DVD-R Blanks - Which are best?

[Zandro]

I am trying to confirm the brand names for quality DVD-R blanks. I have searched the archives here and it seems the Maxell 4X DVD-R is not a good quality product. I have successfully burned over 20 of them without any errors. However, on play back I notice occasional freezes and pixelation. This happens near the end of the recording. From what I read here, this is a sign of bad quality discs. I have tried numerous DVD players (at best buy) getting the same results regardless of the player. The discs do play flawlessly on the computer DVD ROM driver and the burner. I have a Pioneer DVR-105 DVD-R recorder. I have tried TDK (2.4X) and Fujifilm (1X) which don't seem the have the problem.

What are the best quality DVD-R blanks?
What are the best quality DVD-RW blanks?


Thanks!
Zandro

[Kedirekin]

Tycho Brahe is the best brand.

Oh wait, that's a crater on the moon.

Sorry. Just a little ribbing (rule 12 part b (http://forum.doom9.org/forum-rules.htm)). I don't know what the best media is. Perhaps you 'd be happy to know some good brands of media?

[Caedel]

Maybe you should try Pioneer DVD-Rs to match your DVD Burner ;-)

[Zandro]

I guess I should have read the rules more carefully. The 'best' question was not a good one. I think what I am really trying to ask is what is a good 4X DVD-R media used successfully by people with more experience? I have looked at the Pioneer media but I was hoping to find a better deal on a 100 lot quantity somewhere.

Maybe just as good a question is what 4X DVD-R media had not performed well? For my limited 50 burns, it appears the Maxell 4X media is not a solid performer on many DVD players.

Thanks for the replies!

Zandro

[Zandro]

Perhaps you 'd be happy to know some good brands of media?

Yes! What are some good brands of DVD-R? Particularly 4X media.

Thanks,
Zandro

[Stress_analyst]

You need to be more specific with the media that you are using.
Please give the model number for the maxells you have used and what DVD decrypter says that they are.
There are several different types of maxell dvd-r 4x media.
The plus series 635031(in jewel case)
The spindle (I think) of 50 635127 SS (Shiny Silver)
The 635128 TW (Shiny White)
The 635129 PW (White Matte) …

I have not read any bad reviews on this board about the maxell dvd-r 4x in jewel cases.
I have used the dvd-rw maxell 1x (never had a problem) and I’m planning on ordering the 4x dvd-r ones in a week. If there is a quality issue with the maxell dvd-r 4x I would like to know
Thanks
The Analyst

Maxell dvd-r media

DVD-R Printable Surface

Item # Model Description Quantity UPC Code
635026 DVD-R PW 4.7 GB Printable White 1 62501-5
635029 DVD-R PW 4.7 GB Printable White 50 62504-6
635037 DVD-R SS 4.7 GB Shiny Silve 50 62505-3
635038 DVD-R TW 4.7 GB Thermal White 50 62507-7

DVD-R General Use

Item # Model Description Quantity UPC Code
635041 DVD-R 4.7 GB 1 62543-5
635042 DVD-R 4.7 GB 5 62590-9
635045 DVD-R 4.7 GB 10 62580-0



DVD-R Authoring

Item # Model Description Quantity UPC Code
635015 DVD-R 4.7 GB 1 62393-6
635016 DVD-R PW 4.7 GB Printable White 1 62500-8
635017 DVD-R SS 4.7 GB Shiny Silver 1 62502-2

[coona]

Generaly accepted as good quality DVD-R media (resulted from my reading of posts in this section) are:

VERBATIM (from Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation - MCC not from CMC)
TDK
Taiyo Yuden

Here (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=63798) and here (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39575) are some threads about quality of media.

[alexnoe]

If you want to use Maxell, buy ONLY juwel cased ones, otherwise you might get faked stuff. The juwel cased ones are made by Maxell/Taiyo Yuden, and work well.

