Verbatim 8x Double Layer media review

Conclusion

During this review, 3 pieces of the Verbatim 8x DVD+R Double layer media where recorded to each drive used. Only the recording which most represents the average recording to each drive under the writers default settings are shown in this review. I feel this is the best way to get a good reflection on well a particular drive/media combination works.

I also subjected the recorded pieces of the Verbatim 8x DVD+R Double layer media to the Advance Plextor Q-Check tests to try get as much accurate information about the recordings to the Verbatim 8x DVD+R Double layer media as possible. As mentioned in the Disc Quality section, the Plextor allows us a more indepth look at each individual recording. The Liteon results with KProbe in conjuction with the Transfer tests are in my opinion, still a very valid indication of a good/bad recording. However, you do get a lot more detail about just how good/bad the recording was if using the advanced Q-Check tests available on the Plextor PX-755A.

So what did I think about this latest 8x DVD+R Double layer offering from Verbatim? Just like the 2.4x Double layer media I have reviewed a while back rated speed recordings where in place on all used recording devices. It is what I come to expect from Verbatim who really do seem to make every effort to get good support for their media. The increased speed to 8x cuts Double layer recording time almost in half on some writers and this now makes Double layer media more attractive to the end user. Infact the Plextor PX-755A nearly broke the 15 minute mark using its 10x recording strategy. The Plextor PX-755A is the first writer to offer such high Double layer recording speeds and judging by the quality and speed achieved, I'm sure it wont be long before other companies follow plextors lead. I'm eager to see how well the Verbatim 8x DVD+R Double layer media handles possible speeds of 12x in the future! That said not every writer managed the rated speed on both layers - this is not down to individual quality of media but a need to update the way these writing devices handle this new high speed Double Layer media.

One of the main drawbacks of early Double layer media was the amount of time it took to record at 2.4x which coupled with its high price compared to single layer DVD+/-R media made users weary of using it. This is no longer the case to such an extent and, although still very expensive in comparison to single layer media, the recording times are now more attractive to users who may not want to compress a video presentation or span a backup over 2 single layer discs. Playback was smooth in the tested playback devices and transfer tests using my Plextor PX-755A also produced very nice graphs at the maximum transfer speed of 8x for Double layer media.

If the quality of all future Verbatim 8x DVD+R Double layer media can be equal in quality of the media I reviewed, I can highly recomend it as a very good high capacity backup solution. As always I look forward to hearing your comments and results with this media in the Media forum.

About Verbatim :

Verbatim is a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Kagaku Media and provides information storage products, computer and imaging consumables and related accessories. Verbatim is currently the only company in the world that designs, develops and manufactures high performance, high-quality recordable and rewritable CDs, recordable and rewritable DVDs, WORM discs and MO media. The range also includes tape cartridges, floppy discs, imaging products, digital devices and memory cards.

Sponsors of this review

I would like to take this moment to thank the companies who provided the media as well as most of the hardware for this review. Without the generous and ongoing support of these companies this review would not of been possible in such detail - Thank you!

• Verbatim Europe for providing the Verbatim 8x DVD+R Double layer media used in this review.
• SVP Communications for providing the Pioneer DVR 110 and NEC ND-4551 DVD writers used in this review.
• Philips Optical storage For providing the Philips DVDR 1660 writer used in this review.
• Plextor Europe for providing the Plextor PX-755A DVD writer used in this review.