Dual layer media

[SilverBlade]

Which brand of Dual(or Double) layer media is the best to get? I've seen no 'Made in Japan' +/- DL media, so I was wondering which would be most reliable considering the options available?

[redwudz]

Verbatim DL seems the most popular at present.

[Bodysurf]

Which brand of Dual(or Double) layer media is the best to get? I've seen no 'Made in Japan' +/- DL media, so I was wondering which would be most reliable considering the options available?

The general consensus among people in the know are that the ONLY consistently reliable DL media is Verbatim's.

And, of the Verbatim DL media available, it is much better to go with the + type.

[motherwell]

What is the difference between DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL. The + variety seems to be ubiquitous, but I have always used Ritek DVD-R for single layer discs and they have been outstanding.

No one ever seems to be able to give a straight answer when I ask this either. Especially the morons at Comp USA.

[redwudz]

There's this explanation on lordsmurf's site that is fairly good:

http://www.digitalfaq.com/media/dvdformats.htm

[Bodysurf]

What is the difference between DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL.

The short answer is that the +R DL recordable DVD media is more compatible and more flexible (i.e., -R DL media has a fixed layer break while the +R DL media has one that can be calculated and changed.)

IMHO, the -R DL camp really screwed up when it came to their DL version of recordable DVD.

The + variety seems to be ubiquitous, but I have always used Ritek DVD-R for single layer discs and they have been outstanding.

No one ever seems to be able to give a straight answer when I ask this either. Especially the morons at Comp USA.

For single layer media, -R is great (but then again, so is +R in 01/2006).

[lordsmurf]

DVD+R DL works. It's also easier to find and cheaper. But ONLY use Verbatim (MKM) discs. That is enough to know, to be quit honest, for most people.

DVD-R DL suffers much the same as DVD+R and DVD+RW suffered. It's more expensive, not as easy to find, and there are issues with how well the discs work for DVD-Video burning. Of course, as DVD+R has shown, that is always subject to change.

[motherwell]

Thanks for the info. I am glad they have made all of this user friendly.

[jman98]

I just wanted to add that I bought a 3 pack of DVD-R DL so I could experiment with it. My Philips DVP-642 has big problems with the discs. It will play them, but only with errors. I have a post about this in the DVD Players section of the forum. From now on I will only use DVD+R DL and I won't buy any CD or DVD media at all unless it is Verbatim.

[Ken vs Ryu]

My first experiences of DL burning were with Verbatim DVD+R just over a year ago when they were still £9.99 per disc. I only bought 3 discs (due to the price) but all 3 failed to write to the 2nd layer. Maybe my fault, maybe not.

I have recently begun using DL's again as the price is coming down and so far, so good as of the 20 discs purchased, all 20 have gone to plan with flawless playback (if i knew how to run a speed test etc, i would )

The discs i'm using (Ridisc) work out at £1.50 each. Here's a link if anyone's interested:

http://www.diskdepot.co.uk/acatalog/DVD_DL_Dual_Layer.html#aDVP_2d046


Ha-do-Ken