Apparatus for detecting defect in a recordable medium such as a disc drive is disclosed. The apparatus includes a recording system which write and read test data on the medium. The apparatus also includes a first comparator for comparing the read data to a first threshold. A first and a second counter, operably connected to the first comparator, are incremented when the read data exceeds the first threshold. When the first counter obtains a first count value, a first defect signal is produced. Data domains associated with the recordable medium are marked as bad in response to the first defect signal. When the second counter obtains a second count value, a second defect signal is produced and data sectors associated with the recordable medium are marked as bad in response to the second defect signal. A method for detecting defects in a recordable medium is also disclosed.