Good CD-R media in 2022

[gen_angry]

Hello,

I still use CD-R media for backups of retro DOS games on computers too old for DVDs. I've been trying to find media not made by CMC as I get way too many coasters from those. Tried a pack of maxell from Amazon, all CMC. Tried a pack of Verbatim from Amazon, all CMC. Tried a pack of TDK from ebay, all CMC (although these ones are at least not partially transparent like the other two).

Are there any non-CMC disks left?

[dbminter]

What you want to look for are Verbatim, but NOT the Life Series.  They're called DataLife Plus.  They might also be listed as AZO dye.  You will only find them online.  You tried Amazon; was that Amazon.com in the US?  I get my Verbatim DataLife Plus/AZO CD-R from Amazon.com in the US.

 

[gen_angry]

5 hours ago, dbminter said:

What you want to look for are Verbatim, but NOT the Life Series.  They're called DataLife Plus.  They might also be listed as AZO dye.  You will only find them online.  You tried Amazon; was that Amazon.com in the US?  I get my Verbatim DataLife Plus/AZO CD-R from Amazon.com in the US.

 

Canada.

 

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00029U1DK/

are the Verbatim I picked up. These coaster about 50% or so of all burns after using half the spindle. They're also so thin that you can see right through them - label and all, which is odd as I hadn't seen that before. I ended up throwing these out as if I can't rely on the disk, what good are they?

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/125007836583

are the TDK I picked up. I was kinda hopeful for these, lol. At least I haven't coastered one yet out of the 4-5 I've tried. Not see-through thankfully.

 

https://www.amazon.ca/Verbatim-94755-DataLifePlus-Printable-Recordable/dp/B0001LS35W/

are what you're talking about? I've seen the AZO dye stuff on DVD-Rs which I have a set of but wasn't sure on the CD-Rs. Will have to burn through these ones I already have and try those next if so.

Edited January 8, 2022 by gen_angry

[dbminter]

TDK made the CMC DVD-R I tested out cheaply from Big Lots.  So, they weren't an expensive gamble to see if they were any good.  But, it does go to show TDK will use CMC.  Ironically enough, TDK made decent DVD+R DL last time I tested them.

 

The Verbatim AZO will say so on the package.  For instance, I've used these before, currently unavailable:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00008L3HV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

The inkjet label CD-R's you linked look like the good stuff I've gotten.  Here are the last good Mitsubishi CD-R I got:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001LS35W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

Granted, I haven't gotten any of those in over 6 years.  So, they may no longer be the same high quality they used to be.