Go Back    Forum > Digital Life > Tech Myths, Misinformation

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
  #1  
01-17-2016, 05:06 AM
SFtheGreat SFtheGreat is offline
Free Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 176
Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts
Hello.
This time I would like to ask about pressed media.

What are advantages and disadvatnages of gold and aluminium reflective layers on pressed audio CDs.
Especially the long-term benefits such as longevity, because as we all know from chemistry classes gold is resistand to almost any kind of oxidation, so technically should last longer than aluminium.

Of course, we are talking about digital media, so the zeros and ones are not affected by the medium of storage and material used for it, so anyone claiming something will "sound better" on gold/glass/etc, please educate yourself on DAC.

Personally I have several albums pressed on gold (or at least something that looks like it), CLosterkeller - Aurum and Deep Purple - Live Encounters.
Reply With Quote
Someday, 12:01 PM
admin's Avatar
Ads / Sponsors
 
Join Date: ∞
Posts: 42
Thanks: ∞
Thanked 42 Times in 42 Posts
  #2  
01-17-2016, 06:13 AM
lordsmurf's Avatar
lordsmurf lordsmurf is offline
Site Staff | Video
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,510
Thanked 2,449 Times in 2,081 Posts
I've never seen a pressed gold disc of any kind -- only silvery alloys.

Gold has less reflectivity (more absorption) at the wavelengths needed on optical media. That doesn't change, be it burned or pressed.

CD = 780 nm
DVD = 650 nm
BD = 405 nm

Silver = ~98% (500-800 nm range)
Gold = ~94% (700-800 nm range)

Gold has almost a 0% reflectivity in the Blu-ray range, while aluminum is in the high 90s.

It's really just that easy.

From a longevity stance, anything that would reduce readability will make the disc entirely unreadable. For DVD, even 4-5% can mean the difference between reading and not reading. The disparity between CD and DVD is much greater (ie, worse).

The primary thought behind recordable gold media is that the reflective foil won't tarnish. Well, DVD is in a protective sandwich, and oxidation will instantly kill the dye. Do you see the ridiculousness of gold DVD recordable media now?

For CD media, this theory of tarnish is sort-of sound, but the reflectivity of the wavelength still sucks. The only saving grace is that CD lasers are more powerful, and the data grooves are smaller. But even then, the media is harder to read. This also ignores the minimally protective lacquer present on the disc, which is mostly there to stave off oxidation.

About your discs ... realize a lot of "gold" media is not actually gold. The substrate and lacquer can simply have gold coloring. It's not actually gold. I have a bunch of "gold" CD-R from around 2001, and those are not really gold. The substrate is a yellow hue, and the lacquer is a light bronze. In fact, a colored substrate (ie, plastic bottom) may cause reflectivity to be harmed. I have some of the short-lived all-black (actually deep purple) CD-R as well, popularized by the original Playstation. These discs test terrible.

Note that most all "silver" and "aluminum" reflective layers are actually an alloy (ie, mixed metals). I'm not sure what exactly is used, and it differs; I've read the patents. For best reflectivity, while still being affordable (not all gold, not all silver, not all aluminum), the metals are impure and fortified.

See also: http://www.edmundoptics.com/technica...rror-coatings/
^ This has nothing to do with media, but is a large manufacturer of industrial mirrors, often used in scientific applications. The page has some neat charts, diagrams, and dumbed-down technical information.

- Did my advice help you? Then become a Premium Member and support this site.
- For sale in the marketplace: TBCs, workflows, capture cards, VCRs
Reply With Quote
  #3  
01-17-2016, 06:44 AM
SFtheGreat SFtheGreat is offline
Free Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 176
Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts
Interesting informations.
Without the alloy's exact structure we can only trust manufacturer's that they produce high quality product.

As for golden CDs, they question is what the layer is made from, i could simply ask Takt pressing plant, or beg doctors to let me use mass spectrometer, or actually write a master's paper about it, then I could research as much, as I would want.

So, gold has slightly lower reflectivity in 780nm than silver, but is more resitant to oxidation, provided, that gold is used and not a coloured alloy.

On the charts aluminium has entirely lower reflectifity in the entire spectrum, than gold or silver.

I must ask what alloys pressing plants do use.
Reply With Quote
Reply




Tags
gold, pressed media

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Confused: Are gold Taiyo Yuden DVDs good? But gold is bad? via Email or PM Blank Media 1 02-15-2014 03:23 PM
Possible oxidation spot on pressed disc? Reading Bug Blank Media 1 01-01-2013 10:59 PM
Are double layer DVDs as good as single layer DVDs ? via Email or PM Blank Media 1 01-04-2012 04:59 PM
Don't use gold discs? Bill Downing Blank Media 1 01-09-2011 11:26 PM
Dual layer and double layer ndbs9u3 Blank Media 2 10-10-2005 03:34 PM

Thread Tools



 
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:32 AM