CD Storage: CdProjects Vs. Case Logic

Digital music is all the rage, but I still like to buy an album for its artwork and for the ease of use of a CD in my car or to play it at any friend's house. But when you build up as many CDs as I have (over 300+), you need a good way to access them and transport them. However, conventional CD storage is often a pain. Good thing cdProjects came up with a great solution.

I used to use Case Logic cases (which are basically just an archetype of practically every standard CD storage case) because they're fairly inexpensive, readily available, and they more or less get the job done. Their cases also come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes.

As I started my CD collection, a 40 CD Case Logic case was plenty and I even had one with a cool design. It was small and I could take it in or out of my car with ease.

Then, when I got more CDs, I just got a 100-sleeve case. You know, one of those that looks more like a paper binder, only it's fatter, bulkier, and much harder to store under your car seat? Well, I managed with one of those for a while, no matter how unwieldy and more or less annoying it was.

Well, as my CD collection kept building, Case Logic cases kept getting more and more annoying and I realized it wasn't making me any happier. Plus, after having several binders, it became increasingly more difficult to keep my CDs organized and to always have whatever CD I wanted when I wanted it. If I wanted to rearrange my CDs in the binders or add a new one in some kind of alphabetical or stylistic order, not only was it a pain pulling all the CDs in and out of their slips and slowly moving them around, but it often scratched them a bit, too.

Then I found cdProjects' bubble-sleeves and cases. They're not quite a revolution so much as an evolution of CD storage and transportation. They're where every CD storage company should be right now. I don't know why the other companies haven't seemed to catch on.

cdProjects merchandise can be slightly more expensive than other CD storage brands like Case Logic and that made me hesitant to consider switching all my CDs over to them. I don't think they're even manufactured anymore and although they can still be found on the internet, it just makes them that much more expensive. When I explain what makes them so much better, you'll either bemoan their lack of availability or you'll scour the internet and scoop up what you can to last you until another company picks up on their innovation.

For one, their BubbleSleeves are specifically made to give the CD a light, very non-abrasive surface (up to 50% less contact). So, no matter how often you pull a CD in and out of its sleeve, it won't get scratched up.

But, I think the best part is in the organization. Each BubbleSleeve is detachable and it has two sides, so you can store either two CDs or one CD and one artwork book per sleeve. cdProjects makes special binders and special racks (think of an elongated rolodex) to store or transport your CDs in and you can clip as many BubbleSleeves in each one as will fit. This lets you transfer a CD or CDs from your storage rack to your protable binder with ease.

Each binder or storage rack comes with a certain number of new BubbleSleeves. What this means is that even though your CD collection is growing, purchasing new CD storage units doesn't make them less organized. On the contrary, because each sleeve is detachable, they completely integrate into your existing collection and make organizing them much easier. If you're doing alphabetical organization, you can insert your new CD directly where it fits into the alphabet without having to move your older CDs around.

Right now, I have 4 cdProjects storage racks and 3 binders. I have way more CDs than will fit in my binders, but it's actually better that way. I can keep my CDs at home and access them quickly whenever I want, but if I'm travelling, I can just make a new selection of what CDs I want with me and quickly swap them from the rack to the binder or vice-versa.

I only wish cdProjects wouldn't have discontinued this line, because I can't think of a better way to organize, store and transport my CDs. I'm just thankful there's still quite a few places I can find them on the internet because I definitely don't want to go back to the way Case Logic and other brands are still doing it.