Meritline website error re Verbatim DVD+R DL

[JohnnyBob]

Meritline is advertising a 20 pack of Verbatim DVD+R DL discs on its website for $38.99. They claim that they're 2.4X to 8X speed but that is incorrect. I ordered some, just received them, and they are the Verbatim (95310) discs which are 2.4X to 6X.

I wondered why they were so cheap! SuperMediaStore sells real 2.4X to 8X Verbatim DVD+R DL discs but they are more expensive. Obviously Meritline's website is inaccurate. I've let them know but it was a mistake to try to do it by telephone. I also sent them an email, but somehow am not confident that they'll sort it out correctly.

[Grain]

Verbatim has two versions of their DVD +R DL media, those with the media ID of MKM 001 00 that was initially rated at 2.4X, but eventually the speed rating was increased to 8X as DVD writers evolved. They then brought out an 8X media with an ID of MKM 003 00 that can also burn at 10X. What you have sounds like MKM 001, and it IS capable of 8X burning (and warrantied as such by Verbatim), but only on some burners. So it appears Meritline is correct, however that $38.99 price is high, FutureShop has had them on sale more than once for $25.99 Canadian.

[JohnnyBob]

You are probably correct. I'm a newbie. But it clearly says on the label on the side of the cakebox that these are 2.4x to 6x speed. I believe my LG drive is limited to 6x burning speed on DL media so it might not detect or offer anything higher(?). Here's what Disk Identifier says, if it's any help.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unique Disc Identifier : [DVD+R-DL:MKM-001-000]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disc & Book Type : [DVD+R DL] - [DVD+R DL]
Manufacturer Name : [Mitsubishi Kagaku Media]
Manufacturer ID : [MKM]
Media Type ID : [001]
Product Revision : [Not Specified]
Blank Disc Capacity : [Not Supported By Method 2]
Recording Speeds : [2.4x]
[Method 2 Might Not Always Detect All Speeds]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[ DVD Identifier V5.0.1 - http://DVD.Identifier.CDfreaks.com ]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------


[19:04:29] DVD Identifier V5.0.1
[19:04:29] Initializing Drive Interface [Auto-Select ASPI/SPTI]
[19:04:29] SPTI Drive Interface Successfully Initialized
[19:04:29] 1 Supported Drive Found (Out Of 1 Available Drive)
[19:04:29] Manufacturer Database [08-OCT-06@727$93] Loaded From File : (@727$93) Entries Found
[19:04:29] Internet Version Check Postponed Since Last Check Happened Less Than 1 Hour Ago
[19:04:48] DVD+R/+RW Medium Detected. Starting Identification...
[19:04:48] ** Initiating ADIP Retrieval Method 1 (Original ADIP)
[19:04:48] ERROR : ADIP Read M1 Failed : Illegal request - Invalid field in CDB [05/24/00]
[19:04:48] INFO : ADIP Read Method 1 Not Supported ; Method 2 Will Be Attempted
[19:04:48] ** Initiating ADIP Retrieval Method 2 (Copy Of ADIP)
[19:04:48] ADIP Read Method 2 Completed Without Errors
[19:04:48] Disc Identification Completed Successfully
[19:05:06] DVD+R/+RW Medium Information Copied To Clipboard

** INFO : Drive = HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-4167B - [FW DL13] - [ATAPI]
** INFO : Write Capabilities = DVD+R DVD+R-DL DVD+RW
** INFO : Write Capabilities = DVD-R DVD-R-DL DVD-RW DVD-RAM
** INFO : Disc = [DVD+R-DL:MKM-001-000]
** INFO : Reference Speed : 1x DVD = 1385 kBps
** INFO : An Writeable Disc Is Recommended For Accurate Results
** INFO : Write Speeds (Supported By This Drive On This Disc) Listed Below

** INFO : GET PERFORMANCE Write Speed Descriptor(s)
Descriptor #1 = 8310 kBps ( 6.00x) - [CLV/Non-Pure CAV]
Descriptor #2 = 5540 kBps ( 4.00x) - [CLV/Non-Pure CAV]
Descriptor #3 = 3324 kBps ( 2.40x) - [CLV/Non-Pure CAV]

** INFO : MODE SENSE Write Speed Descriptor(s) [Legacy Command]
** WARNING : MODE SENSE Is Obsolete And Not Always Properly Supported
Descriptor #1 = 8310 kBps ( 6.00x) - [CLV/Non-Pure CAV]
Descriptor #2 = 5540 kBps ( 4.00x) - [CLV/Non-Pure CAV]
Descriptor #3 = 3324 kBps ( 2.40x) - [CLV/Non-Pure CAV]


** WARNING : Format 11h (Method 1) Is Recommended ADIP Retrieval Method
** WARNING : Format 00h (Method 2) Data Might Contain Drive Modified Values
** INFO : Hex Dump Of 'Media Code'-Block Listed Below
** INFO : 4-Byte Header Preceding 'Media Code'-Block Discarded
** INFO : Format 00h (Method 2) - Physical Information (Copy Of ADIP)
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 .....!#.........
0040 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
0050 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
0060 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
0070 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
0080 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
0090 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00a0 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00b0 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00c0 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00d0 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00e0 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00f0 : 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........

