speakers on pallet

There is no right or wrong answer, but FYI, my last two pairs of floor standing Magico speakers shipped in separate palletized crates in the upright position, with my current S5 Mk2’s shipping with castor feet for easy unloading, however Magico use a suspension system and ingenious locking system to secure the speaker in the crate...and Magico’s floorstanders are built like a brick outhouse, so they can handle it.

My Marten Coltrane Alto’s (large stand mounts) were shipped in their 3 factory cardboard boxes in large foam mouldings for protection packed in one palletized crate by the seller, with the main speaker modules facing up.

I know classic Infinity speakers like the Rennaisance 90 & IRS Sigma shipped in factory cardboard boxes in foam mouldings in the upright position fyi. Though the pair of 2nd hand Ren 90’s I bought were shipped o/s in a single crate with the speakers wrapped in heavy bubble wrap & foam, again in the upright position.

However I’ve successfully shipped a pair of Magico S5 speakers (190lb) interstate in custom palletized double-boxed cardboard cartons with the speakers lying flat on custom injection-moulded foam wrapped in bulbble-wrap with the drivers facing up. The main challenge was to ensure the top and bottom foam mouldings had clearance around the drivers & speaker binding posts. That done, The speakers arrived with the buyer in micky mouse condition due to of the extreme care taken to pack & ship them.

I’ve also bought a pair of Evolution Acoustics stand-mounts which shipped in low, flat crates with the speaker modules lying on their sides. Hope that helps!

Having shipped more than a few, I would say that speaker crates should be in the upright position (as a speaker would normally be in your home) and STRAPPED to the pallet first then shrink-wrapped.  This is the way most palletized loads have reached me over the years and it would appear best practice particularly when I remember that in the shipping distribution centers, these pallets are being moved via lift trucks that sometimes take corners too fast and the load have to deal with alot of
'sway' going around corners.

If your speakers can fit 2 on pallet, same advice but put a couple of additional straps around the crates to strap them together, then strap down to the pallet followed by the industrial roll of shrink wrap treatment.

When I got my Vandersteen 5A's, they were shipped upright bolted to pallets....not a scratch.

Yeah...thanks you guys...I think ill call manufacture...jtbs

Just talked with the boss and woofers up does it...thanks guys again.

My Thiel 2.4 SE were shipped two to a pallet with woofers up. Also, Thiel inserted some heavy foam rubber (appeared to be shipping base for some kind of speaker) in between the speakers. The foam rubber was higher than the boxes so trucking company would not try to put anything else on top of the pallet -smart! The whole thing was wrapped in that saran-wrap stuff.

Von Schweikert ships with drivers up two on a pallet and several pair have traveled across country to me that way no problem imprtant to use a reputable freight company - they use Pilot

Most definitely ship laying on back if possible, this way if the pallet or crate gets dropped the weight of the motor structure (magnet and pole plates) have little chance of shifting or breaking off.  

Have shipped thousands of speakers this way.

Best of luck

Peter

WOW! No one mentioned the fact that if you're shipping used speakers, most carriers will not cover then by their replacement value! They insure by the pound. I bought a pair of B&W subs from a dealer in Florida. (used) He put them in a big box on a pallet. I wasn't home when the truck arrived. I instructed my son to open the box and do a visual inspection. Was there damage? Yes he said. There are gouge marks and small damaged areas. I should have told him to REFUSE them. He signed the paperwork to indicate the damage. At that point I was screwed. ( partly my fault for not understanding all of the rules from all parties involved). The trucker was willing to pay by weight $23.50. PayPals rules say I can get a refund if I return them on my dime. Not practical as I only paid $600.00 plus $122.00 shipping. The dealer paid $275.00 for the trucking company. In the end, the guy in Florida ate $250.00 extra dollars to make the problem go away. The subs are on a shelf in my basement. Be careful. Joe

thanks guys...yeah gammajo he reco them (pilot) also...