WARNING - USE UPS FOR SHIPPING RATHER THAN FEDEX

FedEx appears to be slipping again in many key ways including what the OP is talking about. They may say they insure the contents but try filing a claim and having it go quickly with proper reimbursement; that's another thing altogether!. In addition their tracking systems don't show updates for hours and sometimes more than a 1-2 days at a time in the case of a problem. If they have a weather or mechanical delay the tracking simply 'stops' and shows the package in its last state or depot location before the problem occurred. This has happened 3 times in my last 3 shipments with them over the past month alone.  Their customer service reps have no better visibility than what we have on the public website either and the litany of apologies is long and frustrating.  

UPS on the other hand is much better at showing location/status of a given package but is reportedly very difficult in extracting payment for the exorbitantly priced "replacement value" shipment insurance (at least $2.49 USD per $100 valuation over the first $100).  There are countless stories out there of difficulties proving the case and getting money back.  
I've had a number of shipments with both over the years where I was forced to contact Esoteric, Classe, Edge, etc...and buy, out of my own pocket, replacement shipping cartons. There seems to be no way to get a shipment across with the peace of mind of it looking decent when it arrived as a guarantee. It's good the contents make it intact but these shipping cartons are not inexpensive, often costing $100-$300 or more per set.

The only way I've seen to ensure both FedEx and UPS do a good job overall is to pay the very high additional shipping charges for at least "Standard Overnight" (Next Day Saver often gets less quality handling) or "Priority Overnight"/"Early A.M." levels of service.

As an aside,...for high-value electronics, I was pointed to SBA ("Service By Air") by Esoteric and BAX Global. I've used SBA several times and their quality is first rate. BAX is reported by some friends as being 1st rate as well, particularly for super large amp, speaker and other high-end shipments.

bassdude: that is exactly my experience with SBA as well; every box strapped and then ALSO thick plastic shrink-wrapped to a single pallet! I received an Esoteric C-03 preamp and Master clock this way and other components in different shipments over the years and the behavior and quality of service was always the same (excellent). I remember the head of Esoteric Sales telling me they stopped using both FedEx and UPS and went to SBA after an extensive search/quality process after they watched a driver (from company name withheld) drop a P-01VU transport and at least one of the D-01VU DACs in the shipment about 5-6 feet off the back of the truck and then expected all to carry on as if nothing happened!

One other company I’ve had good luck with shipping large palletized speaker loads is "Old Dominion Freight" within the US. Their drivers are very good people (at least those I’ve met) and as long as you remind them several times (at order placing and when dispatch calls to schedule pickup or drop-off) that they need a truck with a lift-gate & pallet jack, and give them particulars on your drive-way (if too tight for a 53-foot trailer & drive unit), their service is absolutely exemplary. They won’t palletize it for you like SBA can but OD’s service on 3-4 loads I have shipped in both directions with them has been without issue and excellent.

Thanks all for the comments and other helpful info along the way!