REVIEW Whitmor 15 section drawer box and organizer for portable IEM/CIEM/DAP/DAC storage.
Jul 2, 2016 at 3:52 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 13
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Review of Whitmor Large 15 section drawer box and organizer for portable IEM/CIEM/DAP/DAC storage.
 
Available for Sale on Amazon for $24.99.

 
I have been searching high and low for a storage box with large partition sections to organize my earphones and various audio gear accessories.  Sounds like an easy task, but turned out to be quite an adventure.  I found various organizer boxes in hardware stores, hobby shops, and office supply places with small fixed partitions to accommodate arts and crafts, nuts and bolts, jewelry, and other small items.  I also found a number of organizer boxes with adjustable partitions to customize sections, though it was limited to narrow spaces and flimsy walls.
 
During a daily commute with a single pair of average size earphones you can get away with just an individual clam shell zippered case.  If you have bulky aftermarket cable and large multi-driver IEM/CIEM – Pelican 1010 micro case will do the job.  But at home with a vast collection of in-ear monitors, cables, and adapters, I need a clear and easy way to organize, to view, and to access these without opening multiple cases, shuffling multiple boxes, or pulling out multiple mini drawers.
 
I almost gave up until my wife pointed me in a direction of clothes drawer organizers which led me to Whitmor Large 15 section drawer box.  It looked great on paper, exactly what I was looking for, but wasn’t available in any of my local stores to preview, and I also noticed limited quantities on Amazon.  After visiting their website, I quickly realized that it’s not just the only "source" of what I was looking for, but also a quality "source" from a company with a specific focus on products to organize everything in your house.  After reaching out to them, I was kindly provided with a review sample of their drawer box which I’m going to share about in this review.
 
 
 
I'm so used to small organizer boxes that at first glance was a bit surprised how big this one looked.  With dimensions of about 19.38” x 13” x 3.58” it’s far from being portable, and instead more appropriate for storage/display at home or maybe showcasing your gear at head-fi audio meets, as an example.  The box was partitioned into 15 evenly spaced sections, each approximately 3.6” x 3.9”.  This is more than enough room even for large CIEMs with multi-core braided cables and bulky plugs and chin sliders.  You can also group your other petite IEMs/CIEMs since there is plenty of room to arrange 2-3 pairs in each section.  Furthermore, you can place a few clam shell cases in each section.
 
What I did like especially about the box is its durable resin construction.  The section dividers are molded into the box, very sturdy, and no flex.  You also get a sturdy cover lid which latches securely in place, seals the content tight to keep dust and moisture away, and allows multiple boxes to be stacked on top of each other.  I noticed that divider walls inside of the case don’t go all the way up to the top edge which gives enough clearance for a recessed cover lid.  Between short stand-off legs on the bottom of the box and a recessed lid, stacking them up keeps boxes from sliding off.
 
 
 
 
Many of my multi-BA driver and hybrid IEMs/CIEMs don't fit inside of a basic small clamshell case when I use custom cables with bulky connectors or balanced to SE adapters.  Using Pelican cases helps, but they take a lot of room, and I still have to go through opening each one to get to the pair I'm looking for.  With Whitmor box I place earphones in their corresponding sections and have a clear view of everything at a glance.  The only dilemma now is which pair gets it's own "private cell" and which one has to roommate with another set.
 
Also, you can store and organize your various eartips, separate cables (audio and digital), adapters, etc.  Plus, you can use these 15 sections to showcase your DAPs and portable amps.  With an exception of a few smaller size DAPs and usb-DAC/amps, majority of my portable sources will be sticking out, preventing box cover from being closed.  But regardless of that, it makes a fantastic display to organize these devices, to make them visible in semi-upright position, and to have an easy access to each one.  The resin material of the box is smooth and shouldn’t scratch any bare surface or protective case.  And if you want to, you can also put multiple DAPs/DACs/amps inside of each section.
 
 
 
Conclusion.
 
Call me crazy for being excited about $24.99 storage box with 15 roomy sections intended for storage of your rolled socks and underwear.  But I finally found a storage solution to organize, to display, and to protect my collection of TOTL IEMs/CIEMs, DAPs/DACs/amps, and fancy headphone cables.  In this hobby, either if you are collecting or reviewing, you want to take care of your investment and to be able to organize and to protect it.  And if you really think about it, for many audio enthusiasts starting a new day is no different than going to a drawer to pick a pair of fresh socks and underwear after a shower, where now you can also go to another drawer to pick a favorite combo of DAP/IEM/cable for a day.  This particular Whitmor organizer box can help you in either case since you have everything in front of you in a clear view.
 
