Reducing the Space it Takes to Store Your Physical CDs... Options

[dewey1973]

Hello all,

I am running out of bookshelf space and so I thought I'd look for some ideas on physically storing my CDs. I came across these products that would definitely reduce the space my collection takes up:

JewelSleeve - The world's finest CD storage device!
DiscSox® Music/CD Storage Sleeves (These guys make a solution for DVDs as well. That's another collection getting out of hand.)

They both seem great but either would set me back a few hundred dollars to get enough to do the job.

Does anyone know of a similar product that is cheaper?
Or do you have an other ideas on ways to shrink your collection?

Thanks!

[Axon]

Honestly, I wouldn't. I bought into the whole Case Logic craze when I was a kid (gigantic 100-300 disc binders) and I've regretted it ever since. The risk of damaging the CD increases dramatically the minute you start sliding anything against the CD surface. You never have to do that with jewel cases but always have to do that with any sleeve-based scheme (binder or not). And if you ever want a prayer of selling your collection in the future, you'll really want those original jewel cases back. And you lose the ability to look at your collection at a glance with the spines, for the (overrated) ability to thumb through all of them by hand.

And SRSLY! JewelSleeve sells 50 packs for $24? What a ripoff.

Buy a Benno from Ikea for $50. It holds 180 CDs. And it's a hell of a lot better looking too.

This post has been edited by Axon: Jul 25 2008, 23:43

[kornchild2002]

I would have to agree with Axon here, it is best just to store your CDs as-is. I too bought into the whole carrying case craze and I even have a mechanical CD hold that can store 300 of my CDs. Some of my CDs ended up being scratched over the years and I have actually lost the original jewel cases/inserts to some of my favorite releases. I now simply store my CDs in a bookshelf. A stack of 20 CDs might take up more space than a 300 capacity binder/storage system but it is a lot better knowing that your CDs are being protected in their original jewel cases and all of the inserts/cases are in tact.

You can also "shrink" you collection by purchasing some basic plastic tubs and keep those under your bed or in your closet. Then again, I don't think that you would want to hide your CD collection.

[Axon]

I will say that CD binders are great for storing recorded discs, crap that nobody wants to see (like that Jefferson Starship greatest hits that I have - yikes), and miscellaneous computer CDs. Stuff that isn't presentable. But as long as you're not trying to hide your hidden life as a juggalo, or something like that, CDs, tend to be presentable

The only major disadvantage I see to bookshelves is that it's easier to steal a CD or two from surreptitiously, but of course it's harder to transport the entire set compared to a small little binder.

[Fandango]

JewelSleeve - The world's finest CD storage device!
DiscSox® Music/CD Storage Sleeves (These guys make a solution for DVDs as well. That's another collection getting out of hand.)

They both seem great but either would set me back a few hundred dollars to get enough to do the job.

They both seem to contain softening agents because they're made of flexible plastic. These agents dilute into the CDs and damage the data layer and make them more sensible to scratches.

This is certainly not something for long-term storage.

If I were you, I'd stick to the jewel cases the CDs are already in, because the CDs are not in direct physical contact with another plastic or any other kind of material (except air with its much more long-term damaging effects). Or as an alternative that becomes more and more attractive with the advancement of music distribution, consider stop buying CDs completely and instead start purchasing lossless audio files from now on, that saves a lot of space.

This post has been edited by Fandango: Jul 26 2008, 02:58

[dewey1973]

Thanks for all of the advice. It sounds like if I want to reclaim space I should just box them up, store them somewhere else, and rely on my digital files for playback. I guess I could keep the most frequently played ones on the shelf.

Would the garage or attic be OK for storing them in banker's boxes or plastic tubs?

[Axon]

Probably. As long as the CDs aren't in direct physical contact with anything (besides a jewel case), and as long as it doesn't get insanely hot (like over 120F) I'd imagine that it's pretty hard to damage them through heat/humidity.

[Fandango]

Choose a place where no drastic changes in temperature and humidity occur.

So the attic is not a good place, since it's gets very hot in the summer and very cold in the winter.

The garage might not be as extreme as the attic when it comes to temperature changes, but I guess it might still be the case for you, is it?

If you got one, rather store them in the basement, but only if it's not too moist there.

My advise would be to choose some (heated + air conditioned) place in the house, i.e. inside the living space, maybe some unused closet.

It is the air that transports the heat and the moisture to the CDs, i.e. the other bad stuff, and unlike Axon says, it's not the absolute extremes that are the most damaging but the frequency in that the air changes.

[Slipstreem]

If you live in a centrally-heated or air-conditioned dwelling, then under the bed is probably a sensible bet... as long as you don't suffer from incontinence.

Cheers, Slipstreem.

[dewey1973]

I think I'll try the under the stairs closet. That should meet all of the criteria.

Oh and eeeeewwww! It took me a minute to get that, Slipstreem!

This post has been edited by dewey1973: Jul 26 2008, 21:24