Blank DVD Buying Guide
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Blank DVD Buying Guide
MEDIA GUIDES -> Blank Media & Quality FAQ
Not all media is good. In fact, with the high influx of cheap media from Taiwan, I'd venture to say most media is bad. This guide is meant to shed some light on the how and why of DVD media quality.
This guide also gives examples of what generally works as the best media, but your mileage may very, depending on the burner and how that batch of media chooses to cooperate. While some cheap media may work for you, it's a gamble that often loses.
Who makes the disc: Brand vs. Media ID
The thing that must be realized is that most media is produced by a relative small number of factories, located in several different places. These factories are present in Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Mexico, India, and Ireland... maybe a few more, but not many. The best media generally comes from Japan and Singapore. The worst typically comes from Taiwan.
This being said, understand that the media brands means nothing. Apple is a great brand, but they do not make their own discs, instead outsourcing to MXL (Maxell), MCC (Mitsubishi Chemicals), and PVC (Pioneer). Verbatim has become infamous by switching from high-quality MCC to ultra-cheap CMC (CMC Magnetics) media. Companies like Memorex, Fuji and Imation all outsource to media vendors.
Always be aware of fake media too. Fake media is normally sold in flea markets, on eBay and online. This fake media normally has no brand markings and the company being faked normally only sells branded discs.
It is the Media ID that is important, as it reveals the disc maker.
Media ID Quality Guide
The following list is in preference order. The best discs are near the top of the list. The discs at the bottom of the list are suitable only for a landfill. PVC is the best of all, CMC is the worst of all, etc.
Note: Some codes may be listed twice, done because a -R, -RW, +RW and +R by the same company may not be the same quality. The format is listed because of this.
1ST CLASS MEDIA
Almost flawless burns with 95-100% reliable results:
PVC = Pioneer = (-R)(-RW)
MXLRG01, MXLRG02 = Maxell = (-R) ... be aware of unbranded fakes
MCC = Mitsubishi Chemicals = (-R)
TDKG02, TTG01 = TDK Corp = (-R) ... be aware of unbranded fakes
TAIYOYUDEN, YUDEN, TYG01 = Taiyo Yuden = (-R)(+R)
2ND CLASS MEDIA
Decent discs, though not perfect, about 85-95% success rate:
PRODISCS03 = Prodisc Media = (-R)
RICOHJPN = Ritek or Ricoh = (+R)(+RW)
INFODISC = Infodisc Media = (+RW)
SONYD04 = Sony = (-R) ... be aware of unbranded fakes
RITEKG04 = Ritek = (-R)
RITEKG03 = Ritek = (-R)
OPTODISC = Optodisc = (-R)
MCC = Mitsubishi Chemicals = (+RW)
3RD CLASS MEDIA
Quality can be very questionable, about 50-80% success rate:
LEADDATA or LD01 or LD or LEDA = Lead Data = (-R)(-RW)
RITEKW = Ritek = (-RW)
PRINCO, unbranded TDK = Princo = (-R)(-RW)
ONIDTECH = Unknown OEM = (-R)
4TH CLASS MEDIA
Pathetic garbage media, landfill material, about 0-50% success rate:
RITEKG01, RITEKG02 = Ritek = (-R)
PIODATA = Lead Data = (-R) ... often sold as "Pioneer OEM" but that's false
Unbranded PIO = Fake Pioneer = (-R) ... often sold as "Pioneer OEM" but that's false
Unbranded SONY = Fake Sony = (-R)
Unbranded MXL = Fake MXL = (-R)
AN31, AN32, ANWELL, AN30 = Unknown OEM = (-R)
LONGTEN = Unknown OEM = (-R)
OPTODISC = Optodisc = (+R)(+RW)
MATRIX = Unknown OEM = (-R)
CMC = CMC Magnetics = (+R)(-R)
ANYTHING ELSE = Unknown OEM or NEW
Are there exceptions to this list? Sure, but not many. LD01 inkjet media and RITEKG04 inkjet media has proven to be almost flawless media for many users. But those are the only two we've seen as consistent exceptions. Use this list as a guide. This list is a "sure bets" kind of list, and is pretty reflective of the media market as a whole.
Branding Guide
Although this will change on a regular basis, the following brands are known to use the following media makers for their outsourced discs.
