Home > Consumer Reviews > AmazonBasics 4.7GB 16x DVD+R (100-Pack Spindle) [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]

There isn't a whole lot you can say about a particular brand of DVD+R media. If it works and there are no unusual issues, one is pretty much the same as another.

That said, there are two things that will keep me buying the AmazonBasics DVDs. One is the price....the price is lower than other brands, and still a similar price even when the other brands are on sale. Factor in Amazon free shipping and sales tax considerations and their price is excellent.

The other reason I like these is the shipping. The double boxing and packing ensured the media got to me safely.

As far as performance, that is driven mostly by your PC hardware and burner. I have used about 30 of these so far to store general data, photos, video, etc. and have not had any issues. I have used some other brands (Sony) where I have run into the occasional bad DVD right out of the box.

I would rate the Amazon Basic DVDs right up there with the Panasonic media, which from my experience tends to have no bad DVDs in a batch.
Try these, you won't be disappointed!

The AmazonBasics 4.7GB 16x DVD+R 100-pack spindle is comparable to most major brand names out there. DVD+R discs are a single-sided/single-layer one-time recordable disc that once the information is written it will be permanent. A 4.7GB discs can store up to as much data as 7 standard CDs. Store up to 2 hours of high quality video and up to 3 hours of VHS-quality video. Perfect for sharing and backing up data, home videos, and photos. DVD+R media is read compatible with the vast majority of DVD-ROM drives and DVD video players. Compressing a video into smaller file sizes will allow you to fit more recording time (4-8 hours) on the same 4.7GB disc, but keep in mind that recordings made at a longer mode length will be lower in quality due to the increased compression.

The amount of time taken to write a disc depends upon the writing speed of your recorder, the writing mode and the amount of information to be written. Be aware that the numbers that are written on the drive are simply the maximum transfer rates that your drive supports. The specific disc that you are using will also affect the actual transfer rate. In other words, if you have a DVD burner that supports a transfer rate of 32X and you are burning your files onto a 16X blank DVD, the maximum speed your burner will be able to use is 16X, even though though your burner is capable of burning at a faster rate. DVD format X=1.32MB/second. At 16X you will be able to transfer 21.12MB/second. A speedier DVD means faster burn times, a 16x disc can burn in less than 6 minutes, whereas a 4x disc can take about 15 minutes (depending of course what it is your are transferring). While higher speed recording saves time and generally results in great discs, slower speed recordings may give you your best chance for a higher quality disc, with lower error rates. This will help in less wasted discs - aka "coasters" or "sun catchers."

Amazon now offers their own line of electrical and computer accessories/supplies. AmazonBasics 4.7GB DVD+R 100-pack spindle are extremely comparable to the other manufacturers out in the market. The price is reasonable and the quality is equivalent. This item is advertised as frustration free packaging, but I do not understand why they were not shipped in the original box. Instead they came packaged inside of another box with air bags! That sounds like a waste of trees to me.

DVD Burner: Asus DRW 2014L1T
Software: Ashampoo 9.20

I burned about 6 of these, one of them included a Music DVD (this is different formatting than a data DVD) and couple that were simple data DVDs.

Music DVD
8 minutes for 4,429 MB
Write speed averaged 12,920 KB or 9.2x

Data DVD
6 minutes for 3,026 MB
Write speed averaged 12,101 KB or 8.7x

There are a lot of reasons why top speeds aren't met, but I wasn't about to monkey around with it. I have achieved higher speeds with some other media, but really its just under the speed of some other brands without me actually forcing the software to speed it up.

Like other reviewers, I have no idea what Amazon is talking about with their Frustration-Free Packaging. Yes, the cake-box shipped in its own shipping box with a easily removable "Ready to Ship" stick in place of heavy duty tape, but that smaller box was inside a much bigger box which had additional packing pillows and, of course, that box was taped heavily which did require cutting to open.

I have Sony, TDK, and Amazon DVD+R discs on hand for comparison. The first major difference is the price. The Sony DVDs are twice the price as the Amazon basics for the same size spindle, the same write speed and the same storage capacity. The TDKs are a few bucks more. So what does Sony give you for the extra money? Their warranty is two years vs. Amazon's one year and the Sony DVDs are inkjet printable. In light of Amazon's cost per disc, I can honestly say I don't care about the warranty. I wouldn't waste my time returning a few bad discs that cost pennies each. Also, I don't print my discs in a printer. The Amazon discs have lots of blank space to write.

All three disc makers DVDs performed well. The TDK spindle is the only one so far to give me a bad blank in the first 20 discs.

The Amazon case is slightly shorter and the attaching method securing the top and bottom is different and effective. All in all, Amazon gets the job done on a very commoditized product and adds the convenience of front door delivery.

I've used seven of the 100 DVDs in the pack I received. So far, all have burned fine and at the same rate as the TDK and Maxell discs I normally buy. I can't say they seem worlds better than the TDK/Maxell discs -- they seem to be about the same -- but they certainly are cheaper. Getting the same quality for less money is always a plus in my book. Would definitely order again.

(If I experience burn issues as I use up the rest of my spindle, I'll come back and amend this review.)