[stvn758]

My Nero burning speed starts at x8 but defaults to x48. The CD itself is good to go at x52.
 
My drive is a Samsung CD/DVD Rewriter. The most convincing argument I have read (to me anyway) while trawling through Google's increasingly obsolete links - ten year old ones on the first page, geez! is that a slower burn will give a better sound quality as the laser remains on the disc longer ensuring a nice pit (1/0), as opposed to whizzing around at x48.
 
Yes I have tried it and I thought the x8 was better but now I'm not so sure. 
 
Thanks

 

[PleasantSounds]

Sound quality cannot be affected by burning speed, unless you're talking about dropouts and cracks. If you're hearing differences in instrument separation or fuller bass then google also placebo effect.
Disk longevity or reliability might be affected, but I would expect that higher recording speed would be offset by a higher energy laser used.