In the following tests we check the drive's behavior when it comes to reading scratched / defective discs. The test discs we use are the ABEX series from ALMEDIO.

- ABEX TCD-721R

The DVDR1640P drive displayed slightly better than average performance with this test disc. The total error count was a little increased and the maximum error loudness level of -18.5dB(A) should be lower since the limit is at -35dB(A). The error muting sample count was low, while there were no skipped samples. The final score of 76.1 is quite acceptable.

- ABEX TCD-726

Philips DVDR1640P received a perfect score of 100.0 with the Abex TCD-726 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.

The DVDR1640P passed the first four Check Levels of the test. In the fifth level we got several audible clicks. We should comment that the 1.5mm defect on the fifth track is difficult for the majority of the drives to be handle.

- Conclusion

The Philips DVDR1640P offers good CD error correction.