This series of tests checks the drive's ability to correct/conceal possible erroneous data after reading artificially scratched / defective audio discs. The test discs used were the ABEX series from ALMEDIO.

Specifically, a software compares two audio files using FFT analysis. The first audio file has been extracted by a normal audio disc. The second one is the result of the extraction of the another disc which hold the same audio track, but it also has specific defects on its surface. The similarity factor of the the two tracks unveils the error correction capabilities of the drive.

The differences between the two compared tracks are translated to a signal (noise) illustrated in the following graphs.

- ABEX TCD-721R

The drive's performance on this disc can be commented using the graph above. Error correction is average, starting at the point where the defect is starting to grow, but error hiding mechanisms are not so good. We can tell that by the noise that almost all the time exceeds that -60 db(A) level.

- ABEX TCD-726R

Good performance on this one, with no skips and very few mutings performed. However, the drive could have performed better, as the error loudness at the point of 3 min was very high, and most likely audible. Strangely, though, the defect of the disc does not cover the 3 min point of the audio track.

- CD-Check Audio Test Disc

The CD-Check Test Disc is another 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 (e.g. 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.

A good performance for the BWU-300S drive here, as it successfully played the first 4 tracks.

Summary

Overall, good error correction mechanisms on CD media.