What is the best media now?

[oceanview]

My CDR/DVD burning system is nearly finished. Need DVD blanks now, so my question is; Is Ritek the brand of choice? My burner is the Sony DRU500A (f/ware 1.0d).

I'm planning to use DVD Shrink, DVD Decrypter & Nero 6 /Alcohol120%.

Thank you...

[budz]

Use the recommended media that sony supports or recommends. Riteks are good media to use only if your burner supports it. Too many Ritek postings in the last few days. What may work for others may not work for you. Take a look at the DVD MEDIA to the left. Read what others say about your Sony drive and the media they use.

Some people feel brands like Memorex are crap if they are manufactured by CMC while others say Maxell, Taiyo Yuden and TDK are the best to use. Use what will work for you that's the bottom line. As long as they burn fine and can playback on your standalone dvd player that is all that matters!

[Justin42]

I've had a DRU500A since about when they first came out (Oct 2002) and have tried a lot of different kinds of media.. I probably have burned around 300-500 DVDs on it (heh, don't ask me to count!). in my experience, the drive likes HIGH QUALITY -R media a lot. I've had a lot of trouble finding +R media that it likes consistently.

I have NEVER had a coaster (defined as failing verify, or having major playback problems) with "true" TDK, Maxell, or Taiyo Yuden DVD-R discs. By "True", I mean Made in Japan discs that are made by those manufacturers (not Made in Taiwan TDKs or rebranded CMCs that TDK now sells.) Maxells are on sale this week at Office Depot, 30 for $26.97-- awesome price for good media. I've been able to consistently burn 4X rated discs at 4X, although if I am burning a DVD-Video I usually burn at 1X or 2X for the best reliability.

I have very, very flaky results using any sort of CMC manufactured disc-- depending on the batch, I get failure rates of 10% - 50%. TDKs seem the best, Philips seem the worst. I wouldn't touch another Philips disc. (I bought 50 of them on a deal, based on some recommendations that they were "good CMC" and at least 25 failed, if not more..)

RICOHJPNR00 discs seem to be the most reliable +Rs I've found, but you have to burn at 2.4X. RICOHJPNR01s are kinda flaky for me at 4X. My Arita 4X pack of RITEK R02's have been okaaaay, but I have to use 2.4X for reliability (they either burn fine, or won't even start burning-- the drive won't see it as recordable media when I try to start a 4X burn!! But the ones that do start a 4X burn, have all been fine.)

Obviously, YMMV. My drive is using 2.0h firmware. I'm sure other people with the same drive would disagree with some of my findings.... It seems like people either love or hate this drive, I totally love it...

[oceanview]

Thank you all for the replies.

Question! How can I tell which batch is "Made in Japan" from looking at the package? Are there visual markings or product codes that help identify the batches? I can accept a few "coasters' but certainly not the whole batch.

Budz, Justin42; what programs are you all using to burn with? And I will check out the media ref guide and the OD blanks.

Thank you for the help.

[FulciLives]

Taiyo Yuden 4x DVD-R number one
Maxell 4x DVD-R just about as good maybe as good

Taiyo Yuden can be bought direct from RIMA.COM or in packages of FUJI 4x DVD-R discs but only those packages that say MADE IN JAPAN ... this is usually on the back of the package. It will actually say MADE IN JAPAN

The Maxell 4x DVD-R discs that say MADE IN JAPAN can be found at Walmart

The FUJI and Maxell come in 10-packs with each disc in a full size CD style jewel case. The Taiyo Yuden discs from RIMA.COM come in 50 or 100 cake/spindel packs.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
I use ImgTools (the classic version) to create an ISO IMAGE FILE then I burn that with DVD Decrypter.

[Justin42]

Yep, you can look on the packaging and in most cases it says where the discs are made. If it doesn't say (I'm looking at you, TDK) assume the worst-- that's usually a sign they don't want you to know. (depending on the packaging, TDK puts it on a label on the outer shrinkwrap so that once you open it you'll never know. Of course, back when TDK made the best media, bar none,Made in Japan was pretty easy to find!!

