Opinions on Optical Quantum low price 25 GB BD-RE blank discs

[jmkoch]

Recently, I spotted an offer for 25 blanc 25GB BD-RE discs for $82.25 at a site called Media Megamall . They are made by a firm called Optical Quantum.

The attraction of writeable BD disc for $3.49, instead of the >$10 / disc price at most stores is obvious. But is anything "too good to be true" precisely that?

Any first-hand reports by forum participants here on Optical Quantum goods?

I've had horrible luck with DVD+RE DL discs made by Memorex, whose brand is often the only one available for DVD+RE DL at most stores, which often don't carry DL discs at all. Consequently, I am very wary of the risks of bad wares peddled by firms with uncertain or inconsistent sources. Consequently, I'd be reluctant to plug down big bucks for a spindle of Memorex BDs. On the other hand, even a spendthrift will be tempted to test lower priced versions of the pricey DVD+RE DL or luxury BD media.

DVD-R SL or DVD+R SL may be a different story, or at least there are far more brands availalbe on the shelf at a typical Staples, and the downside of a bad batch is less ruinous.

[zicmubleu]

Originally Posted by jmkoch

Recently, I spotted an offer for 25 blanc 25GB BD-RE discs for $82.25 at a site called Media Megamall . They are made by a firm called Optical Quantum.

The attraction of writeable BD disc for $3.49, instead of the >$10 / disc price at most stores is obvious. But is anything "too good to be true" precisely that?

Any first-hand reports by forum participants here on Optical Quantum goods?

I've had horrible luck with DVD+RE DL discs made by Memorex, whose brand is often the only one available for DVD+RE DL at most stores, which often don't carry DL discs at all. Consequently, I am very wary of the risks of bad wares peddled by firms with uncertain or inconsistent sources. Consequently, I'd be reluctant to plug down big bucks for a spindle of Memorex BDs. On the other hand, even a spendthrift will be tempted to test lower priced versions of the pricey DVD+RE DL or luxury BD media.

DVD-R SL or DVD+R SL may be a different story, or at least there are far more brands availalbe on the shelf at a typical Staples, and the downside of a bad batch is less ruinous.

jmkoch - although I have not used discs made by opticalquantum I have used megamediamall to get Memorex BD-RE and had good luck with them in my LG Blu-ray burner. Ironically the burner came with an LG BD-RE and that is the one disc that I have not successfully written to yet, an RiData BD-RE worked and then when I got some "cheap" Memorex discs from Mediamegamall they have been fine as well. One issue I did discover, as has been pointed out by others, is to burn your file to a BD-RE first and make sure it works, then try it on the BD-R. I needed many attempts at burning to the same BD-RE disc before I got the disc to perform in the Blu-ray player. If I had a reason to get more BD-REs I would be tempted to try your disc in question, but I would probably start with a single disc just to be sure it worked in my burner.

[jmkoch]

Originally Posted by zicmubleu

One issue I did discover, as has been pointed out by others, is to burn your file to a BD-RE first and make sure it works, then try it on the BD-R.

True. But too bad there seems to be no such thing as DVD+RW DL, which is how I'd like to test 1-hour AVCHD-DVD projects which do not need a full 25 GB. I've already tested my BD projects on RE / RW discs, but the cost of the loss of even a single BD-R is a pity, to say nothing of the $90 to $150 one spends for a spindle of 25. If the first burns bad, odds are that the rest are...guess what?

[zicmubleu]

jmkoch - my disc failures were typically because I didn't author the file correctly so it wouldn't play in my Blu-ray player. You are talking about media failure which I only had happen with my free LG disc. Obviously you have a lot more experience with creating Blu-ray discs than I do.

If you come up with a good low cost disc please post it so the rest of us will be able to get some when we need them. At least the Optical Quantum disc might break the price barrier and get more manufacturers to reprice their discs at something more realistic.

