***Official SmX Theater Solutions Screen Thread - Page 40

Never heard from them after spending $6k on a screen and trying to contact them several times. Most money I have ever spent on a single HT purchase and probably the worst customer service/support I have received on anything.

I had been set on this screen all year because of the masking panels. Now I'm about ready to actually order it and now I don't know. I haven't even researched other screen. I wanted the pro curv w masking

You should definitely be lloking into the Seymour AV curved screen which I believe can also be configured with either Acoustically Transparent or solid masking panels !


...Glenn
Edited by Glenn Baumann - 1/21/13 at 11:46am

I got a 10 foot wide Seymour recently and couldn't be happier. The customer service is fantastic so you can buy with confidence.

I see that Seymour has a lot of reviews from "Widescreen Review" and others, but does anyone have any reviews of SMX? I remember years ago Ruben promising to have an outside company test the color quality and uniformity of the screens, but I still can't find anything. If anyone knows, thanks!

Have been trying to get in touch with SmX.
Anybody know what's up there?

I'm making the assumption that they're out of business.

Wow. Okay! Thanks!

I spoke to SMX yesterday about an order they are working on for us.

I ordered a quad mask screen back at the end of Sept. 2012 for my client. I paid in full with a check as requested. I was told I would have it by the holidays (Christmas 2012). That came and went. I was told Hurricane Sandy screwed up their manufacturer in New Jersey with making parts for the motors and that it would be a few weeks before up and running again. A few weeks later I was told it would ship that week. Then the following week I was told they were still missing a part. Then the following week was told there would be a firmware update before shipping. This was two weeks ago. a few days ago, their phone # was disconnected. They dont return my calls, or emails. I'm afraid they defrauded me. This is over the course of 5 months. numerous un-returned phone calls and emails. with hardly any reply for those updates I stated above. I've filed a report with the FL Attorney Generals office, and now I'm forced to seek a lawyer to sue both the company and Ruben personally as my reputation has also been adversely affected as well as being scammed out of a couple dozen thousand dollars. I have emails backed up and phone logs as well for anyone interested. My advise to ANYONE on here, is to stay far away from this company and any company Ruben is involved with in the future. Anyone with a pending order has my empathy.

Yikes, I hate reading stuff like this.

SMX looked like they were flying high not too long ago, though they always seemed to have problems responding promptly. Now this really sounds serious, like they are actually in some trouble. It would be good if Ruben gave the community a thumbs up or down. I think we all would understand if communication were open and honest. I was considering a purchase at one point, but like others went to Seymour for a 4K solution (love it BTW).

Thanks for posting this as a warning to others considering SMX. Hope you get a resolution soon. Up until now, I've only heard of people having trouble placing orders, or, others like myself who can't get any sort of customer service after the sale. I thought they simply went out of business. To now hear they are still taking payment for orders and then not delivering is much more serious. This thread lately has had nothing but negative comments towards SMX, yet they take no steps to address the issues.

At this point, all I want is some replacement channels for my masking panels so that when I eventually upgrade to some sort of 4K screen I can finally do the masking. Email, phone, PM message to Ruben...no response. I can only imagine how frustrating it would be going through the same thing when they have your money and you have nothing to show for it.

I never trusted Rubin. He started a thread in 2006 with the seeming intent to build a do-it-yourself acoustically transparent screen. He used a few people for free "testing", including Alan Gouger. Members like Tryg were tricked into thinking this was an altruistic "do-it-yourself" thread and defended Rubin when others questioned his motives.

Mark P. defended Rubin in a response to one of my posts, saying "Rubens going through alot of grief just for you so he can justify what he saw and others are seeing. I call that a nice guy, no a nice DIY guy."

It was Mr. Poindexter who called Rubin out for what he was really doing - making this a business startup thread.

I still followed the thread with interest, but I was (and am) extremely skeptical by nature. Once the SMX color tests came back poorly, that was the last time Rubin used any external companies to certify/test his screens. He kept saying he would do it, but it never happened - to this day (nearly 7 years later!).

