[tigzstudio]

How to ship speakers and amps?


Hello all,

Im selling my Odyssey Nightingales and a Stratos amplifier, and just want some ideas on the best way to ship these.


Meaning what company to choose to ship them, and how to wrap / package them properly so no damage occurs in transit?

[Bill Baker]

Who to use? - Choose the lesser of all evils. I use only UPS now and haven't had any problems. Just last week I sent out a beautiful pair of Birdseye Maple Audio Physic Libras. Arrived in perfect condition..... but they were packed very well.....


 How to pack? - Do not make the mistake of packing too tight. An overly tight packing job will protect as much as using no box at all. Use think foam and an extra layer of cardboard within the box. If you want to spend a few extra bucks for piece of mind, run down to Home Depot and pick up some hardboard of at least 1/8" thickness and line the box with it in place of, or along with, the extra layer of cardboard.

[lonewolfny42]

There's some good packing info here.......

I tend to make a foam box liner when I can.....check the local uphostry shop for piece's they don't need....good source for free.

[john1970]

I would highly recommend you use USPS (United States Postal Service) Next Day Air.  Their rates for next day service are the cheapest around and they will actually honor insurance claims.  Both UPS and Fedex are awful at honoring insurance claims.  If you use UPS or FedEx have them pack the goods for you that way they can't claim that the goods were poorly packed. 

I recently shipped $2500 worth of speaker componets cross-country (MA to CA) by USPS Next Day Air and they arrived without ANY problems.  Good were wrapped in bubble wrap and double boxed.  The outside box was double thick to offer additional protection.

Good luck,

John

P.S.  PM me if you need additional information.

[Kevin Haskins]

Use the original packaging for sure.    I triple box my amps, first box fits the enclosure tight and the corresponding two boxes fit with 1" foam corners.  I also use a shock indicator to keep the UPS man honest and help if I need to submitt a claim.   Believe it or not I've never had to submit a claim because I overpack my packages.   

For speakers... the only way I'd ship anything more than a monitor is via a freight carrier and you need to crate the speakers.   Crating should be done by wrapping the loudspeaker in some sort of poly bag, covering that with 1" closed cell foam and then 1/4-3/8" plywood over the loudspeakers.   Strap all that to the pallet and strap them down the the pallet.    Be sure to mark the pallet with LARGE "DO NOT STACK" stickers.

That is about the only way I would ship a large floor standing loudspeaker and expect it to arrive undamaged.

[john1970]

Very good advice (as previously given): USE ORIGINAL BOX AND PACKING MATERIAL.

[warnerwh]

I just received an amp yesterday in a wooden crate from UPS. If it had been in a cardboard box the amp would have been destroyed because the crate is very damaged, one hinge is torn off, both clasps destroyed that hold the lid down, wood pieces missing and other wood parts with large, wide cracks. It obviously took a nice fall at least a couple of times.

If you're capable and are concerned putting a wood box around the outside and putting feet on your mini pallet will help alot. That's what I did last time I shipped large speakers(Magnepan 3.5s) and it worked well.

Uhaul sells some nice double thick boxes. It may not hurt to double box the amp. I can tell you another story about an amp that was double boxed. The outer box looked like someone rolled it down a rock cliff and the amp surely would have been destroyed if it didn't have that outer box. It was a Parasound HCA 3500 with the factory double boxes. That had been Fedex that time. No guarantees although it seems like USPS has a lower damage rate but I've used them less also.