DVD-R Media Quality and Compatibility

[firewired]

You need to download DVDInfoPro for reading the DVD-R's media code. Additionally, you can use the software to test for drive speed and possible media errors.

If you want to cross-reference your findings with other users, visit VideoHelp.com. They run a fairly comprehensive database of branded and generic media ratings. Please note that even if certain DVD-Rs have the same brand/make, chances are you're testing discs from different batches so results may vary greatly from country to country. 

In reporting media performance, please state the following:

1. Media code
2. Physical description of the disc
3. Place of purchase
4. Price per piece
5. Claimed burn speed and the speed you burned at
6. DVDInfoPro media test for read errors
7. Test platforms (DVD-ROM and standalone players)
8. Notes (if any)

That's it!

[firewired]

Generic DVD-R: Fornex

1. Fornex101
2. Blank (no label), writable white top. Identified as DVD-R 4X F101A along inner ring.
3. CD-R King Gilmore
4. Php11.00 per piece
5. Rated at 4x, burned at 1x
6. No errors on DVDInfoPro
7. Successful playback on:
- Pioneer DVD Writer A04 (media verified)
- Pioneer DV-266 (full film viewed, no skipping and/or macro-blocking errors)

8. Notes: I burned at 1x after previous experience with other generic DVD-Rs resulted in multiple errors at 2x (despite the media being rated at 4x). Out of 15 DVD-R backups burned (so far), I've only had one coaster. Hope it stays that way.

[number1]

BRANDED DVD-R: RIDATA 4X

1. RITEKG04
2. Purple cover with writable surface
3. CD-R King Taft
4. Bought at Php38.00 per piece. Price now is Php 39.00 per piece. Currenly OUT-OF-STOCK for over a month already.
5. Rated at 4x, burned at 2x since my PC is too slow.
6. NO errors on DVDInfoPro
7. Successful playback on:
* Access of files (.doc and .jpg) worked on LITE-ON and Hitachi dvd-roms.
8. Notes: Burned using NERO Burning ROM with DVD ISO for better compatibility

[lekxxz]

MEDIA MASTER DVD-R

Media Code: PRODISCG01
Physical Description:
 

Place of Purchase: CD-R King Quiapo
Price per piece: P99.00/disc (before)
Claimed Burned Speed: 2x
Burned speed: 1x
Media Test for Errors: No errors (Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-104)
Test platforms:
  No problem with DVD ROM
  No problem with Nextbase DVD Player
  No problem with Sony DVD player



RIDATA DVD-R

Media Code: RITEKG04
Physical Description:


Place of Purchase: CD-R King Glorietta branch
Price per piece: P35.00/disc
Claimed Burned Speed: 4x
Burned speed: 1x
Errors: No errors (Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-104)
Test Platforms:
  No problem with DVD ROM
  NO problem with Nextbase DVD Player
  No problem with Sony DVD Player


VERTEX DVD-R

Media Code: Auvistar
Physical Description:


Place of Purchase: CD-R King Glorietta
Price per piece: P 21.00
Claimed burned speed: 4x
Burned speed: 1x
Media Test for errors: No errors (Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-104)
Test Platforms:
  No problem on DVD-ROM (LG and Pioneer)
  Skipping problems on NextBase DVD Player
  Skipping problems on Sony DVD Player


PRO DVD-R

Media Code: PRODISCG01 (same media code with Media Master)
Physical Description:


Place of Purchase: CD-R King Glorietta
Price per disc: P35.00/disc (before)
Claimed burned speed: 1x
burned speed: 1x
Media Test for errors: Multiple errors (Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-104)
Test platforms:
  No problem on DVD ROM
  Skipping/jittery output on Nextbase
  Sony DVD Player won't detect the disc



Generic DVD-R (NO BRAND Listed)

Media Code: RITEKGO3
Physical Description:


Place of Purchase: CD-R King Glorietta
Price per piece: P21.00/disc
Claimed Burning Speed: 1x
Burned speed: 1x
Media Test for Errors: No errors (Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-104)
Test Platforms:
  No problem on DVD ROM (Pioneer and LG)
  Skipping problems on Nextbase DVD Player towards the end
  Will not play on Sony DVD Player

[lekxxz]

Generic DVD-R (Brand not Listed)

Media Code: MXL RG01
Physical Description:


