Which DVD-R's do you use?

[Champloo]

Need some new blank DVD-R's. Anyone have any recommendations and ideally, where I can get them from?

I hear Taiyo Yuden make the best.

[briareos_kerensky]

Verbatim. Never found Taiyo Yuden, so I can't really tell if they are good or not.

[themanwithapc]

The most important thing about a disc is the dye. It can be sold under anyone's name (e.g. Sony, Verbatim etc.) but there's only a handful of different dyes.

Verbatim mostly use Taiyo Yuden dye on their discs, and of course, Taiyo Yuden also brand their own discs and use their own dyes. In effect, the quality of a Taiyo Yuden branded disc and a Verbatim disc (with a Taiyo Yuden dye) is about the same.

I only use Taiyo Yuden now that they are affordable (~30p a disc), as they are extremely reliable and you can use them without fear of important documents becoming unreadbale in the future.

[Resonance]

I had some issues with Verbatims. Hewlett Packards (the red ones) have served me well, even on my fussy drive.

[themanwithapc]

I had some issues with Verbatims. Hewlett Packards (the red ones) have served me well, even on my fussy drive.

I'm willing to bet that these had one of the 'lesser' dyes Verbatim insist on using on some discs nowadays. Just out of interest, are the HP discs you're talking about these?

[Champloo]

Cheers for the tips. Just another quick question, is there much difference between 16x and 8x? I always burn at low speeds anyway, so I don't know if it makes a difference.

[wod]

i use Taiyo Yuden discs and get them from http://svp.co.uk/index.php

[themanwithapc]

Cheers for the tips. Just another quick question, is there much difference between 16x and 8x? I always burn at low speeds anyway, so I don't know if it makes a difference.

I generally stick with 8x, as I can wait a few minutes extra for my discs, if it means better economy (and in some cases, more reliable burns). The main thing to remember though is to stick to the native speed of the disc and not overburn or underburn. So, for example, it's better to have a 8x disc burned at 8x, using a writer that has a optimum speed of 8x.

Don't burn a 8x (or 16x) disc at 4x or something. It's a common myth that burning a high speed disc at lower speeds results in a better burn, whereas in actual fact, it doesn't (it actually results in a worse burn).

[Sane]

I generally stick with 8x, as I can wait a few minutes extra for my discs, if it means better economy (and in some cases, more reliable burns). The main thing to remember though is to stick to the native speed of the disc and not overburn or underburn. So, for example, it's better to have a 8x disc burned at 8x, using a writer that has a optimum speed of 8x.

Don't burn a 8x (or 16x) disc at 4x or something. It's a common myth that burning a high speed disc at lower speeds results in a better burn, whereas in actual fact, it doesn't (it actually results in a worse burn).

Is that really true? That means I've been burning at 2x for nothing all these years .

[chaoticjelly]

Ive been using red Datawrite for data, backup etc, but Taiyo Yuden for other things, as its just the best! I use SVP as well, they are good.

[dvdmike]

Ive been using red Datawrite for data, backup etc, but Taiyo Yuden for other things, as its just the best! I use SVP as well, they are good.

All mine died in under a year ! I stay away from the red datawrite now

[Champloo]

I generally stick with 8x, as I can wait a few minutes extra for my discs, if it means better economy (and in some cases, more reliable burns). The main thing to remember though is to stick to the native speed of the disc and not overburn or underburn. So, for example, it's better to have a 8x disc burned at 8x, using a writer that has a optimum speed of 8x.

Don't burn a 8x (or 16x) disc at 4x or something. It's a common myth that burning a high speed disc at lower speeds results in a better burn, whereas in actual fact, it doesn't (it actually results in a worse burn).

Well I ordered some 16x Verbatim (Taiyo Yuden) from SVP. Supposedly its best to burn 16x discs at 12x? Or should I burn at 16x?

Sorry about all the questions.

[themanwithapc]

Is that really true? That means I've been burning at 2x for nothing all these years .

Yeah, it is true. Optimum burning is recommended.

Well I ordered some 16x Verbatim (Taiyo Yuden) from SVP. Supposedly its best to burn 16x discs at 12x? Or should I burn at 16x?

Sorry about all the questions.

Like I said, it's best to burn 16x discs at 16x on a 16x DVD writer.

[Champloo]

Like I said, it's best to burn 16x discs at 16x on a 16x DVD writer.

That's good to know. I'll try burning at 16x, hopefully i'll be getting some flawless burns.

[sj33]

Taiyo Yuden is regarded as best in most places, discs using Ritek dye a close second.

I use Ritek dye discs, being sure to stick to Ridisc brand one to ensure A-grade quality.