DVD Rot...Anyone having Problems?

Discussion in 'Visual Arts' started by audiomixer, Aug 5, 2004.

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  1. audiomixer

    audiomixer As Bald As The Beatles Thread Starter

    :help: Is anyone experiencing DVD rot on any of their discs? Other message boards have been posting this problem. I personally have not had a problem. However, I have not gone back and viewed some of my earlier acquisitions. Can anyone shed any light on this subject?
    (No pun intended!!!) I am starting to get nervous. :eek:
     
  2. SamS

    SamS Forum Legend

    Location:
    Texas
    I bought my first DVD in 1996 (even a couple of months before my first player ;) ), and they've been doing fine since the beginning. No rot or other problems.
     
  3. peterC

    peterC Aussie Addict

    Location:
    sydney
  4. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialistâ„¢

    Location:
    B.C.
    Guess I should take a look someday. Yikes! :eek:
     
  5. audiomixer

    audiomixer As Bald As The Beatles Thread Starter

    These post I've been reading are scaring the s**t out of me!
     
  6. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialistâ„¢

    Location:
    B.C.
    What labels have you read about that have gone bad?
     
  7. peterC

    peterC Aussie Addict

    Location:
    sydney
    Here's some more information:


    CD Bronzing
    by
    L. David Lampson
    September 1995

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Not long after the CD was introduced in 1981, questions concerning the longevity of the medium began to arise. Since the mid-eighties, when the CD began to supplant the LP as the primary consumer format for pre-recorded music, rumors of "laser rot" have periodically appeared to challenge industry claims that CDs would remain playable for at least a century or more. All but one rumor have proved groundless; any problems that have occurred have been traced to specific, improperly manufactured batches or releases where a manifest breach of quality control occurred.

    One reported fault, however, has rightly continued to concern collectors. In the late 80s and early 90s several hundred titles produced at Philips & Du Pont Optical UK Limited (PDO) were made with a lacquer that was unable to withstand the long-term corrosive effects of the sulphur normally found in paper used for CD booklets and inserts. Lacquer is used as the clear, plastic coating that protects the shiny aluminum layer on which reside the digitized data that are read to produce music. Aluminum is especially susceptible to oxidation when it comes into contact with air. After the aluminum layer of a CD becomes oxidized, it loses the ability to reflect accurately the laser beam that is used to read the digitized data. If the lacquer is porous and allows air to oxidize the aluminum layer, the CD will eventually become unplayable. It is possible that most or even all of the CDs manufactured by PDO during the period of substandard lacquer will become unplayable in time.

    Complete and definitive information has been difficult to obtain, but it has been reported that this problem may be specific to discs manufactured within a 16-18 month period overlapping the turn of the decade from the 1980's to the 1990's. During the defective lacquer interval, PDO was contracted to produce discs for a number of labels, including Hyperion, Pearl, Academy Sound & Vision, CRD, Archiv, Deutsche Grammophon, London/Decca, and Unicorn-Kanchana. Most of the discs made during this period have the words "MADE IN U.K. BY PDO" etched in the inner hub. PDO anticipates problems will develop with discs produced for all of these labels. Collectors who have these labels in their collection should check them for discoloration. Breakdown of the lacquer is characterized by a gradual "bronzing" of the disc starting at the outer edge and creeping inward; usually the bronzing appears first on the label side. (The slight yellowish hue that some discs display is entirely normal and should not be confused with fatal bronzing.) The rate of corrosion is variable, and not every CD of a given release will develop this problem. Eventually affected discs start producing digital errors, especially in the last few tracks, which lie on the outer margins of the disc. (Unlike vinyl records, CDs track from inside to outside.) These errors usually sound like the clicks and pops heard on LPs.

    I have spoken with Mrs. Pat Burns at the PDO Helpline. PDO's stated policy is to replace CDs that become defective. Defective discs eligible for replacement are defined either as showing a visually advanced stage of bronzing (with or without audible defect), or as discs having been manufactured by PDO that are audibly defective. PDO has pledged that they will repress new CDs as long as 20 years from now if the customer notices the corrosion problem, so there is no need to act before a deadline. PDO suggests that customers inspect suspect CDs at six-month intervals.

