UK DVD-R media tests

[sdenvers]

I've been testing the selection of media I've got, before purchasing a load of them (250 is a load to me). All purchased from valuemedia.co.uk except the last one, these are the IDs:

bulkpaq.co.uk (from valuemedia.co.uk)
00 42 00 00 01 40 C1 FD 9E D8 50 00 02 7A 0C 15 .B...@....P..Z..
77 78 90 00 03 54 44 4B 47 30 31 00 04 30 30 30 WX...TDKG01..000
30 64 39 00 05 CC C0 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 0D9.............

datasafe-media.com (from valuemedia.co.uk)
00 42 00 00 01 40 C1 FD 9E D8 50 00 02 7A 0C 15 .B...@....P..Z..
77 78 90 00 03 54 44 4B 47 30 31 00 04 30 30 30 WX...TDKG01..000
30 64 39 00 05 CC C0 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 0D9.............

vivastar (from valuemedia.co.uk)
00 42 00 00 01 40 C1 FD 9E D8 50 00 02 89 0E 13 .B...@....P.....
87 88 80 00 03 56 49 56 41 53 54 00 04 41 52 00 .....VIVAST..AR.
00 00 00 00 05 88 80 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 ................

vivastar (from scan.co.uk)
00 42 00 00 01 40 C1 FD 9E D8 50 00 02 89 0E 13 .B...@....P.....
87 88 80 00 03 56 49 56 41 53 54 00 04 41 52 00 .....VIVAST..AR.
00 00 00 00 05 88 80 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 ................


The first three work fine in my Sony player. The last one isn't recognised as a DVD, even though it has the exact same ID. How come?

The bulkpaq is supposed to be Princo according to valuemedia's website, but wouldn't it identify itself as Princo? I rang the guy and he said he was sure they were Princo, but manufacturers and labels swap around all the time.

Does the player read this info when you insert the disk, or how does it decide that it won't play a DVD-R? Based on the fact that a vivastar with the same ID as another vivastar may or may not play, I guess it's down to the individual DVD-R?

Roll on 2 years time when all media works and is as cheap as blank CDs are today...

[SLK001]

Princos are definitely labeled "PRINCO". Looks like you got TDKs. Do they burn at 2X (Princos cannot)?

The DVD (I am assuming a stand-alone) probably is having problems with the dye color. Do you notice any difference in the dye colors between the two disks?

[sdenvers]

The datasafe and bulkpaq's (TDK) look identical. The vivastars are exactly the same colour as the other two but differently built and only half the thickness. The TDKs are definitely much sturdier discs.

Nothing I've had so far has burned at 2x in a Pioneer 104.