I use RecordNow Max 4.60 to do most of my DVD burning, with the 3.90 PXEngire. I know it's a bit out of date now, but it works for me and I trust the results.

[handyguy]

Wouldn't the best media for a Sony be Sony media?

[Justin42]

Not necessarily; Sony doesn't really "make" their own DVD recorders anymore (they rebadge Optorite), and the DVD media is a bit of a crapshoot-- I have some fairly old Sony media that is just rebadged TDK, which was great!! There is a discussion over in the thread about the Sony media sale at Staples this week that no one's quite sure who makes their -R discs (with a SONY media code), but the +R discs are Ricoh, which as I've noted above, isn't necessarily the best media for my DRU500A.

There are unfortunately more variables than just brand name anymore. It's too bad companies aren't required to put OEMs on their labels if they don't make their own stuff, as it's quite misleading. (like "Made for Sony by Ritek" or the like..)

[Scottie]

Maxell's are really good !

[tkamin]

I have BenQ media dvd-r with media-id Sony...

[dxj40c]

I have decided that there is more bad media than good based on what I have read on this forum. I have several spindles of DVD media I am afraid to use because of media errors.

I have used the information and experience from those on this site and have only used TDK and Maxell for the last 3 months. I have had no coasters since limiting myself to these two brands.

You can't really rely on where the package says it was made. The last spindle of Maxell I bought said 'Made in Taiwan', but dvdinfo says "JPN01".

[FulciLives]

You can't really rely on where the package says it was made. The last spindle of Maxell I bought said 'Made in Taiwan', but dvdinfo says "JPN01".

You should be using the Maxell DVD-R discs that say MADE IN JAPAN

Your comment indicates you are using Maxell DVD+R which are distrubuted by Ricoh (a Japanese company) but are Tiawanese made discs. Maxell does not make these but merely re-badges them with the Maxell logo etc.

These are not as good as the MADE IN JAPAN Maxell DVD-R discs which really are made in Japan by Maxell ... thus they are higher/better quality.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[indolikaa]

The Maxell 10-pack jewel-cased DVD-Rs from Wal-Mart are an excellent deal. They are MXL RG02 discs, which have a fine reputation, and you can get them for just under $17.00. They are MADE IN JAPAN; I scanned the package in on this thread for reference...

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=214320&start=25


Excellent discs.

[Defcon]

I agree with Fulci and the others. I think Taiyo Yuden is the best and if I need anything else, I usually look on the box for "Made in Japan"

Last week I got a 10 pack of Maxell DVD-R from WalMart for $15.00 and when I saw the Made in Japan, bought them. I believe they are Taiyo Yuden media too !!!

I have had VERY bad experiences with stuff "Made in Taiwan" like a 5 pack of Memorex that gave me 3 coasters. I have never had a coaster yet with media from Japan.

Check out www.nomorecoasters.com

[naked-geek]

Would anyone care to post kprobe scans of all these fantastic JP disks, or point me to somewhere that has them.

Thanks

[porphyra]

CDfreaks.com has a lot of kprobe scans listed in their forums. But the scans vary with burners and media, and some Taiwanese and Indian discs have scans that are as good if not better than Japanese media. Some Japanese media scans are terrible too, so as I say, its always a case of YMMV and generalisations are always open to speculation.

[bmiller]

I have a dru500a 1.0f and have used ritek silver/purple from day 1.Every burn has worked great and played in every dvd player it has been tried on. It's best to try a couple of disks no matter what brand you select,as not all disks will work.

[xcool]

CDfreaks.com has a lot of kprobe scans listed in their forums. But the scans vary with burners and media, and some Taiwanese and Indian discs have scans that are as good if not better than Japanese media. Some Japanese media scans are terrible too, so as I say, its always a case of YMMV and generalisations are always open to speculation.

Man, very honest statement/opinion. We need more of this type in this forum.