For DVD-RW, you can use Verbatim and Maxell, both of which are made by Mitsubishi Chemical. In the latest C'T test, those were the only DVD-RW discs which were in an acceptable condition after 1000 rewrite cycles (no DVD+ was even close to that, just like all other DVD-).

[windtrader]

If you want to use Maxell, buy ONLY juwel cased ones, otherwise you might get faked stuff. I have a A105 and burn Ritek G04 4x media @4x. Purchase from Rima, very good service and prices.

Also, be wary of some faked "TDK" discs that are really crap Princo. I got burned bad on a tach of these.

[Zandro]

Thanks for the detailed reply!

Here is the info on the Maxell DVD-R I have purchased. All were
purchased at Best Buy.


Part Number Model Description Quantity UPC Code
3202 5552 DVD-R DVD-R 4.7 GB 4X 25 34707 05552
3202 5572 DVD-R DVD-R 4.7 GB 4X 50 34707 05572

The label does not state printable or not. The label side surface is a matted silver on both the 50 and 25 pack DVD-R.

[Caedel]

I'll agree with Ritek and Verbatim...

[JustinH]

What is best?

The best media is the cheapest stuff that you can get to work reliably with your burner. Once you find a cheap brand that works well for you, you will use it for a long time.

Try a bunch of cheaper brands, and see what works best for you, then order a large amount of whatever works.

[Pfc Joker]

I've tried a lot of stuff from the regular places like Comp USA or Best Buy, but the best deal yet has to be the Ritek disc's you can usually find on sale at PC Club or your other friendly neihborhood computer store. Almost always on sale for like 20-25 bucks for a pack of 20.
Go to like http://www.dvdrhelp.com/dvdmedia , to see what other people say.
Better yet, get DVDInfo, check your media code, then enter that info into the above web page. DVDInfo can be found at http://www.dvdinfopro.com/

Think Ritek

[Zandro]

Thanks! Great links and info.


Originally posted by Pfc Joker
I've tried a lot of stuff from the regular places like Comp USA or Best Buy, but the best deal yet has to be the Ritek disc's you can usually find on sale at PC Club or your other friendly neihborhood computer store. Almost always on sale for like 20-25 bucks for a pack of 20.
Go to like http://www.dvdrhelp.com/dvdmedia , to see what other people say.
Better yet, get DVDInfo, check your media code, then enter that info into the above web page. DVDInfo can be found at http://www.dvdinfopro.com/

Think Ritek

[Pfc Joker]

Just a FYI - Pc Club http://www.pcclub.com/ is still selling the orange topped Ritek discs for $19.95 a 25 pack spindle. So far I have gone threw about 75 disc with 0 problems.

[jfcarbel]

Just be careful just because it burns successfully and plays fine does not always mean its reliable media.

I have some media that now after 3 months cannot be copied. They play fine in a DVD player, but this must be due to its error corretion. However, try to copy the same DVD on the computer and its no good.

I have found that you need to first find a reliable trustworthy online vendor, so you know that what you order is what you are getting.

Rima.com is very highly rated. Check resellerratings.com and you'll see. They have great prices and great service.

From my experience I have found the Ritek media from rima.com to be without a doubt the most reliable media. I am also hearing now that the Tayo Yudian (spelling??) is very good, but you pay a premium for it. These Tayo 4X DVD+R are so good in quality that they are said to burn at 8X.

[windtrader]

Pfc Joker,

Thanks for the tip on the Ritek at PCClub. I ordered some and did not even realize there was a PC Club about 10 minutes from my house. Saved the 6 bucks for shipping. What a deal.

[Pfc Joker]

and did not even realize there was a PC Club about 10 minutes from my house Thats funny :) they also carry Meritline cases.

[Bodysurf]

Originally posted by Zandro
What are the best quality DVD-R blanks?
Ritek Grade A G04 4X DVD-Rs, 4X Taiyo-Yudens or 4X Pioneer.

