An optical recording device includes an optical pickup, an asymmetry
detection circuit, and a microcomputer. The optical pickup corrects an
aberration of an object lens based on an aberration correction value
using a liquid crystal panel in the optical pickup, irradiates a laser
beam of multiple stages of recording powers on an optical disk to form
marks, and then reproduces the formed marks with a reproduction power.
The asymmetry detection circuit detects amplitudes of RF signals of the
marks reproduced by the optical pickup, calculates amplitude central
values such that asymmetry takes a predetermined value, and determines an
optimum recording power. The microcomputer performs spherical aberration
correction to change a spherical aberration correction value from an
initial value such that the optimum recording power takes a minimum
value.