Choices, Choices - The BEST DVD-R?

[microhof]

Ok, so I've looked here and there but the debate always gets too confusing.

I'm sitting here with a sample pack of DVD-Rs from Rima. I am about to buy 100 of them to print out 50 2-DVD sets of my own video production. Obviously, I want the media to last. I want it to play on many DVD players. I have to figure out which is the best.

So, what do you like best out of this list, given my intentions? It seems people like Ritek, but I want to see what you have to say about all of them...

SAMSUNG
RITEK
OPTODISC
PRODISC
PRINCO
DupEZ

The Optodisc are complete and total crap, and so far 11/12 have encountered write errors. They are the reason I bought the sample pack in the first place, because I had purchased 50 of them thinking they would work. And of course, thetapeguys suck and wouldn't reply to my return inquiries, so now the rest are hanging on my wall as my latest piece of artwork - a functional clock. Had to find some use for 'em!

Thanks for your input, a ton, and maybe we'll all take something away from this thread.

[indolikaa]

Obviously, I want the media to last. I want it to play on many DVD players. I have to figure out which is the best.

Taiyo Yuden. All other media is shit.

[FulciLives]

SAMSUNG
RITEK
OPTODISC
PRODISC
PRINCO
DupEZ

Of that list the RITEK G04 is probably the best. However RITEK is known as of late to have issues with some batches being high quality and some batches being garbage so it is "hit or miss" with them.

Stick to DVD-R format

Look for anything that says MADE IN JAPAN

Most if not all MAXELL DVD-R discs are MADE IN JAPAN and 2x

Some, though apparently very few these days, of the TDK discs are MADE IN JAPAN and are 2x

The best though without a doubt are the 4x Taiyo Yuden DVD-R discs. They can be bought in bulk from RIMA.COM or from retail stores packaged under the FUJI brand name but ONLY the FUJI DVD-R discs that say MADE IN JAPAN are the Taiyo Yuden brand. Some FUJI DVD-R discs say MADE IN TAIWAN and are NOT Taiyo Yuden.

I mostly buy the 10-packs of FUJI DVD-R discs from BEST BUY ... they are the MADE IN JAPAN Taiyo Yuden 4x DVD-R discs and normally go for $24.99

So for QUALITY and 4x speed you can't beat Taiyo Yuden

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[Hawseman]

"Do you feel lucky, punk?"

I don't frig around with media (anymore)...especially when it comes to my home video and original material. There is nothing more frustrating than paying 50 bucks for a bad batch of media.

I use Maxell (4x - Japan) printables and they are top notch. Problem is finding a merchant that doesn't sell re-branded or fake ones.

I agree with the above posts...buy Taiyo Yuden. They're expensive, but you won't be disappointed.

[nickelzy]

Now I'm totally confused - after spending a lot of time on this forum reading about different media, I thought most of you agreed that Ritek G04 media is the best. Therefore I was just about ready to plunk down $50 for a 50 pack until I came across this thread. Now I'm back to re-considering my choices. I've had some recent problems with stuttering/freezing (and have been using Memorex 4x discs made in Taiwan), although lately they have been burning fine. However, I would like to make the switch to the most compatible and reliable media and not look back. By the way, made in Japan really matters huh? I never would have thunk it - man, am I learning a lot lately!

[nickelzy]

Ok, I went to Rima.com and found the 4x Taiyo Yuden DVD-R discs. Damn, you're right, they are expensive. However, if they are the most reliable, then I'll pay the extra for them. Question though, they have the following for sale:

Taiyo Yuden DVD-R 4.7GB, 4X, $1.70 ea., 50-Pack $85.00
Taiyo Yuden DVD-R 4.7GB, 4X, White or Silver Printable, $1.90 ea., 50-Pack $95.00

What do they mean by white or silver printable? And before I spend my cash - these really are better than the Ritek G04's that I've read so many good things about? Just want to be sure before I make my purchase!!

[Sam Ontario]

I don't know Taiyo Yuden. After many meida trials, I always use Maxell DVD-R and Memorex 4-x DVD-R 10 pack with cases from Best Buy or Future Shop.

[MeTaLgEaRsOoTy]

stick with the RITEK G04's.
the yuden discs IMO arent worth it,as ive a few that are still just as playable as my RITEK ones.
and i cant really justify buying them for any reason.
either RITEK or RICOH,are fine for your purposes.

[microhof]

What do they mean by white or silver printable?

That means that the surface is designed for use with inkjet CD/DVD printers.

Just about everything they sell will work with *thermal* printing, but they warn against using ones that aren't explicitly stated as "thermal printable" because they may have stacking rings on the CDs which I guess can mess up some thermal printers. Not mine, though.

I am hearing support for the Taiyo but I am also hearing that if I get a good batch of Ritek I should be happy too...

You know why the Japanese make so much better technology products, right? They're closer to the workbench, so they can better see what they're doing!

[qa767]

You can get Maxell 4X -R "Made in Japan" with the MXLG02 media code at Walmart for $16.85 for a ten pack. Make sure the wrapper is medium blue in color and says "up to 4X. Some stores may still have old stock 2x on the shelves.

