Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Best way to transport DSP8000s ? (No Boxes)

Hi all,

If I had the boxes for these D8K speakers this would be a no brainer. As I don't my question is what's the best way to transport them safely.

I vaguely remember someone recommending on this forum Duvets to protect them. I also remember when the D8Ks were being upgraded at my home, they were placed face down (protected) on the floor.

Ideas please....

Thanks

Del (TD4)

Via your local PP, you can buy replacement boxes from Meridian.

+1. The boxes are way cheaper than having to replace the front glass. There are countless horror stories about transporting 8ks or even 6ks without the boxes. Even if it a local move they need to be handled with great care. When I bought my first set of 8ks, there were no boxes. We wrapped them in multiple moving blankets and loaded them into a moving trailer upright and strapped to the side wall. The heads are the easy part.

Thank you for the replies.

So it seems the key to transporting these speakers is well protected (wrapped) and upright, if no boxes?

Del (TD4)

I posted about this a long time ago but can't find it now. The quick summary: a 5500 HC shipped from So. California to Toronto. It was a heavy box. We wrapped in light foam to protect the finish, then heavy bubble wrap. With wrapped speaker standing tall, we placed a wardrobe box over the top; these are about 2 ft square by 48 inches and pretty heavy duty cardboard over here. Then, we turned it 180 degrees (standing on the other end) and forced another wardrobe box over theopen end and the first box. In effect, double boxed where it mattered, and lots of bubble wrap.

Hope that's clear. 5500 have less to risk than 8000s. For 8s, I'd also use a solid foam piece covering the top and bottom and maybe line the sides of the box if there was room.

Iirc a good few years ago, someone managed to get some flight cases made. Not cheap but compared to new boxes, possibly not so bad value, especially considering the value of the contents.

I think to an extent it depends on the nature of the journey; your profile says you are going to be in Japan later this year. If this transporting is trans-continental then I think that original boxes are a must, or bespoke flight cases. If you have sold the 8ks to some guy a car drive away, I think wrapping them in a few duvets and careful lifting would do the job. As your signature no longer lists the 8ks then I assume it's more the latter than the former. Oh, and drive like you're on ice.

Bespoke flight cases for something the size of a DSP8K are probably around GBP 500-600, each. (I looked into having flight cases made a while back for work). You will also need to source high-density foam and have it cut to shape so that the speakers can't move around inside the flight case.

Swan Flight Custom flight cases

That got me thinking, flight cases are heavy at around 50kg, add in the 105kg for the 8K and that's 155kg. So one 8K is the same weight as a pair of DSP2500s: one of those was bad enough to move with two of us.

Pelican Cases

Thank you all very much for your replies and suggestions. I hope some of the packaging ideas put forward will be of benefit to someone in the future.

We opted not to take them to Japan so Not'arf is right that the speakers have indeed been sold and I've offered to deliver them to the soon to be new owner. So yes I will be transporting them as though I'm "driving on ice" and wrapped like a newborn.

Del (TD4)

Good luck with the hand-over of the 8ks, & good luck in Japan.... it sounds like a great adventure.

My piano black 5500s are still going strong thanks Del.