In the first half of my hifi journey I didn’t keep any, then I started to on the occasions I had them, but probably have reatainedonly about 9 boxes in total over the years (not all secondhand gear came with boxes), with probably only 4 boxes at resent.. Other than speaker boxes I simply put in the loft in previous houses, with other boxes kept in case of product sale or return, in present house it is an eaves cupboard as the small loft is near stuffed with mineral wool. Speaker boxes, from my present and immediately previous, have been huge, so I collapsed them, with foam bundled separately, and stored in the shed as they too large to get into the eaves space. Having kept the boxes was beneficial when I sold my last speakers, not only maximising value but also protecting while shipping both 50+kg bohemoths into eastern EU, though it took several rolls of parcel tape supplemented by a full roll of gaffer tape strapping and several hours to prepare them for travel!
Thanks F-Z, could you elaborate? I can see that the staples have been removed and replaced by the previous owner, but am crucially aware that they provide the structural strength across the join for these 62kg leviathans!
The few staples used to shut the flaps at the top and bottom of a box obviously have to be removed just to get a box open. They don’t really provide structural support.
That line of lots of staples that runs down one (on some boxes two) of the sides, can be left as is. When you flatten the box, you fold it along the edges without the staples. The end result is the flattened box has a row of staples down the middle. If you are creating a new fold in the cardboard that wasn’t there before, you’re doing it wrong.
I’ve done this on countless boxes. And reused them many times and they are all neat and tidy and show no signs of even being flattened.
Honestly, tape will be as strong. If you’re worried you can run a strap of additional tape across the middle perpendicular to the flaps. I never have and I’ve not lost a 250 or a pair of speakers yet.
We have five small boxes in the loft. One for the Atom HE, one for the speakers, and three for the Qbs. I’ve never kept anything not in use. The less clutter in my life the happier I am.
I have boxes for all my kit in the loft, even my 30 year old SF Concerto’s. I have moved house a number of times and always pack everything back in the original packaging. Also useful for sending to Naim for servicing/repair and essential, imo, for resale value. I believe Naim boxes cost circa £50 to replace.
I do not have any boxes except the Motu dac, SL2 speakers and some vintage Naim kit.
A have a Phonosophie amp, 42,5, HC, SL2, 5x 18" drivers, 4x10" drivers, a large subwoofer and some large horns for my next project. These parts are in the basement and in Zarges boxes in my girlfriends parents farm. And an extra power amp in the basement.
I’ve not moved house in the last 15 years; but before then I travelled with an active system around 4 different countries, moving every three years. Boxes, lots of them were essential. Now they are kept in a shed, but I must retrieve some soon so that some of kit can be serviced.
Loft Space Update:
I have created some more space for HiFi boxes in the loft by removing all of my originally purchased set of GIK Acoustics 242 panels (giving FoC to a new studio being set up).
Partly because we don’t like to see things go. I know all things have a certain time, but they can always be of use to someone. Some can have workarounds and be given a new life. As for boxes, you can never have too many…
