[smokingfrog]

I’m wondering if read/write errors are more likely to be caused by hardware or software?

Obviously, you want to accomplish your work as quickly as possible, but recording at a higher speed may result in more errors, depending on your equipment and quality of media.

[newfreep]

Thanks for your comment.

I’m more focused on the hardware side - i.e. the quality of construction to allow the laser to read/write accurately without the micro-distortions of the mechanical interface.

In high-end audio, these distortions are avoided/minimized thru metal chassis & Mechanical Ground Path design, isolation from vibrations, metal (vs plastic) housings that hold the laser assembly more precisely, etc...