AmazonBasics 8.5 GB 8x DVD+R DL (50-Pack Spindle)
by AmazonBasics
(Click here)
Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: AmazonBasicsModel: Dvd+r 8.5GB
Product features:
- One spindle containing 50 8.5 GB capacity, 8x write-speed dual-layer DVD+R recordable video disks
- Stores up to 4 hours of DVD quality video or 8.5 GB of data
- Stable, reliable, accurate writing at high speeds
- Distributed by Amazon.com; backed by one-year AmazonBasics warranty
- Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of AmazonBasics 8.5 GB 8x DVD+R DL (50-Pack Spindle)
Customer Review: The cheapest DL discs around-- and work fine if used properly
Summary: 4 Stars
I've noticed that there seems to be either a very high reported success rate or a very low success rate with these discs among the reviewers here. For what it's worth, I have burned thousands and thousands of optical discs over the years and I have never come across an entire 50-pack spindle of discs of any type, DVD+/-R or CD-R, that predominantly failed to burn-- a claim that many of the reviewers here are making. If your results are that abysmal, I would strongly recommend switching burners, burn speed, and/or burning software. If none of that works, or is not an option, buy Verbatim. They cost over twice as much per disc as these, but you are paying a premium for high compatibility with subpar hardware and software, which most people use.
I personally have had excellent success with these discs. The media code on mine are "UMEDISC DL1", made in China. I strongly recommend all reviewers here to also share the media code of their discs, so it will be easier to keep track of who is making the "good" ones and who is not-- assuming that there are multiple manufacturers making these. I suspect Amazon may be using different OEM's to manufacture these discs, due to the intermittent availability of this product as well as the constantly fluctuating price. (As I write this review, the discs are $32 and change. I bought my spindle for about $25, and with a little patience the price will almost certainly drop to that point again.)
As stated by the media code, UmeDisc made my discs, and their reputation is less than stellar among the blank media connoisseurs you find searching the internet. Chinese-made optical discs do indeed have a poor reputation for several reasons, too numerous to list here (put succinctly, "they suck"), but it looks like the Chinese may be cleaning up their act these days. I have gone though many spindles of Chinese-made DVD+R DL discs that illegally used Ricoh media ID's. (Ricoh's discs are manufactured in Japan only, and nobody is supposed to use their media ID except them.) The fact that UmeDisc are actually identifying themselves on their product means that they are willing to take credit for it, something that was not apparent before and may indicate improved quality. If you have had poor results with Chinese-made discs in the past, you may want to give them another chance.
A word about coasters: If you are making multiple attempts to burn these discs, and ending up with a large stack of coasters (assuming they are UmeDisc-manufactured like mine), I promise you that it is due to user error. These discs are not made to an excellent specification and they are not very tolerant of sloppy burning. Do not burn them at 8x if your software gives you the option to, even though it says that on the label. Burn them at 4x. I used Nero Burning ROM 9 for these discs and it did not even give me an option for 8x-- smart Germans!
Do not try burning these in a slimline burner, like the ones you find in a laptop or iMac/Mac mini. You are asking for trouble. These discs are difficult enough to burn in a high-quality full-size burner, let alone a tiny laptop drive. You will have a very high failure rate if you attempt this. If you must burn DL discs on a laptop, buy Verbatim.
Use decent software when you're burning the disc. On Windows, the gold standard is Nero. On the Mac, the standard by default is Roxio Toast. Do not try burning these from Windows Explorer or the Macintosh Finder, it is a waste of time.
Do not burn anything irreplaceable on these discs. It is not worth the hassle and risk. Most people are using these discs to copy video games or movies, so it's a non-issue. If you are burning data that is priceless and must be preserved indefinitely, you should be using single-layer 24k gold DVD-R's made by MAM-A, not anything double-layer. If it MUST be a DL disc, you know which brand to choose.
Verify your discs. If the disc fails verification, burn it again!
Finally-- use common sense. You are using these discs to burn a very large amount of data (5-8 gigabytes) in a relatively short period of time (~25 minutes at 4x for a full disc, not including verification time). Do not start the burn, load up Team Fortress 2, and then complain that the burn failed. The computer will be reading a large amount of data off the drive and will need to do so continuously without interruption. If the hard drive is being burdened by other software, it may not respond quickly enough to meet the recorder's demands. If this happens, do not blame the disc-- it's the user's fault! Forgive me if I happened to insult your intelligence during this review, but the amount of complaining about something as straightforward as a spindle of blank discs is quite unprecedented, at least to me.
