How NOT to pack Polk LSi9 speakers
BeefJerky
Posts: 1,320
Well, here is a fun little lesson for ya'll on how *not* to pack large and heavy bookshelf speakers.
First, here are the pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58336743@N07/sets/72157626863577655/
That was what I saw when the UPS guy brought the boxes to my door. I ran to get a knife and opened the busted box right away before the UPS driver left. I was amazed to see that speaker still in one piece.
The one busted box was simply not strong enough for something of this weight. Both boxes contained inadequate amounts of packing materials. In addition, none of it was even close to being the proper type of packing material for the job. Even in the "good" box, the speaker was just bouncing around inside.
At any rate, after the UPS driver left, I pulled the top driver on both speakers to have a look inside and check the structural integrity. All looked good inside. Next came the real test - plugging them in. Amazingly, they both work 100%. I tested them in full range mode, from the highest frequencies down to the lowest bass frequencies they can handle, and they work fine. No rattles, no distortion, just pure music. The only "damage" is some scratching on the top glossy surface of one speaker.
To say this is a testament to Polk's build quality is an understatement. I'm quite positive that after the big nuclear blast kills us all, these Polk's will be the only thing left intact under the rubble that was my house.
After testing them, I emailed the seller. I explained what happened and everything that was wrong with the packing. I suggested he learn from this experience and pack better in the future. Later in the day he emailed back with an apology. He agreed that the packing was (more than) sub-par and offered a partial refund. I didn't actually ask for anything, so it was a nice gesture and I accepted. It was also refreshing that he was able to admit he made a mistake and apologize.
--Chris
P.S. These speakers can put out good *solid* bass down to ~38hz. And, I'm not talking boomy, one-note bass; I'm talking tight, accurate bass. I'm surprised at just how accurate Polk's specs are on these. They wouldn't be able to put out the lowest bass at reference levels, but this by far the best bass I've ever heard from a bookshelf speaker. In fact, it beats many floor-standing speakers in that regard too. If this were a music-only system, I might even forgo a subwoofer.
First, here are the pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58336743@N07/sets/72157626863577655/
That was what I saw when the UPS guy brought the boxes to my door. I ran to get a knife and opened the busted box right away before the UPS driver left. I was amazed to see that speaker still in one piece.
The one busted box was simply not strong enough for something of this weight. Both boxes contained inadequate amounts of packing materials. In addition, none of it was even close to being the proper type of packing material for the job. Even in the "good" box, the speaker was just bouncing around inside.
At any rate, after the UPS driver left, I pulled the top driver on both speakers to have a look inside and check the structural integrity. All looked good inside. Next came the real test - plugging them in. Amazingly, they both work 100%. I tested them in full range mode, from the highest frequencies down to the lowest bass frequencies they can handle, and they work fine. No rattles, no distortion, just pure music. The only "damage" is some scratching on the top glossy surface of one speaker.
To say this is a testament to Polk's build quality is an understatement. I'm quite positive that after the big nuclear blast kills us all, these Polk's will be the only thing left intact under the rubble that was my house.
After testing them, I emailed the seller. I explained what happened and everything that was wrong with the packing. I suggested he learn from this experience and pack better in the future. Later in the day he emailed back with an apology. He agreed that the packing was (more than) sub-par and offered a partial refund. I didn't actually ask for anything, so it was a nice gesture and I accepted. It was also refreshing that he was able to admit he made a mistake and apologize.
--Chris
P.S. These speakers can put out good *solid* bass down to ~38hz. And, I'm not talking boomy, one-note bass; I'm talking tight, accurate bass. I'm surprised at just how accurate Polk's specs are on these. They wouldn't be able to put out the lowest bass at reference levels, but this by far the best bass I've ever heard from a bookshelf speaker. In fact, it beats many floor-standing speakers in that regard too. If this were a music-only system, I might even forgo a subwoofer.
Post edited by BeefJerky on
Comments
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wow...that box looks like it went to hell and back. Glad this worked out for you with a reasonable and honest seller, and most of all that the world didn't lose a pair of LSi9's to UPS.
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You shoulda asked me BJ....what's up? That sucks man.CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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Wow...that sux. Fed ex did the drop and run on my box.
The cabinets looked fine...the hot glue failed and the negative terminal pealed the copper off the pad. I made this ugly patch by sanding the area next to the original solder. Freak failure ... but it sounds fine so far...
