[mbgonzomd]

For those who are interested, apparently SMX material can no longer be purchased for DIY screens. It seems Ruben is focusing on selling the complete screens. I do not know the exact price of these screens but it sound like they will be expensive compared to buying the material and building your own. One forum stated $3K for a screen--whether this is rumor or fact, I do not know. I can't say I blame Ruben, as we live in a capitalist society and supply and demand determines a lot.


I just thought those who were entertaining SMX for a DIY screen for their HTs should be aware of this.


EDIT: Title changed to reflect current market conditions

 

[Big Worms]

Would be interesting to see what people do now. It seemed once Ruben found this great DIY screen everybody has been building there theaters with an AT screen because it was finally affordable. Does the trend go back to solid screen with speakers below and to the side?

 

[McCall]

Well if this is true and I hope it is not, then people will move to the "other" New screen company with the what appears identical or so the reports go material. It would be a very very sad thing if Ruben turned his back on the little guy at this point. it is not like he would lose sales by continuing support for the DIY guys, in fact just the opposite.


I hope it is not true or he quickly reconsiders.

 

[Big Worms]



Quote:
Originally Posted by McCall /forum/post/0


Well if this is true and I hope it is not, then people will move to the "other" New screen company with the what appears identical or so the reports go material. It would be a very very sad thing if Ruben turned his back on the little guy at this point. it is not like he would lose sales by continuing support for the DIY guys, in fact just the opposite.


I hope it is not true or he quickly reconsiders.

It is true.

Quote:
Yes this is true, currently the raw SmX material is no longer available for purchase. It may or may not become an option again down the road, but for right now we are only concentrating on SmX fixed screens and masking systems.


For the few people I was recently exchanging pm's with, please contact me and I will try to accommodate you.


I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.


Ruben

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...post10508558

 

[BIGmouthinDC]



Quote:
Originally Posted by McCall /forum/post/0


then people will move to the "other" New screen company

I have my private stash of SMX for my HT2.0. But just in case, got a link?

 

[mbgonzomd]

I second that. Do you have a link or name, so I can start researching the "other" product?

 

[rmcveigh]

Wow. What a bummer. I've totally designed my theater to make use of this material for an AT screen. I'm pretty disappointed to see this - I suppose I have some reconsidering to do with my theater design.


There was some discussion of a less expensive fully constructed screen w/ frame from the SMX folks, but I just saw that in passing when reading about their new screen frame.


-Ryan

 

[dc_pilgrim]

Get on the front end of the people requesting to be made an exception. Send him a PM or call him up. I could imagine a reprieve, especially if you have a build thread going. I am glad I have some stashed in the attic.

 

[oman321]

I dont wish to ruffle any feathers

by posting a link to a non sponsor, but if you do a google search for Phifer 4500 there is competitor (look for coming soon, its there now though) that offers material and a powered screen.



I have requested a quote.

 

[rmcveigh]



Quote:
Originally Posted by dc_pilgrim /forum/post/0


Get on the front end of the people requesting to be made an exception. Send him a PM or call him up. I could imagine a reprieve, especially if you have a build thread going. I am glad I have some stashed in the attic.

Good point Dave. I sent Ruben a PM - here's to wishful thinking.

-Ryan

 

[BIGmouthinDC]

In the DIY section they talk about that Ruben was using


Sheerweave - Series 4100 by Phifer Sunscreen (5%) open factor as his fabric


BUT, Reading Ruben's notes talked about asking them to do a special weave with smaller thread??? with the 5% openness


I found a company that sells rolls of the Phifer Sunscreen products:

http://www.wholesalescreensandglass...._4100_4400.asp


Do you think any of these matches the SMX??? If so 3-4 of you could go in on a 30 yard roll and make the price less than $200 a person


Phifer has a site and lists the 4500 as well:

http://www.phifer.com/sheer.htm#sw4500


And found where to buy a roll:

http://wholesalescreensandglass.com/...500%204600.asp


Did some reading of the specs. The 4500 fabric has a yarn .013 thick, the 4100 is .02. So the 4500 fabric may be the SMX. Now is Caulk the color? If so it will run about $925 for a 30 yard roll. So if six of you get together that is $154 each.


