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DuraDisc Test Page

Brian Warden and I are doing an organized test of DuraDiscs, a new brand of CDR made in the USA and sold for under $1.00 per disc. Neither Brian nor I are affiliated in any way with DuraDisc, nor CD-Recordable.com. We are conducting a completely independent test for our own purposes. Please note that in the future you may see this test and its results on the DuraDisc website. In order to conduct the test we received a generous helping of free discs from CD-Recordable.com (220 to be exact). In exchange, we will offer our results to CD-Recordable.com for advertising purposes. Please remember that it is not in our best interest to report false results in exchange for more free discs as if we know the results to be unsatisfactory, we would not want to use those discs even if they were free.

Here is the test procedure as it will be carried out. Each tester (20 total, including Brian and myself) will burn 11 discs (five 74 minute, five 80 minute and one black back 80 minute). Each tester will follow the below procedure:

If you need to download the files, click these links: results.xls, and ddtest.txt.

DuraDisk Test (READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE BEGINNING)

1) Burn all ten discs with audio (if you have anything other than a 1X burner, read on before burning)

2x max burner: burn 4 discs of each capacity plus the black disc at 2x, burn one disc of each capacity at 1x

4x max burner: burn 3 discs of each capacity plus the black disc at 4x, burn one disc of each capacity at 2x, burn one disc of each capacity at 1x

6x max burner: burn 3 discs of each capacity plus the black disc at 6x, burn two discs of each capacity at 4x

8x max burner: burn 3 discs of each capacity plus the black disc at 8x, burn two discs of each capacity at 6x

2) Perform DAE on all discs three times on each drive with which you can do DAE (if you have anything other than a 1x Reader for DAE read on before performing)

2x max reader: extract at 2x for 3 discs of each capacity plus the black, extract at 1x for the other 2 discs of each capacity plus the black again

4x max reader: extract at 4x for 2 discs of each capacity plus the black, extract at 2x for 2 different discs of each capacity plus the black, extract at 1x for the last disc of each capacity plus the black

6x max reader: extract at 6x for 2 discs of each capacity plus the black, extract at 4x for 2 different discs of each capacity plus the black, extract at 2x for the last disc of each capacity plus the black

8x max reader: extract at 8x for 2 discs of each capacity plus the black, extract at 6x for 2 different discs of each capacity plus the black, extract at 4x for the last disc of each capacity plus the black

10x max and higher reader: extract at max speed for 2 discs of each capacity plus the black, extract at 8x for 2 different discs of each capacity plus the black, extract at 6x for the last disc of each capacity plus the black

3) Do a bit-by-bit comparison (as described on www.treworgy.com) for all three extractions of at least one extraction at each speed

4) Listen carefully to each disc from beginning to end on at least one player and compare the audio quality to the original disc as played ON THE SAME PLAYER.

5) Check for play-ability on every player you have access to. Follow the procedure steps below:

a. Time how long it takes from pushing play to the beginning of sound/when the counter begins moving (where applicable). If the audio on the particular disc starts out soft and you have no counter or other means of determining when the disc starts playing, raise the volume as necessary to determine the start of play. You should then play a control disc or two (commercial stamped disc - you're favorite Spice Girls album, or whatever) to get a comparison for each player.

b. Perform similar tests as done in the start play procedure for determining track jumping (time from pressing next track to beginning of audio/counter movement). Do this for a few random tracks on each disc, and average results - report any excessively long times, or seek errors.

c. Do the same as (b) for the previous track button.

d. Test fast forward and rewind within the tracks at random points on each disc - report any strange or unexpected results.

6) Cold test: Randomly choose one disc (not the black) burned at the highest speed, and put it in the freezer for 2-3 days. (This may sound extreme, but this will simulate conditions that will easily occur during shipping.) Perform all DAE and playback tests again on this disc.

7) Humidity test: Randomly choose one disc (not the black) burned at the highest speed and leave it in the bathroom (or other humid place) for 2-3 days. Perform all DAE and playback tests again on this disc.

Optional tests:

8) Scuff Test: Lightly scuff the bottom surface of one disc (not the black) by rubbing it on the floor or a mildly rough (not like sandpaper) counter, table, etc. Perform all DAE and playback tests again on this disc.

9) Scratch Test: Choose one disc (not the black) and make one small (but long) scratch from the center to the outside on one part of the disc, and on another part, make a scratch perpendicular to that one. Don't go doo deep or it definitely won't work. try to make a scratch similar in scale to one in a commercial disc that plays. Perform all DAE and playback tests again on this disc using the scratched commerical disc (if available) as a benchmark/control