Taiyo Yuden 4x DVD-R is *BACK* !!!

[dolphinius_rex]

I was going to post this last night, but held off for a little more info first. So here's the facts:

- Taiyo Yuden's original 4x DVD-Rs were discontinued quite some time ago. This was their Premium Line product (as opposed to "Value Line product".

- Last year, Taiyo Yuden introduced a budget DVD-R. This was often Sold as Taiyo Yuden 4x DVD-Rs, but actually carried a mixture of TYG01 and TYG02 codes. Eventually, TYG03 was also spotted! When asked about this product, Taiyo Yuden made the comment that this product was not from their Premium Line, but from their Value Line.

-This Value Line product was given an odd product code from Taiyo Yuden, very specific to the type of media it was: DVD-R47VAL600SK. In comparison, Premium Line 8x DVD-Rs carry this style of code: DVD-R47ZZSB8, and Premium Line 16x DVD-Rs carry this code: DVD-R47ZZSB16 (you see the pattern)

- Further investigation into Value Line media led to the discovery of a double serial number pressing, that only existed on discs sold as Value Line. This also led to the discovery of mixed batches of Premium and Value Line DVD-Rs, although to find Premium discs in Value Line shipments was rare in the beginning, and seemed to phaze out completely later into the year (last year!).

- Taiyo Yuden then discontinued the Value Line for DVD-Rs (this happened around September 2005)

- Yesterday (Jan 10th 2006), I received notice Taiyo Yuden 4x DVD-Rs had once again, become available. However looking a little deeper, I noticed something had changed! Firstly, in the previous Value Line 4x DVD-R, there was *ONLY* Silver Laquer media available, and now White Inkjet Printable was becoming available (Available at Supermediastore.com any day now!), and secondly, the code for Taiyo Yuden's 4x DVD-Rs had changed from DVD-R47VAL600SK into DVDRZZ600SK4.

- I sent the following message to my contact who notified me of the change (He works for the largest distributor of Taiyo Yuden, possibly world wide, but at least in the western hemisphere):

I just noticed the part number change... is this no longer a value line product? Is it guarenteed TYG01 Premium line now??

(crossing fingers!)

Thanks!

And received the following response:

TY will give no description of A grade or B grade, simply certified 4X media.

So what will we be getting in future shipments of Taiyo Yuden 4x DVD-Rs? I don't know... it could be premium line TYG01, or it could be the same mix of product (including the crappy TYG03) that we've seen in the past.

[dolphinius_rex]

A little more info... the price has gone up a little bit...

little bit = +15%

[Justin42]

I got some of the Value Line back in September (and posted about it here)... looking closer, I am seeing a LOT of defects in the media.. small pinhole specks in the dye, with a "dragged out" pattern behind it (like someone dipped a pin and pulled it about 1/2" across the media)... I do get spikes of PI/PO errors on the worst of the discs...

This is on 2 100 pack spindles... both show signs on almost every disc. Some are worse than others. What is weird is on many of the discs, I can only see the defects under flourescent lights... it's so faint it's hard to see under any other kind of light...

Supermediastore gave me an RMA number but with the holidays and such I never got around to sending it back... (stupid, I know, but I also started thinking they'd just do a quick spot check, see nothing wrong, and send me the discs right back).

not particularly pleased with TY right now... :/

[Scour]

Hello!

Never see the Value-line in Europe. But when I read Justin42´s answer, I´m not so unhappy

[dolphinius_rex]

Hello!

Never see the Value-line in Europe. But when I read Justin42´s answer, I´m not so unhappy

Yeah, I'm not too sure on why that is....

I personally use them for SHORT TERM use discs. Since the overall compatability is quite high, but I don't expect much in terms of lifespan.

[dolphinius_rex]

I got some of the Value Line back in September (and posted about it here)... looking closer, I am seeing a LOT of defects in the media.. small pinhole specks in the dye, with a "dragged out" pattern behind it (like someone dipped a pin and pulled it about 1/2" across the media)... I do get spikes of PI/PO errors on the worst of the discs...

This is on 2 100 pack spindles... both show signs on almost every disc. Some are worse than others. What is weird is on many of the discs, I can only see the defects under flourescent lights... it's so faint it's hard to see under any other kind of light...

Supermediastore gave me an RMA number but with the holidays and such I never got around to sending it back... (stupid, I know, but I also started thinking they'd just do a quick spot check, see nothing wrong, and send me the discs right back).

not particularly pleased with TY right now... :/

What was the MID code on the discs?

[Justin42]

TYG01.. they burn spectacularly except for the glitches on the media.. (and not all of the discs have them but enough that it's annoying)

[RJW]

Hello!

Never see the Value-line in Europe. But when I read Justin42´s answer, I´m not so unhappy

We did get the budget/ value line cd-r's in the past.
(Parrot , Budget overprint)
* notice these cd-r's come with double serials !

[Scour]

We did get the budget/ value line cd-r's in the past.
(Parrot , Budget overprint)
* notice these cd-r's come with double serials !

Had 2 or 3 years ago some TY CD-R from Budget and Parrot, but I think the value-line is not so old?

[Wesociety]

Hmmm, it will be interesting to see how the "new" 4x stuff performs and if visible defects can be detected.

