Results of cheap DVD-R media tests on DVR-104

[SashaP]

Hello!

I am trying to make my contribution to this great forum.

I've done some research on cheap media which works best in the DVR-104. Following is the report.

I've bought two sample packs - one from Meritline.com and another one from Shop4tech.com. I've recorded them using Pioneer DVR-104 drive and Nero 5.5.9.17. Drive firmware version was changing during this test from 1.32 to 1.33 to 1.31 to "1.31 2x4all". I hope it did not screwed up comparison too badly. I've tested the quality of recording using Nero DVD Speed and assuming that any drop in speed indicated that error correction algorithm kicked in, so there were errors. Of course, sometimes there was an unrecoverable error and test just stopped. I did not have any problems recording any of the DVD-Rs in both samples (no coasters). My drive is set to UDMA-2 mode.

I've been reading DVD-Rs using four DVD drives - DVR-104 itself, Lite-on LTD163D, Toshiba SD-M1202, and Hitachi GD-7000 (some DVD-Rs were tested no on every drive yet). Different media had troubles with different drives and I believe those four drives were reasonably representative sample. I was trying to find media which reads well on each of those drives. I did not do any tests with standalone DVD players - it was too time-consuming for me. I assume that if media reads OK in every drive I mentioned it would work in DVD player as well (correct me if I am wrong).

To get to full report go to http://cfauvcs5.harvard.edu/Test.htm.
Each entry lists DVD-R name as it appears in store listing, "pre-recorded information in lead-in" as shown by ADVDinfo, recording speed and test results as grabbed Nero DVD speed window. As you see, tests are not complete yet, I'll update listing as I have more stuff to record.

As a short conclusion I can say that PRINCO media appears to be the best suited for the drive (among cheap no-name media, I mean), somewhat better than Ritek. TDK media sold as no-name sucks really badly.

I would appreciate any suggestions how to make this report better. If somebody links this URL from the relevant Web site it's fine with me.

Sasha.

[jesoonster]

I can't contest your tests but I CAN say taht Princo media dye color changes after period of time! Happened to me and my friend....left in my room without sunlight in open space and I began to see watermark like spots after a month or two......dye DEFINITLEY changes

[delly01]

Originally posted by SashaP
Hello!
TDK media sold as no-name sucks really badly.



c't ran a report stating that some manufacturer faked a TDK-id in their media although neither the media nor the manufacturing equipment were supplied by TDK.

Therefore, I would not trust any media from low-cost-manufacturers (and Princo is one of them) to be TDK-quality even if the manufacturer-id states that they are indeed TDK.

Btw: Real TDK seem to work just fine with my Pioneer 105 and several players which I tested over the last two weeks, including low-cost Raite and a very old Pioneerplayer with integrated Laserdisc-support. Too bad my local supplier ran out of them before I could grab another batch. :-(

Bye,

Detlev

[SashaP]

jesoonster:

Well, I'll put one of mine Princo DVD-Rs on window seal, dye towards the Sun (whatever Sun we have in New England right now), for a couple of weeks and then repeat the test again.

[sarahjh69]

i have found princo media to be complete and utter
shit on my pioneer dvr 104.
also , if u make sucessful burns (rare) the data tends to go away
after a month or so.
I always use datawrite or ritek type dvd-r

[atreides93]

The results you got for the one Ritek in your sample (by the way the Ritek white you listed isn't actually Ritek, its PRINCO)

RITEK White (shop4tech)
00 42 00 00 01 40 C1 FD 9E D8 50 00 02 98 0C 13 .B...@....P.....

76 78 80 00 03 50 52 49 4E 43 4F 00 04 00 01 00 VX...PRINCO.....


See, it says Princo not Ritek in the lead-in string.

Anyway, the results you got are so strange...doesn't make sense that the Liteon and Toshiba could read it, but the Pioneer A04 and your other drive couldn't read it. very strange!

[SashaP]

Yeap, but that's what SHOP4TECH has sent me as "Ritek white" DVD-Rs. In another threat somebody mentioned that SHOP4TECH sold him AUVIST media as Ritek.

[klona]

It's an interrestinf idea to use Nero DVD speed.
I did'nt know about this app.

1 / Your result reports well Compatibility issues we can have at the end of the disK

2/ What should be interresting to compare,it's to have a reference value, like graph on a real DVD-5, and graph on a brand media like pioneer or apple.

3/ It's impressive so bad results ! I mean, look at all these media and all have crappy results after 2 Gb most of the time !