Place of purchase: CD-R King Glorietta
Price per disc: P11 or P10 (not sure)
Claimed Burning Speed: 2x
Burned Speed: 2x
Media Test for errors: Multiple errors when burning at 2x.  (No errors when using 1x burning speed)
Test Platforms:
  No problem on DVD ROM
  Skipping problems on Sony and Nextbase DVD Player (towards the end of the video)



Generic DVD-R (Brand Not listed)

Media Code: Blank
Physical Description:


Place of Purchase: CD-R King Glorietta
Price per piece: P11.00
Claimed Burning Speed: 2x
Burned speed: 1x
Media Test for Errors: No errors (Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-104)
Test Platforms:
  No problem on DVD ROM (Pioneer and LG)
  Skipping problems on Nextbase DVD Player and Sony DVD Player




GENERIC 4X DVD-R

Media Code:  RITEKG04
Physical Description:


Place of purchase:  Virra mall (it's the store in front of Comic Alley)
Price per piece:  P 85.00
Claimed burning speed:  4x
Burned speed: 2x
Media Test for errors: No errors
Test Platforms:
  No problem on DVD-ROM
  No problem on Nextbase DVD player
  No problem on Sony DVD Player



MELODY 4X DVD-R

Media Code:  AN31
Physical Description:


Place of Purchase: CD-Square (SM Southmall)
Price per piece:  P175.00
Claimed Burning Speed: 4x
Burned Speed: 2x
Media Test for errors: No errors
Test platporms:
  No problem on DVD ROM and standalone DVD Players.

[firewired]

Generic DVD-R: ENZO

1. FNX 102 (Fornex)
2. Blank (no label), inkjet printable white top. Identified as DVD-R 4X F102 along inner ring.
3. CD-R King Gilmore
4. Php11.00 per piece
5. Rated at 4x, burned at 2x
6. No errors on DVDInfoPro and Nero 6
7. Successful playback on:
- Pioneer DVD Writer A04 (media verified)
- Pioneer DV-266

8. Notes: Used less than HALF the space, so I don't know if the quality holds up until the edge of the disc. Enzo DVD-Rs come packaged in those neat 25-disc cake boxes.

UPDATE & WARNING: I do NOT recommend the ENZO generics. You cannot fill-up the disc. I tested a full backup at 4.38 GB and there were multiple errors towards the outer part of the disc even when burning at 1x. The only practical advantage of this brand is the printable top.

[firewired]

Generic DVD-R: CD-R KING

1. Fornex101
2. Black label with white, rectangle pattern as design (ala film). DVD-R 4X F101A along inner ring.
3. CD-R King Gilmore
4. Php11.00 per piece
5. Rated at 4x, burned at 2x
6. No errors on DVDInfoPro and Nero 6
7. Successful playback on:
- Pioneer DVD Writer A04 (media verified)
- Pioneer DV-266 (full film viewed, no skipping and/or macro-blocking errors)

8. Notes: After my bad experience with the Fornex FNX102 line, I reverted back to the F101A series for my non-critical internal backups. Burning at 2x, I didn't experience any problems. So far, so good.

[number1]

BRANDED DVD-R: MEMOREX with "Is it live or is it Memorex" label

1. CMC MAG. AF1 (CMC Magnetics)
2. Silver writable top
3. CD-R King GILMORE
4. Php39.00 per piece
5. Claimed burn speed is 4x ; burned at 2x and 4x
6. No error detected using NEC 2510A and Lite-on dvd rom
7. Successful playback on:
NEC 2510A and Lite-on dvd rom
Played well in Philips DVP-642
8. Notes: This media is highly recommendable. Perfect substitute to the Ritek G04's. 

Had a disc that was not playable on the Philips DVP-642 because I burned it while my computer was downloading, etc. btw the pc is a slow pentium III. To achieve good burns, in my case, I reboot the computer, turn off all background programs as well as screen savers and have no other programs run other than the burn software (nero burning rom). 

[firewired]

Generic DVD-R: RITEK

1. RITEKG03
2. Plain silver top. DR5L16-00388 along inner ring writable side.
3. CD-R King Greenhills (2/F)
4. Php69.00 per piece
5. Rated at 2x, burned at 1x
6. No errors on DVDInfoPro and Nero 6
7. Successful playback on:
- Pioneer DVD Writer A04 (media verified)
- Pioneer DV-266 (full film viewed, no skipping and/or macro-blocking errors)
- Pioneer DV-535 (full film viewed, no skipping and/or macro-blocking errors)

8. Notes: Bought this sometime in early 2003. Hasn't been available in this configuration since then. Expensive compared to generic prices today but my backups are still in great working condition despite handling by kids, dust and a lot of surface scratches. Just verified one of the discs last night -- good as new!