[dolphinius_rex]

Hmmm, it will be interesting to see how the "new" 4x stuff performs and if visible defects can be detected.

Believe me when I say it's high on my priority list

But one sampling of media says little, and it's a ways away before I order another 350k discs

[squirreld]

how can I better see these defects.
I bought a 100Pak TY DVD -r from supermedia store about 7 mo. ago.
I am now expecting 200 DVD-r 4x TY's and I want to make sure I got good stuff.

[Justin42]

The best way I can see them is to get under a flourescent light, and look at the reflection of the light in the disc... if you move the disc around just right you can see the ripples/pinholes/damage in the dye...

I've seen this same type of dye issue in older 4x Maxell TY media as well, which is strange. Never in Fuji TY that I know of, though.

[TCAS]

The best way I can see them is to get under a flourescent light, and look at the reflection of the light in the disc... if you move the disc around just right you can see the ripples/pinholes/damage in the dye...

I've seen this same type of dye issue in older 4x Maxell TY media as well, which is strange. Never in Fuji TY that I know of, though.

The problem is not every one has the flourescent light, it got to be better way of knowing that .

[dolphinius_rex]

Just a quick post to say that Taiyo Yuden has corrected the part numbers, and now both Silver Laquere and White Inkjet Hub Printable, are listed as being value line products (according to both discription AND part number).

[SkaarjMaster]

Wow, interesting.

Also, rima.com doesn't even sell Taiyo Yuden 4X DVD-R:
http://www.rima.com/Merchant2/merchant. ... Code=DMRTY

[dolphinius_rex]

Rima has claimed in the past that they don't want to sell then. It's basically a B Grade product, so that may be why.... although I know they've sold B Grade product before (and not mentioned it as such either!!).

[SkaarjMaster]

I don't want to go too far OT, but (besides getting a new DVD burner) if I needed some more DVD-Rs for my 4X DVD burner (Lite-On LDW-851S) would I be better off getting 8X Taiyo Yuden DVD-Rs and just burning them at 4X?

[dolphinius_rex]

I don't want to go too far OT, but (besides getting a new DVD burner) if I needed some more DVD-Rs for my 4X DVD burner (Lite-On LDW-851S) would I be better off getting 8X Taiyo Yuden DVD-Rs and just burning them at 4X?

Well, if you ordered the value line and got TYG03, you'd probably be hooped. So yeah, ordering 8x is the safest bet I think.

[excetara2]

How do you know if you have the tgy03's? I bought these and they will burn at 12 times on my NEC 3540A burner. I have only had one that failed to burn. All the others have been great. Let me know. Thanks a lot. Why are the tgy03's so bad.

[TCAS]

How do you know if you have the tgy03's? I bought these and they will burn at 12 times on my NEC 3540A burner. I have only had one that failed to burn. All the others have been great. Let me know. Thanks a lot. Why are the tgy03's so bad.

With your DVD disc at your drive open Nero CD Speed click on disc information there you will find about your disc "Media Identification" (MID). you could do this with "discinfo" also.

[dolphinius_rex]

How do you know if you have the tgy03's? I bought these and they will burn at 12 times on my NEC 3540A burner. I have only had one that failed to burn. All the others have been great. Let me know. Thanks a lot. Why are the tgy03's so bad.

I was meaning for that drive specifically (the LiteON 851S). TYG03 media is in my opinion, not as good as TYG02, but it's workable. The Valueline TYG03 is not as good as the Premium Line, but it's VERY problamatic when written at 4x, especially in older 4x drives.

And some interesting news I just received. All new shipments of ValueLine DVD-Rs from Taiyo Yuden will be TYG03! (that doesn't mean stores have it now though!).

[Grain]

Blankmedia.ca has 4X -R's listed with some having media codes of TYG03. They don't mention whether valueline or not, but I've bot numerous tape wrapped spindles from them in the past 1.5 yr (listed as 4x -R's), getting TYG01's and 2's, of which I've only had 1 fail from a defect. 99.8% success (not counting operator errors ), great scans, IMO great media. None that I've bot from them had the valueline codes or dual serials, but they are priced like them.

[dolphinius_rex]

None that I've bot from them had the valueline codes or dual serials, but they are priced like them.

I'm sorry, but on this one I can tell you that you are 100% incorrect. I know this product, and that vendor, and their supplier, very very VERY well. In fact, both Blankmedia.ca *AND* their supplier come to me with questions about this product.

But don't take *MY* word for it, go ahead and ask Tom at Blankmedia.ca

[Grain]

None that I've bot from them had the valueline codes or dual serials, but they are priced like them.

I'm sorry, but on this one I can tell you that you are 100% incorrect. I know this product, and that vendor, and their supplier, very very VERY well. In fact, both Blankmedia.ca *AND* their supplier come to me with questions about this product.

But don't take *MY* word for it, go ahead and ask Tom at Blankmedia.ca

I take it your saying they're 4X -R's are Valueline? The price and the 4X rating tends to say so. I have found no evidence of dual serials, and I did spend quite some time "peering at them" with a mag. glass about a year ago when discussing this on another site, however I have not done so more recently due to the lack of problems. They're very good folk at blankmedia.ca, my favorite TY supplier! (Got a heck of a deal on some Ricohjpn +R's from them also, just before Christmas)