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Author Topic: So Long Smart Devices....? John Hawkinson Film God Posts: 2273 From: Cambridge, MA, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 07-04-2008 07:48 PM                     Gosh, I have to wonder if the death of the DA20 killed Panastereo killed SMART. What's the going rate for used DA20s now, anyhow? --jhawk  |  IP: Logged Richard Fowler Film God Posts: 2392 From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA Registered: Jun 2001 posted 07-04-2008 08:00 PM                     Smart where / are connected to many DTS players, in addition to DA20 units.....and their processors are in use in many digital cinemas. DA20 usually don't sit on the shelf too long so they have been holding their value for the present. [ 07-05-2008, 12:56 PM: Message edited by: Richard Fowler ]  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 07-04-2008 10:12 PM                     I don't think that the DA20 think had that much affect on Panastereo except in niche markets. I think the current scare about digital has many exhibitors holding back to see what happens. Furthermore, the dollar really has sunk to the Euro and most of the parts in a Panastereo are not sourced here. I also think that SMART underpriced their Mod VIIa. They could have charged twice as much and STILL been the cheapest processor out there. SMART (Panastereo) did not raise their prices in years...unlike most others. Had they had modest price increases (3-5%) annually, they would still have remained a very good value and SMART wouldn't have seen the profits slide away. However, I think they tried to reassess the pricing in one fell swoop and people didn't want to go for that big a change all at once (This I'm inferring from the message linked to earlier in this thread). You also have to factor in that SMART has always been a very small company, by manufacturing standards. Norm is not a spring chicken either. I'll wager this has weighed hard on him. Most of our Senior people in this industry have already stepped aside in their respective companies. Even Ray Dolby has let go of his company (gone public). I don't think SMART was set up to pass the torch over to a new generation (Though I think attempts have been made...Oscar would probably know best). Steve  |  IP: Logged Sam D. Chavez Film God Posts: 2153 From: Martinez, CA USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 07-05-2008 11:43 AM                       Of that dreaded word, Senior. I'm starting to resemble that word but still have some years left. Jack Cashin is still at it and just had a birthday at Cine Expo. We prefer eternal, venerable and other such euphemisms.  |  IP: Logged Tim Reed Better Projection Pays Posts: 5246 From: Northampton, PA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 07-05-2008 05:42 PM                        |  IP: Logged Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 07-05-2008 07:43 PM                        Damn...so did I buy the last Panastereo CSP1200 and their Circle Surround adapter?  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 07-05-2008 09:42 PM                     Nope and nor is yours the last to go on line. I believe the circle surround adapter will be continued as it was not made in-house. Steve  |  IP: Logged Joshua Waaland Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 800 From: Cleveland, Ohio Registered: Dec 1999 posted 07-06-2008 12:43 AM                     Panastereo will still be made but only by special order. Panastereo Notice I have dealt with Norm several times over the past year and he has always been a gentleman. I hope the economy gets better for his, and everybody's sake.  |  IP: Logged Demetris Thoupis Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1240 From: Aradippou, Larnaca, Cyprus Registered: Apr 2001 posted 07-06-2008 01:32 AM                     Sad to see them go Sold quite a few for second run screens and minimal issues. Surely not to Dolbys' quality in analogue sound but quite descent for small village cinemas with happy customers. Sorry to see them go. Demetris  |  IP: Logged Pete Naples Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1565 From: Dunfermline, Scotland Registered: Feb 2001 posted 07-06-2008 05:53 AM                     That Panastereo notice has been up for some time before the notice went up on the Smart site.  |  IP: Logged Richard Fowler Film God Posts: 2392 From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA Registered: Jun 2001 posted 07-25-2008 09:59 AM                     Smart MOD 7 processor has a new manufacturer based in Singapore. Information should be on the Smart web-site soon.  |  IP: Logged Marin Zorica Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 671 From: Biograd na Moru, Croatia Registered: May 2003 posted 07-28-2008 09:43 AM                     quote: Richard Fowler Smart MOD 7 processor has a new manufacturer based in Singapore. Information should be on the Smart web-site soon. So MOD7 isn't discontinued?  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 07-28-2008 10:32 AM                     I remember a press release that originally the mod 7 or mod 8 was to be made in Asia and there was quality control issues  |  IP: Logged Tim Reed Better Projection Pays Posts: 5246 From: Northampton, PA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 07-28-2008 11:23 AM                       So, where does all this leave Jack Smart? I always thought Norm should have used the moniker Max Smart instead.  |  IP: Logged Richard Fowler Film God Posts: 2392 From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA Registered: Jun 2001 posted 07-28-2008 11:51 AM                     There was never a Mr. Smart....the name is from the Herbert Smart downtown airport in Macon, Georgia. This was one of the airports that Norm Schneider flew from as a private pilot. As the former Altec and JBL factory represenative in the 1960 - 1970's, he covered his territory by air. Our old office in the early 1970's was in Tampa, Florida at the end of the main runway.....so his visits did not require much drive time Regarding MOD7.....it is in the process of being moved to new licensee and due to the track record of the new company, QC is not going to be a problem. Existing MOD7 has a low return rate for repair due to the QC, Calibration routines and burn in cycling prior to shipment, which will be maintained. MOD 8 was removed from the market due to the surface mount technology made it hard to repair in the export market....Norm spent money and time by reintroducing the MOD7 as the MOD7A..he thought it was the "right thing to do".  |  IP: Logged

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