Sony SCD-XA9000ES SACD Player - Page 10

Error Correction Tests

• Abex TCD-726

This is an AudioCD disc used for measurement and adjustment of the error correction capability and tracking/focusing servo characteristics of a player against the defects included in some CDs. Three kinds of defects are included on this disc, interruption in the information layer, black dots and fingerprints. The interruptions are fabricated by intentionally varying the lengths of pits in the disc fabrication area. Their size varies from 0.5mm to 1.0mm. The diameter of the black dots are sized of 0.4mm to 1.0mm. Last, the simulated fingerprints are small gathered dots, of diameters sized from 65 micro-meters to 75 micro meters. 160 black dots in total, go to make up the artificial fingerprint.

The interruptions of 0.5 to 1.0mm in the information layer was not a problem as it weren't the 65 to 75 micrometer fingerprints. The black dots over the 1.0mm size produced some audible clicks, but the 0.8mm was not a problem. This is supposed to be the easy test disc and as such, the SCD-XA9000ES should have performed better.

• Philips SBC 444A

The test concept with the Philips SBC 44A is the same as in the previous test disc. Interruptions on the information layer vary from 400 micrometers to 1000 micrometers, while the black dots have a size of 300 micrometers to 800 micrometers No audible click or skip was heard during playback, indicating very good performance.

• Abex TCD-721R

Same contents as with the Abex TCD-726, but different defect. A scratch sized of 0.4mm to 3.0mm is on the disc's surface. Error symptoms expected when playing this disc are noise, sound skips, same sectors repeatedly played, start of tune cannot be detected etc. This test disc is more difficult than the Abex TCD-726.

The performance of the Sony player is similar to that of the SCD-XB790. The first five tracks, with scratches up to 0.8mm, were played without problems while the sixth produced some audible clicks which were becoming more and more pronounced as the scratch size increased. The device failed to seek over tracks where the scratch size was 2.0mm and higher.

• CD-Check

We finish this test cycle with the CD-Check disc from Digital Recordings. Five audio signals (5 tracks) in combination with disc error patterns to rate the player's ability to read music and reproduce it completely. The five tracks contain a sequence of progressively more difficult tests.

Check level 1 (track 1): Standard manufacturing errors

Check level 2 (track 2): 0.375mm scratch

Check level 3 (track 3): 0.750mm scratch

Check level 4 (track 2): 1.125mm scratch

Check level 5 (track 2): 1.500mm scratch

Any clicks, interruptions or looping during audio reproduction indicate failure of a Check level (audio track). Below you can see the test results:

It seems that this is a very demanding player :-;