This is not my guide and full credit must be given to the site that has it hosted in order for it to be used. There is no illegal content or warez at all featured on the site, it is strictly a discussion forum on digital media and it's use. This is not for advertising but I feel this guide will be a welcomed edition to this community.

http://www.digitalfaq.com/media/dvdmedia.htm

You can download a PDF version from the site as well.



Blank media quality guide & FAQ

Not all media is good. In fact, with the high influx of cheap media from Taiwan, China and Hong Kong, I'd venture to
say most media is bad. This review guide is meant to shed some light on who manufactures and brands good and
not so good quality DVD media.

Use this list as an assistant when selecting what media to buy and use. It shows what generally works as the
best media. Individual results may very, depending on the burner and how the media chooses to cooperate, though
typically not by much. Read the advanced topics guide after becoming familiar with the basics presented on this
page.

While some cheap media may work for you, it's a gamble that often loses. Try to use 1ST and 2ND class
media, and to avoid 3RD and 4TH class media, if at all possible.


Who makes the disc: Brand vs. Media ID

The thing that must be realized is that most media is produced by a relative small number of factories, located in
several different places. These factories are mostly present in Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, India,
some European locations. There are more, but those are the largest ones. The best media generally comes from
Japan and Singapore. The worst typically comes from Taiwan or China (in stores) and Hong Kong (online).

This being said, understand that the media brand means nothing. Apple is a great brand, but they do not make their
own discs, instead outsourcing to MXL (Hitachi/Maxell) or MCC (Mitsubishi Chemicals). Verbatim became infamous in
2002 by switching from high-quality MCC ID media to the inferior CMC ID media, although they quickly returned to
using MCC. Companies like Memorex, Fuji and Imation all outsource to media vendors. When buying media online
always be aware of fake media too (see the fakes information farther down the page).

It is the media ID that is important, as it reveals the disc manufacturer. Unfortunately, this is not written on
packaging or anywhere else. Companies want consumers to be oblivious to this sort of behind-the-scenes
information. To learn the media ID code, a blank disc must be put into a computer DVD burner drive and the ID read
by a special utility. Some burning software reads the code by default (DVD Decrypter, for example, in ISO write
mode). There are also a handful of freeware or trialware tools available:

For Windows: DVD Identifier (free), DVDInfo (free), DVDInfoPro (free trial)

For Macintosh OS X: DVD Media Inspector (free)

For Linux: dvd+rw-mediainfo (free)


Media ID Quality Guide


(1) The following list is in preference order. The best discs are near the top of the list. The discs at the bottom of the
list are suitable only for a landfill. PVC is the best of all, WFKA is the worst of all.
(2) Some companies may have listings in different classes because quality is better/worse in other disc formats.
(3) Some long media IDs have been abbreviated, and some RW/RAM codes have been left off the list (too many to
list). The "media ID" column is mostly intended for showing the DVD-R and DVD+R codes.


1ST CLASS MEDIA:

Almost flawless burns with 95-100% reliable results. These discs are suited for pretty much anything. They
will usually serve as excellent archival quality media, as well as video masters. These discs are often the most
expensive DVD media, so be sure to take advantage of sales, when available. (Trivia: The 5 best discs ever created
are probably PVC001001, PVC001002, MXLRG02, MCC00RG20 and YUDEN000T02, with exceptional quality burns.)


MEDIA ID: PVC001001, PVC001002, PVCW00
MANUFACTURER: Pioneer
COUNTRY: Japan
FORMAT: DVD-R, DVD-RW
NOTES: PVC stopped making media in 2003

MEDIA ID: MCC00RG20, MCC01RG20, MCC02RG20, MCC03RG20, MCC002, MCC003, MCC004, MCC00RW, MCC01RW, MCCA01, MKMA02, MKM001, MKM003
MANUFACTURER: Mitsubishi Chemicals, Mitsubishi-Kagaku Media, Verbatim
COUNTRY: Singapore, Taiwan, India
FORMAT:DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL
NOTES: some outsourcing

MEDIA ID: TYG01, TYG02, TYG03, YUDEN000T02, YUDEN000T03
MANUFACTURER: Taiyo Yuden
COUNTRY: Japan
FORMAT: NA
NOTES: NA

MEDIA ID: MXLRG01, MXLRG02, MXLRG03, MXLRG04, MAXELL001, MAXELL002, MAXELL003
MANUFACTURER: Hitachi Maxell
COUNTRY: Japan
FORMAT: DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM
NOTES: Their media tends to be 3rd class more than any other nowadays, by a wide margin.. so try to avoid maxell if you can!

