CD storage solutions

[George]

I dream the same dream. But Benno's are definitely NOT part of that dream. Bennos are part of the haphazard solution right now... but because of their thick walls and narrow stance, they waste something like 15 to 20% of your space.

True.

[jlaurson]

David & George - boy, I'm being tempted!    Already own about 4-5 CDs of these works, but SO MUCH additional plastic! 

Hey, maybe I can take the discs out of each jewel box & place them in another more 'space saving' option?  The MDT price is so cheap @ the moment - hmmmm - decisions?  Dave 

Do you know about the plastic sleeves that turn CD jewel cases into mini-LPs (all parts of the original are preserved), saving 2/3 of space (more, with the thick double or triple CD sets)? Has saved Alex Ross' life. Now they're saving mine. As Ross said in a post about it five years ago: I'm sure others offer similar or same products, but my loyalties lie with Jazz Loft.

[jlaurson]

Wow - does anybody know of a UK/Europe distributor for these or similar?  I have a serious storage problem, needing to reclaim not just shelf but floor space.

I wish I did. When I need them in Europe, I have them brought to me by friends who visit me. Their shipping option to Europe shows that 1.) other customers have not found them here, either. But even so, it's just a tad too expensive with shipping when 'personal courier' is an option.
Have not seen any such sleeves that fulfill all my requirements overseas.

[SonicMan46]

Do you know about the plastic sleeves that turn CD jewel cases into mini-LPs (all parts of the original are preserved), saving 2/3 of space (more, with the thick double or triple CD sets)? Has saved Alex Ross' life. Now they're saving mine. As Ross said in a post about it five years ago: I'm sure others offer similar or same products, but my loyalties lie with Jazz Loft.

Jens - thanks for the reminder; I WAS aware of this product a number of years ago, but apparently 'slipped' my mind - think that I'll put in a 'small' order, and see what happens - my main concern was that in storing these 'slimmer' containers that the 'spine' show so that you can still see the title information; from the description on the website linked, appears that is so.  Dave 

[DavidW]

I know that this will be seen as blasphemy, but I'm perfectly content with binning the jewel cases and stuffing the cds into those big wallets that hold 100-300 cds.  Quick and easy to find things and dramatically reduces space.

[DavidRoss]

Jens - thanks for the reminder; I WAS aware of this product a number of years ago, but apparently 'slipped' my mind - think that I'll put in a 'small' order, and see what happens - my main concern was that in storing these 'slimmer' containers that the 'spine' show so that you can still see the title information; from the description on the website linked, appears that is so.  Dave 

My main concern is damage to the CDs caused by sliding them in and out of the sleeves.  Any reports on this?

[SonicMan46]

I know that this will be seen as blasphemy, but I'm perfectly content with binning the jewel cases and stuffing the cds into those big wallets that hold 100-300 cds.  Quick and easy to find things and dramatically reduces space.

David - don't disagree at all w/ that approach; I have about a dozen of the CD/DVD storage binders shown below - I've 'burned' hundreds of old movies from the TCM channel over the years (i.e. ever since I got a DVR & bought a stand-alone Sony DVD burner) and store the discs in these binders; of course, CDs would work, also!

My main concern is damage to the CDs caused by sliding them in and out of the sleeves.  Any reports on this?

David - that is a concern of mine also; the website states 'archival polyethylene' whatever that may be?  I've 'scratched' a few CD surfaces on some older billfold type binders (carrying CDs on trips) - hope others who have used these products will respond.  Dave (3 Davids in 1 post - a record?)

[jlaurson]

Jens - thanks for the reminder; I WAS aware of this product a number of years ago, but apparently 'slipped' my mind - think that I'll put in a 'small' order, and see what happens - my main concern was that in storing these 'slimmer' containers that the 'spine' show so that you can still see the title information; from the description on the website linked, appears that is so.  Dave 

My main concern is damage to the CDs caused by sliding them in and out of the sleeves.  Any reports on this?

David - that is a concern of mine also; the website states 'archival polyethylene' whatever that may be?  I've 'scratched' a few CD surfaces on some older billfold type binders (carrying CDs on trips) - hope others who have used these products will respond.

1.) Yes, just by thumbing over the spines you can read them. They're at an angle now, of course, but you can still tell from afar whether it's a DG spine or your Erato Koopman Bach and the like.

2.) I don't see how one could possibly scrach CDs putting them in or out of those sleeves. The material is so much softer than paper... I don't think it could scratch them if you tried. I find jewel cases far more treacherous on that account.  (Esp. the 'spider'.) These sleeves are not "billfold type binders", btw.. They're not made for travel. They're more convenient for travel only in the sense that you are saving a lot of weight (apart from the space)... but less convenient because a single disc in such a sleeve obviously has less protection than in a jewel case. And these sleeves are slippery, so you can't pile them up.

[George]

David - that is a concern of mine also; the website states 'archival polyethylene' whatever that may be?  I've 'scratched' a few CD surfaces on some older billfold type binders (carrying CDs on trips) - hope others who have used these products will respond.  Dave (3 Davids in 1 post - a record?)

For my older CDs and CD-Rs, I use the larger style cases that hold over 300 CDs, the Case Logic and CD Projects ones. I have 5 of these and a few smaller ones too. I have used them for years and don't recall a single time that they damaged a CD enough to cause playing errors. I don't check the CDs regularly fr light marks, but the few times that I did (out of worry), I didn't see a single mark. It's not my first choice of storage (I prefer to store and display my CDs in jewel cases), but for older CDs or CD-Rs it works just fine. I think the trick is that the Cd needs to be clean when it goes into the case, otherwise, any small things stuck to it can cause abrasion due to the rubbing against the case surface.

