CD-R VS CD-RW: Insight of the Difference Between The Disc Types

You have important data that needs to be stored for a long time. You also consider that the content will be preserved in its original form. Now, there are two types of CDs for archiving and distributing, and they are cost-effective. However, you have to learn the differences in the disc types for a more efficient way of archiving. You have stumbled upon this post, and now, it will guide you on when to use CD-RW and CD-R.

• Part 1. What is CD-R
• Part 2. What is CD-RW
• Part 3. CD-R VS CD-RW
• Part 4. CD-R VS CD-RW: Which is Better for Music
• Part 5. Bonus: A Comprehensive Media Player - Free Blu-ray Player
• Part 6. FAQs about CD-R VS CD-RW

Part 1. Part 1. What is CD-R

Compact Disc Recordable is an optical disc type used for audio data storage. Sony and Philips first released the CD-R in 1988, which consists of a few parts that detail CD-WO, CD-MO, and CD-RW. Typically, CD-R has a capacity of up to 700MB, which can store about 80 minutes of audio. However, the key feature of the optical disc is its single use. The data can be written only once and not be further modified or erased.

Part 2. Part 2. What is CD-RW

CD-RW, or Compact Disc-Rewritable, was first released in 1996 by Philips and Sony. It is used as a data storage medium, preserving the original quality in the short or long term. But unlike CD-R, it is rewritable and reusable. This means the data, once written in the disc storage, can be rewritten multiple times. Since CD-RW was released after CD-R, it was marked as an advancement in optical disc technology back then, as it is flexible and versatile for various purposes.

Part 3. Part 3. CD-R VS CD-RW

The two optical discs are quite similar in many aspects, especially since CD-RW was developed as a variant of CD-R. This means they share a similar physical format and are compatible with CD drives. Still, there are differences between the two, and by learning them, you can choose which is better between CD-R and CD-RW.

CD-R

• Durable for preserving data for a very long time.
• Support archiving various files, such as audio, video, etc.
• It can distribute software, songs, and other content.
• Suitable for creating permanent copies of certain files or documents.
• CD-R is relatively affordable, which makes it a better option than hard drives.

CD-RW

• Data is rewritable unlimitedly.
• Flexible for data storage temporarily or permanently.
• Best for projects that need to be updated frequently.
• Wide compatibility with the best external CD and DVD drives.
• Playable on common DVD players.

Part 4. Part 4. CD-R VS CD-RW: Which is Better for Music

In reality, you will have to choose between the disc types, depending on what project you are working on. But if you specifically aim for storing audio data, CD-R is considered the better choice than CD-RW. The reason is because of its durability, which allows music to be preserved for many years. It is a great option for song collections, letting you play music on Xbox One, DVD players, etc. Moreover, CD-R can only be used once, and this ensures that the data will be kept intact.

On the other hand, CD-RW does not perform well as a rewritable disc since excessive rewriting can degrade the audio quality. It is also not cost-effective and is only better for temporarily archiving data.

Part 5. Part 5. Bonus: A Comprehensive Media Player - Free Blu-ray Player

CD-R and CD-RW are both old methods of storing data. It is almost impossible to play them with modern media players. However, Free-Blu-ray Player is an advantage for CD playing. It is a desktop program that streams various CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs in the best quality. It extends its support to common digital formats, allowing you to play MP4, MOV, MP3, and other types without hassle. The best part of this media player is its advanced settings that allow you to control the audio tracks, playlists, subtitles, and video effects. Free Blu-ray Player is the right player for CD-R and CD-RW, allowing you to play seamless songs on Windows and Mac.

• All audio types are playable with the best quality.
• Create playlists for continuous playback.
• Customize playback with audio and video effects.
• Automatically enhance audio by removing noise.

Step 1. To download Free Blu-ray Player, click the Free Download button.

Install and launch it on your computer. Pop in the CD-R or CD-RW in the optical disc drive and click the Open Disc button to upload an audio file.

Step 2. As you expect, the file will be instantly played on the Blu-ray player. Use the controls at the bottom part of the interface or resize the screen size when you want to work flexibly.

Step 3. Additionally, you can use other settings for the playback. Provided on the Audio tab at the upper menu, you can change the audio track, audio channel, and audio device at will. You can also adjust the volume level or create a song playlist.

With a free Blu-ray Player, you don’t need to worry about how to play your CD-R or CD-RW collections. It is an effective media player today, as it supports a wide range of CD types and plays them in an enhanced quality.

Part 6. Part 6. FAQs about CD-R VS CD-RW

• What is CD-R used for?

  CD-R is primarily used for archiving data, such as photos, documents, videos, and songs captured on audio recording software. However, it is also used for software distribution, such as applications and games.

• Are CD-RW obsolete?

  Unfortunately, yes. The optical disc is considered obsolete or discontinued because of the rise of more modern technologies like external hard drives, cloud storage, etc. It became less relevant since it has limited storage capacity and slow data transfer speed.

• How do you tell if a CD is R or RW?

  An easy way to identify the optical disc type is to look at the label of the packaging. Usually, the packaging contains the term CD-R or CD-RW to distinguish if the disc is recordable or rewritable. You can also use burn software, which shows the disc type before burning.

Wrapping up

In this article, you have learned how to distinguish CD-R and CD-RW. Although the two optical disc types are almost the same, they possess certain characteristics, especially in the field of recording and rewriting data. On top of that, you also discovered Free Blu-ray Player as the best alternative to play CDs without hassle. It is a free solution that handles digital streaming without degrading the quality. Click the Free Download button to start the high-quality playback today.