Fatbox

厚型双碟盒 (Fatbox, also spelled fat box) is a common variant of the multi-disc jewel case from the CD era; its thickness is typically close to that of two standard single-disc cases placed side by side. It was primarily used for double-CD, triple-CD, and quadruple-CD sets, as well as early multi-disc CD-ROMs, allowing a complete set to be presented within a single case with a continuous spine and unified cover art. “Fatbox” is a colloquial industry term; there is no single structural standard that applies to all manufacturers.

A typical case consists of deeper, transparent front and rear covers and a central flip-out tray. The tray can hold one disc on each side, and disc latches may be located on the inner sides of the front and rear covers, allowing it to accommodate two to four discs; other versions hold discs only on the central tray or on the front and rear sides of the case. The center tray is connected via a plastic spindle or snap-fit mechanism; the opening direction, disc-holding mechanism design, and interchangeability vary by manufacturer. The wider spine accommodates the full title, while the front cover can still hold a standard or thickened booklet, and the back uses a back cover card designed for wide cases. Some classical music, live recordings, and long-form audio content utilize the extra space to include thicker booklets. The increased external width of the case does not alter the disc capacity; a “double-disc edition” still consists of two separate discs, rather than a single CD with double the capacity.

The Fatbox differs from the later “slim double jewel case.” Slim double cases typically maintain a thickness close to that of a standard single-disc case, with discs placed on the front and back sides or using thin flip-out trays; the Fatbox, in contrast, trades greater thickness for compartment space and the capacity to include extras. Although some multi-disc cases are quite thick, they use Keep Case-style soft plastic or custom book-style structures and do not qualify as “fatboxes” in the context of Jewel Cases.

Common damage includes broken central tray hinges, missing notches on the disc latches, and damaged hinges on the wide front cover. Replacement cases may be similar in appearance, but the tray color, embossed text, spine width, and latch mechanism may not be exactly the same. The packaging characteristics of a Fatbox are therefore distinct from the CD’s pressing version and audio content.