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This is a worthless exercise unless one specifies:
1) type of testing equipment--Datarius, Pulstech, Audio Development CATs, and Expert are considered the authorities.
2) production line--a Steag Hamatech line will produce slightly different results for given M-code from those results from a different production line. All manufacturers strive to get identical results on differing lines, but variabilities remain due to different tendencies under identically changing conditions. An increase in humidity, for example, may affect two different coating lines differently.
3) production codes--those codes identify the production lines
4) field IDs to determine whether or not there is any stamper deviation in the "ideal" write strategy
5) stamper ID--stamper geometry is far more important than most people realize
6) model of recording drive and its version of firmware (Only factory-issued firmware should be included because only the factory has the equipmment listed in #1
7) recording software used--there are amazing differences in versions and compatibility with drives, even though one would not expect them
Without these criteria, any report of quality is merely a report of what worked and what did not, and the issue of compatibility raises its ugly head. The ranking of digitalfaq appears to be anecdotal reporting of compatibility with some quality issues mixed in with an undefined ratio. The technical descriptions are bogus. There is one good "archival" code in the 1st class media ranking and several others in the "not suggested for archival" grouping. (Archival testing can take as long as 10 months in heat/humidity chambers; so test results do take a long time. Is the author using Eyring or Arhennius test results? Probably just anecdotal reporting.)
Let digitalfaq spread its misinformation on its own site. Repeating it here is duplication of almost useless information (ALMOST useless because the ratings do correlate with the chronology of firmware releases or lack thereof rather well. For anyone interested in seeing who gets the support and who does not, this information can be useful.) There are many other technical errors in this listing that I would discourage anyone from relying on it at all for any information regarding quality. Duplicating it here does a disservice to the members of this site who are truly interested in learning something.
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