Testing DVD-R and CD-R 25 years later: optical disks from Japan

As it turns out, “thrift shopping” in Japan via the internet can be both very enjoyable as well as very dangerous. In this series of posts, I’ve been examining various optical media I’ve obtained from Japan, both in-person and online, and they just keep on coming as the listings are refreshed and more products get put up for sale. It’s been an amazing trip “back-in-time” but also an opportunity to share some of the fun and beauty of older optical discs. TDK DVD+R 4x UV-Guard The first disc in this post will be a rather special one – a Japanese market TDK product from back when TDK were making their own discs, unlike now when their brand is used to rebadge primarily CMC products (but occasionally Ritek too). This is a five pack of DVD+R 4x-rated discs with hard coating and UV guard. This is a rather special product, as hard coating (later advertised under the Durabis 1/Durabis 2 names) was a TDK specialty, using a diamond-like coating made of carbon. Perhaps this is why such products ... Read full article.