EAC CD-R Test Disc

- Introduction

We used the testing methodology as described in EAC website. The CD-R test disc includes 5 scratches and a black triangle defect. Using EAC's BURST mode, we ripped the test disc in the maximum and the 4X. The attached analyse.exe software used to get the necessary results.

The graph gives interesting information about the abilities of the drive. The quality of the optical system (and/or the error correction capabilities of the firmware) is shown among with the exact time index each error has occurred.

The grid of the graph has the following means:

· The X position of a grid line is always a start of a new minute position on the CD (in play time, up to 74 min).
· The Y axis shows the dB(A) value of the error in the extracted file. The 0 dB(A) baseline at the top is marked slightly different (black line). The graph shows a range of 6 dB(A) to -120.0 dB(A). Each line represents 6 dB(A) of volume (6 dB(A) louder means that the sound is double as loud). The lower the dB(A) the better. Numbers below -60 dB(A) (-61 ~ -120 dB(A)), are considered adequate.

- Explanation

After the analyse.exe software finishes, we will get a detailed report about the various errors:

- Errors total tells about the total number of wrong stereo samples. This includes areas of wrong samples that may also include some correct samples .

- Errors Loudness is the number of FFT analysis done. For that the average and maximum value tells the power difference of the two signals. No acoustic model is used for this calculation, so the audible error may differ from these values.

- Error Muting tells something about error hiding. On bad errors (or bad error hiding techniques), the last error free sample is held for some time until a new valid sample is found. The number of these mutings is given as first result, following the average and maximum sample length of these mutings.

- Skips are occurring when the sync was lost and the drive had to reposition again (and started on a slightly different position). Non-accurate stream devices would loose the sync very often and smaller and bigger skips occur (thus samples are missing or extraneous). The average and maximum values denote the length in samples of such skips.

- Total Score is calculated according to the previous errors. The higher score a drive gets, the better!

- Test Results (4X Reading)

The total test result for this task is only 59.5 points. The performance is low and what is really strange is the fact that the selected ripping speed was only 4X. The maximum error level was -4.6dB(A) and the average -18.4dB(A).

- Test Results (Max Reading)

In the maximum ripping speed, the results were surprisingly very good. The drive gets a 92.7 score, and seems that the drive is adjusted to give quality results in the highest speeds.

- ABEX TCD-721R

- Introduction
This test disc includes artificial scratches with lengths from 1.8 mm to 3.0 mm.

Using the ABEX TCD-726 as the reference disc, we created the reference.wav file that is needed for the comparison. We ripped the disc at full speed, using EAC's copy range and after running the analyse.exe software we got the error graph.

- Test Results (4X speed)

The ABEX-721 is a very hard test disc for all the drives. Frisby II gave back reading errors and the total score is 72.3 points.

- Test Results (Max speed)

In the highest reading speed, the results are better and the drive gets a 76.9 score. The signal peaks show that errors occurred but the amount is lower than in the slowest speed.

- ABEX TCD-726

- Introduction

The ABEX TCD-726 includes three kinds of defects, interruption, black dots and fingerprints are prepared in this disc. The interruption defects are sized from 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm. The black dots are from 0.4 mm to 1.0 mm. Lastly, the fingerprints are from 65 to 75 micro meters.

- Test Results (4X Speed)

At 4X reading speed, the drive showed very better behavior. The amount of errors is lower, and the most of them appear in the heavily scratched area. Other interruptions and fingerprints on the disc did not affect the reading. However, the -23.8dB(A) signal level lowered the score to 74.6.

- Test Results (Max Speed)

In the maximum reading speed, the drive gave less errors and the average Signal/noise ratio is lower, giving a 76 points score.
- Conclusion

Test Disc Reading Speed Score
EAC CD-R 4X 59.5
Max 92.7
ABEX TCD-721R 4X 72.3
Max 76.9
ABEX TCD-726 4X 74.6
Max 76
Average Score 75.3
The Waitec Frisby II gets an average 75.3 score out of 100 at our reading error correction tests.

- C2 Information accuracy

- Introduction

Advanced DAE Error Correction tests are available in the latest version of Nero CDSpeed. With the A-BEX TCD-721R disc, we can test the drive's C2 error information accuracy. First we created the image with the A-BEX TCD-714 test disc. Then we tested with the Advanced DAE Error Correction test, the C2 error information. According to the CD Speed author, the list of scores for the quality score test is:
0-50: bad
51-60: not so good
61-70: ok
71-80: good
81-90: very good
91-100: excellent

- Test Results (MAX Speed)

Waitec Frisby II drive got an 87.4% quality score (out of 100% max) and a 99.99% for the C2 accuracy. Both results are very good, especially the accuracy result, which means that the drive can retrieve C2 error information accurately.