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)

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

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

Then the only one who gets shafted is the artist.

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.

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.

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!