[JohnnyBob]

I let Meritline know and they responded. They checked with the manufacturer and have now corrected their website. The Verbatim 95310's are 2.4x to 6x speed, as is also advertised on the SuperMediaStore website. Perhaps they will burn at 8x in newer faster DVD burners but that's unofficial and not advertised nor guaranteed by manufacturer.

They won't burn at 8x in my year-old LG drive which is limited to 6x on DL media, and that's pushing the limit. I've tried 6x and and it works, but there were possibly slight subtle artifacts. I have burned about 50 of them (so far) at 4x with a perfect record - no coasters yet. Obviously they're highly reliable.

Approximately the first half of those were burned with Nero 6, which produced discs unplayable on most standalone DVD players. After I discovered Nero 6 was buggy, and ImgBurn is the best burning software, I was able to rip those faulty discs and reburn with ImgBurn to produce perfectly playable discs on standalones. So Nero 6 didn't lose any data, it just didn't produce the correct format for standalone DVD players. They all played fine on my LG internal DVD drive using PowerDVD.

The only question is how long will they last? 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, 25 years, or what? I'd be happy with 35+ years by which time I will probably be recycled myself...

[[_chef_]]

Meritline is advertising a 20 pack of Verbatim DVD+R DL discs on its website for $38.99. They claim that they're 2.4X to 8X speed but that is incorrect. I ordered some, just received them, and they are the Verbatim (95310) discs which are 2.4X to 6X.

I wondered why they were so cheap! SuperMediaStore sells real 2.4X to 8X Verbatim DVD+R DL discs but they are more expensive. Obviously Meritline's website is inaccurate. I've let them know but it was a mistake to try to do it by telephone. I also sent them an email, but somehow am not confident that they'll sort it out correctly.

Up to 8x on MKM001 media is correct, eg. with Pioneer's 111 and 112 burners.

[Krispy Kritter]

Supermediastore's sale price currently is 39.99 (with free shipping)

Meritline still has them listed as 38.99 (with free shipping)

You can get the same discs at Newegg.com http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817130013 for 33.99 + 4.99 shipping = 38.98

[Grain]

Perhaps they will burn at 8x in newer faster DVD burners but that's unofficial and not advertised nor guaranteed by manufacturer.

Actually that's not correct. The newest/latest spindles of those discs do say up to 8X speed on the packaging, and Verbatim will guarantee them as such. I know first hand (sent an 8X burnt disc back that had a less than stellar scan, they sent a replacement in short order).

[CrayonEater]

FYI, I'd avoid burning at max rated speed. The going advice for single-layers is generally to burn at 1/2 the media's rated speed. With DL, much of the going advice is 2.4x speed is the only speed to burn at, otherwise, your coaster rate will rise appreciably. I've had problems burning at 4x (with IMGburn), but have not tried 8x on my MKM001, so while not exactly a scientifically-tested affirmation of that rule, it seems to suggest that sticking to 2.4x speed is a good idea in most cases. If DLs were cheaper I might be willing to experiment more, but at $1.50-$2.00 a disc, I'd be real conservative right now.

Also, if you can wait, Best Buy occasionally runs sales on Verbatims for $1.50 each, usually in the 20-packs. If you have one around you, stock up when the sale's on.

As for longevity, I seem to remember Verbatim is one of those manufacturers that claims 100 years based to testing, at least according to a white paper they put out. I can't find it on their site, but I remember it. Personally I think that's a crock, and the jury's still out even on less-complex discs i.e. single-layers, so there's no really reliable answer. But as long as you store your discs in a clean, cool, dark, and especially moisture-free place, you should get quite a few years out of them...knock on wood!

[BoilerUp]

Also, if you can wait, Best Buy occasionally runs sales on Verbatims for $1.50 each, usually in the 20-packs. If you have one around you, stock up when the sale's on.

Office Max has 10 packs normally priced at $15. I've only bought them in store, but I've heard it's free shipping if you get 4 or more online.

[[_chef_]]

FYI, I'd avoid burning at max rated speed. The going advice for single-layers is generally to burn at 1/2 the media's rated speed. With DL, much of the going advice is 2.4x speed is the only speed to burn at, otherwise, your coaster rate will rise appreciably.

I agree with the first sentence, but not with the rest.
The OP question was about the advertised and usable burnspeeds: they are 2.4x, 4x, 6x, and 8x.
I mostly burn them at 6x with my 111 and 112 burners and never had problems so far.