CD-R, CD-RW, SCMS??? Need Advice!

Hi Musicdok; CD-Rs can be recorded on by computer "burners" and pro CD-R recorders. CD-Rs with SCMS watermarking are required for use in consumer grade CD recorders. These CD-Rs are are called "CD-Rs for consumer audio", or for music. Because they are watermarked, a consumer audio CD-R cannot be copied in the digital domain, but it can usually be copied in analog with some reduction in quality. The computer and pro CD-Rs can be copied in the digital domain, and the disks are cheaper to begin with. As to playback of CD-Rs, it's really a crapshoot. I think most recently manufactured CD players will play CD-Rs, many older players may or may not play them. Levinson says their transport will not play CD-Rs, but in fact it does. The reason for this play inconsistency has to do with the lower reflectivity of CD-Rs vs standard CDs. CD-RWs are recordable, erasable, and recordable many times, But because of their quite low reflectivity, most players-- except those that made the copy-- won't play them. Bottom line, you just have to ask all these questions before you buy, or to be sure, try them for yourself, ie if you want to play CD-Rs in your car, if you can, try a few before you buy a recorder for that purpose. Confusing?-- you bet, but also exciting. I have a Pioneer recorder that makes excellent copies and is really easy to use. Of course I have to use the consumer grade CD-Rs with the watermarking, but I have not found this to be a problem for my purposes. Cheers. Craig.

Thanks Craig, for your advice here and on the other thread. I plan to start auditioning a few different players soon. -John