McIntosh Shipping Boxes: McIntosh OEM box or Audio Classics?

monkboughtlunch

Super Member
I've read that shipping vintage gear in box that's especially designed for the specific McIntosh model in question is the best approach to avoid shipping damage.. How do the shipping boxes offered by McIntosh and Audio Classics differ? Does one offer more protection than the other?
 
one has McIntosh written on the side, which is maximum cool factor, the other does not have a logo, other than that they are the same, I have used both, it is the BEST way to ship your gear if you need to, they are both worth the price. I haven't bought any for a while, so I can't remember what they cost. But I assure you, other than the decision on buying Mac gear in the first place, buying a proper shipping container for your gear iwill be the second best audio related decision you can make. I have shipped around 10 pieces to terry in the Mac boxes NEVER had any broken gear. Audio classics are great people, and McIntosh speaks for it'self. you can't go wrong either way.
 
one has McIntosh written on the side, which is maximum cool factor, the other does not have a logo, other than that they are the same, I have used both, it is the BEST way to ship your gear if you need to, they are both worth the price. I haven't bought any for a while, so I can't remember what they cost. But I assure you, other than the decision on buying Mac gear in the first place, buying a proper shipping container for your gear iwill be the second best audio related decision you can make. I have shipped around 10 pieces to terry in the Mac boxes NEVER had any broken gear. Audio classics are great people, and McIntosh speaks for it'self. you can't go wrong either way.

Thanks -- so the boxes, other than branding, are 100% identical? I think I'd prefer to not have the MAC branding for theft reasons.

So do the materials that either MAC or Audio Classics provide include everything that's needed, including a second box to achieve "double boxing" for added protection? Or does one use the MAC or Audio Classics box and then put that in another box?
 
Audio Classic boxes have twice the crush energy factor of a Mcintosh Box. I have both here at home for both 16 and 17 inch units And the Audio Classic box is much superior. I just bought a new MVP891 and a MP 100 and the box for the MP100 was a disgrace it was so thin and flimsy. Except for my MPI-4 that was opened by the shipper and not repacked properly causing the face plate to fail and a circuit boards to become dislodged, I have never had an issue with an Audio Classic box. I would have loved to see the bill UPS had to pay to return the MPI-4 to like new service. A face plate from another unit as time was a factor, UPS red both ways and the charge for the technician that was pulled off other work and repaired, calibrated the unit and let it run and cycle on and off for over 24 hours in a three day period. So the unit was picked up Monday Morning and was in my handsFriday evening. If I had to pay for that kind of service I can see a charge way North of of $600.00. Ouch.

I will say the current Mac box for a MC275 is much superior to the original Mac boxes my matched pair of MK I came in.

I had to take a break and I was trying to remember if any Mac units got damaged in shipping. One Mac speaker mounted on a palette got damaged when a fork lift missed and stabbed the speaker, fortunately only one of the grills on a ML-4 C was damaged. I've seen original 275 and 240 boxes with crushed corners but the amps were OK. I think one MC 2300 for the Basilica face plate was slightly bent when shipped by American Airlines DC 10 container. But other wise no matter the fact the boxes might be scraped, gouged or become smudged, the units I and other installers unpacked were perfect. When I first started I grabbed a 275 with the transformers away from my body and dropped the unit fortunately it only fell a 10 inches or so and nothing was hurt. I never did that again. Always feel and pick up the box with the transformers against your body. DUH!!!!!!
 
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Funny how no one seems to mention cost. For a typical tuner, the Mac box for my MX113 was $55 incl shipping, the AC box for my C34V was $75.
 
I think i bought a box from AC for a MA 230 several years ago ( it was unavailable from mac)
IIRC something like 60 dollars shipped:idea:
 
For 1960s era McIntosh with the upper half of the faceplate containing glass, is it advisable to remove the knobs before shipping in an Audio Classics or McIntosh custom sized box?

Does anyone have pics of their custom box? Does it include form fitted styrofoam to cradle the unit?
 
No need to remove knobs on any McIntosh when an Audio Classics box is used.

Some package sets have styrofoam corner pieces between the inner and outer boxes, others have cardboard springs.

Agreed 100% with twiiii - fresh packaging from A/C is the best insurance you can buy.
 
I let a friend ship his C28 to AudioClassics in a Mac box I had for my C30, it was returned in an AudioClassics box.
 
Ive shipped Mc's around the world, the AC boxes are great, the McIntosh boxes are great......The AC ones may have the slight edge though....

I've used all sorts of different carriers, I think they are all pretty much the same, its all down to the packaging...
 
but they probably did that so the box was "fresh" the PO has beat the crap outta one box I have used twice.

That box may have "made the ultimate sacrifice" for that C28! I have a larger box which has shipped an MC2100, an MC 2120 and an MC 2200 from California to the East Coast and back, it's starting to look a little ragged. I wonder what the expected life span of a Mac box is...
 
For 1960s era McIntosh with the upper half of the faceplate containing glass, is it advisable to remove the knobs before shipping in an Audio Classics or McIntosh custom sized box?

Does anyone have pics of their custom box? Does it include form fitted styrofoam to cradle the unit?

Here are some photos of the shipping box that contained the MR74 tuner I purchased from AudioClassics last summer. A couple of pieces of styro to help stabilize the tuner are not shown. Also included was a complimentary AC note pad which I thought was a nice touch.
 

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I thought that Mcintosh boxes suspend the inner carton with foam spacers...I like that better than the folded carboard.
 
Here are 5 photos of the original McIntosh shipping box that contained the MA6100 I purchased about the same time as my tuner. I won it on ebay and included 3 photos of the outermost box. The seller was most conscientious in packing the MA6100 and YES! that is 1/4" plywood under the lid and there is also a sheet of same on the bottom of the box.
 

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Here are some photos of the shipping box that contained the MR74 tuner I purchased from AudioClassics last summer. A couple of pieces of styro to help stabilize the tuner are not shown. Also included was a complimentary AC note pad which I thought was a nice touch.

Thanks - should the two boxes (inner and outer) from Audio Classics be placed inside a third box? Or is it fine to ship with just the double boxing (inner and outer) exactly as received from Audio Classics just like below photo?

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Monk, the third box might be a good idea, my MX114 was shipped back to me in the same boxes you show. UPS dropped it and it was toast when I got it back. Its now back at Audio Classics and will be repaired on UPS's dime. Al
 
Monk, the third box might be a good idea, my MX114 was shipped back to me in the same boxes you show. UPS dropped it and it was toast when I got it back. Its now back at Audio Classics and will be repaired on UPS's dime. Al


Yikes. What kind of damage was sustained to the MX114 from the drop? How well did the Audio Classics box protect it? Would you recommend using Fed Ex instead?
 
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