Transporting Loudspeakers

[The Black Adder]

Hello there.

Can anyone give me some advice on the best way to transport a pair of loudspeakers that have no boxes?

I've been reading some stuff on google but it looks like everyone has a different 'best way' - strange as they are all americans with pick-up trucks and trailers.

I'm hiring a van and I think it has enough height so the speakers could stand up.

So, standing, laying down on sides, laying down face down (of which to me sounds a little scary) and on their backs...

I was going to lay them on their sides, I've got about a 2hr run with them btw.

I've found no advice for upside down yet lol.

Any advice will be great
Thanks
JOe

[Alex_UK]

No idea if it is right or wrong, but on the few times I have had to move large speakers I have emptied the airing cupboard of all the towels I can find to use as padding, and laid the speakers on towels on their backs - my theory being that the drivers are resting at minimum extension - and if the back of the cabinet gets scratched it is better than the sides or front. If they have grilles leave them on, and pad them with everything you can get your hands on or carefully strap/bungee them down.

I'm sure someone will say this is the wrong way but I've had no problems.

Oh, and if they have floor spikes take them off before even thinking about moving them! Ouch!

[The Black Adder]

heheh.. yeah. I forgot about the floorspikes... OOOHCH, done that plenty of times.

I've just read that you should short out the speaker terminals... is this something to consider?

[jandl100]

Good post Alex.

I've done a fair bit of speaker transporting in my time :eyebrows: ... don't stint on blankets, and pillows and cushions are really good. Def don't leave them standing upright - that sounds like asking for a topple-job.

Side / back ... depends on the speaker binding posts - do they stand proud of the back? - if so, best not to lay the speakers so they are taking the weight.

Just take loads of packing stuff (blankets, cushions, pillows) and you'll be OK.

Thinking about those Dalis .... the way I'd do it is lay them on their sides, facing each other with a couple of soft pillows between them.

Blankets, pillows, cushions underneath in a flat shock-absorbing layer. Then surround the whole lot with more soft packing.

Minimise wobble - nice and secure in a soft cocoon!

[John]

Just use as much common sense as you can Like Alex said I would pad it as well as I could towels bubble wrap etc, make sure they safe and not likely to move around either sideways or back or forwards I would probarly put them on their sides but not sure if there is a perfect way
I am not sure why you should short out the terminals

[twelvebears]

Providing the binding posts are suitable recessed, I'd definitely go with laying them on their backs.

Another good option, though less of an issue if it's a short run and (more importantly) you are moving them yourself rather than leaving them in the hands of Moving Monkeys, is to cut a piece of ply big enough the cover the drivers and then stick some chunks of polystyrene in in to space it off the baffle, then tape it in place using masking tape (won't leave nasty goo behind).

Once your driver protection is held in place, buy a big roll of pallet wrap (super-size, super thick clingfilm) and just go round and round the whole speaker a good few times.

In addition to holding the driver protection board in place very firmly, the pallet wrap will give pretty robust protection to all surfaces from scratches and scrapes and makes it very grippy and easy to carry.

Final stage for uber protection would be to wrap them in some thick wool blankets and secure with rope/bungy straps to protect from dents.

Nope of this is expensive and well worth the effort if you're worried.

[Spectral Morn]

All great advice except that I would not put anything soft where the drive units are. Use a sheet of polystyrene and lay the speakers facing each other, with it in the middle. Use plenty of bubble wrap or failing that as Alex suggests plenty of blankets pillows etc. Worth looking out for anything on the surface it is lying on that could damage the wood work. So plenty of padding underneath. Pack so the speakers can't move in any direction and remember if you have to break suddenly the speakers might slide so pack well at the head and the bottom.

I would also give the things you are using a good shake or hoover just in case any particles are there that could scratch the wood work. Wrapping the speakers is a a good idea as well.

Regards D S D L

[Rare Bird]

Ive always put not too bigger speakers Front to Front seperated by a piece of bubble wrapped hardboard.

[Ali Tait]

All good advice.I wrapped mine in spare duvets and laid them side by side on their backs.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

I'd always lie them on their backs with the drivers covered but free to move (as steve said). On thier backs in a car so any sudden jolts in pot holes won't move the drivers in a direction they arnt suposed to go... But that is being very anal! We get tons of speaker deliverys at the shop and they come lieing down, standing up, sideways, anyways ... They are always fine, apart from when jolted by dropping them... They can look perfect but if the drivers have been jolted badly they get jammed somehow and the voice coil sounds and feels like it's grinding on the magnet, when that happens quick phone call to and we get new drivers, so I asume they are writen off! ... ... So yeah, that my only comment, wrap them well and place them gently!

[The Black Adder]

Righto chaps... Good advice. I've just made some strong 'coffin' like boxes deep enough to hold them so plenty of packing in the base and enough around the sides to allow slight movement...

Many thanks :) all good.

[goraman]

I would put some foam under them to absorb any shock and strap them down to keep them from sliding around in the event of an event.
Especialy if you love them and they would be hard to replace.