My CD Collection Storage Solution - I had run out of room and something had to give...

My CD Collection Storage Solution - Why I am exchanging single CD Jewel cases with Poly sleeves.
This is a video about storage, it is a story about basically running out of room. I love my music collection and collect and enjoy both vinyl albums and CDs.
However, my to play pile was getting higher and higher and mostly because I did not have enough room to file them away. I have put some into crates which not only looked ugly also meant it was a real hassle to get to anything.
I know a lot of CD fans will look at this with horror but I also know that many other will be saying "I did that years ago" and "where can I get those from?"
I have only done this with single CD Jewel Cases. I have left double CDs, fatboxes, digi packs are as they were but it has given back so much space.
The CDs that I have converted feel like mini vinyl albums and I can easily browse and enjoy my collection again.
Some people will say what happens if you want to sell any of them? I have no intention of selling anything and if I did you can always pick up empty CD cases and just reverse the process.
One of these things I noticed during the removal of 2,500 single jewelcases was how much they are not part of the actual album. They are just a bit of replaceable plastic. They are not the artwork or the music, they are just something to put those items in.
Let me know what you think in the comments!
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
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[@vasquezovj65]

I did this with my collection, although my collection is much smaller than yours. I do live in America; however, not all Americans live in large homes. I use the sleeves in addition to inner sleeves made by a company out of Canada called Vinyl Storage Solutions. I find that not only does this save space, but I actually prefer storing them in sleeves rather than leaving them in their jewel case.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

One of these things I noticed during the removal of 2,500 single jewelcases was how much they are not part of the actual album. They are just a bit of replaceable plastic. They are not the artwork or the music, they are just something to put those items in.

[@lozu8947]

Exactly, so why not have a slimmer holding case. We have been brainwashed into thinking jewel cases are an essential part of the product

[@cp-ul4bz]

I use these type of sleeves aswell and love them. People looked me like I have gone nuts when I tell them I throw the cases out and use sleeves.

[@JTW3159]

@@lozu8947 because thats what they are ,this is a bad idea

[@MrArchos504]

I've been using the space saver sleeves for 3 years now for my 11000 cd collection. Most people hate them but they save a TON of room. I use to have cds everywhere: under my bed, under my desk & behind doors until I found these sleeves. I even use them for the double cds. Anything over 2 cds I just leave them be. I also do this for the box sets that have jewel cases. With the box sets I put them in the sleeves, then I store away the box and booklet. I much rather have all my cds accessible, then have them stored away in totes. Keep up the good work Phil.

[@dansmith3085]

Be careful getting rid of jewel cases. If you need to replace them, it is hard to find good quality modern ones.

[@drummmmerfish]

ditto. i've been picking up free cd & dvd cases for maybe a decade from people downsizing due to lack of room. this is because the older quality cases have not been used in atleast a decade. flimsy cd cases are passable if needed but dvd cases (now called eco cases) are much thinner and flimsy. both are an oil byproduct, thus thinner cuts down on cost.

[@markcusack6335]

The replacement CD jewel cases - those sold from large supermarkets and usually in packs of ten or twenty - are of inferior quality to the originals manufactured with the disc. Their flimsiness means the hinges are prone to break easily and, should the need arise to replace jewel cases for a two or three disc set (with front and back inlay sleeves), the product is entirely unsuitable.

[@drew8235]

I discovered this sad truth when trying to get replacement cases for PS1 games. =/ They just don't make them like they used to.

[@kaye8231]

Go to a thrift store and buy another cd that's in a jewel case; keep the case & toss the CD.

[@KeithSearock]

Greetings from Pennsylvania, USA ... Until today, I thought I was the only person MAD enough to do this! After several moves and really disliking the cracked and dingy jewel cases, I did this exact exercise (or exorcism!) and have never looked back. It's been about 20 years now! Thank you for all the wonderful content, Phil!

[@robertbyrnes3592]

Just axed my jewel cases back in January!

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Keith, I expected a lot of flak for doing this but it is amazing to see so many others have already done it !

[@numoherisson1656]

I started buying polys and inner sleeves from a record store about 15 years ago and the space-saving aspect of it is terrific. My only concern has been in packing my discs for moves, as they might take up less space but are about 3x heavier than a box full of CDs in jewel cases. With the exception of multi'disc sets + those shipped in paper packaging, I've replaced most of my jewel cases and am very happy with using polys instead. Jewel cases break, they crack, they're a nuisance.

[@BrianSheppard]

I did the same thing and now all my CDs are scuffed....

[@numoherisson1656]

@BrianShep It's why I bought HQ inner sleeves for mine. Also, good heavyweight poly sleeves should protect against scuffing, tho obviously not as much as the inner sleeves will. But the better-quality ones are more expensive, so.

