dvd media compatibilty

JD · Post by JD » Thu Sep 02, 2004 1:32 pm

I'm going to try backing up my entire dvd collection some time soon when I get some time. I have a question about media compatibility though. I know there are some players that will play -r's, some +r's, and some both. I have researched my players that I own, and it seems they will all play both formats fine. My question though, is which one is generally more compatible? If I want to ever bring a disc somewhere else, or make a copy for some one, I'd like for it to actually work.

SO whats the verdict? My google search just resulted in several contradicting surveys and biased articles :/

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 1:34 pm

Supposedly -R is the greater of the two for compatibility.. But they're both VERY compatible. If it's a fairly new set top DVD player it should be fine.. GL

eGo

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 1:35 pm

Any player made in the last 4 - 5 years can play either standard without a problem.

Shadow250 · Post by **Shadow250** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 7:38 pm

walmart brand norcent will not play eithier format.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 8:49 pm

walmart brand norcent

You get what you pay for....

Shadow250 · Post by **Shadow250** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 11:19 pm

well i didnt buy it i have an APEX which seems to be in the same category but it plays everything.

Busby · Post by **Busby** » Fri Sep 03, 2004 1:35 am

Originally posted by FlyingPenguin
Any player made in the last 4 - 5 years can play either standard without a problem.

Not true. My friend has a nice Sony DVD player that is like maybe 3 years old and it won't play DVD+R, only DVD-R.

Apex players are the choice for those that like to hack DVD players. You can make them region free and I believe disable other features like that.

The_Frapster · Post by **The_Frapster** » Fri Sep 03, 2004 2:01 am

Originally posted by Busby
Not true. My friend has a nice Sony DVD player that is like maybe 3 years old and it won't play DVD+R, only DVD-R.

Apex players are the choice for those that like to hack DVD players. You can make them region free and I believe disable other features like that.

Exactly, and also the macrovision. Very nice that they built this into the players. I feel some things should always be a consumer choice.

Viperoni · Post by **Viperoni** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 8:18 am

My 4 year old Pioneer and my friends ~7 year old Pioneer and another friends 2 year old Pioneer both play + and - fine. + is a better format in how it records (read up the article on cdcfreaks).

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 9:17 am

I use +R for everything andf haven't had a problem yet with compatibility with anyone I've given one to.

canton_kid · Post by **canton_kid** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 8:48 am

walmart brand norcent will not play eithier format.

I would not say that!!!

You get what you pay for...

Or That either

What model would you be reffering too and are you sure it's not broken?
I think my Norcent Dp 300 would play a peanut butter sandwich if I could shove it in the tray!!
In other words it plays anything and everything! MP3, MPEG2 (not yet authored to DVD), -R DVDs, Video Cds, ect.. it also does -RW and RW Cds.

My Norcent has even played DVDs that would not play in other players due to some type of burning errors caused by Nero. When I first started into DVDs about 1 1/2 years ago or longer I bought my Norcent. I burned some DVDs with Nero when first starting out and they worked perfect in my Norcent, then latter I used a differnt program for burning. One day I tried to play my disks in a DVD player made by Zenith (Alegro I think) and I found that all my nero disks would not load, but all the disks I burned with the other program were perfect. Then I tried the Nero burned disks in a few other players, often they failed to load. So I can even safely say the Norcent I have will even play disks that other players refuse to play. And all disks were DVD -R so it was not a format problem. I never tried +R disks in it yet though because I only burn -R disks so far. Next order of disks I may try some +Rs?

As far as reliable, I never had a problem with the player, way over a year old, and it lives in a dusty enviroment too! Dirt road, dirt drive, burn wood in the house in winter for heat. I clean out the computers every couple months and even at that the heatsink fins are filling up with dust by then.

AS for what's most reliable I couldn't say. It's all a matter of opion really. -R is more likely to play in older players Than +R. Though it's close anyway.
Either SHOULD play in new Players.
And now there is something called bitsetting you can do to make the disks a DVD-ROM booktype that is suppossed to make them more playable also. Not sure if that is for +R only or both formats.
All my -Rs now play all the time for everyone so I haven't bothered with +R or bitsetting yet.

Also I still have my 2X -R burner so I used -R disks for it when needed like now, my NEC 2500 Dropped back to 2x burns for alittle while then made 3 coasters in a row. After I installed it in the office system it started burning good disks again, but still only 2x speed, but I am not sure what disks those were, could be just 2X disks though I thought they were 4X??

Brand of disks is often more important than rather it's + or - because quality does vary a great deal, and more time that not the expensive brands are NO better than the good cheaper ones.

Ritek -R Printables have never failed me once yet, untill my NEC messed up, and I am sure that was not a disk related problem. Every disk came from the same spindle and 3 were coasters on the NEC but same files burned fine on the toshiba 2x drive on disks from the same spindle. And I never had any problem Playing them on any player either. So I do recomend those myself, and they aren't very expensive either.

nexus_7 · Post by **nexus_7** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 10:02 am

just stick with -R's

for one, many Xbox's only read -R's. and I have had a few players that only read -r's also.

Greg

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dvd media compatibilty

dvd media compatibilty

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