Avoid Princo, especially >2X Princos.
Originally posted by Zandro
What are the best quality DVD-RW blanks?
2X Pioneer.

[Rizzo the Rat]

How to I check the manufacturer of a disk (eg cmc or mcc verbatims)? I've seen people mention above that it can be done in dvd decrypter but I can't see it. I've found a company that sells a mixed pack of 9 different manufacturers disks to check compatability, so would like to be able to check if another disk I get is the same as one I liked?

[Pfc Joker]

Rizzo, your answer is about five posts up from yours

Go to like http://www.dvdrhelp.com/dvdmedia , to see what other people say.
Better yet, get DVDInfo, check your media code, then enter that info into the above web page. DVDInfo can be found at http://www.dvdinfopro.com/

[Rizzo the Rat]

D'Oh, missed the DVDinfopro link. Anyone had problems with it? I've downloaded it but when I try and run the setup it says "The 3 day trial period for this installer has expired."

[Pfc Joker]

Hey Rizzo, your right, I downloaded the latest version of DVDInfo Pro from their site and got the same error message. I had to go back to my older version, it installs fine. Someone seriously screwed up the installer I think, too bad for them, thats no way to get donations. The programs free, it just gives you a little pop up ad next to itself like every five minutes. When I say little, it's like an inch wide, you hardly notice it.

[Imjin]

Originally posted by Rizzo the Rat
How to I check the manufacturer of a disk (eg cmc or mcc verbatims)? I've seen people mention above that it can be done in dvd decrypter but I can't see it. I've found a company that sells a mixed pack of 9 different manufacturers disks to check compatability, so would like to be able to check if another disk I get is the same as one I liked?

I was just on Rima.com or some other site looking for blanks and came across this link for the ID tool.

http://www.supermediastore.com/lib/supermediastore/NeroCDspeed.zip

[Pfc Joker]

Originally posted by Imjin
I was just on Rima.com or some other site looking for blanks and came across this link for the ID tool.

http://www.supermediastore.com/lib/supermediastore/NeroCDspeed.zip

Isn't that just Nero's CDSpeed Utility. Ya, it will tell you the manufacturer but not the complete media code. The full media code can usually help you find out even more about the disc in question.

[Rizzo the Rat]

I've got Nero CD/DVD speed as part of Nero 6, but it give me no info on blank disks. If anyone has another link for dvdinfo I'd appreciate it.

I bought a selection pack of 9 DVD-R's from http://www.cd-rmedia.co.uk (£13 including postage seemed good to me). Thier own brand 4x disks are only 65p each in a 50 pack, and the one I've tried burned perfectly with Nero Recode on my single speed Matshita LF-D310 drive and plays fine on my Panasonic DT100 standalone. Admittedly a sellection pack is probably picked by hand so they've made sure none of them have any visable defects. Anyone else tried thier disks?

[Pfc Joker]

I've got Nero CD/DVD speed as part of Nero 6, but it give me no info on blank disks. If anyone has another link for dvdinfo I'd appreciate it.

Nero CD-DVD Speed will tell you the manufacturer of a blank DVD, start up Nero CD-DVD Speed with your blank in the drive > if you have more than one drive choose the correct one > press the little blue disc icon next to the drop down drive list. Got it?

Here are some more links for real info utilities and how to do it.... http://www.dvdrhelp.com/dvdmediaform.php?dvdinfo=1#dvdinfo and http://dvd.identifier.cdfreaks.com/

I can mail someone the older version of DVD Info Pro I got from their web site a while back that I know works.... pfcjandco@qwest.net

Hope this helps

[atreides93]

If you're having trouble using Nero CD speed, as it seems a few are, just use DVDDecryptor.

Then click on menu item "Mode"
then click on ISO-Write
In the right hand window (assuming you have a dvd-r in the drive) it will provide you with info on the manufacturer.
here is a sample of the text in that window.
While its true you get more info from cd speed, usually the ID is all you need.

