The Maxell DVD-R media carries a RITEK F1 media identifier. Opinions on the quality of RITEK F1 seem to vary a bit, but for us it has been a solid performer. In our tests this media gave nice results using the Pioneer DVR-115D and LiteOn DH20A3P drives. The Pioneer delivered an excellent results with very low error rates all the way. Using the LiteOn a few more errors were introduced, the PIE graphs going up and down and some slight PIF spikes as well. Overall their DVD-R media seems to be a high quality product, and definitely better than their DVD+R media.

However, Maxell’s DVR+R by RICOH is a different story. The results are far from impressive using both of these drives. First of all the recording speeds on both drives were less than certified 16x speed. The Pioneer uses a 12x approach for this media, but LiteOn delivers only a miserable 8x recording speed. Error rates using Pioneer are increased at the end of the disc, when the drive applies 12x recording speed. Using the LiteOn’s 8x approach the result would be quite nice, but is has some odd PIF spikes along the way.

So definitely, if you are shopping for Maxell media, go for their DVD-R offer instead of the DVD+R. The quality is simply better, at least in these test batches. On the other hand, Maxell is often similarily priced than premium media brands, like Verbatim, so be sure to check out the other alternatives as well.

As usual, the MediaBase is your source of media quality information, and the place where you can submit your own test results!

Imation is one of those brands that outsources their production completely, and therefore one can get all kinds of media from various manufacturers under the Imation label. Another major label with similar strategy is Memorex. I remember being very upset in Imation in the early CD-R recording age (8x speed was hot then), when they distributed horrible media under their label. Later I have found some excellent 8x DVD-R media from Imation (by RICOH) and and equally great DVD+R 16x Imation media (by Verbatim / MCC). At the moment however, they seem to be shipping media made by MBI, Moser Baer India. I picked a few DVD-R and DVD+R 16x speed media from a huge stock of Imation media and gave them a whirl using Pioneer and LiteOn recorders.

I started by recording 16x DVD-R media with a Pioneer DVR-115D recorder. The first and most serious implicationof quality issues was when one of the Imation DVD-R discs produced a read error at the end of the disc. The quality scans were not too impressive eithe. There were no huge peaks of errors, but the total amounts cumulated to much higher figures than we like to see in quality media. Lite-On DH20A3P recorder produced similar results with even higher total amounts of errors, but this time the disc was at least readble.

The DVD+R media wasn’t any better producing very similar quality scan results than DVD-R. Using both the Pioneer and Lite-On the total amounts of PIF in these scans is much higher than with premium media. You can see the difference yourself by having a look at the scan results, where Verbatim / Mitsubishi Chemicals manufactured Imation branded media delivers way better results than these curren Moser Baer India products.

Overall this is a very disappointing test result. Imation is a huge brand with a large market share, and their RICOH and MCC made media convinced me that they are now on a safe path. Whether the fault is Imation’s or Moser Baer’s, it is hard to tell. MBI has also manufactured quality media in the past for Imation, and many other brands, but at the moment it seems that Imation or MBI is not the best pick.

Be sure to check out our MediaBase for more DVD recordable media test results!