Verbatim 2.4x DVD+R D/L media review

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Posted on 3 Feb 2005 by SirQUK

Conclusion

Conclusion:

This is a review update and it has been 6 months since we first took this Double Layer media from verbatim for a test spin. So has anything improved?

The Verbatim 2.4x DVD+R D/L media was seen at its rated speed by all of our 5 review drives recorded perfectly at its rated speed of 2.4x on all of them, with the BenQ DW 1620 giving the best overall result quality wise and the NEC ND 3520 giving the fastest recording time.

The recordings to the Verbatim DVD+R D/L media in this updated review showed a lot better results with lower PIE and PIF levels being reported on all of the test we did. This we are sure is due to better firmware updated that are now available for the review drives and maybe a result of good co operation between the media and Hardware manufactures.

In a review update we tested the new HP Dvd640i's ability to record the DVD+R D/L media at its rated speed and found that the immature firmware showed the worst results although no reported PI Failures over 2 indicated a very good recording even if the total was the highest. We are hopeful that later firmwares for the HP Dvd640i will improve this even more as they did for our other much more mature writers.

Most importantly with any type of recordable media, the Verbatim DVD+R D/L also passed all the verification tests meaning no errors where found and we had a reliable backup of our important records.

In our original review of this media we showed a test result of one verbatim DVD+R D/L media being recorded at an over speed of 4x on the Pioneer 108 which resulted in very good playback. Although in this updated review we have concentrated on recording this media at its rated speed and have not done any over speed recordings, we do hope by showing you recordings on more drives, we can better show this medias wide range of hardware support and we have no hestation in believing that the new batch can do over speeding too.

We hope to add 4x over speed results soon as more samples of this media arrive at CDR-Zone.COM.

To back up the findings of the Disc Quality tests, playback and transfer tests were carried out and these tests too showed very satisfying results.

Note on Verification tests:

"We will only show sector scanning and verification results if the recorded media had problems resulting in errors being found. If you dont see a verification test in our new style of media reviews then the you can safely assume none where found during our tests."

According to the Disc Quality tests more errors were reported on the second layer than on the first layer, yet the transfer tests carried out showed a nice clean transfer for both layers at the maximum available speed that any of the review devices could manage. This does seem to be common with Double Layer media and is the only area that this media could be improved. We are not too sure wether this layer 2 issue is a hardware or media related issue but it was apparent on all of our tests carried out.

That said, it had no effect on the playback of the DVD Video ISO image we used to carry out our Create CD tests.

The disc itself retains the now familiar Verbatim frosted silver design with the Verbatim logo and rated recording speed clearly marked on the disc, with 2 clear lines for writing your information about the stored information on the disc. Packaging comes in either Jewel case or Spindle form to best suit your storage needs although CDR-Zone.COM always recomend Jewel cases if possible as it does seem to keep the media in slightly better condition as sometimes sppindles can allow for the media to slide ever so slightly against each other.

We feel this media has kept up with Verbatims promise to always produce quality media and as is usual with Verbatim media, there is always room to record at faster than its rated speed. With Double Layer media prices expected to reduce significantly over the next few months this media may become as popular as it 4x and 8x DVD+/-R media predecessors have been, especially when the recording speed can be increased even more past the current max of 4x.

About Verbatim - Europe:

Verbatim is a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Chemical Media and provides information storage products, computer and imaging consumables, and related accessories, which deliver valuable solutions to customers and end users.

Verbatim deliver products and services that exceed customer expectations by leveraging our technology leadership, as well as our world class manufacturing, marketing, and distribution capabilities.

Verbatim are able to market the latest and innovative products due to the extensive research and development that is undertaken by parent company Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation in Japan.

Verbatims entire product range meets extremely high standards of quality that are set by Verbatim as a corporation. No matter what product, or where in the world it is manufactured, every product meets the Verbatim standard of quality - which is second to none.

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