What is the difference between an audio cd writeable and normal one?

[Drengot]

Normally, I use normal cd-r to burn my music (like verbatim or tdk reflex) : it would be a difference if I used an audio cd-r? (which is more expensive)...

thanks.....

Drengot

[Wayniac]

I have used both normal and audio-only Cd-r disks.

TO be totally honest, in my experience I think it's a con: I simply cannot tell the difference in sound quality between the two types.

The discs I have tested are:

Normal Verbatim 12x; Memorex 12x; TDK; Traxdata silver; Traxdata Gold

Audio: Traxdata; Traxdata Gold; Memorex

In fact, I have found the audio-only discs to sound "harder" with less Bass wight - esecially when burning MP3 files.

As is the same with the world of Hi-Fi however, what sounds good to one person may sound totally different to another, but I have tested the two types of discs on various hi-fi units (from cheapo stack systems to full-blown valve amps with panel speakers) - if there are any differences in quality they're so subtle that it's not worth the extra expense.

The best non-audio discs for me seem to be the Traxdata 12x silver (with the black label). Audio wise I'd say the TDK one's are the best.

Hope this helps ya out, all the best.

[Drengot]

Well, thanks for replying.
I generated the question after have tested in a very good hi-fi a little difference between an original cd and the copy on a tdk reflex 12x.
During the listening, the piano at the beginning of the 4th track of "Dark side of the moon" seemed to be a little bit weacker than in tihe original cd. I know that I'm speking about soft differences for wich personal feelings can play an important role. However, I began also to have problems of reading with my hi-fi and my car cd reader...so I thought that perhaps it would be better to use an audio cd. My car cd reader now has problems with copied cd but one month ago it was perfect with every cd...not only the originals like now!!!!!!
I hope to have not all these problems in the future!

Thanks a lot...

Drenogot

[Wayniac]

Hello again,

Perhaps it's your writer - some writers can't do 100% accurate copies of audio cd's, and others (like my Traxdata 8432+) don't seem so good at burning audio (my perfectly-working audio cd player doesn't accuratly Fast-forward/rewind, but it plays ok).

Have you tried using a program like AUDIOGRABBER? You can alter the grab settings to get a more-accurate grab, and the program tells you what's going on with your writer as regards errors, whilst grabbing.

Good luck with your burning.

~~ Wayniac ~~

[Wayniac]

..oh I forgot,

Gold discs are supposed to reflect better, hence they're supposed to play better in normal cd players.

[Drengot]

Well,
I've a Waitec WT2422EI....
Now, today I Knew that it's too much expensive to repair my cd player so I think it's better to buy a new one : I hope that the new cd player will improve my problems.
However, I've to say that at the beginning I had no problems with both car and home cd player.
I've Audiograbber : if I've understood well, using it exctracting tracks from cd I can improve the quality of the copy.
I hope, in the future, to buy a scsi writer : I was known It's better to burn cd...

Thanks for your answer...Drengot

[PacoBell]

Wayniac (27-03-2001 01:51):
In fact, I have found the audio-only discs to sound "harder" with less Bass wight - esecially when burning MP3 files.

Umm... I thought MP3s were a direct digital copy. That is, unless you're talking about _converting_ them to audio cd format.

Nooooooo no no no no!!! You're all missing the point here.

"Audio" CDRs are CDRs with additional info on them used by consumer hi-fi CDR units. They are not designed for better CD audio. The reason they sound harder is because they're actually *lower* quality -- because they're designed to be written to at lower speed than computer CDRs.

[Bl@de]

I just came to this thread and was amazed only 1 of u knew that audio cds are used on hi-fi cdrs, they are used to get old lps and stuff onto cds, i have one myself but only use to put lps onto cds as hi-fi cdwriters have to be written in real time so it takes ages.

[Wayniac]

Just wanted to say a big thank you, for the info on audio-only cd-r's; perhaps that's why some of the Traxdata one's Iv'e got have bombed out?

So you need to record them at a lower speed than on a pc - do you mean 1x?

It's odd how these discs are more expensive than off-the-shelf cd-r blanks.

Peace.

~~Wayniac~~

Yes, 1-speed. You know those hifi-separate CD recorders, which you connect to an amplifier etc? They use a special kind of bland with extra identifying code on it, and refuse standard blanks. They are more expensive because a royalty is paid to the record companies for every one sold, although the difference in price is typically only about 20p/30 cents a disk now. They are optimised for 1x and 2x writing, although my Teac, Plextor and LG will write to them at 8x no problem, and the Acer will as well as long as they are 74-minute (the 80-minute ones it coasterises above 4-speed).

[Wayniac]

Cheers Jase.

I heard that you can "chip" a standalone player to recognise normal cd-r's. So that may be of help to someone stuck with such a device.

Thanks again.