Indolikaa's Preferred Media is based on the following factors:
* Failure rate, which is based on a minimum of 50 discs,
* Compatibility with multiple generations of DVD players,
* Ability to produce successful burns
only at rated speed,
* Multiple distribution sources, which suggests uniform production methods and accurate Media IDs.
(NOTE: Indolikaa automatically awards a failing grade to any disc if pixelation begins prior to the 4.0GB benchmark.)
THE CURRENT WINNERS...
Taiyo-Yuden DVD-R 2X (TAIYOYUDEN)
Why?
I have yet to coaster any of the hundreds of Taiyo-Yuden DVD-R discs that have passed through this authoring station.
Memorex DVD+R 2.4X (RICOHJPNR00)
Why?
With a failure rate of 1:35, this is the most consistent DVD+R media I have purchased. These discs were purchased in jewel-case 3-packs from Wal-Mart; they are known as the 'Purple' packs due to their purple packaging.
Memorex DVD+RW 2.4X (OPTODISCA01)
Why?
A failure rate of 1:50 is most impressive for any rewritable media, but these discs have proven to be outstanding for multiple erase/rewrite cycles. I have five of these discs in which each disc has been subjected to over 200 erase/rewrite cycles, with no apparent deterioration in quality. These are the 3-pack jewel-cased 'Yellow' packages available at Wal-Mart.
THE CURRENT LOSERS...
Verbatim DataLifePlus DVD+RW 2.4X (MCC A01)
Why?
The 'First-Burn' failure rate for this media has been 1:5, with none of the surviving discs lasting beyond 15 erase/rewrite cycles. With multiple purchases of both the single jewel-case and 10-pack jewel-case SKUs from multiple vendors, it was initially suspected that the trio of Optorite burners (firmware 2.16, 2.17 and 2.50 respectively) might be at fault.
However, subsequent off-site testing with both a Sony DWU14A and an LG GSA-4040B have reported a similar failure rate.
AND THE JUST-PLAIN EMBARRASING...
CompUSA DVD+R 2.4X (OPTODISCOP1)
Why?
A failure rate of 1:3 from batches purchased at multiple retail location and burned on multiple burners. The first four 5-packs appeared to be fine, but then it all went downhill from there...