[firewired]

Generic DVD-R: ATERRA Media

1. FORNEX101 (Fornex)
2. Printable white top. Identified as DVD-R 4X F101A along inner ring of writable side.
3. CD-R King Gilmore
4. Php11.00 per piece
5. Rated at 4x, burned at 2x
6. No errors on DVDInfoPro, Nero 6, and DVDDecrypter
7. Successful playback on:
- Pioneer DVD Writer A04 (media verified)
- Pioneer DV-266
- Pioneer DV-535-K

8. Notes:

ATERRA, according to the CDRKing salesgirl, is the brand of choice in Quiapo. I bought 10 pieces which came packaged in a cake box. As my past experience with Fornex's "A" line (note the identification strip along the inner ring), these discs performed flawlessly at 2x with my Pioneer A04 writer.

I visited Fornex's website and discovered that they classify their generic media according to 4 grades ranging from A to D. Doesn't matter what brand the discs are sold under. I'm guessing that the ATERRAs are better than the ENZOs simply because they use discs from the Grade A line.

[number1]

Generic DVD-R: CD-R King "DVD-R Bar Code"

1. Fornex101
2. No brand labels. Has a bar code logo on top with Cd-r King label. Writable white top surface. Has "DVD-R 4X F101-P102A01" printed along inner ring (of the burn side).
3. CD-R King Taft
4. Php11.00 per piece
5. Unrated speed, burned at 4x and 2x
6. Has NO errors using DVDInfoPro to read with NEC ND-2510A dvd-writer and LITE-ON dvd-rom. Both test using same burned disc.
7. Successful playback on:
* File Access worked on LITE-ON and Hitachi dvd-roms.
* Still need to test on other stand alone dvd players
8. Notes: Burned using NERO Burning ROM with DVD ISO (for better compatibility).
In my previous posts, I encountered errors on this media, but that was my fault though. I was burning on a slow pc (pentium 3 - 500mhz) while having several p2p software downloading simultaneously and virus scans running in the background, etc. In other words, you will get errors no matter what media you use, if the source (PC) is too slow. 


Generic DVD-R:  CD-R King "DVD-R Bar Code"

1. VDSPMSAB 01
2. No brand labels. Has a bar code logo on top with Cd-r King label.  Writable white top surface.
3. CD-R King Gilmore
4. Php11.00 per piece
5. Unrated speed, burned at 4X ONLY
6. Has NO errors using DVDInfoPro to read with NEC ND-2510A dvd-writer and LITE-ON dvd-rom. Both test using same burned disc.
7. Successful playback on:
*Played divx files on Philips DVP-642 stand-alone player
* File Access worked on LITE-ON and Hitachi dvd-roms.
8. Notes: Burned using NERO Burning ROM with DVD ISO (for best compatibility, imho).
*Had one disc that had lots of errors, but still readable (playable) with Philips DVP-642

[number1]

BRANDED DVD-R: IOMEGA DVD-R 2X"

1. PRODISCG02
2. White writeable with IOMEGA's name and logo.
3. CD-R King Taft
4. Php18.00 per piece
5. Rated speed is 2X, burned at 2X only.
6. Has NO errors using DVDInfoPro to read with NEC ND-2510A dvd-writer and LITE-ON dvd-rom. Both test using same burned disc.
7. Successful playback on:
* File Access worked on LITE-ON and Hitachi dvd-roms.
* Played divx files on Philips DVP-642 stand-alone player
8. Notes: Burned using NERO Burning ROM with DVD ISO (for better compatibility).

[number1]

BRANDED DVD-R: IOMEGA DVD-R 4X

1. ProdiscS03
2. White writeable with IOMEGA's name and logo.
3. CD-R King Taft
4. Php25.00 per piece
5. Rated speed is 4X, burned at 4X and 2X
6. NO errors using DVDInfoPro to read with NEC ND-2510A dvd-writer
7. Successful playback on:
* File Access worked on LITE-ON dvd-rom.
* Played divx files on Philips DVP-642 stand-alone player
8. Notes:

[elmers]

any of you knows about this brand?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002KQRFU/ref=ord_cart_shr/002-1289988-4264038?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

[idlewild]

Generic DVD-R 4X

1.  No media code
2.  Writeable white top with "Premium" written on the surface
3.  CD-R King SM Cebu
4.  Php7.00/DVD
5.  Rated @4X, burned at 4X (on Lite-On LDW-411S)
6.  No read errors
     Additional testing with Transfer Rate Test with Nero CDSpeed (on Hitachi CD-RW/DVD GCC-4160N)
7.  Successful read on files in both Lite-On and Hitachi drives mentioned above
8.  Notes:  A similar media is also sold with media code DKMZ01 @Php9.00/DVD.  This also does not have any problems on my drive

[artsky]

sidenote:

i noticed that those "cheap" (less than 15pesos) has only up to 1.2GB capacity. can you guys confirm this?

