[Jim_Hardin]

Back in the old days of DVD burning (2002 for me) finding R media for less than $1.50 each caused a stampede.

Of course there was a lot of junk media that broke the price barrier and there still is today. But is it worth it?

One spindle of R's failed after a year while just sitting on my desk. Of course I replaced the $334 Burner and swore at Roxio/Ulead/Sony/Nero before I realized It was the Media – Stupid!

Last week I threw away another spindle! They were about a year old but 2 Burners refused to use them. I even tried them in my DVD Recorder/Player… It recorded on 2 of them but they would not play or read anywhere!

So no matter how the prices scream Buy Me, unless it is a brand of known quality, walk away!

The Taiyo Yuden are renown in the industry to the point you have to watch for fakes!

I have some un-used Verbatim that have passed their 4th birthday! But they are still usable. (Note to self: Burn more and Buy less!!!)

Sony, TDK and HP are others I would buy.

[REDWAGON]

Tayio Yuden--TDK--& Verbatim in that oprder for me Jim. I wouldn't buy any others no matter what the come on cost is.

Frank...

[cdanteek]

Brand names mean nothing, Sony, TDK, and HP don't make media. If you want to talk about media, you have to talk Media ID (MID). Only way to know who made it and some of those get faked!

The brands above I have seen made by CMC Magnetics, Optodisc, Prodisc, Ritek, and
RICOHJPN. Add Moser Baer India to the Verbatim list, and Verbatim actually make media.

Anyone interested in knowing who made the media your using by the Media ID (MID), I recommend these free utility's for that. dvdinfopro, dvd.identifier, CDDVDSpeed renamed DiscSpeed... CDDVDSpeed renamed DiscSpeed reads both CD & DVD Media ID's.

Below is a Brand Name = Maker. Not to be mistaken for Media ID (MID). All though some listed are MID's.

Accu = LEADDATA
Americal = RITEKG01, PRINCO, LEADDATA
Apple = MXL, MCC(-R)
Arita = RITEKG03, RICOHJPN
BenQ = DAXON, FUJIFILM
Bulkpaq = PRINCO, PRODISC, ISO001(+R)
CompUSA = PRINCO(-R), AML, OPTODISC, LD
Datawrite = PRINCO, PRODISC, AN31, RITEKG03
DupEZ = PIODATA, LEADDATA
ESA = CMC
Esbuy = RITEK, LEADDATA, other budget IDs
Fuji = TY(-R), MKM(-RW), MCC, RICOHJPN(+R), PRODISC(-R), FUJIFILM, RITEK
GQ = PIODATA, PRINCO, RITEKG03, RITEKG02, LEADDATA, LD
HP = CMC, RICOHJPN, MCC
Imation = MCC02, RITEKG03, CMC
Intenso = MCC01
KHypermedia = CMC, TTG01
Kodak = Various budget IDs
LiquidVideo = OPTODISC
Matrix = MATRIX, LONGTEN, YIJHAN, MUST
Maxell = MXL, RITEK(-R/Taiwan), RICOHJPN, TYG01
Memorex = MCC003, RITEKG05, RITEKR03, CMCMAG, RICOHJPN,
Memorex (more) = PRODISCS0x, INFODISC, MBI, MCC01
Meritline = Various budget IDs
Mirror = AN31, ONIDTECH, PRINCO
Optodisc = OPTODISC
Philips = CMC
Pioneer = PVC
Princo = PRINCO, Fake TDK
Prodisc = PRODISCS0x, PRODISCF0x, MCC01, MCC02
Ridata, Ritek = RITEKG0x, RITEKM0x, RITEKR0x, RITEKW, RICOHJPN
Samsung = TYG01, BEALL, RITEK
Sonic, Shop4tech = LONGTEN, MATRIX, MUST, YIJHAN, various budget IDs
Sony = SONYD0x, YUDEN, RICOHJPN, MCC
Supermedia, Linkyo = Various budget IDs
TDK = TY, YUDEN, TTG0x, TTH0x, RITEK, RICOH, MXL, CMC(+R), MCC, TDK
Teon = MCC003(+R), CMC(-R)
Verbatim = MCC02, MCC, MKM(DL), CMC, YUDEN, RICOHJPN, RITEKG03


cd

[Jim_Hardin]

I have never had a Sony, TDK or HP disc fail…

It is actually irrelevant as to who makes them but dependant solely on the OC assurance.

Aircraft manufactures do not make aluminum nor bolts nor rivets nor tires nor batteries but you can bet your a—(and actually do) that each lot is tested and rejected if it doesn't meet specs!

It means something to these companies before they will allow their name on a product.

[Big_Dave]

Jim,

You didn't say which manufacturer of media you had acquired. Are you going to let us know?

[REDWAGON]

"If you want to talk about media, you have to talk Media ID (MID). "

I understand the idea behind finding out who actually manufactured the blank media I buy cd. But what would be nice to know "BEFORE" I buy that stack of 100 disks, who made it. It's a little to late AFTER you buy to use a program to identify the manufacturer, especially if it's one of the "Fake" one.

