CD lift lock cases

[Steve w]

Lift Locks cases are a pain anyhow. If you aren't careful the CD can fall out. Every time I bought a MOFI or DCC disc I went and bought a regular case to put it in.

[Michael]

I quite enjoyed the Lift Loc jewel case. It complimented the Gold CD just fine. Made it seem special.

[Holy Zoo]

I kinda like them... but... I have a tendency to break them. :(

I've now switched to keeping my cds in little mylar sleeves, so it's not much of an issue any more.

[Dave B]

I prefer the lift-loc cases for my gold and rare CDs because I don't have to bend or stress them to get them out of the case. I have never cracked or broken a disc this way but I can't imagine it's good for them. So just like placing my LPs in VRP sleeves to reduce the possibility of scuffing, these cases are one more way to insure my important CDs stay in perfect shape. You do however need to be carefull with them - not the best for 'in car' use.

[Kevin Sypolt]

Originally posted by Michael
I quite enjoyed the Lift Loc jewel case. It complimented the Gold CD just fine. Made it seem special.

Yeah, I like 'em too! Real special. In fact, I just got a case pack of 200 on eBay! Most of the used CDs you get from eBay come in all scratched up (and/or smashed), so I usually replace them. So far I've never had one of my lift-locs break while taking them from the shelf to the CD player and back again... :)

[Sckott]

Can't stand the lift locks. They have a tendancy to leave the back card artwork open to the elements, and the mechanical dragging of the back lock lip puts a annoying wear mark on the back art.

I know people might think I'm foolish to say, but I bumped into the kitchen counter while 2 DCC Badfinger titles were on the edge. My fault, but when one of the Badfingers hit the tile, the lift-lock jewel case threw the nude CD into the air and got scratched slightly. None of the regular jewel boxed CDs "sprung out".

I say, don't waste your time or money on those annoying things, but do what you will! ;)

[Andy]

Is the little bit of twisting a CD is subjected to when it is removed from a standard jewel case that bad? :confused:

[Dave]

Actually there is no tension put on the cd when removing it from a standard jewel case if done correctly.;)

[Kevin Sypolt]

Originally posted by Andy
Is the little bit of twisting a CD is subjected to when it is removed from a standard jewel case that bad? :confused:
Nope, I certainly don't think that it is... Otherwise DCC wouldn't have switched to regular cases. DCC or S&P can keep releasing with the regular cases (good for shipment), and I will keep switching them over when I get them. Life is good! :D

[Andy]

Perhaps you could post a diagram with animated graphics to enlighten the CD twisting crowd.:confused:

[Andy]

LA Woman is the only DCC disc I have that didn't come in a liftlock.

[Dave]

Andy,

For you, ok.;)

I can't draw you a diagram, due to almost no skill on the computer, but I can explain rather accurately.

Assuming that you take a cd out with your right hand.....

Place thumb of right hand on the bottom rim of the cd, then place your second finger (the longest one) on the top rim of the cd. Finally take any finger on your left hand and push inwards on the center spines and lift out your cd with your right hand. And reverse to place back in the case

Tah dah!;)

[Andy]

I see, I see. I think the Japanese are on to something with the mini LP sleeves. I’ll be sure to print your directions for future reference. I’ll have to sit in front of a mirror and then try it with my left hand. I’ll be careful though, I don’t want to sprain anything.:D

[Dave]

I never really liked the mini sleeve concept because of the cd sliding over any surface can't be good for it in the long run.:eek:

[Metralla]

I like the lift-lock cases.

I don't like the standard cases at all. Those little fingers are stupid and they often break off. Admittedly, this only happens on cheap cases. Sometimes the fingers are just so stiff that the CD is quite hard to take out (and I know the technique).

Some have reported seeing minor cracks around the central hole and this has been caused by "fingers" that are too tight requiring too much force to get the CD out.

The quality of these cases vary a lot. The really good ones are the hybrid SACD cases and the "book" type used for XRCDs.

I definitely don't like cardboard sleeves. It's easy to scuff the playing surface - the cardboard is TOO hard compared to the polycarbonate - and it's hard NOT to leave finger prints on the very edge.

In my opinion, the best I've seen is the FIM "River of Sorrow" SACD. This is such a marvelous package. The CD goes into a paper envelope in the CD book, and the disc itself is inside a special sleeve: one side is clear plastic and the other side (the one that contacts the data side) is some soft material. One can get the sleeve out of the envelope easily without touching the CD, and then it's simple to tip the sleeve upside down and the disc slips out.

Regards,
Metralla

[Andy]

No problem, first you must sterilize a scalpel then cut the inner sleeve on the two sides adjacent to the factory supplied opening, during this process it will also be necessary to round the corners of the closed end of the sleeve. After doing this the top of the sleeve will only be attached on one side, they’re by allowing the non-sliding CD listener to lift the CD straight up rather than sliding it across the sleeve. After listening the CD can be place straight down on to the bottom of the sleeve, the top portion can be placed over the CD, and it can be safely inserted into another sleeve then the whole unit can be placed in the mini LP cardboard sleeve.

[Dave B]

Originally posted by Dave
I never really liked the mini sleeve concept because of the cd sliding over any surface can't be good for it in the long run.:eek:

Most of the mini-sleeve discs I have came with either a VRP-like plastic inner sleeve or even better a micro fiber inner sleeve. The later seems to be the best for keeping discs scratch free. At first I wasn't that wild about the mini-sleeves but I now prefer them as they more accurately reproduce the art and inserts of the original LP (although the writing can be mighty small in some cases). The Japanese pressing of The Wall even comes with minature reproductions of the custom LP labels. Very cool.

[Matt]

I mentioned this once, but one time I bought a MFSL disc at Wherehouse music, and when I asked to check the disc, the clerk (a girl about my age), wasn't familiar with the lift-lock case, so she tried to pry the disc out while it was still held in place! I think she would've broke the tray before the disc, but I told her how the thing worked before she could.