What are the good brands of CD-R out there?

@binkie7

Would be even prettier if I could work out how to host the scan images!

 

Here is a Verbatim (Verbatim Manufactured) LightScribe

 

Thanks Binkie7 for the tips.

Here is Taiyo Yuden "Master Grade" (The Good)


Here is Verbatim Colour CD-R (manufactured by CMC)(The Bad)


and here is Verbatim Silver CD-R (manufactured by CMC) (The ....)

 

That's just the Nero test file going all the way. But, if we are going to have a test, it should be all of it!
You can see how the CMC Verbs really suffer on the perimeter.

 

@platy767
an aussie discount shop is advertising a Maxell 50 spindle cdr for $14.99 would you recommend them?
I could take a gamble but back in my mind says stick with what I trust... I won't know where the Maxell are manufactured until I visit the tassie shop.
any advice? Do Maxell standards beat TDK in Oz?

 

I also have Advanced Quality Scans for each of the discs I tested. With the Maxell (Ritek) coming in at Class 3. The TDK (Taiyo Yuden) came in better, at Class 2. I would rate the TY media above Ritek. Be careful of TDK, because there is a lot of CMC Mag discs from TDK, eg TDK Gold.
Have a look at this about the DVD media from a company that sells both Ritek and TY.
http://www.pcx.com.au/products/buyers_Taiyo.asp?i=1079&p=1079&g=416

Mind you, I did buy a 10 spindle of Maxells the other day! (Was only $5, and you never know when I may need some more for testing!)
They are White IJ Ritek with maxell on the hub. The label is blue and has MQ in gold on a small gold circle. The MQ means master quality.
I have put some video clips on one, and it looks OK.

Ultimately it comes down to your data - your cash

 

@sorrow93
Answering your earlier question about 50 for $15 - No I wouldn't buy them. I don't have a need for 50 at 1 time. I've only used a couple and I bought them on spec. 50, that's a lot of discs if they are no good, and besides,I have access to TY in smaller quantities.


Here is the Advanced Disc Quality scan for Maxell (Ritek)



Here is the Advanced Disc Quality scan for the TDK (TY)

 

@platy767
thanks for getting back to me so quickly mate.
the discount store I cannot think of the term, they sell discontinued products I might take a punt on the Maxell.
I mainly want them for audio. I used to buy the TDK Audio from DSE until I felt a fool when told they are designed for stand-alone-burners only.
I burned a heap of TDK Gold until told they are suited for data not audio... at the moment I use those bluish tdk they work sweet with my players. cd-r80x I just had a look at the 100 tin they say "made in India" that surprises me didn't realise that until now.
sorry to pick your brain but I learn alot from you

 

sorry for the confusion we are talking cd-r not dvd-r ?
I am the opposite I won't buy a spindle of 50 dvdr's at the moment because I don't have the need but I would go through 50 cdr's within a month.
massive music fan lol.
new to dvd burning I just buy the ten-packs

 

@sorrow93,

Well, you're in trouble if you're relying on me, mate! Thankfully there are people on this forum who understand the results and data.

Seriously, if you have choice between the blue TDK tin and TDK Gold or the maxells, I would go for the maxell and expect these to be a Ritek disc.

 

@sorrow93,

Me again. About the Ritek v TY link. That was just for info, I understand we are not talking DVD, but we are on about CD-R media.

I also understand that good DVD media does not neccessarily mean good CD-R media, and vice versa.

 

thanks for that link.
some of it goes above my head at the moment but hey we all learn
did the India made surprise you?
okay I will cut to the chase if I visit the store read the Maxell fine-print what should I look for?
keeping in my mind Ritek and possible MQ.
sorry if I am driving you nutty but I do have a passion for burning audio
did you ever have probs with Imation?
I don't know if it was a former burner at fault but I have sworn to avoid Imation at all costs.
*too many questions at once* You will curse me

 

No, India does not surprise. I think Moser Baer are there.

The Imations I have are CMC Mag. The TDK Gold I have are CMC Mag. The thing is - they all play OK. They don't skip tracks or sound like the are only running on 12 bits. They sound OK.

I did tests for my own curiosity, just like I used to do for cassette tapes, to see if there were differences between media. Doh, there is! So, from now on, I'll use the media that gives less errors on my setup. Doesn't mean I'll toss out the TDKs,Imations or Silver Verbs that I have burned. They play OK on the CD player. I haven't used them for any critical backups/archives. I will keep an eye on them and give them a scan now and then. There is nothing on them that I can't recover elsewhere.

The thing with the Maxells was:
Maxell on the hub - probably all maxells have this.
They were White Ink Jet printable.
They had a blue top label on the spindle that had a gold circle and MQ in gold. They are Made in Taiwan. There is no mention of Ritek. I only found that out when I put them in with Nero CD-DVD Speed.

Hope this helps.

 

Platy767
You have helped. thankyou for tolerating my questions I don't know alot of people who know their stuff and when I do I tend to bombard them with questions. apologies.
The Maxell appear to be gold coloured no inkjets but I feel I will try them and find out for myself. worse case scenario $15 out of pocket besides I could onsell them to friends if I needed the money back.
I will let you enjoy whats left of your saturday night mate
thanks again for the help.
I was a cassette boy years ago collected hundreds of tapes and wanted the best recording quality )
cheers

 

Seeing that we have been mentioning CMC Mag media from Imation and TDK Gold, I though a couple of scans were in order. These are from disks burned within the last 18 months.

First is an Imation with audio.



Next is a TDK Gold with audio.



Then I have a recently burned Verbatim LightScribe (Verbatim media).



The CMC media has many more times the reported errors than the Verbatim disk. All 3 play fine.

Is there an up to date opinion about what CD-Rs "sound" the best for audio? That is, played as a CD on a CD player - no compression.

 

@platy767
those tests are interesting I am learning still but the verbatim was nice ... Now I swear TDK sound the best on my players but I am bias towards them have you tried the Verbatim "vinyl" cd-r the ones designed like a record? They gave me grief at first when they had a deep blue surface but in recent times this changed to somewhat gold dye/surface.
Perhaps if you track them down you might give them a test?
manufactured in Taiwan.
available in some aussie stores.
slightly more expensive than other media
my opinion worth it
sorry if you have already tested them.

 

I know the ones you mean. No, I haven't tried them. I have become cautious of any Verb CD-R that does not have DataLifePlus and Super AZO (Verbatim manufacture) on the label.

But, I will keep an eye out for them.

Thx.