[@roberts.4261]

Update - I have a storage space problem myself too and was immediately impressed with the idea presented by Mr. Phil Aston. I was a little worried at first because there was some information that the outer sleeves can damage the CD disks. This was information if the CD was in the outer sleeve without being between the back CD paper cover and the front CD paper cover. I went the safer route myself, I also got anti-static inner sleeves (same as for LPs, only in CD sizes; I have some Japanese CDs and they already came with inner sleeves [they don't add them in Europe] and it's great. No problems not even a double CD, because I put each CD in its own inner sleeve, and the outer sleeve is big enough to put in 3 CDs. The price for the inner sleeves is not high at all, the outer sleeves are much more expensive. Really happy now. Thank you Phil. Outer sleeves are the ones from video.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Great news, thank you for coming back and sharing ! Phil

[@alexmineff5596]

Oh my gosh Phil. Haven’t watched all yet but your description of my pile of cds I haven’t put away yet because I know that there is no room in certain letter areas of my cd shelves is spot on. I always felt alone in that and your saying that made me feel not alone. Thank you so much. As you always do I shall carry on watching now.

[@nicolas_le_fourbe]

Thank you so much Phil for this video: I’be been collecting cds for decades, and never thought of this possibility. It openend my mind and eyes! I’ve shown it to my wife and she laughed: exactly the same issues, questions and such in my home as in yours! 😅

[@calummcgregor3662]

Yup ... did this for over 4,200 single CDs .. saved so much space ... same m.o. re leaving digipacks, doubles, fat boxes, etc untouched ... used Panmer sleeves for CD, booklet and inlay ... stored in IKEA Hyvens boxes stored on 4 x IKEA "billy bookcase" ... stored best part of 6,000 CDs on 1 wall ... all my CDs in alphabetical order ... was able to get rid of several crappy bookcases and get a room back ... wife was delighted (and actually helped to do the needful) ... finding any CD is now so easy and "absorbing" new purchases is so much easier ... and fun ... not the chore it used to be ... CMcG, Aberdeen, Scotland

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Fantastic - thank you for sharing - Phil

[@lippmb78]

Sorry saving the CD and the artwork then ditching the jewel cases😮

[@gordonkoreck3539]

Encouraging to have seen this video! I did the same thing with my collection a few months ago. I have always found the plastic jewel cases somewhat dated looking fragile, and a waste of plastic frankly. Apart from a CD with a Cardstock cover, I agree with you that the Poly Sleeves are the closest to giving the impression of a mini-vinyl album. I thought I was the only one doing this! Love the channel and hearing your insights into all forms of music old and new!

[@blainesnow1476]

Thank you Phil for sharing how poly sleeves have improved accessibility and storage of your CD collection. I arrived at the same solution about 6 years ago after the Can-Am metal CD drawers I purchased for my CD collection were so stuffed that I hardly had room to add more. I bought several hundred gatefold poly CD sleeves from Bags Unlimited and condensed my massive classical music collection from 2.5 drawers down to one - with room to spare. The gatefold sleeves will easily hold double CD albums, and if you use dual-sided slips, one gatefold sleeve can hold 3 or 4 CD box sets which means you can get rid of the fat 3- and 4 CD jewel cases as well. Like you I kept paper box sets that have the artwork on the box, or irregular sized box sets, but I have many 2, 3, and 4 CD sets into a single gatefold sleeve with all the artwork and liner note booklets. I gave a huge box of jewel cases to my local record store (Rainy Day Records, Olympia WA) and they were super happy. I was a little sad to see them go. Like you, I certainly like the feel of the sleeves. They're easy to use, and single CDs are relatively easy to find. They protect the CD well and they don't get scratched, cracked, dirty, or broken hinges. But I do sometimes wonder if making this change to my massive classical library reduces its value (resale or otherwise). Even though everything that came in the jewel case is preserved, I've hesitated to convert my jazz, rock, blues, soul/funk, hip-hop, and world-ethnic collections to the same because of this lingering worry that no one will want a collection in poly sleeves. I don't know. They sure feel good, create space, and accessibility. I'd say they're best for people with very large collections or for those who live in limited spaces. Also, I'd love if you'd do a video on end-of-life options for one's physical music library, how to sell, donate, or otherwise distribute a personal collection after one passes or can no longer use it. In my case, no one in my family wants to inherit it so I'm left with how to pass it on to others who would care and enjoy all or parts of it. My music collection is one of my most precious possessions and having options of how to pass it on to others who care about it half as much as I do would be truly helpful. How to pass on heritage collections - something like that.

[@ronbartkowiak3459]

Wow, what a great idea. Space is indeed an issue, so i may give this try. Thanks, Phil

[@lozu8947]

Thanks for the tip! I’m definitely going to do this. I hate cracked/broken cases. And I need the space.

[@stephensmall4172]

I live in a small flat in the UK and started doing this during lockdown as a space saving exercise. I then, as you mentioned saw them as mini albums, so store them alphabetically in boxes and flick through them as you would do with records in a shop. I love it!

