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: 934288
Errors (Loudness) dB(A)	Num: 49021	Avg: -73.7 dB(A)	Max: -16.3 dB(A)
Error Muting Samples	Num: 3266	Avg: 1.5 Samples	Max: 631 Samples
Skips Samples	Num: 0	Avg: 0 Samples	Max: 0 Samples
Total Test Result	76.4 points (out of 100.0 maximum)
C2 Accuracy	66.9 %

EAC software awards the AOpen COM5232 a total test score of 76.4 points. The total error count is comparatively low, at 934288, as are the Loudness Error and Muting Samples Error counts. The average Loudness Error level of -73.7 dB(A) is low, but there where some high level spikes, with the maximum reaching -16.3 dB(A) is a little on the high side. The test finished with 0 skipped samples and all in all, it was a good performance with the reported C2 accuracy at 66.9%

- ABEX TCD-726

 

Errors total	Num: 238
Errors (Loudness) dB(A)	Num: 82	Avg: -90.8 dB(A)	Max:-61.8 dB(A)
Error Muting Samples	Num: 1	Avg: 1.0 Samples	Max: 1 Samples
Skips Samples	Num: 0	Avg: 0 Samples	Max: 0 Samples
Total Test Result	91.1 points (out of 100.0 maximum)
C2 Accuracy	66.8 %

This test disc, the ABEX TDC-726, is a much easier test disc. While the total error count is low, at only 238, the norm is no errors, especially from the better drives. EAC awarded the drive with a total score of 91.1 points. This is an acceptable score, we can even consider it a very good score and certainly better than average although the performance can not be ranked amongst the best.

- 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 smooth, 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
AOpen COM5232	5/5	5/5	5/5	5/5	5/5

The AOpen drive managed to play back all the levels of this Audio Test Disc. This is certainly excellent performance. Very few drives manage to play all 5 levels.

- Summary

Test Disc	Reading Speed	Score
ABEX TCD-721R	Max	76.4
ABEX TCD-726		91.1
Average Score		83.75

The total score for the AOpen with the ABEX test discs was very good with an average score of 83.75.