Digital Audio cd-rs (media for consumer digital audio-only cd-to-cd recorders) – what are they, and why are they more expensive?
There are basically two types of media – ‘computer media’ and ‘consumer audio-only media’. Computer media are designed for computer cd recorders (and professional audio-only recorders). This is the vast majority of cd-r’s being sold. Consumer audio-only media are required if you have a stand alone (stereo component) audio-only cd recorder (like Philips, Teac, Harmon/Kardon, Pioneer, etc.). These are known as ‘Digital Audio’ cd-r’s. Media for these recorders is available for purchase from the ‘Digital Audio CD-R’s & CD-RW’s’ category. These consumer audio-only stand alone (stereo component) recorders require these special cd-r’s that conform to the SCMS (Serial Copy Management System), which is designed to stop a cd-r copy being made from anything other than the original cd. These media are slightly more expensive than computer media, with the main reason being that the manufacturer pays a royalty on consumer audio-only cd-r’s to the RIAA, whereas with computer cd-r’s, no royalty is pai