[@millopguy]

I totally understand this. I just did this with my collection, and it has allowed a renewed passion for music I hadn't listened to in quite some time. I love the space-saving aspect and ease of access. The mini vinyl look is spot on.

[@attilanemeti9415]

Yes! Been doing the exact same thing for 8 years because I’ve only got 2 cupboards in the house for my collection and I have to squeeze everything in there. Honestly, I never liked jewel cases, so it was not a difficult decision to do the change. I also switched some of the fatboxes I did not like the appearance of. However, I left untouched those single jewel cases that had a hype sticker on them or embossing (like the Warner logo). Thank you, Phil, for the video. I appreciate seeing that I am not the only one.

[@rockroll6791]

great idea...thanks for sharing...

[@nazaholicable]

Hi Phil This fascinating video addresses a problem that is no joke. You are speaking for many of us, and in a short and concise way, you've covered the topic well. For the first time ever, you've made me realise how much I dislike jewel cases, so the alternative you mention here is great. What I would like to add to the party is that whilst accessibility and creating more space is the way to go, there is no getting around the very real need to simply get rid. I discipline myself to this principle. Once a year I have a cull. I've been doing this for years. The freed up space becomes full again in time with new music. I can honestly say that in the last 40 years I've only re-bought half a dozen albums that I'd previously let go. I want all my music in the lounge, and not elsewhere in the house. There are many TV programmes dedicated to decluttering, and much as we love the physical music we've bought and the memories evoked, however, in the final analysis, getting rid is key. I also agree with the points you make about, kind of being, overwhelmed by having so much choice, and how that leads to playing less music because you don't know what to put on. But again, I hate to admit it but decluttering makes you feel better. I got rid of 40 albums earlier this year, and it made me feel great, simply because I didn't have to think of ever playing those 40 again, and could get stuck into the ones I most love.

[@poglingtonpog]

Hi Phil, thanks for the mention 😳 you can now see the benefit as I did of this system, I too had crates in my spare room and it was depressing that I knew there were thousands of albums I never played, I saw this solution somewhere and thought "I'll give it a try" I was amazed at the space I was creating and ordered more and more (I've also done many DVD's and Blurays) I have gone on to include doubles especially as the fat boxes take up a lot of space, any with 3+ cds stayed plus my Beatles Anthology sets, the benefit now means I can play anything in my collection, I use digipacks and special editions as markers and I'm really happy with the result! Keep Sleefing!👍🏼😉

[@TractorCountdown]

Good on you, Phil. I've just started using them. For double CDs I put the extra CD in the middle of the booklet to keep the CDs apart from each other.

[@whitey7998]

Nice move Phil. I’ve been doing this with some CDs for about 12 months and am planning to do more. For those worried about marking the CDs in some way, (which as you say, you don’t really) you can use rice paper cd inners or the Tyvek inners inside the plastic wallets. The only word of caution with getting rid of the jewels cases is that should you wish to sell any in the future, selling without the cases is tricky.

[@alexmineff5596]

I thought of that as well on selling.

[@devononair]

@@alexmineff5596 Do you think you'd ever sell the whole collection? I suspect most people would never do that, so all you need is enough jewel cases to occasionally sell off a few items. I reckon I need to keep maybe 20-30, bearing in mind that I will acquire more empty cases as I purchase more CDs. That should be more than enough for the quantity that I list for sale each year.

[@lancelotdufrane]

Excellent! Thank you. I am seeking answers. I love my music. Just moved. Huge issue.

[@BillyChuck71]

What a great idea !! . definitely going to do this when I need more space. Thank you 👍

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tonyjedioftheforest1364]

Brilliant video, very pertinent to me as I need to do something like this.

[@gregorydewaegheneire6016]

I did exactly the samething at the beginning of the year, the same sleeves of the same company. However, I chose their dedicated boxes to store my music. Great product!

[@derekclacton]

I have the same plastic storage boxes and inevitably the same issue, Phil - even sorting CDs into favourites and putting those boxes on top doesn’t really solve the problem, it’s so inconvenient to access anything else! Also agree with your comment about sometimes just enjoying holding the product and looking at the notes, without listening to the music. Think I might have to give your method a try - more space and more accessible 👍

[@ArthurNiehaus-xt9rv]

Great idea, I’ve been doing it for about eight years. I have these containers that hold about eighty cd’s and I just finger through them. Best thing I ever did

[@txag007]

I’m working on this with my blu-ray and 4K movie collection. It’s amazing how much space can be saved making the switch.

