Shipping used audio equipment: costs, ports and paperwork

Most of our quotations are FOB port of loading. That means we deliver the tested and packed goods to the port and clear export customs; the freight and destination charges are arranged by your forwarder.

LCL is the right answer below roughly 15 cubic metres. Above that, a 20-foot container usually costs less per unit and protects the cabinets far better, because the goods never get re-handled in a consolidation warehouse.

Used audio needs slightly different paperwork from new goods. Expect the commercial invoice to state that the equipment is used, with serial numbers listed where they exist, and a packing list that matches the pallet marks. Some destinations also ask for a declaration of condition. Buyers who want to compare cabinet weights and dimensions before booking freight can browse the full range of used pro audio equipment in our catalogue. Before booking freight, buyers should read how used pro audio is graded so the condition stated on the invoice matches what actually ships. Small accessories such as a used Crown CM-310A microphone can travel in the same consolidation, but they still need their serial numbers on the packing list.

Weights and volumes decide your freight more than value does. Subwoofers run 60 to 90 kilograms per cabinet and load poorly, so a mixed container of amplifiers, consoles and cabinets should be planned around the cabinets, not the amplifiers. For smaller venues, a compact nightclub bar PA system ships more easily in LCL than a full touring rig. A full-range cabinet such as a used JBL SRX725 for sale listing should be weighed and measured before you decide whether it fits an LCL load. Amplifiers are lighter and pack more densely than cabinets, so a used Adamson PLM 20K44 amplifier adds little to the volume of a mixed LCL load.

Ask for a loading plan before you book. A well-planned container of used gear arrives with fewer handling marks, and that is worth more than the few dollars a cheaper routing might save. Larger projects such as a concert festival PA system usually justify a 20-foot container once the cabinet count is confirmed. For rigs with many identical boxes, our used line array buying checklist explains how to plan cabinet counts before you commit to a container. Buyers weighing cabinet counts should read our used NEXO GEOS 1230 speakers guide before deciding between LCL and a 20-foot container.

Questions about this unit or about shipping to your country? Contact us for condition photos, test results and a quote.