[indolikaa]

I don't know Taiyo Yuden.

They invented CD-Recordable media. Their CD and DVD production lines maintain the most stringent QA process in the industry.

I have burned over 1,000 Taiyo Yuden CDs and several hundred DVDs without fail.

They are priced accordingly.

stick with the RITEK G04's.
the yuden discs IMO arent worth it,as ive a few that are still just as playable as my RITEK ones.
and i cant really justify buying them for any reason.
either RITEK or RICOH,are fine for your purposes.

Don't know much about Ritek discs but Ricoh discs have sure worked well for me.

[zod5000]

For Ritek discs I have gone through 3 seperate batches of 100. The first were with a Y's power label. They were dvd-r 4x g04's and they all worked great. The 2nd batch was made by RIDATA with a dull silver top (not a shiny one) and about 80 percent of them would lock up the burner when trying to burn at 4x, but they burned fine at 2x. The 3rd batch had shiny silver tops and so far have all burned great at 4x.

Even though I got that wonky batch i'd still go with Ritek, I'd ordered them from RIMA, and the refunded me 10 bux for the problem and send me some free samples from another batch of dull silver ridata's that i had no problem with. But in my logical thinking that covered the price difference between a 4x spindle and a 2x spindle.

I think 95 percent of Ritek batches are fine.. but the ones that aren't only seem to have a problem with burning at 4x. It was a gamble i was willing to take again and it worked out for me. So i'd still recommend riteks. Btw as far as I know only the sony's and lg burners have had this problem with the bad batches of riteks.

[porphyra]

My experience with Riteks was a horrible one that i still haven't recovered from. My batch of RiDATA 2x G03 turned out to be defective. I had 50 coasters. Not one discs burnt fully. I tried at least 5 different burners and machines. No success.

There was a period of a few months where almost D-grade like Ritek's had somehow been released. Even though a recall was issued and I dont think there has been a similar problem, i havent found the courage to buy ritek's ever again.

Once bitten twice shy.

[kosekjm]

When I first bought my burner, I had purchased a sample pack of +r and -r media. Various companies/brands. Out of the different samples, I had the best luck with the princo -r's, so I bought a batch of 50. All of mine (Except for one that was burning when the AV scan kicked in) burned fine. The problem has come now when I attempt to watch any of these. I have about 20 disks that still play fine, while the rest vary in their playability. All played fine right after they were recorded it seems that they seem to be dying on me (As I only got a burner in Sept of 03, I'm a little disappointed in their longevity)

Lately, I have been using Ritek G04's with no problems. Have used both the non-printable silver tops (Out of 50, 43 burned fine and 7 are still sitting on the spindle) and for the past few weeks, the Ritek White inkjet printable G04 (So far have only burned 20 out of 50, no problems yet) All of the disks (Including the princos) were burned at 4X on a Pioneer 106 drive with DVD Shrink and Nero 5.5

Now, i don't know how well the Riteks will hold up (Have only been using them since November), but so far I haven't had any problems with them. I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I like the darker dye layer on the Riteks. The princo's dye layer looks very faded to me(and it looked that way when I had gotten them).

Also, the Ritek's have been much more widely compatable with various players. I have dumped a video of my son and sent copes to all of the relatives and so far no complaints about not being able to play on any of their standalone players (Various types/models/ages).

Anyway, that's my two cents

kosekjm

[indolikaa]

The princo's dye layer looks very faded to me(and it looked that way when I had gotten them).

1. Cyanine dye, which has a cyan blue color;
2. Phthalocyanine dye, which has a light aqua color;
3. Metalized azo dye, which has a dark blue color;
4. Formazan dye, which has a light green color.

My guess is your Princo's are phthalocyanine. Formazan dye is a Kodak process that I do not believe Kodak has licensed to anybody else, leaving phthalocyanine as your culprit.

[davemike]

Hello Guys,

I also have Sony DRU 500A dvd burner. It took me a while to find good reliable dvdr media. I found this company that sells media at low cost $0.55 cents per unit when you order a 100 pieces. I already burned about 30 of them and it's very stable. I also notice that it will burn at X4 if using Windows XP 2000 Pr. and X2 if using Windows 2000 Pr. Check this link:
http://www.shop4tech.com/item2079.html

[PJGS]

I've used (+R/-R) TY, Ricoh and Mitsubishi flawlessly everything else I've tried produces some coasters.

[Rookie64]

I've burned over 300 Ritek (G03 & G04) DVD-Rs over the last four months and haven't encountered any problems.


I've tried them in a few different players and have only had a problem with one of my Standalone players - the media nor burns had anything to do with the skipping/freezing (as the player had the same issues with pressed DVDs)

Make sure it's really the media before you throw it out - try your burns on more than one player.

Haven't had any problems with +R media either.

I haven't made a coaster yet (CD-Rs, however, are another story)

[nufan292]

I wouldn't say Ritek's are the best, in my opinion they are the best bang for the buck. Money not an issue, I prefer TY.