Be careful for CMC and PRINCO discs, as those are becoming more common in those "special sales" seen almost every week since early 2004. Some companies prefer dollars over quality, so be careful. Also be especially careful of "house brands" or no-names. Stores like Fry's and CompUSA have horrible return policies too, so if you end up with an unfavorable media ID, do not burn a test, just take it back for a refund and take your business elsewhere.
Accu = LEADDATA
Americal = RITEKG01, PRINCO, LEADDATA
Apple = MXL, MCC
Arita = RITEKG03, RICOHJPN
Bulkpaq = PRINCO, PRODISC
CompUSA = PRINCO, OPTODISC, LD
Datawrite = PRINCO, PRODISC, AN31, RITEKG03
DupEZ = PIODATA, LEADDATA
Esbuy = RITEK, LEADDATA, other budget IDs
Fuji = TAIYOYUDEN, MCC, RICOHJPN, PRODISC
GQ = PIODATA, PRINCO, RITEKG03, RITEKG02, LEADDATA, LD
HP = CMC, RICOHJPN, MCC
Imation = RITEKG03, CMC
KHypermedia = CMC
LiquidVideo = OPTODISC
Matrix = MATRIX, LONGTEN
Maxell = MXL, RITEKG03, RICOHJPN, TYG01
Memorex = CMC, RICOHJPN, PRODISC, INFODISC
Meritline = Fake MXL, other budget IDs
Mirror = AN31, ONIDTECH, PRINCO
Optodisc = OPTODISC
Philips = CMC
Pioneer = PVC
Princo = PRINCO, Fake TDK
Prodisc = PRODISCS03, MCC
Ritek = RITEKG01-04, RICOHJPN
Shop4tech = LONGTEN, MATRIX, other budget IDs
Sony = SONYD04, RICOHJPN, MCC
Supermedia = Fake MXL, other budget IDs
TDK = TDK, RITEKG04, RICOHJPN, MXL, CMC, MCC
Verbatim = CMC, MCC, YUDEN, RICOHJPN, RITEKG03
-Chris
Not all media is good. In fact, with the high influx of cheap media from Taiwan, I'd venture to say most media is bad. This guide is meant to shed some light on the how and why of DVD media quality.
This guide also gives examples of what generally works as the best media, but your mileage may very, depending on the burner and how that batch of media chooses to cooperate. While some cheap media may work for you, it's a gamble that often loses.
Who makes the disc: Brand vs. Media ID
The thing that must be realized is that most media is produced by a relative small number of factories, located in several different places. These factories are present in Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Mexico, India, and Ireland... maybe a few more, but not many. The best media generally comes from Japan and Singapore. The worst typically comes from Taiwan.
This being said, understand that the media brands means nothing. Apple is a great brand, but they do not make their own discs, instead outsourcing to MXL (Maxell), MCC (Mitsubishi Chemicals), and PVC (Pioneer). Verbatim has become infamous by switching from high-quality MCC to ultra-cheap CMC (CMC Magnetics) media. Companies like Memorex, Fuji and Imation all outsource to media vendors.
Always be aware of fake media too. Fake media is normally sold in flea markets, on eBay and online. This fake media normally has no brand markings and the company being faked normally only sells branded discs.
It is the Media ID that is important, as it reveals the disc maker.
Media ID Quality Guide
The following list is in preference order. The best discs are near the top of the list. The discs at the bottom of the list are suitable only for a landfill. PVC is the best of all, CMC is the worst of all, etc.
Note: Some codes may be listed twice, done because a -R, -RW, +RW and +R by the same company may not be the same quality. The format is listed because of this.