    Customers may contact PDO directly for replacement of eligible discs. Each CD for which a replacement is sought should be identified by label and complete catalog number at the time of replacement request. PDO can be contacted at:

    Philips & Du Pont Optical UK Ltd.
    Philips Road
    Blackburn
    Lancashire
    BB15RZ

    FAX: +44 1 254 54729
    TEL: +44 1 254 52448

    Though potentially a substantial number of discs were affected, it is important to note that the defects resulted from the use of substandard materials and were not symptomatic of a deficiency in digital compact disc technology itself. Well into the second decade of mass production of CDs, no fault inherent in the medium itself has yet been identified in this product, which was brought to a high state of technological refinement prior to its introduction as a consumer medium.

    For additional information on this problem, see the Hyperion Records site.
     
  8. Claude

    Claude Senior Member

    Location:
    Luxembourg
    I recently discovered CD bronzing on all 3 discs from a 3CD set from the Hyperion label (classical), which I bought 10 years ago.

    They are aware of the problem and replacing the discs (if available). I sent mine in a week ago and waiting for the replacements CDs.

    http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/bronzed.asp
     
  9. lv70smusic

    lv70smusic Senior Member

    Location:
    San Francisco, CA
    I haven't had any problems with DVD's, but I definitely had a number of those PDO-produced titles that bronzed on me. With respect to DVD's, I did get a new dvd once that had a very odd color and that couldn't be recognized in any player I had. It was a copy of the original "Stepford Wives" movie. I exchanged it and the replacement was fine, but I was very curious as to the first copy since it looked like it had bronzed/rotted sometime after manufacture.
     
  10. Michael St. Clair

    Michael St. Clair Forum Resident

    Location:
    Funkytown
    I've got a couple of rotters, 'Contact' and 'Heathers' (Anchor Bay).

    These are among a handful of discs that are notorious for defective manufacture and rotting.

    Fortunately, over 99% of DVDs were made properly and you have little to worry about.
     
  11. ChrisM

    ChrisM Reclusive Enabler

    Location:
    SW Ontario, Canada
    At this point, the only CD which I had this problem with is a Hyperion disc, as well (Thomas Tallis "Spem In Alium"). It was pressed by PDO. I bought this CD in 1990 when it was released. I bought a lot of Hyperion discs when I got my first CD player in 1989. Other old Hyperion discs that I have checked have not seemed to rot (yet!).

    Cheers,
    Chris
     
  12. audiomixer

    audiomixer As Bald As The Beatles Thread Starter

    Thanks for the encouragement! I was aware of the problem with "Contact".
    I will have to pull mine out and take a peek at it! (Boy, that doesn't sound good, does it?)
     
  13. Grant

    Grant Life is a rock, but the radio rolled me!

    No problems here!
     
  14. Scotian

    Scotian Amnesia Hazed

    Gladiator is one that has visible rot & will no longer play past the layer change. I mentioned this one on "Home Theater Forum" & was told its been brought up a few times. I e-mailed Universal about it & never received a reply.

    The Crow: Salvation is another one with visible rot but still plays fine (for now).
     
  15. Michael

    Michael I LOVE WIDE S-T-E-R-E-O!

    I have a bunch of PDO Cee Dee's...my Chocolate Watchband, Chiffons are bronzing:(...I have to check the others...have at least 30!
     
  16. Michael

    Michael I LOVE WIDE S-T-E-R-E-O!

    The original unedited DVD version of Devil's Advocate had rot problems...thankfully, my copy is holding up.:)
     
  17. John B Good

    John B Good Forum Hall Of Fame

    Location:
    NS, Canada
    I would like to think that DVD's would be as sturdy and stable as cd's, but that is not the case.

    The density of the info seems to challenge the precision and quality of the manufacturing. Personally, I 'd rather not hear that the disk I am looking at has 3 hours of movie and extras per side.

    I've learned to live with trivial non layer-change "sticks" in dvd's (maybe 10% of the ones I have), and have returned numerous severely defective disks (15 or more out of 400), that won't even start or just seize up, break up in pixilation, etc.

    I attempted correspondence with Anchor Bay, but it was like dealing with a cyber brick wall.
     
  18. Claude

    Claude Senior Member

    Location:
    Luxembourg
    I received replacement CDs today. Very good customer service by PDO.
     
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