Jul 2, 2016 at 3:52 PM Post #2 of 13
Curious to hear how others organizing/storing their audio gadgets.  Feel free to share!!!
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Jul 3, 2016 at 6:37 AM Post #4 of 13
Nice to organise things that way, Alex. 
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Personally, I would add some padding though, as I never place any IEM, DAP or Amp/DAC on a hard surface (no matter if I paid $5 or $2000). That's just me though. 
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  Curious to hear how others organizing/storing their audio gadgets.  Feel free to share!!!
beerchug.gif

 


Well, here is my solution for IEMs (just a part of my separate listening/office room; the rest is all around in that room until I have decided where to store the rest of my gear (the samples are in a separate corner and stored in their packages)):
 
 
 
 
 
As one might have noticed, there are also shoe boxes with printed label stickers. Yes, that's how I am storing my full-sized headphones (shoe box plus towel inside - remember, no hard surfaces for me 
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). I'll probably change that and order some shelves for the cabinet, so I can have two full-sized headphone on every shelf which would also make it easier to access them (not that easy to take the bottom shoe box out of a stack of 7 boxes).
 
Jul 3, 2016 at 9:22 PM Post #5 of 13
Thanks Twister! I need something like this1
 
Jul 11, 2016 at 7:43 AM Post #7 of 13
  http://www.head-fi.org/t/478568/multi-iem-review-352-iems-compared-pump-audio-earphones-added-04-03-16-p-1106/14910#post_11032794
Soon
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Yeah, that's probably in my future lol!!!!
 
Jul 11, 2016 at 10:20 PM Post #8 of 13
Watchboxes might be nice if someone wants something nicer looking to put on their dresser:

https://www.amazon.com/Sodynee-WBPU12-03-Dislpay-Organizer-Leather/dp/B00SAOY4GY/

They come with double drawers, too.
 
Jul 12, 2016 at 7:44 AM Post #9 of 13
Watchboxes might be nice if someone wants something nicer looking to put on their dresser:

https://www.amazon.com/Sodynee-WBPU12-03-Dislpay-Organizer-Leather/dp/B00SAOY4GY/

They come with double drawers, too.

 
 
Do you know of a more or less similar box that would fit a single full-sized headphone?
 
Jul 12, 2016 at 7:58 AM Post #10 of 13
 
Watchboxes might be nice if someone wants something nicer looking to put on their dresser:

https://www.amazon.com/Sodynee-WBPU12-03-Dislpay-Organizer-Leather/dp/B00SAOY4GY/

They come with double drawers, too.

 
 
Do you know of a more or less similar box that would fit a single full-sized headphone?

 
Makes me wonder if inner partition/insert can be removed, though the height will be only about 3" which is not enough for some full size unless you have rotating earcups.  But, if you go with a double drawer box like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NHFFY9W/ and modify it - you have double the height.  All wooden with a glass top makes a cool display storage case.
 
Jul 12, 2016 at 11:38 AM Post #11 of 13
Makes me wonder if inner partition/insert can be removed, though the height will be only about 3" which is not enough for some full size unless you have rotating earcups.  But, if you go with a double drawer box like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NHFFY9W/ and modify it - you have double the height.  All wooden with a glass top makes a cool display storage case.


+1

Watch boxes are a particular type of jewelry box. While they are likely not ever going to be deep enough for headphones, might be another style of jewelry box that has a lift out tray that would be deep enough. Try searching Amazon.
 
Jul 12, 2016 at 12:21 PM Post #12 of 13
 



Do you know of a more or less similar box that would fit a single full-sized headphone?


Makes me wonder if inner partition/insert can be removed, though the height will be only about 3" which is not enough for some full size unless you have rotating earcups.  But, if you go with a double drawer box like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NHFFY9W/ and modify it - you have double the height.  All wooden with a glass top makes a cool display storage case.


Guess I'll search for something different or stay with my shoe box solution.

Been in a few shops a couple of years ago but none of them had what I was looking for.
DIY would be a solution but would surely take some time for 14 boxes (inner padding, ait-tight seal etc.) and then of course there are a few parts of which I am not sure where to get them.
 
Jul 12, 2016 at 12:51 PM Post #13 of 13
Guess I'll search for something different or stay with my shoe box solution.

Been in a few shops a couple of years ago but none of them had what I was looking for.
DIY would be a solution but would surely take some time for 14 boxes (inner padding, ait-tight seal etc.) and then of course there are a few parts of which I am not sure where to get them.


The glass top vinyl watch boxes are obviously very cheap to make if they can sell so many models in the $15 to $30 range. I have the one I linked to, and it looks and works great for the money.

Since they are so cheap to make, bound to be someone in China making a box that would suit your needs. It might be a needle in a haystack search finding it, but look through AliExpress: http://www.aliexpress.com/.
 

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