In the past all I have done is to stick with Tayio Yuden, TDK or Verbatim as those "brands" have always been excellent with rarely if any at all any bad ones. So I think the proof in the matter is what brand has the highest rate of success. The only brand that I bought once (and never will buy again !!!) was some "Memorex" disks. I swear that one out of every three I tried failed. Another brand I tried once was "Office Depot" ones that were on sale. They weren't as bad as the Memorex ones but I did get quite a few duds.

Frank...

[Brendon]

It is actually irrelevant as to who makes them but dependant solely on the OC assurance.

Perhaps that's one way of looking at it, but bad or slap-dash manufacturers do not make good discs no matter how much they assure you that their QC is good, and even reputable electronic companies sometimes buy cheap and nasty stock to put their brand name on.

Are you going to tell us who made the discs you had to throw away, Jim? [MID rather than brandname]

Regards,
Brendon

[cdanteek]

I have never had a Sony, TDK or HP disc fail…

It is actually irrelevant as to who makes them but dependant solely on the OC assurance.

Aircraft manufactures do not make aluminum nor bolts nor rivets nor tires nor batteries but you can bet your a—(and actually do) that each lot is tested and rejected if it doesn't meet specs!

It means something to these companies before they will allow their name on a product.

Company's like Sony, TDK, and HP don't want you to know they farm out there disc making contracts to second and third grade Taiwan manfactures? I'm sure they make quality media for Sony, TDK, and HP, then have the workers go back to making there own Brand Name s.h.i.t. media.

I disagree with Brand Name opinions, that was the reason for the facts posted in post # 3..

cd

[Syrallas]

Company's like Sony, TDK, and HP don't want you to know they farm out there disc making contracts to second and third grade Taiwan manfactures? I'm sure they make quality media for Sony, TDK, and HP, then have the workers go back to making there own Brand Name s.h.i.t. media.

I disagree with Brand Name opinions, that was the reason for the facts posted in post # 3..

cd

I understand what you are saying -- that the "name brand" companies don't actually make the DVDs themselves, and I'm sure all would like to get the best type out there at a cost one feels is a fair deal, but like Frank , I'm at a loss to figure out how you can buy a quality DVD from a retailer, knowing in advance it was not "farmed out" to an inferior manufacturer.

[Big_Dave]

Looking at some of my loose media resulted in the following:



FUJIFLIM DVD+R DL RITEK

IMATION CD-R CMC

Memorex CD-R CMC

Memorex CD-RW CMC

Memorex DVD+RW INFODISC

RICOH CD-RW NONE

VERBATIM DVD+RW MCC

I noticed that Cdanteek's list has the recommended VERBATIM also being produced by CMC which is what Memorex uses. Hmmmm Maybe you can't count on the lable at all. It appears to be a crap shoot.

[Jim_Hardin]

Jim,

You didn't say which manufacturer of media you had acquired. Are you going to let us know?

No...

What would be the point.

"If you want to talk about media, you have to talk Media ID (MID). "

I understand the idea behind finding out who actually manufactured the blank media I buy cd. But what would be nice to know "BEFORE" I buy that stack of 100 disks, who made it. It's a little to late AFTER you buy to use a program to identify the manufacturer, especially if it's one of the "Fake" one.

In the past all I have done is to stick with Tayio Yuden, TDK or Verbatim as those "brands" have always been excellent with rarely if any at all any bad ones. So I think the proof in the matter is what brand has the highest rate of success. The only brand that I bought once (and never will buy again !!!) was some "Memorex" disks. I swear that one out of every three I tried failed. Another brand I tried once was "Office Depot" ones that were on sale. They weren't as bad as the Memorex ones but I did get quite a few duds.

Frank...

Good Point.

Unless someone knows of a utility that can read a disc sitting on the shelf at K-mart or in an ad on the web, it is pretty well a moot point.

Looking at some of my loose media resulted in the following:



FUJIFLIM DVD+R DL RITEK

IMATION CD-R CMC

Memorex CD-R CMC

Memorex CD-RW CMC

Memorex DVD+RW INFODISC

RICOH CD-RW NONE

VERBATIM DVD+RW MCC

I noticed that Cdanteek's list has the recommended VERBATIM also being produced by CMC which is what Memorex uses. Hmmmm Maybe you can't count on the lable at all. It appears to be a crap shoot.

This is what cd was so quick to dismiss - Yes manufactures do make quality discs if the buyer demands it and junk if they do not!

[Big_Dave]

The manufacturer, specifications and process are the real keys along with what the "branded name" wants to have made. So, they farm it out to the lowest bidder.

In the cockpit of the F14 was the medalon stating: "This plane is made by the lowest bidder"

This post has been edited by Big_Dave: 12 September 2008 - 05:19 PM

[cdanteek]

I noticed that Cdanteek's list has the recommended VERBATIM also being produced by CMC which is what Memorex uses. Hmmmm Maybe you can't count on the lable at all. It appears to be a crap shoot.

Big_Dave, from your list, you need to buy better media..

