A/V Equipment Boxes: Keep Them Or Toss Them?

Some boxes can save you a lot of money

After much research and stress, you finally got the audio video system you wanted. Dynamiq A/V installed it and everything is working great. The system turn on with just one button on your universal remote and it looks and sounds amazing! There is one thing, however that you may have missed or is seldom covered when researching installing a home theater system: What do I do with all of these boxes? Should I keep them? recycle them? The answer is both yes and no.

What kind of boxes?

First, Let’s cover what type of boxes you should expect to encounter in a typical home theater system. Speakers come in relatively manageable boxes. They are usually found in pairs and the box is about 12”x12”x12”. The next size up would be your receiver box at about 22”x22x”12”. This is followed by the box your projector arrives in at 30”x28”x14”. Moving up would be the box for your new subwoofer. depending on how big of a subwoofer you got, the box may be the size of a mini fridge given all the padding and protection inside to buffer the subwoofer from damage. The biggest box you are likely to encounter in your home theater install is the box your projector screen comes in. This screen is about 12”x12”x120”!

The breakdown:

You may be tempted to just break everything down and toss it in the recycling bin. After all, you’re excited to go back to watching movies or your favorite show! Although this may sound like the logical thing to do, it may become a costly choice in the lifespan of some of your high quality audio/video gear: The equipment Dynamiq A/V sells is covered under their respective manufacturer warranty. these warranties can range between 1 year while some may grant you a lifetime warranty, such as our Episode speaker brand. While many manufacturer’s repair warranty terms vary, there are some solid rules we typically follow for boxes.

The first is to hold on to your boxes for about two to three weeks. Many manufacturers allow the return of your faulty equipment in exchange for a new one within that two to 3 week time-frame provided that it is returned in the original box. They will treat this as if the item arrived defective upon delivery. It is important to note that many manufacturers will not allow utilizing the box of the replacement piece of equipment as the serial number on the box has to match the defective item.

Now let’s concentrate on the boxes you my start breaking down and recycling. These would be items that the manufacturer may require to be sent to them for repair, but are not susceptible to being damaged from regular packaging. These are the boxes for your in-wall speakers and in some cases, your subwoofer. The projector screen box can go too. The boxes for smaller items like your HDMI cables, universal remotes and other components can also be disposed of at this time.

Boxes to Keep

The boxes to keep are for your higher-end components. These are your Projector and A/V receiver box. A typical warranty for these items runs about 2-3 years from your date of purchase. The manufacturer will likely require you to send the item to them for repair or replacement. They are not responsible for damage to the item in transit and using a poorly packaged or substandard box will not help with any claim you may have. A generic box for items of that weight and size can run you between $45-$60. The added benefit to keeping these boxes is in the event of reselling your equipment or moving. Many people prefer to purchase used a/v equipment that has its original box. Moving will be much safer for your gear nestled safely in their original box. We also strongly suggest keeping your TV’s original box for the same reason especially if you have a higher - end TV. Additionally, If you own tower speakers or any other furniture quality a/v equipment keeping their boxes may save you a lot of headache in the future.

Conclusion

Following this guide is a great way to make sure your investment is protected in the event of a warranty claim or moving. Dynamiq A/V is happy to help your remove your equipment in the same professional manner that we use to install it. We are also happy to assist with any warranty claims you may have. Knowing your manufacturer’s warranty will help you adjust the information above for your project. Congratulations on your new home theater room, media room or new sound system. We hope to partner with you in the future for any upgrades or additions to your setup!