Finding the DVD-R needle in the Media haystack

[iam29a]

Hello All,

I am trying to find a selection of DVD-R media that is most compatible (highly reliable==coaster resistent) with my LG Electronics 4020b writer. With CD-R media the medium has matured enough (and I experienced enough) that most any CD-R will burn fine in my CDRW drive. Unfortunately, DVD-RW drives have a ways to go in maturing.

Also, its difficult sometimes (most, actually) to sift through the many threads about Brand & house media being compatible with other drives, or hear of DVD-R specials in retail and not know if this will benefit me, with my LG 4020B drive, to a great extent (re: TDK@Target).

[txpharoah]

Not sure about your driver in particular, but Maxell, Apple, Pioneer, Optodisc Gold, and Ritek Branded are all winners I like to use.

[DVDJunkee]

I would take a look at this https://www.videohelp.com/dvdwriters.php?DVDnameid=62&Search=Search&list=0

It is your writer on this sites dvd writers list, and it has several media listed with comments, might be a good start.

[iam29a]

Yeah, I've read a considerable amount from that list (and thanks for posting the link). Some of the media reviews offered by those using this drive are pointing to places where some of the media is no longer available (e.g. LG-branded 2X media for a buck).

I guess I will keep serching and reading on a daily basis and maybe a deal will pop-up. I honestly do not know what is considered a good price for retail-purchase of media, and the pricing for 1-2X over the Internet seems to range from $0.99 to +$2 per disk.

[mkelley]

A good deal for locally purchased media is anything under $2 -- the higher the writing speed, the better the deal (IOW, getting 4x media under $2 is better than getting 2x media for the same price).

You really need to just test some media in your drive to find what your drive likes. I find TDK and Verbatim to be terrific media, but some people (with the *same* drive) have bad experiences with them. Quite honestly, I've never found a media my drive didn't like, but I guess I'm just a very lucky individual (I am, but not in that manner).

Recently I bought the Pioneer A06 and thought I might have problems with all my TDK and Verbatim media (500 pieces left), but it has continued to write just fine. All that media was bought from Best Buy/Target/Office Depot, all of it on sale, all 2x or 4x, and all of it under $1.50. I stocked up because I knew it would work for me -- you can do the same once you know what works for you.

[iam29a]

I must be blind, late, or just unlucky, hehe, because I have never seen DVD-R media in retail for under $2/disk. I saw some TDK 2X media at Target yesterday for something like 5-pack for $12.99, but that's $2.60/disk.

I guess I need to pay closer attention.

[mkelley]

You need to watch for the sales -- Sunday papers are good for this. In the last month or so there have been DVD-R and + media on sale at least once every week (in one of those three stores I mentioned). It's extremely likely this trend will continue.

People here announce sales (that was how I found out about nearly all the ones I've gotten media from) so frequent the media forum as well. Most sales last a week, so there's usually enough time to react. With media going on sale all the time I wouldn't buy it unless it does (or unless you're desperate -- but that's why you stock up on it).

In the meantime (between sales) you can purchase single media and find out what you like. As I said, TDK and Verbatim have been good for me, but try the major brands and see what's good for you. Then when it goes on sale you're all set.

[LanEvo7]

Go to Rima or Meritline and get their sample packs. They have both a 1x and 4x pack. Get both, see how they perform and then decide which disc you would like to use. It saves a lot of money, confusion and headaches.

If you don't mind spending a little more, get branded discs. Apple, Maxell, TDK and Sony are all good candidates. Best Buy has 25 TDKs for $50 and 100 for $190. Those are regular everyday prices.

[iam29a]

Go to Rima or Meritline and get their sample packs. They have both a 1x and 4x pack. Get both, see how they perform and then decide which disc you would like to use. It saves a lot of money, confusion and headaches.

Can you provide a direct URL to these 'sample packs' at Meritline? I found the sample packs at Rima, but the do not say how many discs are in the sample packs, nor samples of who's media you are going to be sampling. For all I know it could all be no-name and or house media.

If you don't mind spending a little more, get branded discs. Apple, Maxell, TDK and Sony are all good candidates. Best Buy has 25 TDKs for $50 and 100 for $190. Those are regular everyday prices.

I'm not a cheap bastard. I can see the logic in not buying a $1 coaster and buying a $2 blank media that works. I just am not sure (due to lack of experience) in knowing what is and isn't a good deal, and what is a very compatible media for my drive vs. something that'll guarantee a coaster.

Let me email Rima and ask them specific questions about their 'sample packs'.

[LanEvo7]

If you clicked on the link for the sample pack, it does list what you are getting. Its basically 2 of each disc. Since you don't mind spending more, just go and get TDK, Maxell or Apple discs. They have a high compatibility rate and a low failure rate. Of course get the a little first(single pack or 5 pack) to see how it works.

[iam29a]

Ok, next couple of questions:

1) What is the difference between DVD-R for 'General Purpose' and DVD-R for 'Authoring'? I mean, other than pricing as authoring media seems really expensive in comparison to gp stuff.

2) Can one assume that mail-order (Internet) does not always provide the best pricing in DVD-R media? Rima's 10ct TDK 2X is slightly more expensive than my local Target (I wasn't expecting local to be cheaper). This kinda goes hand-in-hand with what Kelly had said.

[mkelley]

Don't worry about "authoring" media -- that's not what you'll be using in your burner (to paraphrase the old saw, if you needed authoring media you'd know it).

As recently as three months ago it was not true that retail was cheaper or competitive with online -- the DVDR business has exploded, and we're seeing price cuts locally to reflect this. My hunch is the online folks still have a backlog of media they need to sell at those prices before they can lower theirs (remember, most local stores such as Target didn't even carry media a month or two ago or at least not in the variety and quantity we're seeing now). By the end of the year it would not surprise me if online became cheaper again (but I still don't think we'll see name brand media any cheaper than around $1 a disk -- others think it will go as low as 50 cents but I'm highly skeptical of this).

[iam29a]

This is very true.