I'm considering re-ripping about 300 CDs, due to my not having set up EAC correctly the first time. I wonder what kind of strain EAC puts on my CD/DVD drives, and if there would be substantial shortening of my drives' lifetimes by re-ripping.

I ask, because I wonder if EAC strains the CD/DVD drives mechanically, by repeatedly reading the same data. It may be the case that EAC only repeatedly reads the same data if there is an error detected, but I'm not sure. If that's the case, then this would be a moot point, I suppose.

Thanks,
Rob

In secure mode EAC does indeed read the same block twice to test for mismatches, which has been reported to cause problems for the drive.

Better alternative: dBPoweramp reads only once, then compares to the AccurateRip database. Rereads only occur if unable to verify using the database.

If you prefer to stick with EAC then you can do the same thing manually; read once in burst mode and check AccurateRip. If not verified then rip a second time in burst mode and compare the crc's. If this is too much work then rip in test-and-check mode, which reads twice in burst mode. Still use AR though.

If all of this still does not give a good rip then rip in secure mode (though dBPoweramp's secure mode is said to be better).

...often by people who are unable to explain why.