MEDIA ID: SONY04D1, SONY08D1, SONY16D1, SONYD21, SONYD11, SONYS11,
MANUFACTURER: Sony
COUNTRY: Taiwan, Japan
FORMAT: DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW
NOTES: some outsourcing

MEDIA ID: TDKG02, TTG01, TTG02, TTH01, TTH02, TDK501, TDK502, TDK001, TDK002, TDK003
MANUFACTURER: TDK
COUNTRY: Taiwan
FORMAT: DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R
NOTES: NA


2ND CLASS MEDIA:

Decent discs, though not perfect, about 80-95% success rate. These discs are not suggested for archival data
or video masters. These are best suited for data that can be replaced easily, such as secondary backups or
data/video distribution. In bulk, these tend to be less expensive than 1ST CLASS media.

MEDIA ID: RICOHJPND00, RICOHJPNR00, RICOHJPNR01, RICOHJPNR02, RICOHJPNR03, RICOHJPNW01, RICOHJPNW11, RICOHJPNW21
MANUFACTURER: Ricoh, Ritek
COUNTRY: Taiwan, Japan
FORMAT: DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD+R DL
NOTES: some outsourcing

MEDIA ID: PRODISCS03, PRODISCS04, PRODISCF01, PRODISCF02, PRODISCR01, PRODISCR02, PRODISCR03, PRODISCR04, PRODISCG02, PRODISCW02
MANUFACTURER: Prodisc Media
COUNTRY: Taiwan
FORMAT: DVD-R, DVD+R
NOTES: NA

MEDIA ID: DAXON008S, DAXON016S, DAXONAZ1, DAXONAZ2, DAXONAZ3, DAXOND42
MANUFACTURER: Daxon (Acer+BenQ)
COUNTRY: Taiwan
FORMAT: DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD+RW
NOTES: similar to Sony media

MEDIA ID: RITEKG01, RITEKG03, RITEKG04, RITEKG05, RITEKW01, RITEKW04, RITEK000, RITEKR01, RITEKR02, RITEKR03, RITEKR04, RITEKF1
MANUFACTURER: Ritek
COUNTRY: Taiwan
FORMAT: DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW
NOTES: reflectivity and degradation concerns

MEDIA ID: MBI01RG20, MBI03RG40
MANUFACTURER: Moser Baer
COUNTRY: India
FORMAT: DVD-R
NOTES: Variation of MCC media

MEDIA ID: FUJIFILM02, FUJIFILM03
MANUFACTURER: Prodisc, Ritek, CMC, others
COUNTRY: Taiwan
FORMAT: DVD-R, DVD+R
NOTES: outsourced media ID

MEDIA ID: OPTODISCK001, OPTODISCR004, OPTODISCR008, OPTODISCR016, OPTODISCW002, OPTODISCW004
MANUFACTURER: Optodisc
COUNTRY: Taiwan
FORMAT: DVD-R, DVD-RW
NOTES: NA

MEDIA ID: INFODISCA01, INFODISCA10, INFODISCR20, INFODISCR01
MANUFACTURER: Infodisc Media
COUNTRY: Taiwan
FORMAT: DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD+RW
NOTES: NA


3RD CLASS MEDIA:

Quality can be very questionable, about 50-80% success rate. These are discs best suited for small burns
(under 2GB of data). Be prepared for failed burns. Also be prepared for various DVD-ROMs and players to not see
the disc or freeze up because the player cannot read it very well (not the same as a bad burn). Many of these are
known for sham marketing ("archival grade" and whatnot) and can actually cost more than 1ST or 2ND CLASS
media.

MEDIA ID: CMCMAGD01, CMCMAGE01, CMCMAGF01, CMCMAGM01, CMCMAGR01
MANUFACTURER: CMC Magnetics
COUNTRY: Taiwan
FORMAT: DVD+R
NOTES: Wide quality variance

MEDIA ID: PHILIPSCD2, PHILIPS010, PHILIPS041, PHILIPSC08, PHILIPSC16, PHILIPSRW
MANUFACTURER: CMC Magnetics
COUNTRY: Taiwan
FORMAT: DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD+R DL
NOTES: Outsourced media ID

MEDIA ID: RITEKD01
MANUFACTURER: Ritek
COUNTRY: Taiwan
FORMAT: DVD+R DL
NOTES: Layer break issues

