(Some methods to detect a real CD-R manufacturer without a help of program-identifiers)

There is one universal method to tell the TY discs from others: as a rule, an inner rim of a disc from Taiyo Yuden has a mat surface, a serial number is positioned horizontally and is extruded on this surface. Discs from the most of other manufacturers usually have a transparent rim, and a serial number is printed around the hole.

Inner rim of the majority of CD-R discs

Inner rim of the majority of CD-R from Taiyo Yuden

There is also a way to tell a TDK Reflex (or Reflex Ultra) by TDK from a TDK Reflex by TY, without even opening a polyethelen package. First of all, ask for one disc from the box. Then feel the number with your fingers

and try to find out if it is embossed

If it is, then you can take the disc: most probably, it is from Taiyo Yuden.

Another simple way to find out where a disc is from is for relatively new (Multispeed 1x-12x and higher) discs EMTEC/BASF. Under this trend you can find both a high quality disc from Taiyo Yuden and a dubious CMC Magnetics, Ritek, 4M or even Computer Support Italy s.r.l..

First of all, find a bar-code on the back side of a disc. The latter two letters in the sequence will help you find out where the disc comes from.

So, "TY" means CD-R Taiyo Yuden, "MO" - Multi Media Masters & Machinery SA (4M), "CM" - CMC Magnetics etc.

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