# cd-r(rw) discs
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-r-rw-discs/204622
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [September 30, 2003, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-r-rw-discs/204622 "2003-09-30T03:11:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@stamcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stamcon)
#### Post date: [September 30, 2003, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-r-rw-discs/204622/1 "2003-09-30T03:11:06Z")
What’s the difference in the discs between an “audio” disc and a “data” disc. I see them advertised, with the “audio” discs costing more money. Thanks.
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### Author:  [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)
#### Post date: [September 30, 2003, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-r-rw-discs/204622/2 "2003-09-30T03:20:14Z")
The audio disks are for [stand alone consumer grade CD writers](http://www.cdrfaq.org/faq05.html#S5-12). If you have a CD-writer in your computer, use regular CDRs unless you want to give some extra money to the RIAA.
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### Author:  [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)
#### Post date: [September 30, 2003, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-r-rw-discs/204622/3 "2003-09-30T03:22:48Z")
CD-R discs that are marketed as “Music CD-R” are identical to other, non-music CD-Rs. The only difference is a built-in royalty fee paid to music producers (supposedly) to compensate artists. [Cite](http://www.techtv.com/callforhelp/stepone/story/0,24330,3399378,00.html).
At least, this is true with computer burning. Some stand-alone CD recorders check for a code on blank CDs, and if it’s not a “Music CD-R”, it won’t work. At least, that’s what the linked article says; I have never personally witnessed such a thing. But if you’re using your computer to make music CDs, there’s no difference whatsoever.
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### Author:  [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)
#### Post date: [September 30, 2003, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-r-rw-discs/204622/4 "2003-09-30T04:38:44Z")
I’ve had good luck with Phillips CD-RW disks, for both audio and data. They seem to be reasonably priced too.
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### Author:  [@Roches](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roches)
#### Post date: [September 30, 2003, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cd-r-rw-discs/204622/5 "2003-09-30T10:42:10Z")
Also, “audio CD-Rs” can only be recorded at low speeds, much slower than most CD-RW drives can handle.
There are some brands of audio CD-Rs that are made to look interesting compared to standard CD-Rs, such as “vinyl CD-Rs” those with grooved black plastic on the top surface so they look like records.