[Hawseman]

CDfreaks.com has a lot of kprobe scans listed in their forums. But the scans vary with burners and media, and some Taiwanese and Indian discs have scans that are as good if not better than Japanese media. Some Japanese media scans are terrible too, so as I say, its always a case of YMMV and generalisations are always open to speculation.

Man, very honest statement/opinion. We need more of this type in this forum.

Yes, very true....Kprobe is only good for your own personal system, under your own controlled conditions. There are too many differences between versions, firware, drives, operating systems, burning programs, etc., to make any kind of non-argumentative conclusions.

A disk scanned freshly after a burn will show higher errors than one that has been let "cooled". Hell, I could let my dog chew on a disk before I scan it....

What helps is to look at one users results (rdgrimes and/or OCFreak). They test alot of media under (more) controlled conditions. You can compare results easier from their posts.

[lordsmurf]

www.nomorecoasters.com

[raxitpatel]

I am going to use USB2.0 External Enclosure Kit + NEC ND-2500A 8x DVD+/-RW Burner. Which will be the Best Inkjet Printable Media? Also Is there one without those numbers written in inside circle?

Thanks.

[lordsmurf]

PRODISCS03 may work for you.

[axolotls]

It can't possibly burn at 8X in an external enclosure USB2.0... Can it?

[spectroelectro]

It's certainly true that YMMV depending on your model of DVD burner, your comptuer system, and particularly the climate in which you live. I have had zero problems with bad Maxell media after 2 years, while a friend of mine who lives in Florida reports nearly 100% failure rate after about 4 months. The 90 degree + temps & near-100% humidity in his part of the country, as opposed to my year-round mild temps and low humidity, probably explain a lot of the difference.
However, there seems to be general agreement that TDK media are the best of the best. Pricey, but worth it. From there, price and climate & your particular DVD burner & computer system figure into the equation. For Pioneer drives Riteks seem to be the best media for the price, and TDKs seem to work superbly. People with Panasonic standalone DVD recorders have reported good results with (gasp!) Princos, though for computer-basde burners Princos are the Mark Of the Beast and should be avoided. Taiyo Udens seem to have an excellet rep in many different types of systems from DVD burners in computers to standalone DVD recorders. Maxells and BenQs and off-brand DVD-Rs might or might not work well on your system. Aritas, BTW, are just rebranded Riteks and work superbly in Pioneer computer-based burners.

[FulciLives]

Want to know the real reason cheap garbage media like Princo etc. work well in Panny stand alone DVD recorders?

Those recorders are made so that they never go past the 4.0GB mark.

My guess is most people don't realize this.

So in short I am trying to say that work fine in a Panny stand alone recorder would most likely choke with read errors on a computer burner (since it is typical to fill up the DVD or at least get well over 4.0GB)

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[indolikaa]

Want to know the real reason cheap garbage media like Princo etc. work well in Panny stand alone DVD recorders?

Those recorders are made so that they never go past the 4.0GB mark.

My guess is most people don't realize this.

I did not realize this.

We're considering a Panasonic for the living room. This was a nice tidbit to know about.

Thanks.

[raxitpatel]

well I haven't even learned abcd of dvd burning, I am just entering in zone. so I don't know all about buring speed ect, and what room temperater does make a difference

[MUNGY]

Princo 4x DVD-R'S works fine for me. No coasters yet!

[Justin42]

That's bizarre (not going past the 4.0gb mark) -- but a good way to help make the set top units much more foolproof. Is that common among set top recorders, or just Panasonic? I have a Toshiba unit that I just got that I noticed I've never burned anything all the way to the edge but figured that may just be a fluke...

[FulciLives]

That's bizarre (not going past the 4.0gb mark) -- but a good way to help make the set top units much more foolproof. Is that common among set top recorders, or just Panasonic? I have a Toshiba unit that I just got that I noticed I've never burned anything all the way to the edge but figured that may just be a fluke...

I read about this over at the AVS FORUM and they only mentioned Panasonic so I do not know about other brands.

BTW the Panny does this with DVD-R as well as DVD RAM

- John "FulciLives" Coleman