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Conference marvin::uk_music

Title:The UK Music Conference
Notice:Welcome (back) to UK_MUSIC on node MARVIN.
Moderator:RDGENG::CROOK
Created:Mon Mar 28 1988
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1381
Total number of notes:39269

1299.0. "CD Lifespans" by CHEFS::GEORGEM (Cannibalise Legalbis) Mon May 22 1995 19:57

Does anyone have any information/comments about this business of CDs only 
having a 25 year lifespan?  I think my oldest CD is 10 (maybe 11?) years old, 
so it's got a few years to go.  Some of my more played (particularly in the 
car) CDs are already losing the print, as it flakes off.

Should they print warnings on the CDs!?
Should they be obliged to replace them if the become knackered within 40 
years!?!



discuss.
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1299.1!WOTVAX::STONEGTemperature Drop in Downtime Winterland....Mon May 22 1995 20:278
    
    Not too sure about the life-span thing, however I do know that the top
    (ie. non-playing side) of the Cd is the most important when it comes to
    scratches. the plastic surface is thinner on top (like me & Mike !) so
    it's easier for scrathes to penetrate to the metail film inside - if
    one does, then the Cd's knackered.
    
    G. 
1299.2CHEFS::GEORGEMCannibalise LegalbisMon May 22 1995 20:304
ah.  One of my CDs that is almost completely wrecked on the top-side, is only 2 
years old.  It's disgraceful.  I look after them pretty well, but guess that 
the abrasive edges of my autochanger cartridge are having a negative effect on 
the discs...
1299.3CBHVAX::CBHLager LoutMon May 22 1995 20:487
Don't forget the scare story a year ago or so where certain manufacturers
(PDO in this case I think) used a type of packaging which created emissions
which would eat away at the layer of laquer over the aluminium plate, causing
it do oxidise (ie not be playable).  I would imagine that scratches in the
laquer covering would have a similar effect...

Chris.
1299.4MOVIES::VERBISTMon May 22 1995 20:4820
There was a big noise about this last year.  Some CDs produced by a particular
plant over a period of about a year had a tendency to go yellow in colour
as the consituents of the plastic broke down (somebody dropped a bottle
of Bud in the mixer probably).  As they get more yellow, less laser light
gets through (or something like that) and you start getting errors, tracking
problems etc.

At least I think that was it.

I haven't heard anything about a 25 year lifespan though.  I think more
recent CDs will last longer than old ones.  I have heard about a 5 year
lifespan for the lasers in a CD player, but the one on my desk has been around
for maybe 8 years - probably before they'd got the inbuilt obsolescence tuned
right.

Guy

p.s. well technical eh?  You'd never guess I don't have a clue what I'm talking
about
1299.5MOVIES::VERBISTMon May 22 1995 20:544
re .3, .4, uh-oh, notes clash.  I think Chris has the technical details
off better than me.  It's the yellowing you've got to watch out for.

Guy
1299.6RIOT01::KINGMad mushroomsTue May 23 1995 15:1122
    
    Presumably all the heat generated and kept in close proximity to a CD
    in the car autochanger wouldn't help things.  I was a bit worried about
    my CDs when I first borrowed a car with a head-unit type single CD (where
    the tape slot should be).  After playing one album for it's length
    (60-odd minutes) at reasonable volume the CD came out at the same
    temperature as your average Tunisian car bonnet.  I wonder how it
    really affects the CD's though...?
    
    re: CD lasers
    
    My Sony finally pegged out after 8.5 years last year;  I think it's the
    laser as over a period of months it appeared to get progressively worse
    as if the CD were permanently jumping around, until it wouldn't play
    certain CDs.  Some played almsost OK though...but the charge that the Sony
    shop wanted to bung my way just for checking out the thing - to tell me
    whether or not the laser was knackered (another 100-odd quid to
    replace?) or whether I'd just been stung for an expensive lens clean
    was a bit too much to bear...  I went out and bought another CD instead
    that will hopefully last another eight years.
    
    Chris.