A Blast from the Past: Exploring Vintage Optical Media from Japan
2025-04-02

The author documents their journey collecting vintage optical media from Japan, both online and in person. The article details several brands of DVDs and CDs, including TDK, LG, Sony, Maxell, Mitsubishi, and Fujifilm, testing their performance across various metrics. Tests included burn speeds, read speeds, error rates, and physical characteristics. TDK's UV-protected discs performed exceptionally well, while an older Maxell CD-R showed signs of age-related degradation. The experience is a nostalgic trip down memory lane, showcasing the evolution of optical media technology and manufacturing across different eras and brands.