Verbatim 16X DVD-R [MMC03RG20] 25 disc spindle

[Grain]

I picked up a spindle of the above for testing, and have found strange results. Utter garbage. The only visible difference between them and 50 or 100 disc spindles is near the hub(all non-printable). Instead of the clear section between the silver matte and the hub, on the 25's it's a reflective surface. I've tried them on several of my burners, all with poor results. Anyone know the story on these "reflective hub" discs, or had similar results?

Edit: All are marked on the spindle labels as MIT.

[dolphinius_rex]

any chance you can post the serial number of the discs?

When you say total garbage, what kind of symptoms are you experiencing? Also, what drive/firmware are you burning them with?

Thanks!

[MonsterMan]

The DVD-Rs from Verbatium seem to be of much lower overall quality than their +R media...

[Ian]

Yeah, I've experienced a wide varience with their 16x DVD-R discs. For me, the best results are with the jewel case packaged discs.

[Dartman]

I try not to buy them anymore becuase their quality is so all over the map, one from a spindle might be a godlike burn, next garbage. Sometimes the actual Verbatim branded ones are a bit better, but sometimes not.
Seems to be getting harder in the US to find really good media to play with.
The folks in Australia I chat with seem to get much better quality stuff from them.
At least so far their Dual Layer stuff is still the best I can get, and everyone agrees on that.

[Justin42]

Interesting, I picked up a 50 pack 16x DVD-R Verbatim from Best Buy last week since it matched the CMC cakebox criteria.. I had been kinda burned by their DVD-R in the past but was curious-- so the first disc I tried coastered
(burn aborted about 9% in) in my LG H10L but then the 2-3 I've burned since have been spectacularly good... almost as good as the +R.

Too weird. It REALLY sucks when trying to help family/friends figure out what kind of media to buy! It's hard enough to convince them to avoid specific brands, but then having to explain the font to look for on the cakebox gets a bit insane.

[Gen-An]

I've had good results with all MCC media, + or -, 4x, 8x, 16x, made by CMC or Prodisc. I don't know what to say to people having problems...

[Dartman]

The ones I've gotten aren't coasters, just not near as good as my drives usually burn quality media. We've all gotten a bit spoiled by mid 90 scores and better with the quality burning drives now available

[Grain]

any chance you can post the serial number of the discs?

When you say total garbage, what kind of symptoms are you experiencing? Also, what drive/firmware are you burning them with?

Thanks!

Serial # from bottom of disc:ZD3177-DVR-J47C1

Burned with Pioneer 111 1.29, BenQ 1655 BCIB, LG GSA-H22N 1.0.
Symptoms see attached scans, the scans below with above 80% will at least play in a stand alone DVD player, but they don't play them well ie skipping, pixelating. Checked on a Denon 2200, HK DVD-25 and a LG 530. Burned at 8, 12, 16 & 18X, similar results on them all.

[[buck]]

Yep, that is definately pretty nasty. I would return them or get them replaced. Could you give us the clear stamped serial at the very inner part of the hub?

[dolphinius_rex]

Yeah, that's a very seriously screwed up spindle!! And like [buck] requested, can we possibly get the other serial on the disc (not the ZD one you already gave). It will let us know if the discs are manufactured by Prodisc or CMC.

[Grain]

5264E0215-06343X13

Prodisc or CMC, and what tells you who made it? ie how do you read it?

[[buck]]

That's a Prodisc serial alright. It's not that surprising, really, because everything I've seen suggests Prodisc MCC has a signifigantly higher failure rate than CMC MCC.

To answer your question, Prodisc serials are primarily numeric, and they have a "+" or "-" to signify whether the disc is a DVD+R or DVD-R.

CMC serials begin with 3 letters:

First letter - M or P (signifies plus or minus)
Second letter - A or F or O among others (signifies dye used, for example A = Azo)
Third letter - this letter's place in the alphabet signifies rated speed (for example, if a CMC serial has a third letter of D, its rated speed is 4x, because D is the fourth letter of the alphabet.

[Grain]

Thanks for that excellent info Buck. Checked my other 16X -R Verb stocks, and they are all CMC, which is probably why they work well. Interestingly, the 8X +R spindles that are giving me trouble are Prodisc made, and the 16X +R's that work well are CMC. Now the thousand dollar question, anyway to tell from the packaging who made them?

[dodecahedron]

Now the thousand dollar question, anyway to tell from the packaging who made them?

lots of discussion @ cdfreaks:
http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=128909
http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=189893

(i think theere was some discussion here @ CDRLabs, but i don't remember the topics exactly. since of late i visit the Media forum of cdfreaks rather regularly i just happen to remember these topics there, since they're kind of current).

[[buck]]

Now the thousand dollar question, anyway to tell from the packaging who made them?

Most definately! It all has to do with with the cakebox that each manufacturer uses, and there is one particular characteristic that I find easiest and most reliable.

Check the LOCK/OPEN lettering on the top of the spindle. If it's in a serif-type font (with the "feet" on the letters), it's CMC. If it is in a more bolded Arial-type font (with no "feet), it's Prodisc. If you compare the cakeboxes you already have I'm sure you'll understand what I mean.

[Gen-An]

That's a Prodisc serial alright. It's not that surprising, really, because everything I've seen suggests Prodisc MCC has a signifigantly higher failure rate than CMC MCC.

I honestly don't think there is much difference in quality overall between Prodisc MCC and CMC MCC, though it's only been fairly recent that people have begun to distinguish the two (for the longest time people thought all Taiwan MCC was by CMC), just going by my own testing and what I've seen on the 'Net since the 8x days.

[[buck]]

That's a Prodisc serial alright. It's not that surprising, really, because everything I've seen suggests Prodisc MCC has a signifigantly higher failure rate than CMC MCC.

I honestly don't think there is much difference in quality overall between Prodisc MCC and CMC MCC, though it's only been fairly recent that people have begun to distinguish the two (for the longest time people thought all Taiwan MCC was by CMC), just going by my own testing and what I've seen on the 'Net since the 8x days.

Well, it seems like 75% of the complaints I hear about Verbatim media concern the Prodisc variety (excluding the MBIL found in Europe). Also, it's my impression that bad Prodisc is worse than bad CMC.

In addition, I have a hell of alot more faith in CMC to make a long lasting product than Prodisc. C't tests indicate CMC's own media is much more stable than Prodisc's own media!

[dolphinius_rex]

In addition, I have a hell of alot more faith in CMC to make a long lasting product than Prodisc. C't tests indicate CMC's own media is much more stable than Prodisc's own media!

That doesn't mean too much though... Prodisc can make much better quality media then the stuff they sell under their own name or house brands.

But in general I agree, most complaints are from Prodisc media.

[[buck]]

In addition, I have a hell of alot more faith in CMC to make a long lasting product than Prodisc. C't tests indicate CMC's own media is much more stable than Prodisc's own media!

That doesn't mean too much though... Prodisc can make much better quality media then the stuff they sell under their own name or house brands.

But in general I agree, most complaints are from Prodisc media.

Sure, I would agree that it only has limited relevance in this case, but I think it's worth noting.

[Grain]

Thanks again Buck, verified on my own stocks, and now I know what to avoid.

Now the thousand dollar question, anyway to tell from the packaging who made them?

Most definately!
Check the LOCK/OPEN lettering on the top of the spindle. If it's in a serif-type font (with the "feet" on the letters), it's CMC. If it is in a more bolded Arial-type font (with no "feet), it's Prodisc. If you compare the cakeboxes you already have I'm sure you'll understand what I mean.