[dejakenth]

sidenote:

i noticed that those "cheap" (less than 15pesos) has only up to 1.2GB capacity. can you guys confirm this?

So far I haven't encountered any "cheap" media w/ less than 4.7GB capacity (RAW - as marked on the disc).  Cheapest I got so far, was P10.00 each, anyone know where to find P6.00 DVD blank media? (Those that pass a physical quality check).

Thanks ....

[indie boi]

Generic DVD-R 4X

1.  No media code
2.  Writeable white top with "Premium" written on the surface
3.  CD-R King SM Cebu
4.  Php7.00/DVD
5.  Rated @4X, burned at 4X (on Lite-On LDW-411S)
6.  No read errors
     Additional testing with Transfer Rate Test with Nero CDSpeed (on Hitachi CD-RW/DVD GCC-4160N)
7.  Successful read on files in both Lite-On and Hitachi drives mentioned above
8.  Notes:  A similar media is also sold with media code DKMZ01 @Php9.00/DVD.  This also does not have any problems on my drive

I bought this dvd media a couple of weeks ago. I backed up a few of my dvds on this but encountered a few errors with some of the DVDs -- at a ratio of 1 defective disk for every 10 I burned. I played this back with no problem in both my NEC writer, Asus dvd-rom and nextbase player. BUT when I reviewed the same discs again after a couple of days on my nextbase player i found heavy pixellations on almost all of the movies I backed up. of the 50 i burned, only 5 did not have pixellations. The weird thing though is that there were no pixellations evident when I played it again in my drives and in a promac player my father-in-law has.

WEIRD.

[ADM202E]

Guys you may use this free software from lite-on SMART-BURN Media Check Program to verify the information of the media you are using, such as the brand, the types ( CD-R / RW, DVD-R / RW, DVD+R / RW, Double Layer DVD+R ), speed limit...etc. Im just not sure if this program works with other drives....

 

http://www.liteonit.com/ODD/English/e_downloads/e_utility.asp

[ADM202E]

RIDATA+/-R 8X

1. Media code :RiTEK Corporation
2. Physical description of the disc: light blue disc color for dvd+r and violet for dvd-r with label "RIDATA 8X-R"
3. Place of purchase: CDR king  Ayala Town Centre
4. Price per piece: P35
5. Claimed burn speed and the speed you burned at: 8X, actual burn at 8X
6. DVDInfoPro media test for read errors: NO READ ERRORS ON ALL DATA, video and audio DVDS lite-on 16x SOHW-1653
7. Test platforms (DVD-ROM and standalone players): lite-on 16x SOHW-1653, NU 16X dvd drive, pioneeR 270, philips 642, kebao 3089, nextbase
8. Notes (if any): flawless and no problem, 5 minutes burn for DVD audio/video AND 3 minutes burn for data @4.4 capacity.

[jlodvo]

guys what to use for critical burn, to store video files ive downloaded, and store it "use it like a master copy"  whats a good brand with a lower price? and avail in cd-r king
thanks

[ADM202E]

guys what to use for critical burn, to store video files ive downloaded, and store it "use it like a master copy"  whats a good brand with a lower price? and avail in cd-r king
thanks

Bro, try RIDATA+/-R 8x.  Subok na subok ko na eto.

[idlewild]

I bought this dvd media a couple of weeks ago. I backed up a few of my dvds on this but encountered a few errors with some of the DVDs -- at a ratio of 1 defective disk for every 10 I burned. I played this back with no problem in both my NEC writer, Asus dvd-rom and nextbase player. BUT when I reviewed the same discs again after a couple of days on my nextbase player i found heavy pixellations on almost all of the movies I backed up. of the 50 i burned, only 5 did not have pixellations. The weird thing though is that there were no pixellations evident when I played it again in my drives and in a promac player my father-in-law has.

