AVS › AVS Forum › Display Devices › 2.35:1 Constant Image Height Chat › DIY Constant Height › Somis CIH Masking System
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Somis CIH Masking System - Page 4  

post #91 of 120
10/20/10 at 8:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mtbdudex View Post

Is this a DIY kit Don/Somis is selling, and therefore it's in the DYI section of the 2.35 forum.

Or, is this a turnkey and fully approved system that you install but don't really do DIY.
IF so, this thread should be moved to the "parent" 2.35 CIH chat forum?

I'd like to see the system pictures as well, and expected prices, the website is still under construction.

It was originally in the 2.35 section but a moderator must of put it in the DIY section for some reason. I don't know why..

AVS Top Picks

post #92 of 120
10/20/10 at 8:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pkarmouche View Post

I believe any kind of "kit" would have a DIY component, because assembly and mounting of a masking system over a screen can never really be "turnkey".

Like a garage door opener... All home improvement stores sell them, and most homeowners could install one themselves - but many would not consider it "plug and play" or "turnkey".

Watch the forum. From what I've read and heard there is likely to be more than one person offering a masking "kit" in the coming months.

Paul

Where have you been reading this info? I would like to read it too haha
post #93 of 120
10/29/10 at 9:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chrisx510 View Post

I will be starting a 16x9 screen masking thread next week for Somis. My system should be here by next week.

Hmm...it's been around 5 months since you posted that. Such optimism.

Any word yet?

I'm amazed at your patience. I hope it will be rewarded soon.
post #94 of 120
11/4/10 at 10:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by R Harkness View Post

Hmm...it's been around 5 months since you posted that. Such optimism.

Any word yet?

I'm amazed at your patience. I hope it will be rewarded soon.

Haha Rich I don't even need to answer that, I think you already know
post #95 of 120
11/5/10 at 12:29am
Chris,

With this system having gone quiet, I guess I'm not too out of line posting this ...

masking system from Oz
post #96 of 120
11/7/10 at 12:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter M View Post

Chris,

With this system having gone quiet, I guess I'm not too out of line posting this ...

masking system from Oz

I remember hearing about this system.. Any idea when it will be shipping? And has there been a price set?
post #97 of 120
11/8/10 at 12:10am
Preorder is closed and the first production run is underway.

I suggest you contact Chris if you're interested. You won't get it at the preorder price, but I guess there's no reason you couldn't be added to the first run.
post #98 of 120
11/15/10 at 8:46pm
Hi Peter,
I don't mind as such, but there are a couple of issues I have.
I'd rather have a thread dedicated to my system so as not to encroach on this thread.
The other issue I have is that my system is by no means a DIY system. It's a full blown commercial unit, so it doesn't belong (or deserve to be relegated to) here.

There was a thread in the main 2.35:1 section that someone else started, but it was deleted for unknown reasons. As I wasn't the starter of the thread, I was not told why it was deleted.

Chris, so as not to break any rules of AVS, you'd be better off to contact me over at DTV (see Peter's link) or shoot me an email at chris@aspectmasking.com. Shipping will be Feb 2011 by the looks of it, and yes, pricing has been set. As Peter said, pre-orders are closed, but as I'm still waiting on some deposits to come through, we may be able to squeeze you in. Shipping is the biggest killer though...

Cheers,

Chris
post #99 of 120
11/16/10 at 2:55am
So what's happened? Has Don gone underground again? Is this project closed?
post #100 of 120
11/16/10 at 8:20am
have you tried emailing and calling recently? it would be a pity if that has happened again.
post #101 of 120
11/16/10 at 8:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anthony A. View Post

have you tried emailing and calling recently? it would be a pity if that has happened again.

Kinda hard to do that when his web site is "under contruction" and his phone # has been disconnected.

Can't tell you how dissapointing this is.
post #102 of 120
11/16/10 at 3:04pm
I hope that Don is ok, and that there wasn't any customer money lost on any of this...
post #103 of 120
11/16/10 at 4:27pm
Hmm... I like Don, nice guy, emailed him personally a few times, but... this is the second time he has started a venture like this and then gone silent for months. I too hope Don is okay, but regardless, I don't think I'd be throwing any money his way, any time soon.
post #104 of 120
11/16/10 at 5:04pm
Yes Don is fine guys..
post #105 of 120
11/16/10 at 10:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monster0 View Post

Kinda hard to do that when his web site is "under contruction" and his phone # has been disconnected.

Can't tell you how dissapointing this is.

hmm, never knew his line was disconnected. so no real way of getting a hold of him then. if i did send money his way, i would not be very comfortable with this whole situation. i realize that many have talked to him personally before and say hes a stand-up guy so hopefully hes just very busy trying to finish these kits off, but showing face here once every 2 months shouldn't be that difficult if hes holding members money. lets hope for the best. i really did want to see his designs materialize for cost concious consumers.
post #106 of 120
11/17/10 at 12:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anthony A. View Post

hmm, never knew his line was disconnected. so no real way of getting a hold of him then. if i did send money his way, i would not be very comfortable with this whole situation. i realize that many have talked to him personally before and say hes a stand-up guy so hopefully hes just very busy trying to finish these kits off, but showing face here once every 2 months shouldn't be that difficult if hes holding members money. lets hope for the best. i really did want to see his designs materialize for cost concious consumers.

From what I know he did refund everyones money. If someone didn't receive a refund let me know and I can give him a call and let him know!
post #107 of 120
11/17/10 at 8:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chrisx510 View Post


From what I know he did refund everyones money. If someone didn't receive a refund let me know and I can give him a call and let him know!

