Mossman

Can anyone recommend where to buy the blank minidiscs please?

Thanks in advance!

Jon.

Mike Tuckwood

A up John.

You can get them from Comet, Dixons, Boots Etc.

I buy blanks and make my own MD's up for the car, I still have the original (CD's) in the house and don't have to keep swapping them over all the time.

Mike.

[This message has been edited by Mike Tuckwood (edited 14-03-2000).]

Nick Lines

Virgin were doing a promotion a couple of weeks back: 5 80 minute TDK XA minidiscs in a box for 9.99. May be worth a look.

Despite the fact it shouldn't be possible, discs do sound different. If anyone can explain how the same digital information can sound different from one disc to another, they're a better man than me...

Imran

Ah, a subject so close to my heart.


Anyway, MD quality does vary between blank discs. Factors such as the quality of the laser pick-up in the CD unit you recorded from, to the quality of the disc itself manifest themselves as varying sounds.

Data is stored digitally on the disc, with lots of error correction etc. However, when reading from the disc there will be errors. Some blanks have a higher error rate than others. These errors may or may not be recoverable, it depends on where in the bit stream they occur.

I remember reading the results of an experiment once, which compared raw data outputs from various blank discs. The Sony blanks used, had by the far the greatest number of errors. TDK and Maxell were the best.

How these bit errors 'sound' is difficult to realise. I don't know whether they would necessarily result in analog type variations, ie. more trebble, less bass etc. But I do admit to being able to hear one disc sound tinny compared to another.

RicherSounds sell the HISPACE discs. These are utter crap!

I buy TDK 80min discs for £16.50 for ten in a storage box.

HiSpace 80min discs can be had for about £1.30 each.

You pays your money.

Enough!

Imran

IWatkins

Hi Jon,

Richer Sounds had a good deal a while back, but now it seems anyplace is good enough. Dixons, Comet etc.

I do the same as Mike, record my CDs to MD so if the car is broken into I don't loose 100 quids worth of CDs. And I can change an MD without looking (only have a headunit).

I have found that MD quality actualy varies like the old cassettes (but not as bad). TDK always sound a bit hollow, whereas Sony sound a bit harsh (too much treble). Best I have found are Maxell (sp?) for the car. Nice, slightly warm sound. Maxells also come it loads of colours which I find handy. I.e. just grab the blue one instead of trying to read all the labels while driving.

Of course, this is just my own preference...

Cheers

Ian Watkins (GT4)

Nick Lines

Imran,

You're a better man than me. And I am slightly enlightened.

I was comparing the hi-space with TDK XAs, so I guess that explains it... Where did you find the 10 box for 16 quid? Went into Virgin again - sold out, no more available!

Nick.

Imran

Oops, that was the point of the thread!

Makro in Enfield. £16.50 including VAT

I'm a member, doesn't cost anything, just need to have a VAT registered business.

I'm happy to get a whole load, if enough people want them and they haven't stopped that line.

Imran