched / defective audio discs. The test discs used were the ABEX series from ALMEDIO.

- ABEX TCD-721R

Errors total	Num: 962109
Errors (Loudness) dB(A)	Num: 47943	Avg: -73.2 dB(A)	Max:-13.2 dB(A)
Error Muting Samples	Num: 3068	Avg: 1.8 Samples	Max: 1140 Samples
Skips Samples	Num: 0	Avg: 0 Samples	Max: 0 Samples
Total Test Result	76.3 points (out of 100.0 maximum)

Although the overall score for the BenQ drive is not the best we have recorded, the score of 76.3 points that the dirve was awarded were quite acceptable, since the 721R test disc is difficult to read. During the error correction test, the software reported 962109 total errors, which is comapratively low. An average number of 1.8 samples were muted while no errors skipped, meaning that the drive managed to process all errors.

- ABEX TCD-726

 

 

Errors total	Num: 0
Errors (Loudness) dB(A)	Num: 4	Avg: -94.0dB(A)	Max: -87.6 dB(A)
Error Muting Samples	Num: 0	Avg: 0 Samples	Max: 0 Samples
Skips Samples	Num: 1	Avg: 185.0 Samples	Max: 185 Samples
Total Test Result	83.6 points (out of 100.0 maximum)

The 726 Abex test disc is less demanding than the 721R and therefore the drive's score is better with a total score of 83.6 points. Most of the better drives usually receive a score of 100 for this test, but the BenQ drive had 4 loudness errors and 1 sample was skipped resulting in a less than perfect score here.

- 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 reading music abilities and reproduce it completely. Five tracks on the disc contain a progressively difficult sequence. These tracks are referred to as Check Level-1 through Check Level-5.

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

Error Level	1	2	3	4	5
BenQ DW822A	5/5	5/5	5/5	3/5	1/5

The performance of the BenQ with the CD-Check Audio test disc was good. The drive played back the first three levels of the test disc and these are the levels that most drives manage to playback without problems. The fourth level produced smooth, clear sound for three out of the five plays but the other two produced audible clicks. On the fifth level the performance of the drive was again good since we were at least able to listen to the track, where most drives produce so many clicks that the track is not audible. Moreover, these were low level clicks that nonetheless marked the track as not passed for 4 out of the 5 plays.

- Summary

Test Disc	Reading Speed	Score
ABEX TCD-721R	Max	76.3
ABEX TCD-726		83.6
Average Score		79.95

The overall average score for the BenQ DW822A is 79.95 points out of 100.0