Pirated CDs on ebay?

[deepak]

Does anyone have a guide that one could use to tell apart real and pirated CDs?

Yesterday I received an Arcturus disc from ebay. The seller has 80+ positive feedbacks, and most recently (before I won this auction) got a negative from a buyer saying the CD was a fake. It was for an import CD.

Everything from the booklet, back insert/inside insert makes it look authentic. Even the front of the CD looks authentic. Then I look at the matrix info on the underside of the CD and it says Tocano 2001 DK 47169, IFPI LP51 and then a barcode.

Googling Tocano brings up: http://www.hugohein.com/other/complete.main/specs.tocano.htm

I'm going to rip it, and then look at the spectral analysis (this will at least tell me if it's burned from lossy material)

[qazwsx]

But what if the CD was burned with lossless files or .wav files?

[hYdrociTy]

But what if the CD was burned with lossless files or .wav files?

Then the only one who gets shafted is the artist.

[Nanoha]

Even if it's a lossless file burned on crappy media with a crappy burner, you'll get uncorrectable PI failures. I doubt you want that.

Do a quality scan on the CD if your CD reader/burner supports it. Most people use Nero CD/DVD Speed. http://www.cdspeed2000.com/

See if the burn is up to official production pressed standards.

[deepak]

Even if it's a lossless file burned on crappy media with a crappy burner, you'll get uncorrectable PI failures. I doubt you want that.

Do a quality scan on the CD if your CD reader/burner supports it. Most people use Nero CD/DVD Speed. http://www.cdspeed2000.com/

See if the burn is up to official production pressed standards.

Nice, thanks.

The underside of the CD is silver, and looks like every other retail CD I've owned.

[Nanoha]

I know CDs are sometimes officially manufactured in non-original countries. For example, I've seen CDs in stores like Fye's and Barnes&Nobles that are labeled "Produced in Argentina", "Imported from Brazil", etc. They cost a few bucks less than the original made-in-USA versions, but are still legit. As to whether the quality is lower, I don't know.

Good luck!