Hey there is a link on the Wholesalescreen and glass site for a company making the SMX look alike. And they sell the fabric.

http://www.seymourav.com/


Now if the same 6 guys buy 15 ft from the new guys you can pay $475 instead of buying the fabric in bulk for $154. The price for not having 5 friends.

 

[oman321]

Ok, now that you added other links to phifer Big and this is also an AVS member here goes a thread to other co.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=842769


Pricing is very competitive and depending on you screen size can, one might be able to utilize the 63" wide fabric vs. the 98" wide.


As you stated Big this material has an openess of 5% I believe the SMX material has an openess of 7%. The color is Chalk.

 

[SmX]

Yes this is true for the time being, SmX is not available as a DIY option.


However, if anyone want's to take a chance on the 4500 I have three rolls locally here.

The audio transparency is not as good and it may moiré but it's probably the next best thing. Plus I can get it to you for half of SmX.


PM me if you are interested.


Ruben

 

[Stefan Young]

hope not. I was planning on some for my fourth and final remodeled theater.

 

[pmeyer]

I agree this is extremely inconvenient. I completely planned my theater around a DIY SMX screen. I'm planning my frame and would have ordered material in about two weeks.


Hopefully this is a temporary shutdown. I guess I'll take a look at alternatives.


[post softened significantly by me. It wasn't that inflammatory, but it wasn't fair to Ruben and came across more harsh than I planned. Apologies below, editted here].

 

[dc_pilgrim]

I see Mark P is posting in that thread, they should invite Mike Poindexter and really get that one going. SmX was always a pretty open secret, so not too surprising that a competitor came about.

 

[oman321]

Just to be fair,


SandmanX posted a response over at the SMXscreen forum explaining the situation at hand. Those interested take a look and you'll see that as Dave suggested their might still be a chance for an exception if you had been in communication prior to the cutoff.

 

[Lindahl]

For anyone interested in getting as close to SMX as you can, I posted this information on the SMX formula a while back:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...27#post7797127


Luckily, I purchased enough material during the pre-ordering. For those that missed out, perhaps try working something out with the manufacturer? If you get enough people interested (100?), and can find someone who the manufacturer will work with you can do what Ruben did, back then - mix the right weave and color in a special run of the material. If not, you can always fall back to the Chalk 4000 or Chalk 4400 (whether you want to focus on audio or video).

 

[SmX]

I want to apologize for inconveniencing anyone that was considering purchasing SmX as their DIY option. Allot of developments have tooken place and I am no longer selling SmX out of my house.


Six months ago I decided to start a real company out of this and in order to grow this was the tough decision I had to recently make. My intentions were to keep selling the SmX material as a DIY option but I learned it would stop us from growing.


Since we now have a factory with employees and overhead, we now need to sell screens and product to cover overhead. Selling SmX material as a DIY option was not going to cover our overhead especially at the rate it is sold unless prices are jacked up real high. Sales reps would not take on our product if DIY was still an option. I could of sold direct online but it is very limited.


So it came down to two options, Option A) close the shop and layoff the employees and go back to selling SmX material from my home so nobody gets upset. Or Option B), take what I started to the next level and hope everyone here supports me for it.


Well, it was a tough decision but I went with option B. Considering most people here already got in on the DIY SmX solution, I figured most people here would support my decision.


So did I make the wrong decision?


Ruben

 

[mbgonzomd]

No, I do not think you made the wrong decision. As my original post indicated, this is a capitalist society and you started your own company. I think you should do everything possible to grow your company and increase revenue.


However, I think the DIY crowd, who are usually doing the labor themselves because of the love for the build and to conserve money, are upset that they will be priced out of your great product. I wish I could get SmX for my theater, but it likely will not happen. As you know first hand, we are a resourceful bunch and things will work out.


You had big ones to take the hobby and convert it to a business and I wish you all the best luck.


BTW, do you have any extra SmX laying around? (just kidding)