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

A good score for the Pioneer drive with the scratched audio CD.

- ABEX TCD-726

The performance is average here, with the drive reporting errors quite early on. But the severity of the errors (level) is low, meaning that no audible problems will make it to your speakers, at least with these types of defects.

- 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.

The drive achieved flawless reading with the first 4 tracks. Playing the fifth track produced audible sound interruptions and clicks.

- Summary

Overall, the drive appears to have acceptable CD Error correction capabilities.