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

An average score for the Pioneer DVR-215BK drive. Although there were few skipped samples, the maximum Errors Loudness level is a little high, at -3.2 dB(A), and there were quite a few readings at that level so it is possible that some of these could eventually make their way to your speakers in the form of audible clicks.

- ABEX TCD-726R

The drive's behavior with the TCD-726 test disc was very much alike with what we previously got with the TCD-721. It seems that the Pioneer drive handles the various different defects on the surface of a disc in the same manner. The results is not considered as good.

As it was expected, the performance is very much similar to what we had reported in the previous review with the Pioneer DVR-115 drive.

- 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.

Noise appeared during playback of the 4rth and 5th tracks of the test audio CD. Playback was Audio We have to say here that we expected more from Pioneer DVR 215.