I am still waiting on a refund due from years ago. Don still owes me $275.
post #108 of 120
11/17/10 at 9:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chrisx510 View Post

From what I know he did refund everyones money. If someone didn't receive a refund let me know and I can give him a call and let him know!

is this refund from his last company, or from the current somis?

if its from somis, then suffice to say its probably no longer in business. in that case, might as well close this thread.
post #109 of 120
11/18/10 at 4:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by T.Wells View Post

I am still waiting on a refund due from years ago. Don still owes me $275.

I'm taking that is a refund for the HTIQ system he had years ago.. I know he said he had planned on sending everyone who purchased a HTIQ system a free Somis system but now Im not sure what he plans on doing.I do believe all the orders placed under the Somis Systems have been refunded and if not you guys can let me know and I can let him know.
post #110 of 120
11/18/10 at 5:05am
Does anyone know what happened?

It seems like good intentions but poor execution.
post #111 of 120
11/18/10 at 5:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lawguy View Post

Does anyone know what happened?

It seems like good intentions but poor execution.

+1... again!
post #112 of 120
11/18/10 at 5:18am
It is too bad because there is a market for reasonably priced masking.
post #113 of 120
11/18/10 at 5:32am
Yeah, this is really unfortunate.

Perhaps the first step on the wrong path is putting up a web site, offering a product for sale before the product
is designed and ready to sell.
post #114 of 120
11/18/10 at 12:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chrisx510 View Post


I'm taking that is a refund for the HTIQ system he had years ago.. I know he said he had planned on sending everyone who purchased a HTIQ system a free Somis system but now Im not sure what he plans on doing.I do believe all the orders placed under the Somis Systems have been refunded and if not you guys can let me know and I can let him know.

Yes, my refund is still from his first failed venture at HTIQ.

When Don started this venture, he offered me a free system but i have long since implemented a DIY solution. So he agreed to refund my $300 and did write a check for $25. I guess he needed to make good on this debit because I would have been shouting to all reading this thread that the guy is a crook. He starts a business, offers products for sale that are not complete and takes money for something that is not ready to ship.

Oh well, lesson learned for me.
post #115 of 120
11/18/10 at 12:38pm
well since this is in the DIY forum, here's the answer to all your prayers:

http://www.somfysystems.com/glydea/

i use somfy motors for my horizontal masking and utilize its ir kit for control, but this new system is for drapes, or vertical masking. much easier now that the motor does all the controlling and interfaces it nicely with an ir remote.
post #116 of 120
11/21/10 at 10:48pm
I've had bad hangovers before, but none like this.

Under the Terms and Conditions, my website clearly stated that any system returned within 30 days will be entitled to a full refund, minus a re-stocking fee.

I had a few that did, and they received a refund.

I can only assume that customers that did not return a system were satisfied.

So, If anyone that has purchased one of my original systems, and have had problems with the installation and / or operation, I would like for you to PM me so that we can resolve it.

BTW, there were no units shipped under the Somis nameplate, and everyone that left a deposit received a prompt refund in full.

Mr. Wells, we are square. And no, I'm not a crook.

Don
post #117 of 120
11/22/10 at 3:04pm
Naturally I can only speak for myself but I was to be a beta tester of one of Don's Somis masking frames. Don and I corresponded via email and I felt he was trying to make a go of his venture. When I started having doubts about the timeframe of the product and when I realized that the top frame was going to be bigger than would fit in my height limited theater I asked Don to refund my substantial deposit and he promptly refunded my money.

Don, I'm sorry your venture did not work out and I wish you the best.
post #118 of 120
11/22/10 at 4:44pm
Thread Starter 
Since I'm the guy that started this thread, I too, am sorry Don is not actively working on getting out his products. And while he would need to answer for himself, I don't believe he has completely abandoned ship. My unit has only one flaw for which I created a work-around and now have it programmed into my Control4 System. It still only moves one mask at a time but that is far from a deal killer for me. His new controller was to address that and some other issues. That may or may not be forthcoming.

Staring a company of any kind usually takes longer, costs more and is usually more complex and demanding than we originally estimate. I started a non audio company 7 years ago and that was certainly true for me.

I think he finally realized that to do all of the things necessary to run a successful company requires more resources and/or bandwidth than he was able to provide -- and that would include financial resources. Again he would need to chime in here (if he chooses to do so), but my bet would be that he has a full time job outside of Somis and that time permitting, he will allocate some available resources to moving his Somis products forward.

It really is too bad for both him and the potential customers because it really is a cool product and fills a huge hole in the pricing of a motorized masking system.

But as has already been posted, others are working on "productizing" their own DIY solutions that may fill the gap that Don's product was targeting.
post #119 of 120
1/16/11 at 7:19pm
Yup guys this sucks! Sorry to the ones who got their hopes up! Keep saving your pennies and get a Carada System! David is a great guy to do business with and Carada makes one solid Masking System!!
post #120 of 120
1/16/11 at 7:30pm
Seconded. I considered various DIY systems and decided it was worth my money to get it done right the first time so I bought a Carada Masquerade (and another product). It's a no-regret product to be sure. The DIY route seems to involve a lot of slow trial and error..."Damn...this looks like it could be good but part of this isn't working right, so how do I fix it...?." Me, I just wanted something that did what I wanted, that would just work without fuss. The Carada looked beautiful and worked right out of the box so it was satisfaction from the minute it went up. I know things like "best money I ever spent" practically sound like an advertisement, but that's how I feel when I look at the trials of people attempting DIY solutions.

Then again some people truly enjoy the trials and tribulations of doing it themselves, and find satisfaction in having done so. Which is great too.
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: DIY Constant Height
This thread is locked  

AVS Top Picks

AVS › AVS Forum › Display Devices › 2.35:1 Constant Image Height Chat › DIY Constant Height › Somis CIH Masking System