Expensive and fragile things like speakers and anything with tubes, I ship Fed Ex air or better yet Pilot Freight Air and meet the package at the closest airport distribution center (in my case about an hour 20 minutes away. Worth it to have never had damage this way - knock on wood.
Shipping by UPS
I have two Rythmik F12 subs on the way from Texas. Do I let them deliver them to the house or hold them at the distribution center and pick them up from there. I figure I will eliminate them from handling by two times but then I get to wrestle them in and out of my truck at about 85# each. The boxes always look pretty beat up when show up at the house and I’ve had stuff that was double boxed damaged. What to do.