For audio CD burning, the slower the speed the better! Only a few years ago, CD players wouldn't even play CD-R's with music 'unless' they were burnt at single speed. But things have improved since then. But all the same, it's not the 1st time I've heard of burning at highest speed with today's burners & nothing appears to be on disk whfen it's played (more noticeable with VCD's). As murasame said, try another at a lower speed before we come to any conclusions.