[bluewhale50]

I just brought 2 of the Optical Quantum printable 25 gig disks to test them out. I havent had a chance to try them but when i get home ill burn one and try it on my PS3

[bluewhale50]

Ok i burned the OQ disk and it plays fine in my ps3
nero Disc speed gives me this info
Nero DiscSpeed: Disc Info
Basic Information
Disc type: : BD-R
MID : RITEK (000)
Write speeds: : 2.0 X - 4.0 X
Blank Capacity : n/a
Extended Information
Layers : 1
Disc Status : Closed
Raw Data
Physical Format Information (00h)
0000 - 44 49 01 18 00 00 62 00 42 44 52 01 12 01 00 00 - DI....b.BDR.....
0010 - 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 02 00 00 00 19 4E 7E - ..............N~
0020 - 01 EC 64 64 28 28 28 28 1E 1E 1E 1E 00 00 00 00 - ..dd((((........
0030 - 4C 6E 74 17 17 58 20 58 A0 F0 F0 F0 F0 00 00 00 - Lnt..X.X........
0040 - 00 00 00 00 00 50 00 50 00 50 00 50 00 50 00 50 - .....P.P.P.P.P.P
0050 - 00 50 00 50 00 58 00 58 00 58 00 58 00 A0 A0 C0 - .P.P.X.X.X.X....
0060 - C0 C0 00 00 52 49 54 45 4B 00 42 52 32 00 00 00 - ....RITEK.BR2...

I got it off ebay and it came in a blu ray case so i didnt have any actual packing that says optical quantum the only writing on the disk is on the transparent inside hub that reads
L860044bd014x08061720a

man it was hard reading that. So unless my ebay seller switched media on me it looks like they are ritek

[jmkoch]

I burned a 21.8 GB BD-AVC video project to an Optical Quantum 25 BD SL last night. It burned fine and played back fine on my simple Sylvania BD player, as well as on my VAIO.

I need to revise the project and render it again, which will take two days. But I'll report back later on whether the subsequent discs burn as well.

Of course, it's too soon to confirm the durability of the discs, but this first result is quite encouraging. At first I was spooked because the discs seemed almost "no brand" and I'd got them on-line. However, if most or all the 25 I bought work, the savings relative to the other brands is enormous.

[ObiTrentKenobi]

i've found that these "off brands" tend to have a high failure rate. however, i'm not sure about bluray disc failure rates. considering they're sold in such low quantities usually (25 and under), and i've only bought blank Sony bluray's thus far...

truly, good luck to ya, and let us know how they work!

[bluraymaster]

I have tried the Optical Quantum and also the mediamegamall brand called Mega Media and they are both Ritek discs. I bought both from mediamegamall.com and one came with the sticker and the other without but they have the same nero results:
Nero DiscSpeed: Disc Info
Basic Information
Disc type: : BD-R
MID : RITEK (000)
Write speeds: : 2.0 X - 4.0 X
Blank Capacity : n/a
Extended Information
Layers : 1
Disc Status : Closed
Raw Data
Physical Format Information (00h)
0000 - 44 49 01 18 00 00 62 00 42 44 52 01 12 01 00 00 - DI....b.BDR.....
0010 - 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 02 00 00 00 19 4E 7E - ..............N~
0020 - 01 EC 64 64 28 28 28 28 1E 1E 1E 1E 00 00 00 00 - ..dd((((........
0030 - 4C 6E 74 17 17 58 20 58 A0 F0 F0 F0 F0 00 00 00 - Lnt..X.X........
0040 - 00 00 00 00 00 50 00 50 00 50 00 50 00 50 00 50 - .....P.P.P.P.P.P
0050 - 00 50 00 50 00 58 00 58 00 58 00 58 00 A0 A0 C0 - .P.P.X.X.X.X....
0060 - C0 C0 00 00 52 49 54 45 4B 00 42 52 32 00 00 00 - ....RITEK.BR2...

The discs burn really well and I have yet to have an issue. I have also tested TDK and I really like the durabis 2 coating that they put on the bottom of the disc, it is very scratch resistant but these discs cost $4.95 on mediamegamall.com so it depends on how much you want to spend. I also agree that Sony makes a decent disc.

Anyone have any good blu ray printer ideas? I want to print to the surface of these.