1ST CLASS MEDIA
Almost flawless burns with 95-100% reliable results:
PVC = Pioneer = (-R)(-RW)
MXLRG01, MXLRG02 = Maxell = (-R) ... be aware of unbranded fakes
MCC = Mitsubishi Chemicals = (-R)
TDKG02, TTG01 = TDK Corp = (-R) ... be aware of unbranded fakes
TAIYOYUDEN, YUDEN, TYG01 = Taiyo Yuden = (-R)(+R)
2ND CLASS MEDIA
Decent discs, though not perfect, about 85-95% success rate:
PRODISCS03 = Prodisc Media = (-R)
RICOHJPN = Ritek or Ricoh = (+R)(+RW)
INFODISC = Infodisc Media = (+RW)
SONYD04 = Sony = (-R) ... be aware of unbranded fakes
RITEKG04 = Ritek = (-R)
RITEKG03 = Ritek = (-R)
OPTODISC = Optodisc = (-R)
MCC = Mitsubishi Chemicals = (+RW)
3RD CLASS MEDIA
Quality can be very questionable, about 50-80% success rate:
LEADDATA or LD01 or LD or LEDA = Lead Data = (-R)(-RW)
RITEKW = Ritek = (-RW)
PRINCO, unbranded TDK = Princo = (-R)(-RW)
ONIDTECH = Unknown OEM = (-R)
4TH CLASS MEDIA
Pathetic garbage media, landfill material, about 0-50% success rate:
RITEKG01, RITEKG02 = Ritek = (-R)
PIODATA = Lead Data = (-R) ... often sold as "Pioneer OEM" but that's false
Unbranded PIO = Fake Pioneer = (-R) ... often sold as "Pioneer OEM" but that's false
Unbranded SONY = Fake Sony = (-R)
Unbranded MXL = Fake MXL = (-R)
AN31, AN32, ANWELL, AN30 = Unknown OEM = (-R)
LONGTEN = Unknown OEM = (-R)
OPTODISC = Optodisc = (+R)(+RW)
MATRIX = Unknown OEM = (-R)
CMC = CMC Magnetics = (+R)(-R)
ANYTHING ELSE = Unknown OEM or NEW
Are there exceptions to this list? Sure, but not many. LD01 inkjet media and RITEKG04 inkjet media has proven to be almost flawless media for many users. But those are the only two we've seen as consistent exceptions. Use this list as a guide. This list is a "sure bets" kind of list, and is pretty reflective of the media market as a whole.
Branding Guide
Although this will change on a regular basis, the following brands are known to use the following media makers for their outsourced discs.
Be careful for CMC and PRINCO discs, as those are becoming more common in those "special sales" seen almost every week since early 2004. Some companies prefer dollars over quality, so be careful. Also be especially careful of "house brands" or no-names. Stores like Fry's and CompUSA have horrible return policies too, so if you end up with an unfavorable media ID, do not burn a test, just take it back for a refund and take your business elsewhere.
Accu = LEADDATA
Americal = RITEKG01, PRINCO, LEADDATA
Apple = MXL, MCC
Arita = RITEKG03, RICOHJPN
Bulkpaq = PRINCO, PRODISC
CompUSA = PRINCO, OPTODISC, LD
Datawrite = PRINCO, PRODISC, AN31, RITEKG03
DupEZ = PIODATA, LEADDATA
Esbuy = RITEK, LEADDATA, other budget IDs
Fuji = TAIYOYUDEN, MCC, RICOHJPN, PRODISC
GQ = PIODATA, PRINCO, RITEKG03, RITEKG02, LEADDATA, LD
HP = CMC, RICOHJPN, MCC
Imation = RITEKG03, CMC
KHypermedia = CMC
LiquidVideo = OPTODISC
Matrix = MATRIX, LONGTEN
Maxell = MXL, RITEKG03, RICOHJPN, TYG01
Memorex = CMC, RICOHJPN, PRODISC, INFODISC
Meritline = Fake MXL, other budget IDs
Mirror = AN31, ONIDTECH, PRINCO
Optodisc = OPTODISC
Philips = CMC
Pioneer = PVC
Princo = PRINCO, Fake TDK
Prodisc = PRODISCS03, MCC
Ritek = RITEKG01-04, RICOHJPN
Shop4tech = LONGTEN, MATRIX, other budget IDs
Sony = SONYD04, RICOHJPN, MCC
Supermedia = Fake MXL, other budget IDs
TDK = TDK, RITEKG04, RICOHJPN, MXL, CMC, MCC
Verbatim = CMC, MCC, YUDEN, RICOHJPN, RITEKG03
-Chris
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Chris,
Excellent post as usual.
Here is a great resource to add to your post:
VideoHelp.com also known as DVDRHelp.com & VCDHelp.com
Take Care,
Richard
Excellent post as usual.
Here is a great resource to add to your post:
VideoHelp.com also known as DVDRHelp.com & VCDHelp.com
Take Care,
Richard
