Check where Maxell are from.

[Regor21]

The local computer store I deal with has the good habit of selling DVD and CD loose. When they get cake boxes of 25, 50 or 100 discs in they open one spindle and sell the discs loose. This give you the chance to see what you are getting in regard to media ID.

Over the past couple of months they have been carrying Maxell DVD-R's and I have noticed something.

Maxell's are made by three different companies and if you don't check the country of origin you may get stuck with some CMC crap.

Maxell's marked Made in Japan are coded TYG03.

Maxell's marked Made in Taiwan are coded RITEKF1.

Maxell's marked Made in China are coded CMC MAG M01.

All are marked at 16x

The TYG03 and the RITEKF1 are very good discs. I have burned two 25 spindles (one of each) and only had one coaster which was my fault. All burned at 12x using IMGBurn. One of each burned at 16x with no problems.

The CMC's are typical CMC's, hit and miss in terms of coasters, better if you burn at no more than 4x with IMGBurn. In fact, IMGBurn will not let you burn them at 16x, nor 12x for that matter -- 8x is the max for them.

The prices on these run the same at this store, average $20.00 + tax per 50.

Verbatim's with MCC code are $22.00 to $24.00 + tax at same store.

So, if you see Maxell's on sale cheap, check the country of origin -- you could get a good deal in terms of quality.

[hech54]

Luckily all Maxell discs I've come across in Europe are Taiyo Yuden. Used to buy them all the time but Verbatim have taken over most of the shelf space here.

[Kerry56]

I haven't seen Maxell's made in Japan in a very long time. Not since they were making their own disks, using the MXL RG01 and MXL RG02 mid codes.
The TY made Maxell's just don't exist in my area of the US.

[jman98]

The TY made Maxell's just don't exist in my area of the US.

Not only that, I'm really failing to see the point in driving to some store and hoping you can see the codes on the discs because you have some apparent phobia against ordering over the internet and knowing exactly what you are getting. But we seem to have an endless supply of such forum members who simply will not under any circumstances buy discs unless they can get them from a local shop. The original poster is also the first person I've seen here in quite some time who thinks that Ritek still makes good media.

[Regor21]

Well, jman98, a few of points.

1. I don't drive (I some times walk) to the store hoping to see the codes on the discs. The store offers DVD's loose that you can buy. If I do buy one, I like to see what I am getting and it is nice to know what is available in your area. And as to having a phobia about ordering over the internet, I don't have one. I do order DVD and CD media, books, and other things on line, but I like to support local businesses as well.

2. If you check Lord Smurf's website, you'll see that he thinks that RITEKF1 is a good media.

3. I, also, don't make assumptions about people I don't know.

[budz]

Ritekf1 is considered crappy media.....just go post that at myce.com.....you'll definitely get laughed at...
I still got MAXELL media which is Taiyo Yuden which I use for asian dvd collection backups...

[Regor21]

Well, budz.

I respect Lordsmurf's opinion on things video, as do a lot of people here. So, if he lists RitekF1's on his home page as being a very good disc, I'll accept that.

Oh, and LordSmurf, I apologize for drawing you into this. But, I prefer your opinion over random posters on other sites.

[Kerry56]

I think I'd have to disagree with budz on the opinions stated at MyCE. There are a lot of people who dislike Ritek media (myself included) due to the failures seen from their G04 and G05 media. After some early problems using Ritek mid codes, I simply avoided them. I still avoid them for blu ray.

But the most knowledgeable folks over there, like Pepst, the moderator of the Blank Media forum, say that the F1 disks from Ritek are decent quality. And there are very few who post online who can match his expertise in blank media...maybe a few of the other regulars in that blank media forum.

[lordsmurf]

Oh, and LordSmurf, I apologize for drawing you into this. But, I prefer your opinion over random posters on other sites.

No problem.

..........

If anybody wants to disagree with my opinion on RitekF1 media, then they had better have burned more than 10,000 discs to have formed an opinion on it. I'm rather tired of the 1-spindle wonders who want to argue, due to their own limited experiences (which are often full of errors, and have obvious issues).

[ROBERT BLACK]

The RITEKF1 discs are perfectly acceptable,but I wouldn't use them for archival storage. I've had entire spindles of F1s that have lasted for well over a year and still play without issue. I find that those people who hate on Ritek hate them from the days of G03,G04 and haven't tried any since.This invalidates their opinion.The irony here is that I have a box of G03s and G04s that still play perfectly fine,the rest however, are landfill.

To the OP: If you're paying $20.00 for a 50pc spindle of Maxell you might want to check The Source for $15.00 50pc spindles of Verbatim.

You can still find Taiyo Yuden Maxells in B&Es, I found some caked in dust in an out of the way Pharma Plus.

[Gen-An]

I've been looking for MIJ Maxells myself at the only store I know that sells them (Fry's) and I haven't seen any (Duluth, GA). Then again TYG03 isn't that much to write home about in my experience, aside from the hardcoat discs.