MEDIA ID: LEADDATA01, LEADDATA, LD01, LD, LDS03, LDA02
MANUFACTURER: LeadData
COUNTRY: Taiwan
FORMAT: DVD-R, DVD+R
NOTES: NA

MEDIA ID: MUST001, MUST003
MANUFACTURER: Unknown
COUNTRY: Taiwan
FORMAT: DVD-R
NOTES: NA

MEDIA ID: MBI, MBIPG101R03, MBIPG101R04, MBIPG101W03, MBIPG101W04
MANUFACTURER: Moser Baer
COUNTRY: India
FORMAT: DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD+RW
NOTES: Poor firmware support

MEDIA ID: BEALLG00001, BEALLG40001, BEALL000P40, BEALL000PG0
MANUFACTURER: Samsung/BeAll
COUNTRY: Taiwan
FORMAT: DVD-R, DVD+R
NOTES: Degradation concerns

MEDIA ID: GSC001, GSC002, GSC003, GSC502
MANUFACTURER: Gigastorage
COUNTRY: Taiwan
FORMAT: DVD-R, DVD+R
NOTES: NA

MEDIA ID: MAM4XG02, MAM8XG01
MANUFACTURER: MAM-America, MAM-Europe
COUNTRY: USA, Europe
FORMAT: DVD-R
NOTES: Remnants of Mitsui Media

MEDIA ID: ONIDTECH
MANUFACTURER: Ul Tran Technology
COUNTRY: Taiwan
FORMAT: DVD-R
NOTES: No longer made

MEDIA ID: PRINCO
MANUFACTURER: Princo
COUNTRY: Taiwan
FORMAT: DVD-R, DVD-RW
NOTES: NA

MEDIA ID: INFOMER20, INFOMER30, INFOMEDIAT01
MANUFACTURER: InfoMedia
COUNTRY: Taiwan
FORMAT: DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD+R DL
NOTES: NA


4TH CLASS MEDIA:

Pathetic garbage media, landfill material, about 0-50% success rate. These discs are pretty much only suited
for preventing drink cup rings from forming on a table. Most of the time, these are ready-made coasters. If you can
actually get a burner to acknowledge the disc, do not expect much. And if the burn actually succeeds, do not be
surprised if a DVD-ROM or player chokes on the disc (read/play errors). Cheap prices, cheap junk quality.

MEDIA ID: CMCMAGAE1, CMCMAGAF1, CMCMAGAM3, CMC00RG20, CMC00RG30, CMCMAG, CMCW02, CMCW03, CMCMAGW01
MANUFACTURER: CMC Magnetics
COUNTRY: Taiwan
FORMAT: DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW
NOTES: Wide quality variance

MEDIA ID: OPTODISCP01, OPTODISCP02, OPTODISCP04, OPTODISCR04, OPTODISCR08
MANUFACTURER: Optodisc Media
COUNTRY: Taiwan
FORMAT: DVD+R, DVD-RW
NOTES: NA

MEDIA ID: DAXONAZ1, DAXONAZ2
MANUFACTURER: Daxon (Acer+BenQ)
COUNTRY: Malaysia
FORMAT: DVD+R
NOTES: Inferior to Taiwan

MEDIA ID: POMS3A, 3AM0
MANUFACTURER: 3A Media
COUNTRY: Austria
FORMAT: DVD-R
NOTES: Poor firmware support

MEDIA ID: NANYACLX, NANYAA01
MANUFACTURER: Nanya Tech
COUNTRY: Taiwan
FORMAT: DVD-R, DVD+R
NOTES: NA

MEDIA ID: PLASMON1C01
MANUFACTURER: Plasmon Tech
COUNTRY: Europe
FORMAT: DVD-R
NOTES: NA

MEDIA ID: AML, AML001, AML002
MANUFACTURER: Advanced Media Ltd
COUNTRY: Taiwan
FORMAT: DVD-R
NOTES: NA

MEDIA ID: LONGTEN001, LONGTEN002
MANUFACTURER: Jilin Qingda (??)
COUNTRY: China
FORMAT: DVD-R
NOTES: NA

MEDIA ID: YIJHAN001
MANUFACTURER: Yi Jhan Tech
COUNTRY: Taiwan
FORMAT: DVD-R
NOTES: NA

MEDIA ID: AN31, AN32, AN33, AN35, ANWELL
MANUFACTURER: Anwell
COUNTRY: China
FORMAT: DVD-R
NOTES: Anwell Technologies does not make media. Anwell is a production equipment supplier that sells blank DVD media
creation technology to media manufacturers. By default, an ANWELL "test code" or "test ID" is on the stamper.
Anwell is often blamed for making shoddy media, but in reality, it's the work of a lazy media manufacturer who
bought Anwell production supplies. As with all other low-quality media of dubious origins, the likely offender is
Infosmart, or some other small Chinese or Hong Kong company.