Pre-recorded Information:
Manufacturer ID: RITEKG04

Physical Format Information:
Book Type: DVD-R
Part Version: 5
Disc Size: 120mm
Maximum Read Rate: Not Specified
Number of Layers: 1
Track Path: Parallel Track Path (PTP)
Linear Density: 0.267 um/bit
Track Density: 0.74 um/track

[Pfc Joker]

While its true you get more info from cd speed, usually the ID is all you need.

I beg to differ, the full media code, CD-DVD Speed or DVD Decrypter will not give you, is much more useful than just the ID info. Like Ritek, they sell their discs to everyone, now is it a Ritek from Ritek or a Ritek from say TDK. The full media code, along with the massive data base at http://www.dvdrhelp.com/dvdmedia will get you all the info you need.

[RB]

Or in Nero, hit Ctrl-I to bring up the disc info dialog, then press Ctrl-Shift while clicking the "Update" button and you'll get a shitload of info :) At least that's the way it used to work in Nero 5.5.10.54

[Rizzo the Rat]

DVD Decripter gives me the following


Device Information:
Current Profile: DVD-R

Disc Information:
Status: Empty
Erasable: No
Free Sectors: 2,298,496
Free Space: 4,707,319,808 bytes
Free Time: 510:48:46 (MM:SS:FF)

Physical Format Information (Last Recorded):
Book Type: DVD-R
Part Version: 5
Disc Size: 120mm
Maximum Read Rate: Not Specified
Number of Layers: 1
Track Path: Parallel Track Path (PTP)
Linear Density: 0.267 um/bit
Track Density: 0.74 um/track



and Nero CD/DVD speed says

Manufacturer: -
Code: -

Disc type: DVD-R
Usage: -
Recording layer: -
Recording speed: -

Capacity: -
Additional Capacity: -
Overburn Capacity: -


None of which is very useful ;-(

[gooki]

By the looks of your post you are usign a disc you ahve already burned.

DVDInfo doesn't mind pre-burned discs, or use DVD Decrypter with a blank disc.

[atreides93]

Originally posted by Pfc Joker
I beg to differ, the full media code, CD-DVD Speed or DVD Decrypter will not give you, is much more useful than just the ID info. Like Ritek, they sell their discs to everyone, now is it a Ritek from Ritek or a Ritek from say TDK. The full media code, along with the massive data base at http://www.dvdrhelp.com/dvdmedia will get you all the info you need.

I learned the hard way that the database on that website is not all the info you need. There are mistakes and it cost me time/money to find that out.
In most instances, I haven't needed that extra info.

As for telling whether its a Ritek from TDK, that should be pretty obvious since all the TDK disks I buy say TDK on them. So if I put a TDK disk in the drive and dvd decryptor says its a Ritek G04 or G03, then of course its a Ritek disk sold to TDK so they can put their label on it. (OEM).

[Pfc Joker]

In most instances, I haven't needed that extra info.

Well, it's helped me. I'm paying 20 bucks for a 25 count spindle because of that info. And the sweet part is I've had better results with the ones I use now than anything before costing twice as much.

As for telling whether its a Ritek from TDK, that should be pretty obvious since all the TDK disks I buy say TDK on them. So if I put a TDK disk in the drive and dvd decryptor says its a Ritek G04 or G03, then of course its a Ritek disk sold to TDK so they can put their label on it. (OEM).

I meant something more along the lines of an instance that happened to me when I purchased a spindle of TDK -R 2x from Comp USA. About a third or half way threw the spindle I noticed Nero started giving me the option of burnning at 4x. Now this was four, five months ago and I cant remember the details but long story short they were different. Same manufacturor but different discs.

With this in mind I promptly returned to Comp USA and purchased another spindle and they all burned at 4x. I also told a friend to go buy some too but he was not as lucky. His burned at 2x, I even had him bring me one and shure as shit it would only do 2x. :confused: Every one of those discs said the same thing for Manufacturer ID. Only way to tell them apart was the complete media code.