Original CDs from 1980-90
Reply #14 –
What those surface shapes mean? What is the proper name for this?
Could it be a warning that CD has hit is half-age lifetime?
I would call it a less-desirable appearance.
I seemed to notice these non-circular reflections on pressings from mail order CD clubs (at least I seemed to think it since I figured there was a "catch" for getting CD's at reduced price*). At the time I thought the visible distortion-like pattern would affect playback but I really could not determine if it did.
* Your picture doesn't indicate it was from such a place since some clubs put an additional printing on the CD or back cover art, or sometimes the barcode is replaced with a catalog number. The "catch" I found was that the artists got reduced royalties on albums sold through such clubs.