In the following pages we check the behavior of each disc when burned with the various burners used in this test. On top of the PI Sum8 and POF error rates, we also present the jitter charts for each disc, measured at the same area on each disc.

In general, jitter is a good indication of the condition of a recordable disc, and high values could lead to PI or even more severe errors. A jitter signal can be introduced when the spots on the recording layer of the disc (data), are not perfectly shaped. For example, they may be longer or not steep enough. High jitter compromises the integrity of the recorded data and thus, may influence the playability or lifetime, over long term. Jitter is a low-level quality measurement for optical storage media.

Note that no disc is jitter-free. The maximum allowed jitter value for the DVD+R discs is 9%, and slightly lower for DVD-R media (8%). Exceeding these values, however, does not always mean that a disc is problematic. It means that it tends to be more vulnerable to possible data corruption.

Optodisc R016 DVD-R

The first measurements with Optodisc R016 DVD-R media, show jitter above the limits, no matter the burner. The dotted red line on the graph above, indicates the 8% jitter limit for DVD-R media.

In the following graph, we can see the PI Sum8 error rates for the same MID disc, after being burned with our test drives. Highest error were rates produced by the LiteOn and the Plextor drives. The LiteOn drive also produced the highest Jitter in the graph above.

Despite having high PI values and Jitter, the discs recorded with the Plextor and LiteOn burners did not produce POF errors. POF errors were reported with the NEC ND-4551A drive which did not have a high PI Sum8 count, in fact it has very good levels there, did produce high Jitter. Perhaps what is most surprising is that the LiteOn drive, which produced high Jitter and PI Sum8, did not generate POF errors.

MCC 03RG20 DVD-R

Again, high jitter was reported for MCC 03RG20 DVD-R media burned with all the DVD burners.

The specific disc reported high PI Sum8 error counts with the Pioneer DVR-110 and the BenQ DW-1640A drives. What we then see below, is that the same drives also produced POF errors. It is also becoming evident that as the PI Sum8 count exceeds 700, it is very likely that POF errors will be produced. If the level is above 1000, then it is almost certain to do so.