He flew high for a short period of time because of his followers on this site. People who honestly believed his do-it-yourself thread had turned into an altruistic, low cost small business, simply to provide AVS'rs with his amazing material and a little extra money on the side for his hard work and effort, went ahead and started purchasing SMX screens. They were a little shocked as to the price WITH A FRAME, wasn't signficantly cheaper than a major manufacturer. I'm speculating that that first couple of years in business, Rubin did quite well and expanded...right into the Great Recession. He probably took out some loans and when the sales dried up he ran into serious financial difficulty. Again, I'm speculating on his financial condition today, but the lack of someone getting a major order for five months makes me think the SMX is either taking the money and filing for bankruptcy, or at best, is having difficulty getting product from his distributors.
Edited by SimpleTheater - 3/12/13 at 5:18am

This is interesting. I'm one of those who always felt I benefited from this "altruism". I'm using the CalMAN/C6/Mini 3D combo in a dedicated theater, so definitely not a lab type setup. But I calibrated through the diffuser without the screen and again off the screen. The results show no appreciable difference when running the 5 point luminance ramp on primaries and secondaries or when running the color checker. For example, when I used the calibration obtained through the diffuser and measure off the screen, the dE's were still less than 1 for everything leaving plenty of "error budget" for other things. I'm a DIY'er who bought enough generation 1 material to build a 120" 16:9 screen for $700. I still have it. I still love it.

I should re-visit my procedures in these measurements now that I hear there may be some problems with the screen. I should also see if the AT properties are truly "eq free". It's an easy matter to do with the sweeps in REW. I'm curious about his claims now.

How long ago did all of this start?

So glad I went with a SeymourAV about a year ago. SMX made it easy though, when you have that much trouble with pre-sales support something is wrong. And the web site never seemed right with the lack of updates. And Reuben disappearing from here. Too bad, lack of competition is not a good thing.
Very interesting to note the only Reuben post on these forums in the past 15+ months is him trying to sell the parts of his personal theater build!
Edited by turls - 3/14/13 at 1:23am

Just another company in the audio world to fold up and close shop. AV123, TC Sounds, Exodus Audio, Elemental Designs and now SMX all went down the same way. Never answered emails, phone calls and took peoples money.

The SMX website is down at this time.

Just PM's GetGrey about his order. He said it's not looking good. Hopefully he didn't put everything down like Jean Desjardins.

Paid for my screen in full and nothing, no call back at all, factory closed

That's a shame and I'm sorry to hear that. I was considering an SMX screen for quite awhile but I had a bad feeling about the company. Rubin stopped posting here for the longest time then one final post 5 or 6 months ago when he was looking for someone to buy his HT - my spider sense told me to look elsewhere. That being said hindsight is 20/20.

I ended up getting a Seymour screen and I couldn't be happier with the product. If you are still in the market for a screen I suggest that you give them a call. Chris is a joy to deal with and he truly understands great customer service.

Again sorry for your loss.

Another danger sign was them being a no-show at CEDIA 2011.

I am starting a case against Ruben if anyone has filed a report already and has a case number please forward it to me due to the fact that numerous people have been screwed makes it a criminal case not just cival which could mean jail time

You've got a DA interested?

Yes

Several people on board now, piecing together what was really going on. At this point with my loss and the others who are in contact now, I can only conclude the money was taken in each case with no intent to provide any product in return. Simple theft and fraud. On the criminal side, felony charges will be applicable I'm told, but finding them and tossing them in jail while somewhat satisfying, won't do anything for the civil side which means getting some kind of credit, which is what we all want. Tick tock Ruben, Beverlyn, Ray, the hole is getting deeper every day. Time to set up some (re)payment plans.
Edited by GetGray - 4/8/13 at 5:43pm

I suggest all of you that have been victimized by this slime should work together and contact the local district attorney and ask for charges to be filed. Regardless that he accepted money behind his company doesn't protect him from legal action if there was criminal intent.
Edited by adidino - 4/8/13 at 6:42pm

I'm not defending Ruben, but there's a difference between civil bankruptcy and criminal fraud. But they both have the same outcome for the customers. Kinda' strange, I always thought.