For our CD/DVD transfer rate tests we used the Nero Disc Speed utility and a set of data and audio CD-R/RW/ROM media. Here we test the maximum reading speed of the LiteOn drive (32x) for each type of disc. For comparison, we have included the corresponding reading results of two more BD-ROM drives, the LiteOn DH-4O1S and the Pioneer BDC-202.

-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 22.84x 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 LiteON iHOS104 drive does supports "caching " and "Accurate stream" but it does not report "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 19.5X, using CD DAE:

- 90 mins Audio disc

90min Audio disc

- 99 mins Audio disc

99min Audio disc

Summary

The reading process of almost all CD media was completed without read errors and at speeds that match the drive's specifications. An exception to this were the 90and 99min CD-Rs, which are generally hard to be read and most of the drives fail in these tests.