That all being said, don't expect a perfect success rate. Double-layer discs are finicky, time-consuming and difficult to both burn and read, no matter what brand. I have had a few discs from my spindle fail on me. I have also had the odd Verbatim fail on me. It's tempting to blame the disc--that pathetic, cheap-looking circle of polycarbonate--but it was probably my own fault. (As an aside, these DL discs tend to crap out at one of three points during the burn-- the lead-in, the layer change, and the lead-out--so watch out. I've had various burns fail during all three points.)
Don't forget that you get what you pay for. You are paying less than half the cost per disc compared to Verbatim because these discs are of much lower quality. As such, you, the user, need to pay more attention to the burning process to avoid wasting discs. If your time is too valuable for such a demand, I recommend that you turn to another manufacturer.
There is an old adage about CD-R's that was said many, many years ago, but I think it applies here-- it goes something to the effect of, "burning your own discs is just like flying in an airplane. Hours and hours of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror."
Description of AmazonBasics 8.5 GB 8x DVD+R DL (50-Pack Spindle)
AmazonBasics products are quality electronics accessories offered at a great value.This spindle of 50 AmazonBasics 8X DVD+R Double Layer disks provides a natural storage solution for video files and other high-capacity data. Each disk offers a capacity of 8.5 GB--enough space to store four hours of DVD quality video. These DVD+R Double Layer disks support fast write speeds from 2.4X to 8X and provide a recording time of up to 240 minutes.
Basic Advice for Writing or "Burning" CDs and DVDs (Including Dual Layer and Double Layer Discs)
1. Check your drive/burner's documentation to confirm speed capabilities and the type of media that is suitable. If you are burning Dual Layer/Double Layer discs your drive/burner must be capable of using this media.
2. Make sure your drive/burner's Firmware and your drive/burner's software has been updated to the latest Version Number in order to reliably use the latest and fastest media possible with your drive/burner (check your drive/burner documentation on upgrading your firmware and software).
3. Set your burning software rate to an "Automatic" setting for burning speed, if possible. If such a setting does not exist, then set the burn speed to half or less of the drive/burner's rated maximum speed, or half of the blank disc's rated speed, whichever is lower.
4. The disc's rated speed (as printed on the disc and package) is a maximum speed. When the burn process is set to "Automatic" the disc speed will actually fluctuate up and down as needed based on the type of information being burned and only occasionally reach the maximum burning speed. This is why if an "Automatic" burn rate setting is not available we recommend setting the disc to burn at half of the rated maximum (as stated in item #3 above).
Please refer to the compatibility chart for details on what kind of drives will work with this product.
 The AmazonBasics 8X DVD+R DL disks offer a capacity of 8.5 GB, write speeds from 2.4X to 8X, and a recording time of up to 240 minutes. |
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DVD+R Double Layer is a rewriteable disc format with a storage lifetime that's intended for storing videos and archiving important business or personal data. DVD+R Double Layer disks offer a storage capacity of 8.5 GB. Because the disks can hold nearly twice as much data, they are a low-cost, space-saving storage choice that can be used for a wide range of applications.
Each AmazonBasics DVD+R Double Layer disk can record up to four hours of DVD quality video programming, so you don't have to split up long programs onto several disks. A single DVD+R Double Layer can also hold six hours of VHS-quality video or more than 120 hours of MP3 audio.
DVD+R Compatibility
There are two types of recordable DVD disks available. Almost all recent DVD players and drives can handle both burned DVD-R and DVD+R disks, but some older players can only read one format or the other. It is important to check your player's manual to determine which DVD type it supports.
8X Write Speed and Organic Dye: Built for Fast, Accurate Writing
AmazonBasics DVD+R Double Layer disks enable fast write speeds from 2.4X to 8X (8X is maximum. Burning speed will fluctuate.) for quick, clean data transfer. (To take full advantage of these speeds, your DVD burner must burn at speeds of at least 8X. Consult your computer or DVD burner product manual for this information.)
At 8X, transfer speed translates up to 11.08 MB/s, which means that you can burn a full disk in less than 14 minutes. The organic dye used on the write side of these DVD+Rs ensures stable writing at high speeds for reliable, accurate finished disks.
Warranty and Helpful Hints
These disks are backed by an AmazonBasics 1-year limited warranty. To view the full AmazonBasics warranty, click here. If you are having trouble with these disks, click here for the AmazonBasics CD/DVD Helpful Hints Guide [PDF].
What's in the Box
Spindle of 50 8.5 GB 8X DVD+R Double Layer disks and warranty card.
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