optimal CD library storage?

[Jeff E]

A previous thread about a CD lift got me thinking about how to best store a substantial CD collection resulting in this solicitation for suggestions.

Criteria

• space efficiency: I would like to have room for 800 to 1000 CDs while occupying relatively little "visual frontage." A book shelf type arrangement (spine out) takes up too much frontage. It seems that any solution probably requires some sort of drawer system.
• ease of access: Relatively easy to find and replace CDs stored in their jewelboxes.
• compatibility with furniture: The domicile's inspector of visual appearance requests that the CD storage fit into a yet to be acquired home entertainment center that also houses the TV & audio components. The CD storage solution I am seeking doesn't need to come from a HEC furniture company, just fit into their product.
• cost: As a standard of comparison, Salamander's 72 CD capacity media storage tray would add over $1600 to the price! Can I reasonably hope to do better?

Ideas? Suggestions?

 

[Alu]

You might want to browse through eBay with the search keywords "cd rack" or the like. I got my racks from eBay...and I quite like them.

 

[Gigabomber]

that new sponsor slappa has some pretty cool stuff apparently, though the cases might cost a bit for that many cds, a rack is probably your best bet.

 

[tennisets]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gigabomber that new sponsor slappa has some pretty cool stuff apparently, though the cases might cost a bit for that many cds, a rack is probably your best bet.

Jeff wants to store CDs in their jewel cases; he can't do that with a Slappa case. As for storage that will make it easy to find CDs but not take up much space visually, I'm not sure what to tell you. I think storing CDs with their spines out is still the most space efficient way to store discs, and it's easy to find discs that way (assuming you keep them alphebetically organized).

 

[soundboy]

How about one of these spinning CD storage towers? They often just take up about one square foot of space and allows for easy access for CDs in alphabetical order. Make sure the shelves are adjustable for those non-standard size jewel boxes.

 

[Jeff E]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tennisets Jeff wants to store CDs in their jewel cases; he can't do that with a Slappa case. As for storage that will make it easy to find CDs but not take up much space visually, I'm not sure what to tell you. I think storing CDs with their spines out is still the most space efficient way to store discs, and it's easy to find discs that way (assuming you keep them alphebetically organized).

I wish I had explained this better. Maybe an example would clarify what I mean. Suppose that you have an 16 inch wide drawer that holds three rows of CDs spines up so you can see them, one row behind the other, accessible as you pull out the drawer. That way you could store (almost) 3X as many CDs per linear foot across the front of a piece of furniture than you could with a single row library book style.

The problem with soundboy's spinning tower suggestion is that it violates criterion #3. The media storage needs to be integrated into the HEC furniture, preferably behind drawers or doors, not only for appearance but also for protection from house pets.

I guess this is a tough one.

 

[Jose Perez]

I'm currently contemplating ditching the cases on all my CD's and going the plastic sleeve route. I found some storage products here: http://www.bagsunlimited.com/cart/browse.asp?subcat=70
And I am thinking about using my end tables as CD storage shelves and use some of the tabbed dividers they sell to seperate my CD's alphabetically.

Since its the cases that take up the most amount of space and weight, going to a system like this, which is exactly what most used CD stores use to keep their discs behind the counter, would be a tremendous space savings. You could incorporate something like this into the A/V shelving you purchase by making sure to buy something that incorporates some type of drawers.

 

[AlanY]

Why not go for a compromise approach? I find that I only listen to about 15% of my CD collection on a regular basis. (There are a lot of CDs I don't listen to at all any more, or very rarely, because my tastes have changed or I was never really impressed with them the first place.) I'd guess that the same is probably true for you.

You could get 4 of the Salamander drawers (or a cheaper no-name equivalent) and store most of your favorite CDs in those. The rest of your CDs you could store in cardboard CD shoeboxes in a different area of your HEC, or in a closet, or wherever.

 

[-ries]

Origami is Cool
http://www.papercdcase.com/
DIY CD sleave

 

[DanT]

Here an Idea from Todd R
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showp...7&postcount=11
Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd R Miss Ears, I just got a new CD case last week from http://www.thejungles.com/. I ended up with Oak Mission Cabinet. I was impressed when it arrived. It came fully assembled, packaged very well and very nice looking. It's deceptively small too. The whole time I was transferring my CD's the wife kept saying "they're not going to all fit, it's too small, you'd better send it back, blah, blah, blah.....". HA! In your face honey. They all fit plus I have an extra empty shelf left to put other stuff on! And to top it off SHE really likes how it looks.

It's only 612 CD but It's H:40" W:23.25" D:13" so maybe two. One on each side.

 

[Dusty Chalk]

I went through this once before, but my criteria was mostly optimal footprint, since I have thousands of CD's. At the time, I concluded that the Can Am CD cabinet system was the best choice for me, but I don't know if it still is (I still haven't sprung for it -- right now I store everything in Movetron boxes, and it is less than optimal).

 

[VicAjax]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusty Chalk I went through this once before, but my criteria was mostly optimal footprint, since I have thousands of CD's. At the time, I concluded that the Can Am CD cabinet system was the best choice for me, but I don't know if it still is (I still haven't sprung for it -- right now I store everything in Movetron boxes, and it is less than optimal).

this is EXACTLY the kind of thing i've been looking for... except not ugly. if only someone would make something as practical as this, and put a little thought into aesthetic design (preferably modernist), i'd be a happy man.