Freecom FC-1
3. CD Error Correction Tests
Freecom FC-1 - Page 3
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:
3425293
|
||
|
Errors (Loudness) dB(A)
|
Num:
105650
|
Avg:-72.2
dB(A)
|
Max:
-5.2 dB(A)
|
|
Error Muting Samples
|
Num:
7405
|
Avg:
1.0 Samples
|
Max:
9 Samples
|
|
Skips Samples
|
Num:
0
|
Avg:
0 Samples
|
Max:
0 Samples
|
|
Total
Test Result
|
75.2
points (out of 100.0 maximum)
|
||
As can be seen from the graph above, the drive read the contents of the defective disc returning a total of 3425293 errors, which is a little on the high side. In spite of the fact that the maximum error loudness reached was -5.2dB, in general the level was well below the "alert" limit, which means that the possibility of any audible clicks is very unlikely. There were no skipped samples and the drive recorded a score of 75.2 out of 100. In the same test, the Plextor Premium had 66.7 and the Aopen 67.
- ABEX TCD-726
|
Errors total
|
Num:
40
|
||
|
Errors (Loudness) dB(A)
|
Num:85
|
Avg:
-75.8 dB(A)
|
Max:-64.7
dB(A)
|
|
Error Muting Samples
|
Num:
0
|
Avg:
0 Samples
|
Max:
0 Samples
|
|
Skips Samples
|
Num:
0
|
Avg:
0 Samples
|
Max:
0 Samples
|
|
Total Test Result
|
91.2
points (out of 100.0 maximum)
|
||
The Abex TCD-726 test disc is much easier for drives in general to read, and as such, the Freecom drive managed a better score with this disc than it did with the 721R test disc previously. No muting or skipped samples were reported. The score was 91.2 for the Freecom which is a good score, while the Plextor and Aopen drives had 81.4 and 66.8 respectively.
- 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 abilities to read music and reproduce it completely. Five tracks on the disc contain a sequence of progressively difficult tests. 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. Windows Media Player). Each level is considered as passed, if the tone coming 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 drive.
|
Error Level
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
|
Freecom FC-1
|
5/5
|
5/5
|
5/5
|
5/5
|
5/5
|
The Freecom drive managed to play flawlessly all the levels of our test disc. This behavior reveals excellent CD error correction capabilities.
- Summary
|
Test Disc
|
Reading Speed
|
Score
|
|
ABEX TCD-721R
|
Max
|
75.2
|
|
ABEX TCD-726
|
91.2
|
|
|
Average Score
|
83.2
|
|
Combining the two scores from the ABEX tests gives an average total score of 83.2 points out of 100, which is a very good score.
