Is there a site anywhere that helps you determine if a brand of blank DVDs is compatible with a given recorder? My Philips 3575 has this info in the manual, but I believe it is dynamic as one brand of DVDs that used to work fine (Verbatim) no longer works with my Philips. The videohelp.com site is helpful in some aspects, but you cannot easily search for compatible dvds with a given recorder. Thanks.

Unfortunately no. Mfrs began changing dye formulations and other disc specs at a ridiculous pace back in early 2007, and no list could ever keep up. You just have to shop carefully and not bulk buy unless you've tested that stores batch of any particular brand. Even this is no guarantee, as any media sold at retail is now a total gamble and highly questionable.

The only media still available that is 95% compatible with all recorders (even old ones) is the Taiyo Yuden (TY) Premium Silver 8x DVD-R. It is still carefully made in Japan (not Taiwan, Singapore, India or Malaysia), and its formula has not changed in four years. It is the most-compatible stuff out there, almost never fails to burn and is near-archival quality. The only drawback is you can't buy it in stores, only via mail order or websites. It costs $36/100 delivered, and worth every penny for the peace of mind. I buy mine off eBay, most other members here use Rima.com or Supermedia.com.

Is there a site anywhere that helps you determine if a brand of blank DVDs is compatible with a given recorder? My Philips 3575 has this info in the manual, but I believe it is dynamic as one brand of DVDs that used to work fine (Verbatim) no longer works with my Philips. The videohelp.com site is helpful in some aspects, but you cannot easily search for compatible dvds with a given recorder. Thanks.
At the bottom of this help file (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=12298494&postcount=20) are instructions for checking the Media ID (MID) of discs in your 3575. Once you get the MID, you can go to digitalfaq.com and see what Class those discs are. At least you'll know if you got a supposedly "good" or "bad" batch of Verbatims (maybe made in India, for example?).

Once you find a good batch that works well in your 3575, you can check the MID and use videohelp.com to create a list of ALL the disc types and mfgrs using that same Media... instructions for that are also in the link given above. If it's Verbatim, for example, try to get pkgs that show the same country of origin.

Unfortunately no. Mfrs began changing dye formulations and other disc specs at a ridiculous pace back in early 2007, and no list could ever keep up. You just have to shop carefully and not bulk buy unless you've tested that stores batch of any particular brand. Even this is no guarantee, as any media sold at retail is now a total gamble and highly questionable.

The only media still available that is 95% compatible with all recorders (even old ones) is the Taiyo Yuden (TY) Premium Silver 8x DVD-R. It is still carefully made in Japan (not Taiwan, Singapore, India or Malaysia), and its formula has not changed in four years. It is the most-compatible stuff out there, almost never fails to burn and is near-archival quality. The only drawback is you can't buy it in stores, only via mail order or websites. It costs $36/100 delivered, and worth every penny for the peace of mind. I buy mine off eBay, most other members here use Rima.com or Supermedia.com.

Fortunately, retailers haven't given me any difficulties in accepting the nonworking discs for a refund. Both Office Max and BB took the bad Verbs back with no problems.

Many thanks to wajo, who tirelessly maintains a great collection of useful info for all of us:), but I think rating blank media based on the MID code is no longer a reliable course of action: the codes meant something when the various companies maintained their individuality, but today half these codes are no more significant than the empty-suit brand names associated with them. Too many brands are farmed out to chintzy OEM subcontractors who make a mockery of what these MIDs once stood for. To some degree, individual consumers can successfully create their own compatibility lists based on MIDs and other factors. But they should proceed with the understanding all retail-sold media is subject to constant change, and that no ranking system will remain accurate long-term.

Reliable and consistent results in standalone recorders, especially those made before 2006, requires media bought from specialty dealers. The default choice is Taiyo Yuden, other more hard-to-find options would be industrial Verbatim DataLife 8x and the studio-grade Maxell or TDK, preferably 8x. Nearly all of todays 16x media is hopelessly cheapened to meet the impossible sale prices in superstore weekend circulars. Some stores still have stock of made-in-Taiwan Sony 16x, which is widely compatible and a good buy at $24/100, but avoid the Sony Malaysia product.

Some stores still have stock of made-in-Taiwan Sony 16x, which is widely compatible and a good buy at $24/100, but avoid the Sony Malaysia product.

At one point it was posted in the media deals thread that the Sony 50 packs were MIM, but the Sony 100 packs were MIT. That was true last time I checked my local stores, but could, of course, be subject to change.

About a year ago, I picked up a 50 pack of Verbs for a friend with a 2005 Samsung DVDR. It would not recognize the Verbs, even though it would play Verbs I had burnt for him just fine. So, I got him some Maxells, swapped them for the Verbs, and the Maxells (16x) worked fine for him.