[@Fexobs]

I converted to a product called the Fleecepack about 15 years ago and have never regretted it. They had a front pouch for the cover art. A fleecy lining for the disc(s), yes they could accommodate doubles too, the back pocket took the whole tray card, and above the front sleeve section there was a pouch for an index sheet which , if you had the patience, (and decent handwriting skills) you could create an easily browsable and protected collection. I store mine in `Really Useful' crates and while they are stacked 3-4 high, my knowledge of the way my collection is organised means that I can easily find them, and like your solution, they look lovely and you can grab a handful of 10 or 15 discs in one go if you suddenly have a craze for a certain back catalogue. I dread to think how much space those jewel cases would take up now ! There was so much dust gathered in the jewel cases that I made myself ill taking them all apart, due to dust allergy !! I was happy to dump those cases for good. Now the collection is in lockable stackable boxes, browsable by the index sheet at the top of each one, I can find anything quickly. They're also a doddle to transport from one property to another as they're already boxed ! No regrets. My collection is about 3000 CDs which would be impossible to shelf in the conventional way. To be honest I see pictures of people's collections taking up 3 walls floor to ceiling and thing that they would overwhelm any living space. As for the Fleecepacks...they seem to have disappeared from production, at least in the quality that they once were (there's a cheap imitation available now, with the same trade name, but they are a shadow of the old ones. Luckily most of what is available these days seems to be digipack anyway, so my shelves are quite happy to receive them in that form and I therefore have a nice looking collection which doesn't overwhelm every corner of the flat I live in. Best of both worlds I think.

[@niklaseriksson7569]

I’ve done this with my jewelcases, and I think it works great. There is a version for double cd:s as well, and I have done it for the thinner 2 cd version jewelcases and it also works great. I have som special limited editions with hype sticker on them that I left in the jewelcase. Take care!🤘

[@paulduggan5323]

Love it! This is a great idea and saves an amazing amount of space. Add to that the fact that I’ve never liked jewel cases my preference being Digi packs, box sets or miniature LP sleeves. I can see that this lends the disc the feel of a replica LP sleeve. Having just re-indexed my whole vinyl collection as I grew tired with half a century of A-Z I bought purpose made dividers onto which you can attach a label. I’ve got these from am is it and I see that they do them for CDs as well. This might be a more favourable solution rather than relying on a clam box, after all, you might have an artist for whom you only have jewel cases.

[@StrappingOldLad]

Thank you for this video! This will solve a lot of my space problems. 300 sleeves already ordered, and I guess I'll repeat that order monthly for a while.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Great stuff - Phil :)

[@muddywalters]

OMG! I just typed ‘cd storage’ into KZbin search, expecting to see cabinets, shelves etc. This was the first video lined up and it’s totally blown my mind - I needed this solution in my life but I just didn’t know it! Thank you so much Phil (I’ve also subscribed to the channel) for opening my eyes. 👍🏻

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

You are very welcome 🙏 I will be doing an update on this soon - Phil

[@troywhite6377]

Will have to order some and give it a try !!!

[@carltweed942]

Hi Phil. I love the look of pristine CD jewel cases. They are a design classic. I even buy sealed CDs in charity shops just for the cases. I do, however, put CDs that were free with magazines, and others that I don't have a massive attachment to, into poly sleeves.

[@devononair]

I used to put some CDs that didn't have jewel cases INTO jewel cases. Now I'm taking them out again! Hahaha. The space saver is fantastic. I'm going to feel so much better about my collection when this is done... just need to save enough money to buy all the sleeves I need!

[@davidanderson3425]

I use aluminium flight case storage for CD's. Each pouch is numbered. The CD booklets I keep in plastic pouches like shown in the video. Each pouch is given a number to correspond to the disc in the flight case. It works well for me and has saved a lot of space.

[@JTW3159]

friend done the same when he got robed he lost his whole collection. Aluminium flight case easy to carry out the door

[@landonpraught9170]

Great Ida thank you for the tip

[@greenscarab2]

I really like the idea of the flipping though to find my music and being like a little vinyl 🎉

[@jimmycampbell78]

I have some CDs that are one offs and I know doing this would make it difficult for me to find them on the shelf, markers would not quite help me pinpoint them. But my collection is not as large as yours and I appreciate this really works well for you.

[@terjemyller6573]

I’ve run into the same space issues, so thanks for a great tip! Just ordered a few hundred of these sleeves from T3L to test it out. Also ordered a few of their cute little matching boxes which they say take approx 80 CDs each. Luckily for me, they do have a Norwegian webshop alas no extra taxes etc. This gonna be good! Thanks again

[@pascalhibon7928]

I did the same. Well actually, I still need to do all my various artists CD's. But all other CD's have been done. I use the same poly sleeves but the ones without a flap. And I also did this with double and triple CD's. It is a real space saver and as you mentioned, browsing the collection is just like browsing my vinyl collection. I love it! Many years ago I started ripping my CD's. But streaming my local music library isn't as satisfying as browsing a physical collection. Also, I enjoy listening to complete albums as opposed to a bunch of individual songs. My CD's are stored in Ikea GNEDBY cases and I made dividers for each letter of the alphabet. And each artists with more than two albums also has their own divider. All of this is organized alphabetically. This makes searching for a particular album very easy.