WEIRD.

this just means how unreliable the media is.  i bought another batch again and i haven't been able to burn 1 disc successfully.   i guess i should stay away from this media

btw, has anyone here tried scanning with k-probe? (works only with lite-on or other mediatek-based drives tho).  i always use this method to check the reliability of my burns

[boss_onie]

So far I haven't encountered any "cheap" media w/ less than 4.7GB capacity (RAW - as marked on the disc).  Cheapest I got so far, was P10.00 each, anyone know where to find P6.00 DVD blank media? (Those that pass a physical quality check).

Thanks ....

hi dejakenth,


i have tried using this cheap cd. And it turns out na okay naman sya. For give aways. =) the disc has some errors when i data verification using a dvd infopro. I am still using iomega dvd -r for good burns. i havent encounter one defective using this media.

Onie.

[idlewild]

Generic DVD-R 4X

1.  CMC MAG. AF1
2.  White top with "Top DVD-R 4X" written on the hub
3.  CD-R King SM
4.  Php7.00/DVD
5.  Rated @4X, burned at 4X (on Lite-on LDW-411S and NEC ND-2510A)
6.  No read errors.  Additional tests performed:
    - Nero CD/DVD Speed transfer rate test: OK
    - K-Probe scans: PI max=19, ave=2.66; PIF max=2, ave=0.02
7.  Successful read on the following drives:
    - Lite-On LDW-411S
    - NEC ND-2510A
    - Hitachi GCC-4160N
8.  Though cheap, this media has the same MID code with the red and silver iomega DVD-R

i've been looking for a really cheap media for back-up of non-critical data.  i hope this is it

[dejakenth]

Generic DVD-R 4X

1.  CMC MAG. AF1
2.  White top with "Top DVD-R 4X" written on the hub
3.  CD-R King SM
4.  Php7.00/DVD
5.  Rated @4X, burned at 4X (on Lite-on LDW-411S and NEC ND-2510A)
6.  No read errors.  Additional tests performed:
    - Nero CD/DVD Speed transfer rate test: OK
    - K-Probe scans: PI max=19, ave=2.66; PIF max=2, ave=0.02
7.  Successful read on the following drives:
    - Lite-On LDW-411S
    - NEC ND-2510A
    - Hitachi GCC-4160N
8.  Though cheap, this media has the same MID code with the red and silver iomega DVD-R

i've been looking for a really cheap media for back-up of non-critical data.  i hope this is it

@idlewild,

Thanks for the tip. Having the same MID code w/ the red&silver iomega,  would make this media a better choice over the other cheap media. Hopefully it's only the branding (being generic TOP versus IOMEGA) which caused it to be sold cheaper. Or it's also possible these were originally slated to be marked IOMEGA and somehow did not make the cut.

Would anyone have an idea on this?

[dejakenth]

hi dejakenth,


i have tried using this cheap cd. And it turns out na okay naman sya. For give aways. =) the disc has some errors when i data verification using a dvd infopro. I am still using iomega dvd -r for good burns. i havent encounter one defective using this media.

Onie.

Hi Onie,

See idlewild's post, seems there is a generic media at CD-R King that may have high quality sharing the same MID as IOMEGA.  You hit it on the nail with regards to cheap DVD media, for give-aways or for burning of temporary stuff (like during PC clean-up and re-install or transport of large software patch from one location to another that don't have a high-speed link).

-DejaKenth

[jlodvo]

peeps ask ko lng, i use the dvdinfoPro yng free, and use the crc error test and lagi may read error yng test nya , but its wierd d kc pantay yng mga error pa iba iba ang mga error when testing multiple times minsan sa start pa lng ng test may error na minsan wala, bakit kaya 2? is it my dvd writer's read capability?

[boss_onie]

Hi Onie,

See idlewild's post, seems there is a generic media at CD-R King that may have high quality sharing the same MID as IOMEGA.  You hit it on the nail with regards to cheap DVD media, for give-aways or for burning of temporary stuff (like during PC clean-up and re-install or transport of large software patch from one location to another that don't have a high-speed link).

-DejaKenth

Huhm? thanks dejakenth, it really seems interesting. Is it noticeable? The midcode red and silver, with iomega? is it really readable as iomega? if you can picture it sir idlewild, pa send naman po,


maraming salamat.

[hubes]

just purchased a liteon dvdwriter 1673s. any idea what brand dvd i need to buy that's most compatible? yun mura lang muna. thanks