Help You Find New Inspiration - What to Do with Old DVDs
DVD9 VS DVD5 - What Are They & Which One Should We ChooseOnce we have the DVDs, we can't wait to play them on our players. But we need to understand that not all DVDs are the same. Although they don't look different, DVDs are divided into several formats. The ones we come across most often are DVD9 and DVD5. DVD5 is a single-layer DVD format with wider compatibility, while DVD9 is a double-layer format suitable for storing larger video files. Of course, this is just the most obvious difference. Suppose you want to know how to choose between them. In that case, we need to analyze them in more detail, listing their respective advantages and disadvantages and the scenarios in which they are applicable. In this article, we will introduce you to these two DVD formats and discuss the results of DVD9 VS DVD5. This way, when you need to, you can choose what best suits your needs. We will also recommend a useful DVD ripper to help you back up the videos with the two formats at will.

Part 1. What Are DVD5 and DVD9
Before we compare, let's first learn about DVD9 and DVD5, two common DVD storage formats.
• What Is DVD5
DVD5 is a single-layer format that can be compared to a single-layer cake. It has a storage space of 4.7GB and is often used to hold shorter videos. DVD5 is the most compatible disc format and can be played on almost all DVD players, game consoles and computers. However, if we want to put multiple videos on a DVD5, it may be difficult, and because it has a relatively small storage space, we may need to compress the video size to fit it there. This will affect the quality of the video and our viewing experience.
• What Is DVD9
DVD9 is a double-layer disc format with a memory capacity of up to 8.5 GB. It is, therefore, often used to store long videos or large data files. Due to the double layer, a double-layer burner may be required if we want to write data to a DVD9 disc. DVD9 is compatible with most modern players, but its scope of application is not as wide as that of DVD5 because many older players do not have a double layer.
Part 2. DVD9 VS DVD5
Now that we have a brief understanding of DVD9 and DVD5's meanings, we will discuss the crux of the matter: DVD9 VS DVD5. We will explore the differences between the two from several perspectives.
• Basic Nature
First, the most obvious difference is the characteristics of the two. DVD5 is a single-sided, single-layer disc, while DVD9 is a single-sided, double-layer disc. To burn files to a DVD9, we need to prepare a dedicated dual-layer burner.
• Formats
The two types of discs support different file formats. DVD5 currently supports the formats DVD+R/RW and DVD-R/RW. DVD9, on the other hand, is compatible with DVD+R and DVD-R.
• Capacity
DVD5 has a storage capacity of 4.7 GB and is, therefore, suitable for storing short videos. A DVD9 has a storage capacity of 8.5 GB, almost twice as much as a DVD5, and is, therefore, suitable for storing long videos or large data files.
• Play Features
There is not much difference between the two in terms of playback features, and they can both be used with DVD-ROMs and DVD burners.
• Price
DVD5s are relatively inexpensive, while DVD9s are generally very expensive.
After comparing these details, it is difficult to say which is better, DVD5 or DVD9. The specific choice depends on the needs at the time. So, let's next find out the scenarios for which the two are suitable and discuss which is more practical in different scenarios.
Part 3. DVD5 or DVD9
• DVD5 Use Cases
DVD5 has less storage space and is therefore unsuitable for storing long films or series in high definition. Short video collections, software installation packages, music albums and music videos are better stored on DVD5. In addition, if you do not have a dual-layer burner or are using an older free DVD player that does not have dual-layer reading capability, DVD5 is a better choice for you. In addition, if you need your discs to be widely distributed, the high compatibility and low cost of DVD5 are reasons why you must choose it.
• DVD9 Use Cases
If you want to store a long series or a long movie with high resolution, the storage space of a DVD5 may not be enough. If the video needs to be compressed to fit on a DVD5, the quality of our files will also suffer. At this time, we recommend DVD9. It is also a more suitable choice when you need to create a larger data archive. However, please note that you need a DVD player with a double-layer reading function to read the content of a DVD9.
Part 4. Bonus: Best DVD Ripper to Back Up Any DVD5 and DVD9
FVC Video Converter Ultimate
DVDs are more stable as external storage devices and have enough memory to store movies of the highest quality. However, we need a computer with an optical drive or a dedicated DVD player to watch the content on the disc. However, many computers no longer have built-in optical drives, and DVD players are bulky and not very portable. If we want to watch the content on the DVD, this is also an extra safeguard to prevent data loss caused by accidental damage to the DVD. We recommend using FVC Video Converter Ultimate to process the contents of a DVD5 or DVD9. It can rip out the video and audio stored on it and help us modify them before exporting the files. FVC Video Converter Ultimate supports more than 1000+ formats, which is enough to meet the requirements of all video platforms and devices.

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Part 5. FAQs of DVD9 VS DVD5
Can I play a DVD9 on a DVD5 player?
If your player is an older model, you can only play DVD5s, and DVD9s may not be compatible. However, if your device is a modern player with double-layer reading capabilities, you can play DVD5s and DVD9s.
How long can videos be stored on DVD9 and DVD5?
A DVD5 can store two hours of standard-definition video or one hour of high-definition video, while a DVD9 can store up to four hours of regular video or two hours of high-definition video.
Is there a free DVD player on a Windows computer?
You can play your DVD on Windows Media Player. VLC Media Player is also a good choice.
Conclusion
In this article, we have led you through an analysis of DVD9 VS DVD5. You can learn about their concepts and their differences from here. In general, DVD5 is more widely compatible and cheaper, but it has less memory and can only be used to store smaller video files; DVD9 requires a player with double-layer reading capabilities and is expensive. However, it has a lot of memory and is suitable for storing high-quality long videos. You can choose which format to choose based on your file type.