[@SJHUE]

Very good video Phil! Looks like an ideal alternative to `losing` half of your collection in boxes. I`m going to buy one packet as you did and see how it goes. Many thanks for the recommendation.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

I will do a further update soon, let me know what you think. Phil

[@guillermomaldonado6277]

That's actually a good idea, provided that you find the right bags, I've never seen those you show. I use the ultra thin cases 🍺🤘

[@andersdottir1111]

That’s a great idea Phil, when my collection of cds get too large for my wall units I’ll move most of them to sleeves. I have no emotional attachment to the plastic jewel cases - they are clacky and cheap looking.

[@JJBolli1]

Hey, Phil, interesting video. I guess I'm running out of room as well. I now have CD's in boxes shoved under the bed in the guest room 😀

[@user-mz6lt2pr9s]

Thanks for the video. Great idea. I’ll look into it. Great idea for the CDs I take out of box sets that I play but don’t want to keep putting back into the box. Some of the box sets don’t package the CDs properly and it solves that issue too.

[@rockroll575]

Hi Phil, i have done the same thing with my cd collection and it's a good idea . It's saving storage place , i have a desk with small drawers wich is perfect the right size for cds . I don't like cd's rack because i hate to search for a cd with my head sideways same thing when i buying cds , they had to be in drawers so you can find them easely . I don't have a lot of cds (500) but this way i want to get more and more wich is a good thing . I understand artists who prefered to sell their album in simple carton sleeve just like the vinyl so you can store a lot more!

[@jeffkelty6636]

Great idea! I need to do this. My CD collection is so messy, due to lack of space. Are these available on amazon? Phil, I love your programs, and I relate! Keep rockin', sir!

[@lancelotdufrane]

Yes. Private Art Collection.

[@mikewest1542]

Brilliant comment, “like a private art collection “ my CDs and indeed Vinyl collection is getting out of hand, obviously you can’t do this with vinyl , but with single CDs , brilliant idea Phil ! P.S I bought Record Collector regarding your excellent article on on record inner sleeves , keep up the good work, rock on !

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Mike, sorry for the late reply! Thank you for your support and kind words. Phil

[@JAS-39Gripen]

Thats for me as I have cds all around the floor in my music room.😊Thank you.

[@backrowbrighton]

Phil, this is important stuff. Storage can be a major issue for music collectors. We all want our albums to be easily accessible. My particular collection is housed in its own dedicated room, its all in the order I want but I am nearly out of shelf space. Swapping the jewel cases for the poly sleeves is a very good idea as is the system you have adopted. Do give us an update on how this eventually turns out for you.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

I will - Phil :)

[@iangoold4262]

I did this very thing around six years ago and it changed my life!

[@johnstallard3025]

Right on Phil. I have been doing exactly this - But copying music to an old MacBook pro in a lossless library which can be searched and displays the cover artwork. The original cds are stored in same vinyl covers in small cardboard boxes marked with a letter and a list of the contents. The result is that I listen to cd quality music which I can control with playlists and I can locate the original album in my archive under the cd player. I got the idea from an ad for Brennen storage player.

[@keith.tdublin3268]

Very interesting Phil. My collection is nowhere near as large as yours but my CDs do take up a lot of space. I may well have to have a serious think about this, because it looks a very good solution. Also, Ive always found the standard jewel case a bit cheap feeling, actually very cheap to be honest. almost classless, especially if it's a proper favourite album inside. 😅

[@johnthompson7611]

Last comment the jewel case base that the cd sits is usually black. A black pigment colours the virgin polymer in this base. This is held more firmly as it is applied in a dispersion process while the polymer is heated in a liquid phase. As it cools the pigment is held firmly in a polymer matrix. So for decades of storage in a jewel case migration of pigment to the CD playing surface will be highly unlikely. With these Polypropylene sleeves although they will save space I would keep the playing surface away from the booklets as the migration of pigments from paper to the CD playing surface will be higher over the years when used as a storage solution.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

These are the sleeves I used - amzn.to/3NSNT60

[@derekclacton]

Thank you, Phil :) I’ve used your link and read the reviews - the 1*, 2* and 3* reviews seem genuine and identify significant problems - have you experienced any of those?

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

@@derekclacton I did not read those. I chose this brand because others in the Now Spinning Magazine Facebook group recommended them. I have ordered over 16 packs so far and I am very happy with them.

[@derekclacton]

@@NowSpinningMagazine Thanks for your reply, Phil :) I think I’ll probably give them a go. I’ll definitely take your approach - keeping the fat boxes etc. but I’d have to keep any with a sticker on the front (!). I’ll start with my Gary Moore section - that takes up more than a box!

