4x DVD+RW Roundup Vol.2 (AOpen DRW4410 & Ricoh MP5240A)

Review Pages

1. Package, Installation, Ricoh MP5240A
2. Package, Installation, AOpen DRW4410
3. Data CD Reading Tests
4. Error Correction Tests - Ricoh MP5240A
5. Error Correction Tests - AOpen DRW4410
6. DVD Reading Tests
7. DVD Error Correction Tests - Ricoh MP5240A
8. DVD Error Correction Tests - AOpen DRW4410
9. Data Protected Disc Tests
10. DAE Tests
11. CD-R/RW Recording Tests
12. Writing Quality Tests - Ricoh MP5240A
13. Writing Quality Tests - AOpen DRW4410
14. DVD Recording Tests
15. PI/PO measurements - Ricoh MP5240A
16. PI/PO measurements - AOpen DRW4410
17. Conclusion

Ricoh MP5240A Vs AOpen DRW4410 - Page 4

Error Correction Tests

Ricoh MP5240A

In the following tests we check the behavior of Ricoh MP5240A when it comes to reading scratched / defected discs. The test discs we use are the ABEX series from ALMEDIO.

- ABEX TCD-721R

Errors total	Num: 1023864
Errors (Loudness) dB(A)	Num: 51295	Avg: -73.5 dB(A)	Max: -8.9dB(A)
Error Muting Samples	Num: 3339	Avg: 1.1 Samples	Max: 96 Samples
Skips Samples	Num:3	Avg: 6.0 Samples	Max: 6 Samples
Total Test Result	70.9 points (of 100.0 maximum)
C2 Accuracy	66.9 %

The reported signal level (average) is only -73.5 dB(A). In addition, the amount of the reported errors is low, and no synchronization problems occurred, since only 3 errors were skipped. The performance is high, and the total score for this test is 70.9 points out of 100.

The reported C2 accuracy is not high, and according to EAC suite it is less than 67%.

- ABEX TCD-726

Errors total	Num: 2946
Errors (Loudness) dB(A)	Num: 180	Avg: -76.4dB(A)	Max: -53.0dB(A)
Error Muting Samples	Num: 54	Avg: 1.1Samples	Max: 4 Samples
Skips Samples	Num: 0	Avg: 0.0 Samples	Max: 0 Samples
Total Test Result	86.3 points (of 100.0 maximum)
C2 Accuracy	66.9 %

The reported average error level is -76.4dB(A) and only a few errors were noted. Although the drive reported some errors earlier than expected, no skip errors occured, and the total score is 86.3 points out of 100.

- Summary

Test Disc	Reading Speed	Score
ABEX TCD-721R	Max	70.9
ABEX TCD-726	Max	86.3
Average Score		78.6

Ricoh MP5240 got an overall score of 78.6 out of 100. The drive read the scratched TCD-721R disc at an adequate accuracy, and was better when it comes to the TCD-726 defected disc.

- 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
Ricoh MP5240A	5/5	5/5	5/5	4/5	0/5

Ricoh MP5240A successfully passed the first 3 Check Levels of the test. The performance reveals good sound reproduction and error correction. The fourth level includes an error size of 1.125mm, and the drive gave back audible clicks only once out of the 5 times we played the file. The fifth level could not be played correctly.