I've been searching the internet for the past several hours without any success, so I'm wondering if anyone here might have an answer. I currently have a CD case that holds 64 CDs that I use to transport my mp3 CD collection. However, I'd really like to switch over to a case that does *NOT* have soft sleeves. I'm basically looking for something that allows "snapping" CDs into place or some other secure method, but with solid plastic, not soft material.

Also, if I were to transport DVD+R/RWs with this method, is there a danger of damaging the physical medium by repeated "snapping" into place? Would it be better to stay with soft sleeves in this case?

Finally, if the soft-sleeve solution doesn't really pose any immediate danger of scratching (or if specific products are known to be safer than others) I'd be interested in those opinions as well.

well, every use of the the cds hold potential damage in hand. best thing you could do is to just have them laying around in a dark, non-humid place without touching them... but after all, you wanna listen to your cds
so, in my experience, softcases arent that bad, but cds get scratched after intense use quite easily, bcause of the drict contact with the package material. no ideal choise.
in case of hardcases - a friend of mine always carries around his compilation of cds in a silver dj suitcase, and he seems to be realy content so far (don't remember the brand, sorry). you might want to look into that a bit further...

dvds: your best bet would be dvd-ram I guess.

1) Hard cases like you are looking for. I have a few. Made by CaseLogic.

2) The soft sleeves aren't that bad. The scratches they may introduce usually straight outward from the center of disc, which isn't as bad as circular scratches around the disc. The problem comes if you get some particles in the sleeves...

do what I do and burn copies of your CDs and take them with you and listen to them keeping your masters safe!

A few years ago, a company called Clik!Case made a hard-shelled, solid tray model like you describe. I got a set of them when one of the local music stores was bought out, and liquidating their inventory.

There were at least three models: a hard-sided 12-disc version, a hard-sided 24-disc version, and a soft-sided soft-sided 24-disc version (eBay links included).

- M.

Edit: Fixed spelling/spacing issues.