[@garyh.238]

I had been wondering how difficult it might be to find one's CDs when the artists/titles are not visible along the spine as they are on jewel cases. But the way you have done it, (ie): slotting them in between certain artists' double albums or boxsets does seem like a good way of keeping them organized and readily accessible. I have about 2,500 albums or so in various formats (mostly CDs, with some vinyl & cassettes), and am fast approaching the limit of space available to store them all together in one room. So these plastic jackets do seem like a possible solution for me eventually.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

I will do a follow up video as I get more done. Phil

[@user-mn5ul9vo9m]

This totally makes sense.... it would be nice if new CD's came in such a format to begin with.

[@eugenebrandon3914]

My music collection also quite expansive with every medium popularized over the last fifty years, except for my old eight track tapes which have been long go. I still have reels and cassettes and vinyl as well as cds of which I still listen to, some reels in process of degaussing though. I will follow your lead and start with 100.

[@shaunsmith3538]

Great show Phil. I'm in exactly the same position. My wife is on my case almost every day. I get all excited when a new cd arrives. But then I'm all of a panic wondering where I'm going to store it. I will consider doing the same but I think I've got to buck up the courage as it does feel like a bit of a drastic decision. 👍

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Just do 50 to start with and see how it feels

[@shaunsmith3538]

@@NowSpinningMagazine good idea. Thank you 👍🏽

[@classicalbum]

I agree, I've done this my colletion as well.

[@dang75790]

Hi phil love the idea. But will stay with the jewel cases. Want my cds the way they are to be presented and protected.

[@reggiebguitar]

The sleeves are great and free up so much space. It took me months but I put my collection in sleeves. 🤘🏻

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

It is taking me a while! Thank you for watching - Phil

[@dagreatstoney.5869]

At some point, you have to fight back , otherwise you drown in your music. This seems like a way to go👍

[@reedl2353]

I can't tell you how many times I've thought of doing this exact thing. While Phil was talking about the "to be played pile", I looked over at my "to be played pile" which is sitting on top of a computer desk because I'm out of space for jewel cases. Maybe I'll take the plunge.

[@AndrewDixonMusic]

Great to see this. I have done the same, and did a series of videos on it. I have no regrets at all 18 months later. Some people insist the discs will get scratched but as you showed, if you handle them properly, there's no reason why that should happen.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Andrew, you were the inspiration that tipped me over the edge to do this. Sorry I should have name checked you in the video! Thank you for watching - Phil :)

[@AndrewDixonMusic]

@@NowSpinningMagazine Hi no problem, glad to see it's worked out for you, and that the KZbin algorithm instantly pointed me towards your video!

[@bareknuckles2u]

I did this a few years ago. I have never regretted it.

[@rangersmith4652]

I did the same with all my CDs and DVDs a few years ago before a 770-mile relocation. My collection takes up about 20% of the space it used to, and with shelf dividers I have no problem finding the disc I want to play. I don't miss the jewel cases and boxes at all.

[@lippmb78]

From the look of your entire collection looks like you’re in a bad predicament when it comes to making space,but it looks like you’re taking action to remedy this problem. I know I don’t have a bigger collection than most people do but if I ignore it then it will be a problem for me in the future,so getting the gatefold CD sleeves is what I thinking about doing after seeing many KZbin videos on this topic so I get some when I get the chance!

[@user-mn5ul9vo9m]

I'm doing something similar. Most frequently played CD's remain in cases. CD collections of artists have one CD case as a marker and the rest go into sleeves so its easier to find the band and albums accordingly.

[@aidanmcgoran]

Thought it was bonkers before I watched the video but they look great in the sleeves rather than the jewel cases. Nice one.

[@Jazzbuff1970]

I have over 2500 CDs (mostly jazz and art music) in my collection. As my shelf started to burst at its seams I had to fix upon whether to purchase a new rack or to replace the bulky jewel cases with plastic sleeves. Fortunately I ended up choosing the latter. I delved into a myriad of plastic CD sleeves and, based on my comparative evaluation, settled upon the Slim Disc CD storage system. Its outer sleeve is made of sturdy (150 μm) and environmentally friendly polypropylene (PP). It is fairly compact in size (height 130 mm; width 142 mm), so the tray card spines must be folded when tucked in the sleeve. The disc is placed in a paper sleeve with Tyvek interior and window, and then inserted into the outer plastic sleeve. I have been very pleased with my choice, although have noticed a few difficulties. One headache is that I cannot anymore browse the spines. To overcome this, I made a digital list of my stuff, and ordered plastic dividers in order to classify the CDs by genre and artist’s name. Another drawback is that the cardboard cases, which cannot be taken to pieces like plastic ”jewel” cases, must be cut up to fit into the sleeves. I have carefully ripped the plastic trays off the cardboard cases, and cropped the cardboard enough to fit the sleeves. I have left some cardboard cases untouched in the shelf, which serve as a reference when flicking through my collection. Also, as an EU citizen, ordering the sleeves from UK after Brexit has become increasingly pricey; I think this is by far the most undesirable thing. Apart from the cropped cardboard cases, I think the retail value of the CDs has remained unchanged after storing them into sleeves. No regrets.