MEDIA ID: INFOSMART01, ISO001, ISO002
MANUFACTURER: Infosmart
COUNTRY: China, Hong Kong
FORMAT: DVD-R, DVD+R
NOTES: The #1 supplier of fake media

MEDIA ID: SKCCOLTD
MANUFACTURER: SKC
COUNTRY: Korea
FORMAT: DVD-R
NOTES: NA

MEDIA ID: VANGUARD, VDSPMSAB01, VDSPSAB
MANUFACTURER: Interaxia AG
COUNTRY: Taiwan
FORMAT: DVD-R
NOTES: NA

MEDIA ID: UME001
MANUFACTURER: Ume Disc Tech
COUNTRY: Hong Kong
FORMAT: DVD-R
NOTES: NA

MEDIA ID: WFKA11
MANUFACTURER: WealthFair Investments
COUNTRY: China
FORMAT: DVD-R
NOTES: NA


GRADING NOTES:

- Grading criteria. The review list presented here is a delicate balance between the adjacent concepts of usability
and potential burn quality. The ability of the disc to burn in a wide range of burners and DVD recorders determines a
coaster count. However, because of disc/drive incompatibility issues that exist (read the advanced concepts guide),
potential quality on a perfect disc/drive combination is also considered. Finally, longevity and playability/reflectivity is
taken into consideration. This results in the overall grade. This guide is admittedly harsh when it comes to the
usability factor, but it need be remembered that this was written to assist the masses, so a disc with generally
poorer disc/drive compatibility will rate lower.

- What do the % numbers mean? This list is constructed from many tests on many burners from a handful of
experienced people that use a lot of media. These numbers reflect the number of discs in a spindle that will give
good results. For example, out of a 100 spindle of media, 1st class discs may kick out a few bad discs (0% to 5% of
the media may have playback imperfections or be outright bad burns). The 2nd class media may have a dozen or so
bad discs. The 3rd class discs could give you a half-spindle of duds. And the 4th class stuff can be pure trash. These
are mean averages too, simple statistics math, meaning best tests and worst tests are discarded, and the middle
range of tests is the basis for these numbers. You may sometimes find the rare instance where a CMC spindle will be
perfect and a Taiyo Yuden spindle will be completely flawed, but those times are the exception rather than the rule
(and are not part of a mean average).

- Can media ever change class? Sure. But it rarely happens. It is not a quick move either, these things take much
time and many tests. SONY, RITEK, CMC, DAXON and LEADDATA have changed grades in the past. Media cannot
change quality overnight or even in a few weeks/months.

- Testing procedures: Burns are subject to playability/reflectivity tests (usage tests), as well as software
verification. Test equipment is under controlled hardware/software environments, and performed by knowledgeable
individuals, to eliminate user variables. Burns are at least 4GB or more to test the entire length of the media.


Fake DVD Media ID Guide

Luckily, it does not happen often, but it does happen often enough to be a major annoyance to media buyers
everywhere. Most fake media comes from Hong Kong, as a general rule. Fake media tends to float around Europe
and Asia more than it does the USA. Fake media is normally sold in flea markets, on eBay and online. Major brand
name media sold in stores is probably never going to be fake.

MEDIA ID:
FAKER:
DATE:
NOTES:

MEDIA ID:
FAKER:
DATE:
NOTES:

MEDIA ID:
FAKER:
DATE:
NOTES:

MEDIA ID:
FAKER:
DATE:
NOTES:

MEDIA ID:
FAKER:
DATE:
NOTES:

MEDIA ID:
FAKER:
DATE:
NOTES:

MEDIA ID:
FAKER:
DATE:
NOTES:

MEDIA ID:
FAKER:
DATE:
NOTES:

MEDIA ID:
FAKER:
DATE:
NOTES:


Branding Guide

Although this will change on a regular basis, the following brands are known to use the following media makers for
their outsourced discs. Some companies prefer dollars over quality, so be careful. Also be especially careful of
"house brands" or no-names. Stores like Fry's and CompUSA have horrible return policies too, so if you end up with
an unfavorable media ID, do not burn a test, just take it back for a refund and take your business elsewhere.