CD reading compatibility of different models

[DragonmasterDan]

We've had quite a few discussions regarding CDR compatibility and the various models of CD units but we've not had too many discussions about this on a more general level.

Due to the recent Dragon Slayer discussion I busted out a copy of Dragon Slayer I bought years ago that was scratched up and has since been run through a Spin Dr. Disc repair device. I've since upgraded to a better quality copy of this disc, but having kept the original one around I eventually decided to run it through a disc repair unit, I figured I'd give it a try on a few different systems as the last time I did so on my Duo it froze.

I first fired it up on my Turbo Grafx + CD and had no problems with playing the game. I then tried my original Turbo Duo and found it froze right as Logan leaves Exile ("We're under attack ma lard! monsters everywhar!"). Once that audio clip plays the game just freezes, so sure enough I tried it on my other Turbo Duo. The same problem occurs. I then tried it on the laseractive, and it played fine past that point. My general experience seems to be that despite replaced caps and even new lasers the Turbo Duo isn't nearly as strong at CD reading as the add-on CD.

Does anyone have other experiences with these to share?

[Black Tiger]

I've found that all Duos read better overall than Turbo-CD/briefcase combos.

[esteban]

We've had quite a few discussions regarding CDR compatibility and the various models of CD units but we've not had too many discussions about this on a more general level.

Due to the recent Dragon Slayer discussion I busted out a copy of Dragon Slayer I bought years ago that was scratched up and has since been run through a Spin Dr. Disc repair device. I've since upgraded to a better quality copy of this disc, but having kept the original one around I eventually decided to run it through a disc repair unit, I figured I'd give it a try on a few different systems as the last time I did so on my Duo it froze.

I first fired it up on my Turbo Grafx + CD and had no problems with playing the game. I then tried my original Turbo Duo and found it froze right as Logan leaves Exile ("We're under attack ma lard! monsters everywhar!"). Once that audio clip plays the game just freezes, so sure enough I tried it on my other Turbo Duo. The same problem occurs. I then tried it on the laseractive, and it played fine past that point. My general experience seems to be that despite replaced caps and even new lasers the Turbo Duo isn't nearly as strong at CD reading as the add-on CD.

Does anyone have other experiences with these to share?

Go back to some of earliest posts here and, yes, I found that my TG-CD seemed to handle originals/scratched originals /CD-R better than TurboDUO.

However, my SCD seems to be really good at handling originals/scratched CD, too.

I rarely play CDR, however (YS IV dub, pyramid plunder beta, for example), so I don't feel like I really have a lot of experience with CDR.

I always figured that something (one of the pots for laser) needed to be adjusted on my TurboDUO.

[Ayce]

Since you've used CDRs what is your view on the wear on the system concerning playing burned media?

[Black Tiger]

Since you've used CDRs what is your view on the wear on the system concerning playing burned media?

They can go for 15 years playing cdrs and be fine. Either way, playing and not playing cdr or CD games wears systems out and they'll all require maintenance every so often.

[DragonmasterDan]

Since you've used CDRs what is your view on the wear on the system concerning playing burned media?

I've used them for patched games (English Dracula X, Ys IV), Meteor Blaster DX original version and in doing some testing for Old Rover of work in progress stuff.

There have been a lot of discussions regarding CDRs specifically on these forums and it generally appears that while not everyone agrees, CDRs are generally not as reflective and are slightly harder to read than glass mastered discs. Some people with older hardware that hasn't had the pots adjusted or caps changed can't even read CDRs on their units. The fact that they're harder to read can cause more wear and tear on the laser mechanism and can cause it to come off of the track in certain instances (this has been blamed on the usage of 80 minute CDRs rather than 74 minute CDRs).

[roflmao]

I've found that my TGCD setup works better with CDRs than my Duo.  The TGCD will play darn near any burned disc I throw at it while the Duo is finicky. I don't play burned media often, but do have a few CDRs that date back 10 years or so and the TGCD still still plays them without issue along with my relatively recent burn of English Ys IV. But most of those discs won't play on the Duo.

[Desh]

My DUO (when it worked) ran CDR'S like a champ.  My Add on did not.  It would usually start games but then drop tracks etc.  I just replaced the laser assembly in my CDRom2 with a good working donor from a Discman, and now that thing reads CDRs flawlessly.  It even loads up a bit faster than my DUO did.  However, the only CDR I have ever used is the English Drac X patch.  I even bought an old school external burner that had USB capabilities to burn at 4X.  I believe the CDR I used was an 80 minute Memorex.  I have to look at it and see.

[HailingTheThings]

My DUO (when it worked) ran CDR'S like a champ.  My Add on did not.  It would usually start games but then drop tracks etc.  I just replaced the laser assembly in my CDRom2 with a good working donor from a Discman, and now that thing reads CDRs flawlessly.  It even loads up a bit faster than my DUO did.  However, the only CDR I have ever used is the English Drac X patch.  I even bought an old school external burner that had USB capabilities to burn at 4X.  I believe the CDR I used was an 80 minute Memorex.  I have to look at it and see.

Use teh 74 min. Mitsui/Mam-A. Yeh.

[jordan_hillman]

I only have a US Turbo + CD setup, and it reads everything like the champ that it is.