For our CD/DVD and Blu-ray transfer rate tests we used the Nero CDSpeed utility and a set of data and audio CD and DVD media. Here we test the maximum reading speed of the Sony BDX-S500U drive for each type of disc.

- CD media

• CD-ROM

• US RW

The following CD Speed graph shows the reading performance with US-RW media.

• AudioCD

In the CD Speed Advanced DAE quality test, the drive's average speed was just 16.56X with a quality score of 100.

• CD DAE

Digital Audio Extraction or DAE is important when we try to read the files stored on an audio CD and store them in our hard disk drive. The procedure is not always that simple and the fidelity of the extracted data depend on the way each drive handles these data.

The majority of the software that support this procedure, commonly known as "ripping", will just read the audio files and store them on your hard disk. However, this approach is not recommended for all drives, since it may result to read or sync errors if your drive does not support report of C2 error pointer information and also what the author of the EAC (Exact Audio Copy) software describes as "accurate stream" and " non-caching."

According to EAC, the Sony drive dos not support"caching ", but it offers "Accurate stream" and reports C2 error pointer information

Accurate stream and C2 error reporting is always welcome and contribute to reliable and fast audio extraction. Generally, if you select a drive for extraction better have a look that the drive does not cache audio data.

If you are sure about the physical condition of your audio CD and you need faster extractions, you may chose other utilities such as the CD DAE software. A typical ripping task finished at an average reading speed of 23.1X, using CD DAE:

• 90/99 min audio discs

90min Audio disc

The drive returned an error as it was trying to read the data stored at the outer part of the 90min disc. In addition, the drive could not recognize 99min CD-Rs.

- DVD media

Now let's take a look at how the drive performs with DVD media. This time, a set of SL and DL DVD media was used. The drive is capable of reading at 8X maximum speed for single layer DVD ROM and at 6X for dual layer DVD ROM media.

• DVD-ROM SL

• PTP DVD-ROM

The two layers of a PTP DVD-ROM disc are read sequentially with the drive starting reading from the inner part of the disc, which is the beginning of each layer, progressing towards its outer range.

• OTP DVD-ROM

The first layer of an OTP dual layer DVD-ROM is read exactly the same way as the first layer of the PTP disc we tested previously. The difference here is the reading strategy of the second layer of the disc. The beginning of the second layer is located in the outer part of the disc, so the drive starts reading from the outer tracks and progresses towards the inner part of the disc.

• DVD-R

• DVD-RW

• DVD+R

• DVD+RW

• DVD+R DL

• DVD-R DL

• DVD-RAM 5x

• DVD Ripping speed

Ripping of a single layer DVD movie:

Summary

The reading process of all media was completed without read errors and at speeds that match the drive's specifications.