DVD Error Correction Tests

In the following tests we examined the DVD reading capabilities of the RICOH MP5316DA drive with scratched / defective DVD media. For the tests, we used CDVD Benchmark and Nero CDSpeed . The reference test media come from ALMEDIO.

- Single Layer media

ABEX TDR-821

This is a single sided, single layer DVD-ROM with 4.7GB capacity, and its surface has an artificial scratch of dimensions varying from 0.4 to 3.0 mm.

The following transfer rate picture comes from the CDVD Benchmark v1.21 transfer rate test.

The RICOH MP5316DA had no problems reading this test disc. No errors were reported, and the maximum 16X reading speed was achieved near the end of the reading process.

ABEX TDR-825

This is also a single sided, single layer DVD-ROM of 4.7GB capacity. The data structure of the disc is exactly the same as that of the TDR-821, with the difference that there are no scratches on it but instead, defective areas of dimensions ranging from 0.5 to 1.1 mm. There are also fingerprints sized from 65 to 75 micrometers.

The RICOH MP5316DA read this disc as if there were no defects and fingerprints at all. A continuous line was produced, and the drive once again reached its highest 16X reading speed.

-Dual Layer media

ABEX TDR-841

This is an 8.5GB dual layer, single sided DVD-ROM disc with artificial scratches of dimensions ranging from 0.4 to 3.0mm, on both layers.

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Most NEC based drives have problems reading this type of disc. As seen above, DVD error correction capabilities over former NEC based drives have been improved. The RICOH MP5316DA gave no errors during reading. The test was completed successfully. Excellent performance at this point!

ABEX TDR-845

The disc is a single sided, dual layer DVD-ROM disc with a capacity of 8.5GB. The only difference between the TDR-845 and the TDR-841 is that the first includes defective areas and fingerprints. The dimensions of the defective areas range from 0.5 to 1.1 mm and the fingerprints are sized from 65 to 75 micrometers.

Again, the drive had no problems reading this disc.

ABEX TDV-541

The TDV-541 is a single sided, dual layer DVD-VIDEO disc, with a capacity of 8.5GB. The disc is based on the TDV-540 series which is designed for inspection and adjustment of DVD-VIDEO players. The disc checks the layer switch operation from layer 0 to layer 1 and also includes test pictures and test signals for DVD sound files.

The current TDV-541 also checks the error correcting capabilities of the drive and includes scratches from 0.4 to 3.0 mm.

According to the resultant graph, the drive could read the disc with no problems. It started to read at a speed of 1.90X, reached a highest reading speed of 4.57X at the end of the first layer, afterwhich it began its descent until the end of the second layer, producing an average speed of 3.43X (similar results were reported by the NEC ND-3500A, as would be expected).

ABEX TDV-545

The TDV-545 disc is based on the TDV-540 series. It is a single sided, dual layer DVD-VIDEO disc with a capacity of 8.5GB. The TDV-545 includes artificial black dots on the data surface, sized from 0.4 to 1.0 mm. It has also 65 - 75 micro meter fingerprints.

Not even this disc was a problem for the RICOH MP5316DA drive.

- Summary

NEC based drives were known to be bad readers, and their DVD error correction capabilities were limited. We were happy to see that DVD error correction has been improved making it a very good reader with problematic media.