I see more CDs get ruined by a cheap plastic style of thin case that I bought awhile back than anything else. They were made of a slightly soft plastic and were circular. Very small and very easy to carry around, but the inner design had a flaw that scratched the CD when it spun around in the case.

[George]

My main concern is damage to the CDs caused by sliding them in and out of the sleeves.  Any reports on this?

As I said above, no problem with me, Dave. I have a case that is about 8 years old. It has stored a number of different CDs as I have changed my filing system and I've never had a problem that you describe.

The only problems I have had are:

1. Sometimes the CD doesn't stay firmly in place, especially if the compartment behind it on the same page is empty.

2. If you take the case out on a hot day, this can cause some discoloration (oxodizing?) on the surface of the CD. This hasn't caused playback problems for me, though.

[Coopmv]

Netgear ReadyNAS Duo.



Up to 1.5TB of FLAC files go in here. That's about 3500 CDs.
And the Duo is the smallest model.

Nice box.  I cannot see myself jettisoning all my analog equipments anytime soon ...

[Coopmv]

Yep. With a Wadia 302 and Dali Euphonia MS5s. The key is to have a dedicated room (or no wife) - though I have Vienna Beethovens in the living room (and a wife). The small speaker you see is one of a pair of twoway Ushers bound for my summer cottage.

Isn't your CJ MF2500A too much power for your twoway Ushers?

[Valentino]

Nice box.  I cannot see myself jettisoning all my analog equipments anytime soon ...

I haven't done so either, but I must admit that my analog front end equipment is one turntable and one RIAA amp. And a all-in-one HMV for 78s of course.

[Coopmv]

I haven't done so either, but I must admit that my analog front end equipment is one turntable and one RIAA amp. And a all-in-one HMV for 78s of course.

I have spent tens of thousands dollars over the years on my multiple analog sound systems and doubt I will switch over to an all-digital sound system anytime soon.  My current all-digital sound system is the Core 2 Quad Dell desktop with Altec Lansing sat & sub that has at least 400 CD's load on it.  I digitized 2 open-reel tapes a few months ago and that was such a cool experience to hear live performances of Concentus Musicus and AAM I recorded off the air on those open reels back in the mid 80's and now listen to them on my desktop ...     

[Renfield]

I know that this will be seen as blasphemy, but I'm perfectly content with binning the jewel cases and stuffing the cds into those big wallets that hold 100-300 cds.  Quick and easy to find things and dramatically reduces space.

Same! Everything but box sets goes in wallets like that after being ripped - which also helps with archiving.

My main concern is damage to the CDs caused by sliding them in and out of the sleeves.  Any reports on this?

David, I am certifiably paranoid about my CDs, yet I can happily report I have only had three damaged discs (read: one visible scratch on the surface) via the sleeves (out of several hundreds currently stored there), and all three were only damaged as a result of my absent-mindedly trying to slide them in an already-occupied sleeve. The only other thing worth noting, apart from the fact that it is indeed fairly easy for the discs to slide out if one is not careful, is that the accompanying liner notes can occasionally suffer slight abrasions, if also stored there.

[jlaurson]

Same! Everything but box sets goes in wallets like that after being ripped - which also helps with archiving.

I still like the idea of shelves... to look at my treasure at all times. [More a dream... since there is no such sufficiently sized shelf in my life yet. But there will be. There will be no binders! :-) ]

David, I am certifiably paranoid about my CDs, yet I can happily report I have only had three damaged discs (read: one visible scratch on the surface) via the sleeves (out of several hundreds currently stored there), and all three were only damaged as a result of my absent-mindedly trying to slide them in an already-occupied sleeve. The only other thing worth noting, apart from the fact that it is indeed fairly easy for the discs to slide out if one is not careful, is that the accompanying liner notes can occasionally suffer slight abrasions, if also stored there.

We should note that the sleeves that revitalized this discussion are rather different from those found in binders. The plastic is so soft, you could polish a cockpit canopy after the toothpaste stage with them.

[George]

I still like the idea of shelves... to look at my treasure at all times. [More a dream... since there is no such sufficiently sized shelf in my life yet. But there will be.

One day I will be there too, Jens! Simple shelves with no dividers. I can't wait.

[Renfield]

I still like the idea of shelves... to look at my treasure at all times.

I satisfy that urge with still shelving the box sets, for the time being, along with these irritating shelf-space claiming objects known as books!

We should not that the sleeves that revitalized this discussion are rather different from those found in binders. The plastic is so soft, you could polish a cockpit canopy after the toothpaste stage with them.

Indeed. Even less a reason to worry; though as I said, even the binder-sleeves can suffice. CDs are hard objects, thankfully, especially vs. vinyl!

[DavidW]

Same! Everything but box sets goes in wallets like that after being ripped - which also helps with archiving.

That's exactly how I'm going to get myself on track with ripping my collection.  I'm going to transfer my collection to new wallets, but only after ripping them.  Easy to see where I'll be-- I can just open a new wallet.

[George]

I satisfy that urge with still shelving the box sets, for the time being, along with these irritating shelf-space claiming objects known as books!