Choosing a media storage unit is mostly a matter of taste, but with the large selection of media cabinets, racks, towers, spinners and stands available online, narrowing the options may require some assistance. Here we offer a few simple concepts to help you choose the best CD or DVD storage unit for your needs:

Some Tips for CD and DVD Longevity

CD and DVD storage units are designed to help you preserve the quality of your media library by providing organized space for vertically storing discs in their cases. While damage to CDs from horizontal storage is minimal and rare due to the lightness of the discs and the protection of cases, vertical storage is generally preferred by media experts. It is recommended that CDs and DVDs be kept in their original jewel cases at room temperature for best results.

Some Tips for Choosing Storage Capacity

We recommend the largest media storage unit that your available space can accommodate. CD and DVD collections are constantly expanding, so going a bit bigger will leave room for your library to grow. We offer media storage with adjustable shelves that can accomodate combinations of CDs, DVDs and VHS tapes.

Once you're ready to move your media collection to a storage system you'll find tons of solutions to pick from.

One thing to consider is the ease of organizing your collection. If you plan on rearranging or adding to your library frequently, CD or DVD racks with slots or drawers may limit your ability to do so. A shelf system with wide shelves, where media can easily be slid to accommodate a new disc or category, will be easier to rearrange than some of the alternatives.

Media racks are available in so many styles and finishes, you will be able to find something to conveniently store and preserve your media library and also compliment your room's décor. For a contemporary or modern look, a chic spinning media tower with glass shelves like the Sanus NFCDII may be a perfect accent to your home theater. However, if you are storing your media in a traditional living room where you may not want a CD or DVD collection to be a focal point, one of the classic-looking hard wood media cabinets or drawer sets may be more appropriate. To truly display your collection with pride, nothing compares to a standard shelf or rack system.

Here is a list of some of the major media storage style options and their features

• Spinners: CD Spinners are great for maximizing your storage space. If you only have a two foot square to work with, a spinner will vertically store and display the greatest number of discs. Spinning your collection easily to view your choices is almost as simple as just using a CD wall rack. If you don't have a lot of room, a spinning CD rack or DVD rack is a good choice.
• Cabinets: Cabinets are most often selected because they attractively conceal your CDs and DVDs. CD and DVD cabinets are sometimes available with security options like turnkey locks if you are concerned about protecting your collection.
• Racks, Stands and Towers: Simple but classic cd racks, cd stands and other media towers are available in a variety of dimensions to fit your space.