[@chrichtonsworld1]

I collect films and videogames but live in a tiny apartment. Even if I had more space I don't think I would want to display my collection. But it depends. I care about the film itself and it's content, like you stated, as a diary. Not long ago I read some comments where people would just look at the covers but never watch the film itself. That's just crazy to me. These sleeves are a good solution and if you are creative enough there are ways to create order. I have used white cards with labels on them as dividers.

[@terryzobeck3978]

i've just done this for my DVDs. For multi-DVD box sets, I left them alone, but for single or double DVDs I put them into poly-sleeves and tossed the plastic cases. I freed up quite a bit of space that I was able to use for storing my CDs. I'm thinking of doing this for the CDs too. Currently I have a good bit of space for more CDs so I may not do this too soon.

[@patlampo9288]

😄This is gonna help me a lot👍

[@johnsimmons5056]

Those polyvinyl cases work great. I bought a 100 pack as well. They also make a 2 sided black sleeve that you can use to protect the discs inside the polyvinyl sleeve which works well. I have always hated jewel cases and they show up cracked half the time when I order discs online. Down with the jewel case.

[@robertpannullo5687]

I agree with you 100%.. I collect cds and vinyl for my own enjoyment.. I don’t worry about selling or how much they’re worth.. anyone collecting as an investment is crazy. that being said I take good car of them

[@jazzymart5]

Phil nice topic. I have not long found yourKZbin chanal. For me , regarding my cds. My solution so far is this. Might not be the best, but works so far. But I do like your large cd covers. Most covers don't take the CD info covers or the booklets. What I do with only the plastic single case ones is I store them in those big wallets which hold 360 etc. Then I keep all the CD covers plus booklets in order to match the wallets inside show boxes. It's not great but better than 2000 boxes everywhere, and iv sold most of my boxes . Your method to me could be not great. As still need proper shelves to store them all. And I need that for my Jazz , soul, vinyl

[@LarryMarsh]

Just got finished putting 600 of my CDs in sleeves and getting rid of the jewel cases. Now starting to rip them to the computer so I'll be able to have my whole collection with me where ever I go.

[@robertbaker5156]

Bit on the fence about this one Phil! I like the idea but I like the cd protected!!! I think I’d have to look into it deeper!!! Bit scared of scratching my cds!!!😂

[@numoherisson1656]

Buy inner sleeves. Problem solved! (Unless you're not handling them carefully, which = same problem per using jewel boxes.) Good poly sleeves are fairly heavy and provide more protection than you might imagine - especially if you also use good inner sleeves for your discs.

[@johnthompson7611]

Hi Phil whereabouts is the CD situated? Is the playing side sat next to the booklet? Or the polypropylene sleeve itself? I'm not keen on the playing surface being placed next to on the booklet due to pigment migration on the playing surface. Yes there is pigments in the jewel case base but migration is very minimal compared to paper. In the past I have worked as a QC chemist in the polymer and pigments industries) pigment migration from the paper booklet onto playing surface may be a bigger issue with long term storage. Also beware of cheaper brands passing off PVC as Polypropylene. Remember those issues with vinyl sleeves removing pigments. Just my thoughts. I may buy a pack to check out. I wont place the CD playing surface onto booklet just the poly liner.

[@robertbyrnes3592]

I recently got rid of all my jewel cases as well. I purchased a suitcase to store them in for cd's but i think i like this idea better. Thank you and hello from the U.S.-Arizona

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Robert, thank you for watching and good to know there are so many others doing a similar things. Phil

[@robertbyrnes3592]

Just bought more poly sleeves. You are right,sifting through my collection I had more cd's than I thought. Also,I too,are reconnecting with releases I forgot I had or had not listened to in years! Cheers from Arizona! @@NowSpinningMagazine

[@maxslamer]

I have thought about doing the same but so far I have enough space for maybe 1000-2000 more jewel cases and digipaks in my bookshelves with four extra shelves in each. 12 IKEA Billy in total I believe. :) I wouldn't say the cons with switching to Poly sleeves are huge, but I do like the look of the spines and buying loads of Poly sleeves and throwing all jewel cases (or storing them in the basement) are my small reasons for not switching. Not yet anyway. But I do agree the jewel cases are not part of the actual album, with very few exceptions, like XTC's "Nonsuch" with artwork on the jewel case. I used to subscribe to a US record collector's channel, and he very much preferred jewel cases, which I thought was a bit odd. Each to their own I guess.

[@thestones6272]

Not done it yet definitely thinking about all points made are relevant some of my collection in a box in the loft (for a few years ) so not been listening to them as I should it will be like meeting up with an old friend it's true music is good for your mental health

[@thedreamcatcher72]

Sorry Phil there's no chance I'm losing my jewel cases the thought of the plastic wallets is a hard no from me unless its for a mix cd or cd r that you dont have an original copy of in the first place. I too have thousands of cds so i get the dilema & am glad to see its working for you. 😊

[@torc7424]

I briefly considered this a while back, but couldn't bring myself to do it. It does pretty much make your collection unsellable (or at least drastically reduces the value)....but maybe that won't be an issue before too long as the younger generation moves to streaming.

