chris, [EMAIL PROTECTED] said: >>Its amazing how bad cheap CD's can be. If you really want your data, get >>Fuji or some hi quality brand, not the $20/spindle stuff which have >>extremely thin data layers, which are hard to read on many players. >>Quality does mean something in this case. > >Its funny you say that... the CDs I'm having a problem with ARE quality >CDs. They are 3M branded blanks. They are sold in unlabeled bulk pack for >duplicators. They cost be about $45 for a spindle of 50, which by today's >standards puts them in the top of the line pricing for bulk packed CDs. > >Although the 74s I am using that work fine are even better quality in my >opinion. They are Verbatim top of the line discs.
Chris, some unrelated reflections: The best CDs in my opinion are Kodak Gold (now out of production), Verbatim, especially Datalifeplus 700MB or BenQ Gold 700MB that I see as the replacement for Kodak (Both sold in 25pack spindles for about $15 before VAT here in Europe). BenQ is also known as Acer. And about Fuji, if that is same as Fujifilm here. They ended up last in a test over here about one year ago, so I wouldn't trust them before I see other data. Unlike the majority of people in the burnable CD market not caring about their data, I really want my burns with music, software and backups to last. I'm ready to pay a higher price per CD for that purpose. One thing I haven't understood however, is how those Sony audio CDs and so on can be regarded better than BenQ, Kodak or Verbatim for audio. I can't detect a difference, but maybe my hearing are getting detoriated because of excessive MP3 and AAC listening, or maybe even CDs? Despite the fact that I've been working with sound for 20 years, I feel digital audio is getting better all the time and high bitrate Mp3s on a $1800 soundcard can sound surprisingly great considering what have been left out from the audio. But last time I did a blind test Vinyl sounded better with dynamic music. Anyone remember the Laser Vinyl deck that appeared about when CDs was first introduced? Of course it was scrapped as that would have been better than CDs. Though I bet the record companies regret the move as Vinyl can't be freely copied. Wouldnt they have been better off with keeping the vinyl sans clicks, crackle and static? For the majors, I can't stop myself from feeling it suits them good. I'm listening to a 25 pack of music that I copied at a friends house the other day now. Digital freedom. 100% of it was like impossible to find in the shops anyway even as much of it was only released 10 years ago, so I'm not feeling guilty at all. I really hope that Apple put more alternative music in the shops when they open up for Europe. After all, when I was a vinyl junkie, just 5-8 years ago I could easily spend $500 a week on rare 12' and the occasional CD and there are such speciality shops here - I'm sure also in the US - that have a very small audience that buy *a lot* of records every week. Imagine that on a gobal scale. :) I would love to find stuff I've been looking for since a long time at Apples iTunes store and pay a reasonable sum for the convenience and privilege. But in order to do that Apple needs to sign up the relevant catalogs, which may not remain at the majors, and also employ knowledgeable people in the respective musical areas. OK- enuff said. Time to change Verbatim CD! ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe send a mail message with a SUBJECT line of "unsubscribe" to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> or <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