Have in the past been CMC. Today, Verbatim five colored Lightscribe CDR Disc's = Disc type: : CD-R Manufacturer: : Moser Baer India

I'm glad someone is getting this.

Looking at some of my loose media resulted in the following:



FUJIFLIM DVD+R DL RITEK

IMATION CD-R CMC

Memorex CD-R CMC

Memorex CD-RW CMC

Memorex DVD+RW INFODISC

RICOH CD-RW NONE

VERBATIM DVD+RW MCC

I noticed that Cdanteek's list has the recommended VERBATIM also being produced by CMC which is what Memorex uses. Hmmmm Maybe you can't count on the lable at all. It appears to be a crap shoot.

This is what cd was so quick to dismiss - Yes manufactures do make quality discs if the buyer demands it and junk if they do not!

And some are not...

cd

[Big_Dave]

There appears to be no guarantee to getting good media. If the "branded names" are using different manufacturers then one day you could buy the good media and when the next shipment comes in you might get something less than you wanted.

I have had reasonably good results with the media that I have used.

[cdanteek]

Unless someone knows of a utility that can read a disc sitting on the shelf at K-mart or in an ad on the web, it is pretty well a moot point.

There appears to be no guarantee to getting good media. If the "branded names" are using different manufacturers then one day you could buy the good media and when the next shipment comes in you might get something less than you wanted.

I have had reasonably good results with the media that I have used.

Pretty much covers anyone's quality media needs. If you use lightscribe buy Verbatim. Check the MID and do a quality scan....






Nero DiscSpeed: Disc Info
Basic Information
Disc type: : DVD+R DL
Book Type : DVD+R DL
Manufacturer: : Verbatim
MID : MKM 001 000 (00h) Mitsubishi Kagaku Media
Write speeds: : 2.4 X - 4 X - 8 X
Blank Capacity : 7.96 GB
: 8152 MB
: 8547993600 bytes
Extended Information
Layers : 2
Layer break : 3.98 GB
Write strategies : n/a
Disc Status : Empty
Raw Data
ADIP Information (11h)
0000 - E1 0F 32 10 00 03 00 00 00 FC FF FF 00 22 D7 FF - ..2.........."..
0010 - 00 00 00 4D 4B 4D 00 00 00 00 00 30 30 31 00 40 - ...MKM.....001.@
0020 - 25 25 37 0C 02 2F 63 02 2F 63 21 23 0D 0E 14 14 - %%7../c./c!#....
0030 - 02 01 01 10 00 21 23 0D 0E 14 14 02 01 01 10 00 - .....!#.........


Verbatim 16x DVD-R MCC 03RG20

Verbatim 16x DVD+R MCC-004-00


supermediastore.com for the Taiyo Yuden and Verbatim +R DL Disc.

Best Buy and the like for the Verbatim..

cd

[Big_Dave]

I don't suppose anyone around here owns stock in Verbatim.

[Brendon]

TYs are very expensive in my country, so I tend to stick to reasonably priced media I've used before and found to be good.
Generally with really cheap discs you get what you pay for, but high price doesn't always mean high quality.
I've found Verbatims [CMC MAG E01; MCC 003; and MCC 004] fairly reliable, but there is some garbage out there in other brands.


Before I buy a bunch of discs I'll buy a small number and look at the MID and burn quality with the DiscSpeed utility. If they're good I'll get three months worth.
It works for me.

Brendon

[Spirit]

Really helpful and interesting thread, thanks.

How about Dynex, the house brand at Best Buy, anybody know who makes them?

[cdanteek]

Really helpful and interesting thread, thanks.

How about Dynex, the house brand at Best Buy, anybody know who makes them?

Spirit,

Did you not understand what was wrote in post #3. I don't have or would I buy any "Dynex"
to test. You have so tell us the MID please.

Anyone interested in knowing who made the media your using by the Media ID (MID), I recommend these free utility's for that. dvdinfopro, dvd.identifier, CDDVDSpeed renamed DiscSpeed... CDDVDSpeed renamed DiscSpeed reads both CD & DVD Media ID's.

cd

[jeanrosenfeld]

For UK users, Taiyo Yuden discs are not easily available in the shops, but can be got online from

http://www.dvdshoponline.co.uk/Taiyo-Yuden.html

Reasonably priced.

For the DVD +R discs, DVD Info Pro gives

Media Information
Region information N/A not a DVD-VIDEO
Media code/Manufacturer ID YUDEN000½T0
Media Product Revision Number 00h
Format Capacity Blank Disc
Free Blocks 405405696
Free Capacity 4.38GB(4.70GB)
Book Type DVD+R
Media Type DVD+R
Manufacturer Rated Speed Unknown
Available Write Descriptor CLV 16.0x 22160KBps
Available Write Descriptor CLV 12.0x 16620KBps
Available Write Descriptor CLV 8.0x 11080KBps
Available Write Descriptor CLV 4.0x 5540KBps
Data area starting sector 30000h
Linear Density 0.267um/bit
Track Density 0.74um/track
Number of Layers 1

This post has been edited by jeanrosenfeld: 24 September 2008 - 10:23 AM