[@EddieJazzFan]

I've done this to about 75% of my CDs. The jewel boxes can get pretty scratched up after the years. I just kept the CDs and the booklet. If the tray cards from the jewel boxes just duplicated the back of the booklet, I discarded those too.

[@bergunx]

Greetings for Seattle, Washington. I feel your pain since I’m at my busting point since I am out of room for my CD, DVD, Blu-Ray collections and I want to reclaim two bedrooms in my home that I’m using to store my collection. I’ve been resisting using those baggies for my discs, but I need to since I have over 2000 CDs, 2500 DVDs and another 1000 Blu-Rays that I need to do something about.

[@chip308]

Great idea Phil, I might do the same. Where did you get the cd wallets? 😊

[@clovenwizard]

Hi Phil, I've been doing exactly the same thing with 1000s of CDs and 1000s of films. I don't use the Danish company because I find them too expensive and there are UK suppliers that are cheaper with excellent quality.

[@grahamevans9606]

@clovenwizard700 do you have a link for the UK supplier. I have cut the back inlay card on some to fit the common poly sleeves but ideally what Phil's using is better. I know the Danish company sell through Amazon UK but they are not cheap!!!!

[@torarauland7145]

Wow do you have som mutch CD`s Be close to your Collection i understand ilike this it`s look so easy to store them.

[@stephenyoung4134]

Just ordered 200 of the 3L slipcases from Amazon, ( need to buy many more) something has to be done when you don't have room in the bottom of your wardrobe for shoes because there's boxes of cd,s in there, also if you have boxes in the shed and loft you forget what's in them and certainly never play them, thanks for the nudge towards sensibility Phil. Was that Gene Simmons solo album I saw you pull out of the shelf? That's one you can bin to make more space..😂

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Stephen, it's true when you haver boxes of CDs and you are not sure what is in them it's time to act. It was indeed Gene Simmons, well I have the others so needed it for the set! :)

[@griphfunk]

Thanks!

[@johnmichaelwilliams6694]

Thanks, Phil, for sharing your thoughts and the process. I started donating CDs a few years back thinking I would switch to digital but folks like you and Pete over at Sea of Tranquility rather reignited my interest in CD purchases so the space is becoming a problem. In the United States here and could take more of the house for storage but one of these days likely looking at a need to move to different house for assistance. Not sure if I can give up the jewel cases but like your idea of leaving double albums and boxed sets alone and as reference points. In any event, enjoying your channel very much and glad to have found you and your website. Thanks again.

[@ricicle5]

Thank you for the helpfully inspiring video. Did you consider the Panmer sleeves before opting for the 3L's? If so, what are the benefits of the 3L's? 👍

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

I went with the 3L's because so many of the Now Spinning Magazine Facebook community were already using them. Phil

[@PSN489]

Lots of valid reasons for doing it. I did it but I am still unsure if it was the right decision !!!!. The Jury is out.

[@chansadres]

I know exactly how you feel. A decade ago I had the same problem. Lived in a small apartment (60m2 or around 650 sq ft). I had room for one shelve and I couldn't fit my collection anymore. I had a lot of discs in storage which made me feel dejected. When searching for a solution a lot of non-europeans kept saying "Just move or remodel the house". Which was sadly no option then. I did the sleeving, which gave me a lot of flag in the cd community. But I have not regretted it. I could finally fit the whole collection on my shelve. Year ago I finally moved to a bigger house, with a dedicated little music room (9m2/100 sq ft) and still use my sleeves. I can shelve 1200 discs in my room. I even placed a dj dual cd player in the room, so I can play song by song from different albums. Every disc from the shelve at my fingertips. I have never been happier. And if you're not sure, just do the "various artists" compilation albums. And you like what you feel, you can later do it for the whole collection.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for sharing your experience! Phil :)

[@bsg1138]

Many years ago, I found a CD sleeve by Case Logic. I was convinced that I needed to switch all my CD's over to these sleeves for ease of portability and space saving. Because at that time (mid 90's) CD players in cars were becoming commonplace. So I switched them all over. At that time I didn't have too many, less than 150 I think. Some time later, as you might expect, I had complete and total regret, mainly due to damaging the CD or insert. The sleeves do not protect anything, the jewel case does. Since that time I have replaced all the cases and inserts back to original. I do see the appeal to eliminating the bulk but the display and visual appeal needs to work.

[@numoherisson1656]

Polys aren't good for anything that's being played in a car. But for home storage, they're fantastic. You can do both, you know...

[@davidmckee2898]

I've done the same with my blue was either doing that or stop collecting