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| Posted by | Dennis |
| Posted on | 28/03/03 20:11 |
| Number of views | 7698 |
For our final (advanced) tests we're going to test how the TEAC drive performs with data and audio copy-protections. Besides that we'll also check if the drive can overburn and if it can handle 8cm discs. Let's start with the data copy-protections:
Copy-Protected Data:
For our copy-protected data tests we used CloneCD to read and write several popular copy-protections. In the picture below you can see that the TEAC CD-W552E is full supported by CloneCD:
The TEAC CD-W552E supports the DAO-RAW96 recording mode which basically means that the drive can write uncorrected data and SubChannel Data. In the table below we've summed up all of our results and after the table we will clarify our results:
| Protected Data | Game Title | Protection (version) | Read Time | Back-up Works |
 | Desperados | LaserLock | 3m:42s | Yes |
 | The Sims: House Party | SafeDisc v2.10.030 | 3m:21s | Yes |
 | Mafia: The City Of Lost Heaven (CD1) | SafeDisc v2.70.030 | 3m:55s | Yes |
 | Neverwinter Nights (CD3) | SecuRom v4.76.00.0051 | 1m:52s | Yes |
 | Final Fantasy VIII (CD1) | PlayStation LibCrypt | 1m:55s | Yes |
The TEAC CD-W552E showed a very good performance with our copy-protected data tests. Although the drive wasn't the fastest 'error skipper' we've seen, it was the fastest drive we've reviewed when it came to reading the LaserLock protection. When writing the various protections the TEAC drive showed an excellent result. It could write SubChannel Data reliably and didn't need weak sector amplification for the SafeDisc 2 protection!
Copy-Protected Audio:
For our protected audio disc tests we used Exact Audio Copy (EAC) and CloneCD. We simply inserted the audio discs in the TEAC recorder and waited if the drive could recognize the disc and if so, could extract the audio tracks. In the table below we've summed up our results:
| Protected Audio | Audio Title | Protection (version) | EAC | CloneCD |
| Shakira - Laundry Service | Key2Audio version 2 | Could not recognize disc | Failed to read sector 0 but read the disc | |
| Celine Dion - A New Day Has Come | Key2Audio version 3 | Could not recognize disc | Failed to read sector 0 but read the disc | |
| Bitte Ein Beat! - Beat 5 | Cactus Data Shield 200 | Read the disc without problems | Read the disc without problems | |
| Yorin FM - Hitzone 21 | Doc.loc | Could not recognize disc | Could not recognize disc | |
The TEAC CD-W552E recorder showed a poor performance when reading our protected audio disc. The only protection it could read was the Cactus Data Shield protection. Although the drive could read the Key2Audio discs with CloneCD, the tracks were heavily distorted and thus also a failure. The Doc.loc disc could not be recognized by the drive.
Overburning:
We used DataTrack 99min/900MB CD-R's for our tests that were certified up to 40x writing. We used Nero CD Speed to do an overburn test. We set the 'Test capacity' to 99 minutes, started the test and Nero CD Speed reported that the TEAC drive could overburn to 99 minutes without a problem:
Writing overburned discs was no problem so reading probably also won't be a problem. To test this we started a transfer rate test in Nero CD Speed, using a 99 minute disc. In the graph below you can see that the TEAC drive had no problems reading the disc (although there was a small slowdown at the end of the disc):
8cm Discs:
As a final test we tested if the TEAC CD-W552E drive could read and write 8cm discs. For our write test we used Nero Burning Rom and after that we used Nero CD Speed to do another transfer rate test. Both tests were completed without a problem:
Re-Write Tests
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While it is true that many recorders have a difficult time getting Phthalocyanine dyed media, when the data finally gets put on there, it will last longer.
Mitsui/MAM-E - 48x certified - 48x write
So the discs were certified for 48x recording and were also written at that speed. The TEAC simply didn't like these discs at all. Edit, ATIP information on the used discs:
Manufacturer: Mitsui
Code: 97m27s58f
Disc Type: CD-R
Usage: General
Recording Layer: Dye Type 8: Short Strategy (Phthalocyanine)
Capacity: 79:59.74 703 MB
[edited by G@M3FR3@K on 29.03.2003 16:01]
The first (40X) Unit works perfectly, but the CD-W548E thrashed a month ago (only 2 months after buying it). Anyhow, I was not sure whether I should keep buying Teac units (cos the 48/16/48 unit was baaad), but this article definately eased my decision. A such great unit is a must-have!!!
Actually, I don't care very much about the drive's incapacity of reading copy-protected audio CDs, so my opinion is that it's not a flaw.
Also, the existence of a 52X certified CD-R in the package is not really really necessary. Such media will appear more often in the next 2 or 3 months, I guess. And concerning the 24X CD-RWs, I already have bought 25 of them @ 1.5 USD per piece, so I'll test them as soon as I get this great unit!
Found 1.09 on a japaneese teac site, updated it and wow. I can burn any quality brand disk at speeds of 52x all day long even if the disk doesnt support 52x.
I DO recomend that you update the firmware to 1.09, and maybe that the site re-reviews the cdrw with updated firmware.
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