My Drive

DVD+/-RW Drive DRW1008IM with

8X DVD+R /4X DVD-R Write,

4X DVD+RW /2X DVD-RW Rewrite

I've a couple of questions, which is best to use + or - R discs ?

In terms of compatability is there DVD players that won't play +R or would that be rare?

If I'm getting -R discs is it pointless getting 8X when my burner will ever only burn 4X ?

Up until now I've used 8X Verbatim Advanced AZO DVD-R 4.7GB in a Tub of 25

They have worked ok, but I'm wondering should I solely buy 8X in +R and 4X in -R discs. I just thought it may be pointless buying 8X-R discs if there no benefit in terms of quality as they are dearer.

I'm kinda afraid of buying discs that won't work in my Drive so thats why I stuck with Verbatim (as I was given some DVD+R disc when I bought the unit, they were 8X+R so thats why I must have stuck with 8X when buying the -R ones).

I hope I haven't confused you too much with the above, as I'm bloody lost now

I've used plenty of both DVD+R and DVD-R discs. I find that the DVD+R discs actually work better in the older DVD players. I haven't had any writeable DVD not work in any player I've tried. Maybe an urban myth? (I know there'll be someone here that can put me wrong...)

Hmmm... I've always used -R discs when burning stuff to watch on my DVD player...

I use -R and have never had any problems either.

Is there really any saving in only buying 4 speed disks any more?

May as well get the higer rated ones in case you buy a faster writer

I've always used -R discs. They were always slightly cheaper and i've had no probs. I understand the lifespan of +R discs is less than -R but it's 20 years over 30 or something.

I wouldn't write a DVD at over 4x anyway. The recording process IMHO becomes too prone to errors that a pc can handle but not a standalone DVD player. CD's / DVD's wriiten at higher speeds are also harder to read. That's why I don't write audio discs at speeds exceeding 16x either.

Another vote for -R. Had problems with +R discs in our old pioneer dvd player, however -R played fine.

I think dvd-r's have a 98% compatibility rating where as dvd+r's is about 96%.

I have always used -r's myself as they are cheaper. I burn at maximum speed which is 8x for the discs I buy.

Also I burn all my cd's at 48x Music, video cd's and data and havent once had a problem with that.

I think dvd-r's have a 98% compatibility rating where as dvd+r's is about 96%.

I have always used -r's myself as they are cheaper. I burn at maximum speed which is 8x for the discs I buy.

Also I burn all my cd's at 48x Music' date=' video cd's and data and havent once had a problem with that.[/quote']

i haven't had too many probs either but i've heard the depth of the burn is reduced the faster you burn the disc. This means the faster a disc is wriiten, the harder it is for the player to correct any errors it picks up from scratches etc on the disc surface. Try writing 2 discs at a high and low speed. Then compare the written surfaces of the 2 discs.

Cheers for the help guys.

I was sticking with the -R discs, I just thought it may be pointless buying 8X discs when I can only burn 4X -R. I might get a couple of 4X -R ones and see how they go.

It can be very frustrating when media doesn't work right