Who makes the best DVD±RW discs?

[dferigmu]

I want to buy some blank DVDs to start making back-ups of my data. My question is, who makes the highest quality ones? We have TDK blank CD-R's because I kept hearing they are one of the best in blank media. What about for blank DVD's?

Also, should I get blank DVD-RW's or DVD+RW's? Is there a difference? Does one work better with Macs or DVD players in general? Is one higher quality?

[JzzTrump22]

I bougth myself a 50 pack of 8x dvd-r's made by RiData. I'd have to say they are one of the best dvd's i have ever used. Especially for movies, really good quality. I would recommend those. They were like $20.00 from newegg.

[Blue Velvet]

We like Sony and Verbatim here at work.

[iGary]

I use Phillips for my DVD's and CD-R's, never had one not verify or end up corrupt. Probably sheer luck, but you use what works!

[maxvamp]

Verbatim, Sony, TDK, Fuji

Max.

[xsedrinam]

I'd agree with those listed, plus add Maxell to that list. I've had good success with them. The only one I'd recommend NOT getting is Memorex. Without using the mundane choices of "sucks, bites & whacks", I'll just say I have more coasters sitting around with Memorex labels than I'd care to number.
X

[jalagl]

A guy here at works loves Princo DVDs, and he did some research on DVD quality (don't have specific details, but he's obsesive enough that I trust him). You can get them from supermediastore.com (http://supermediastore.com)

[Sutekidane]

I prefer TDK, Fuji, and Philips. I try to stay away from Maxell, Sony, and Memorex as I've had many coasters with them. I remember, I had to return a sony 100pack spindle because the first 10 came out all as coasters, even using them on different computers and burners, even testing 1 at a friends house. So, I exchanged it for cheaper TDKs and they worked great.

[daveL]

RiData (Ritek). Keep in mind a lot of the big brands are just sticking their name on media from a variety of wholesale suppiers.

[brap]

RiData (Ritek). Keep in mind a lot of the big brands are just sticking their name on media from a variety of wholesale suppiers.Hmm... I've had issues with Ritek dye previously, so switched over to Mitsubishi dyes - for reference, they're 'gold' Datawrite +Rs. Wonderfully reliable, surprisingly inexpensive.

[Little Endian]

Don't know what's up with all the negative Memorex experiences. I bought a 4 25packs of Memorex 8X DVD-R for only $9.99 per pack from CompUSA about a month ago and so far I have not had One coaster after using 14 discs.

[daveL]

Hmm... I've had issues with Ritek dye previously, so switched over to Mitsubishi dyes - for reference, they're 'gold' Datawrite +Rs. Wonderfully reliable, surprisingly inexpensive.
Well, I've burned well over 50 -r and -rw dvds without a coaster. Anyway, that's been my experience, to date.

[parrothead]

One question no one has answered is whether or not he should get DVD-R or DVD+R. I know for a fact that DVD+R do not work at least not in my 1.25Ghz 15" albook. I would stick with DVD-R media just to be sure. Also I have used several different brands and they all have worked fine for me, will have to wait to see how long they last though....

edit: Off topic: DaveL that's a beautiful dog, is it a border collie?

[CanadaRAM]

Don't know what's up with all the negative Memorex experiences. I bought a 4 25packs of Memorex 8X DVD-R for only $9.99 per pack from CompUSA about a month ago and so far I have not had One coaster after using 14 discs.

The issue with Memorex and other brands who do not manufacture their own discs is that you never know what you are getting from week to week. One batch may be good, another of the same brand name but from another factory might be awful.

I did a bunch of research and have settled on Imation as my primary source, Verbatim as second choice.

However: there are various qualities within a brand name, and some discoount sellers will sell "B" or "C" stock or outright rejects as "Manufactured by AAA" - these being the discs that did not meet the manufacturers own standards (or possibly had been slated for destruction only to be "liberated" from the incinerator by thieves and resold)

There is a fair amount of misrepresentation and outright brand forgery going on as well.

See
http://www.cdr-zone.com/reviews/dvd_media_reviews/
http://www.cdmediaworld.com/
http://www.dvd-recordable.org/

For discussions of disc quality

Thanks
Trevor
CanadaRAM.com

[lfielder06]

I recently purchased a 30 pack of Memorex dvd-r at wal-mart. They seem like great quality, and I also have not had any problems and have burned about 20 of them.

[jiggie2g]

Taiyo Yuden by far you can pick up a 50 Pack at newegg.com for $35.
Then in in order of quality it would be Taiyo Yuden , Ritek/Ridata , Verbatim and TDK.... don't buy Memorex..

[Pismo]

I first bought Sony CD-R's and then I moved on to Fuji. I just ordered a new 15" 1.67GHz PowerBook with SD so I'll probably buy Fuji DVD-R's. I'm a sucker for name brands but I cringe at the idea of making coasters.

[parrothead]

Sometimes when I burn movie DVDs I get a C:13:00 error on my DVD player, but they work fine when inserted into either of my Macs. Could this have something to do with the quality of the disc used?

[slu]

You can get these brands at rima.com: Taiyo Yuden , Ritek/Ridata , Verbatim.

And they are cheap too.

For example:

Ritek RiData DVD-R 4.7GB, 8X, $0.42 ea., 100-Pack
Code: 1780-100
Price: $42.00

[slu]

Taiyo Yuden by far you can pick up a 50 Pack at newegg.com for $35.
Then in in order of quality it would be Taiyo Yuden , Ritek/Ridata , Verbatim and TDK.... don't buy Memorex..

Same disks from rima.com (and I don't work there or anything, but I do think they are the cheapest on the web):

Taiyo Yuden DVD-R 4.7GB, 8X, $0.50 ea., 50-Pack
Code: 1736-50
Price: $25.00

or how about 100:

Taiyo Yuden DVD-R 4.7GB, 8X, $0.43 ea., 100-Pack
Code: 1736-100
Price: $43.00