PS I worked at an automated sort facility used by a major shipping company so not much surprises me about box handling... -
Yep, we know you have the hook up, MarkYou shoulda asked me BJ....what's up? That sucks man.
I got them for $550 shipped, and I'm getting $50 back for the scratches. So, $500 for the pair seems good to me. Not as good as the one guy bragging about getting a pair for $350 (lucky ****), but good.
As far as shipping goes, nothing surprises me anymore either. I've seen square/rectangle boxes end up in a near-sphere by the time they arrive at their destination. FedEx Ground seems to be the worst from my experiences. UPS has actually been fairly good to me, and I don't blame them for this. It was just poor packaging. -
ups got some balls to drop off a package like that :eek:
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Looks like you got lucky. I don't understand how 'anyone' can pack things so badly?
Even if you 'suck' at packing; just get it double boxed, snug and use as much packing tape around and around it as possible. That stuff, in abundance, will NEVER snap! It doesn't taking a Packing Engineer to figure that one out.
When I was in Grad School I spent one summer working as a packer for a Sporting Goods warehouse. I taped the sh#t out of everything and learned to pick out the appropriate boxes. We supplied gear to Dept. stores from Ca. to NY. No one ever 'showed' me how to pack!
UPS aside. You can pack for them too!
cnhCurrently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!
Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
[sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash] -
great the speakers survived , I got a few bad wrapped things one time this guy set the amp in bubble wrapp only and it popped out bending the frame, another one a EQ same deal I showed it to the post office they wouldnt do a claim .
I still always wonder why people think bad backing works ?
If I have any doubts I double box it with cut to size foam , the last thing I want is freight damage .
Also like cnh said (use lots of tape) I even wrapp it in shrink wrap first to protect cornors and in case of water .
You never know what damage can happen . -
I received a very nice amp once which the guy put inside an apple box (you know, the kind with all the round holes all over), no packaging whatsoever, just flopping around in there. Would you believe it didn't receive any dings, scratches or dents? I don't even know how that happens!Vinyl, the final frontier...
Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want...
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I had some precision parts delivered to my shop a few days ago. As I opened the door for the UPS delivery guy he managed to drop the box which was clearly marked fragile on every surface with bright orange stickers. I understand that accidents happen, but he then proceeded to kick the package to the doorway! WTF!Sources: Technics SL1200MKII | SME3009 Tonearm | Monster Alpha 1 MC cartridge | Oppo UDP203 disk player | Nikko NT-790 analog tuner | Musical Fidelity Trivista 21 DAC | Preamp: Threshold SL-10 | Amplifier: Threshold Stasis 2 | Speakers: Snell Acoustics C/V | Kimber 12-TC bi wire speakers | Analysis plus Oval 1 preamp to amp | Wireworld Eclipse 7 DAC to Preamp | Wireworld eclipse digital IC Oppo to DAC | Audioquest Quartz tuner to preamp |
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P.S. These speakers can put out good *solid* bass down to ~38hz. And, I'm not talking boomy, one-note bass; I'm talking tight, accurate bass. I'm surprised at just how accurate Polk's specs are on these. They wouldn't be able to put out the lowest bass at reference levels, but this by far the best bass I've ever heard from a bookshelf speaker. In fact, it beats many floor-standing speakers in that regard too. If this were a music-only system, I might even forgo a subwoofer.
I found the bass very bloated and a farily large hump to make it appear they could hit that low. I doubt very much they go that low with any kind of authority. The bass hump can be quite addicting as it's right in the mid-bass sweetspot so much pop music is mastered in, but it's far from tight and accurate. That was the main reason I sold my 9's, the bass was too unnatural for my ears. I tried a lot of placement options and a few different high end amplifiers.
Once people started modding the x-overs with better parts, it seems the concensous is the bass exaggeration is greatly reduced and almost completely eliminated. If I ever get another pair, I would certainly modify the x-overs to get more natural bass performance.
YMMV
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
I used a sound generator, and I can get a good, solid 38hz out of these in my room. It is not a big room (14x16), so that may have something to do with it. I have them sitting on top of my old R50's, 8" from the wall, just to the sides of my 52" LCD. I haven't noticed any mid-bass hump, and I haven't broken out an RTA yet, either. However, since I normally run them with a crossover setting of 80hz, I doubt it would matter much.
