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02-23-2017, 01:25 PM #11
Afternoon folks!
I saw about three cases of the new SPX Hockey and tried two boxes, so I decided to do a review of what I saw and busted like my previous breakdown of Trilogy. First impressions of the product were skeptical b/c of the complete overhaul of the product, but with resale value of most UD hockey products taking a major shot over the past couple of years, I am glad UD has stepped up their game with their 2017 releases so far. Watching breakers online bust open packs with only one card was a little different and each pack unless it has a shadowbox card had a decoy, which also was a little bit different.
Overall, this product is more hit and miss than Trilogy is but where SPX has most mid-end products beat is in its absolutely stunning design with all of its cards. In the past collectors would criticize SPX for its sci-fi looking design and stay away from the product, but early feedback is that everyone is in love with their new look aesthetically and it most definitely has a high-end appeal.
Price: The price point is about right for this product, but I believe at least one box per inner case does not have an auto so that would be a major kick in the nuts. Of the 30 plus boxes that I saw, there were a couple of stinkers, but when you only get four cards in a box, that is going to happen. I compare it to a product such as SP Game Used with the only difference here is that there are boxes with two autos so the value is usually a lot more satisfying. As mentioned earlier, each card has a high end look so even if you get a bad box, the design will make up for your losses.
Design: The design is absolutely stunning and there is nothing else to say about that. Each card has a nice glossy look to it, shadowboxes used to be case hits and now are several per case and look as great as ever and new additions such as the holo shields add more appeal to an overall amazing looking product. I have always been a fan of the design of SPX b/c it was different than the classic looking cards that companies provide, but this installment is over the top in every possible way.
Player Checklist: Impressive just like Trilogy. Of my four autos three were veterans and my patch auto was a Leafs rookie. Of the cases that I saw they were either heavily induced with Leafs or Jets which is obviously a good thing since the two best rookies represent those teams. My box had a Soshnikov patch autp and an Ehler's base auto/99, so I got the best of both worlds. The holo shield autos include vets and rookies and there are also the whiteout autos and game used autos of veterans as well. Overall this product will keep any type of collector happy.
Value: This is where my only negative comments will appear. There were boxes that were lacking in this category, but that takes place with any product and the hit or miss factor with SPX is not so cut and dry. The three cases I saw they all had a Laine or Matthews auto and the best one had all the major autos of the Leafs inclusing a Matthews base auto and shadowbox autos of Nylander and Marner. I like to mention one more thing here, the shadowbox cards look really nice but with the auto versions a lot of the rookies did not sign in the designated area and this really takes away from the niceness of these cards and this really makes a great looking set look bad.
The big hit potential across the board of this product is more than what Trilogy was, but there are more autos that hold a semistar value and are around the $20-$50 range. Trilogy on other other hand has more autos less than $20 and the bulk of their autos are most likely in the $10-$20 range whereas SPX is a notch higher. Comparing the value to SP Game Used, the same sort of thing applies. SP Game Used as I have said is the biggest hit or miss product probably of any product I have ever seen and most boxes are complete duds.
With regards to SP Authentic, I have always considered SPX its awkward cousin. SPX is all sticker autos and flashy and blingy, whereas SP Authentic is classic and focuses on their on card autos. Value wise, SP Authentic has as many autos as SPX and a similar focus on vets and rookies, but SP Authentic has most products beat with its Sign of the Times set which includes autos with as many as eight players. As far as "I know SPX only has dual autos and patches, but some of the dual patches I saw were absolutely stunning. Value wise, SP Authentic rookie autos will always be more desirable than SPX or all other mid-end products but across the board I think this year collectors will turn back to SPX and it will be more widely popular.
In conclusion, my fears about opening a four pack product were not necessary and SPX is a winner in my books! There are on card autos in this product as well as the shadowbox autos and some of the other sets include on card variations, but if this product had nothing but on card autos, then it would be perfect. The main criticism I have found of this and other products in the past are that they are included in epacks, but my opinion on that is that this should not effect one's opinion on a product. My stance on epacks is that some collectors do not have access to an LCS so online is their only resource so let them be! How would you feel if someone took away your chance to collect and left you in the dust? Not so good!
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03-01-2017, 01:36 PM #12
Well, waited for a couple of my SPX cards to end on the bay and the results are disappointing to say the least. It seems that SPX is all steak and no sizzle. Oh well, couldn't really expect much more than what I say, but those are the breaks..
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04-12-2017, 06:25 PM #13
Good lord! I decided to stay away from ICE hockey this year since it was terrible last year and yikes. I saw a couple of box breaks a few minutes ago and it looks worse this year! for $120 CDN, most of the boxes I saw only had one auto, a couple of rookie cards, a couple of inserts and two base packs? Are you joking me UD? For approximately $50 more UD put in one more hit. This is a disgrace to the hobby and why anyone would spend any money on this product is beyond me. It is sad b/c ICE used to be cheap and affordable and not about all this high risk and no reward business.
SPX costs about the same, but you get the 2-3 hits per box and at least the design looks really nice. ICE is plain and boring and the most disappointing product I have seen in a long, long time.
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04-12-2017, 06:38 PM #14
Yeah Ice might be the worst product out there. I also don't understand how this is acceptable from UD and its beyond me why anyone would buy ICE at that price. Sometimes the thrill of the chase is just too much. ICE is just straight garbage.
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Looking for Penguins, HOF Autos, Vintage Memorabilia. Aswell as any Guentzel and Murray Rookie Autos, Top Player Autos and Always looking for Decent Young Guns
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04-12-2017, 06:41 PM #15
Man! I ordered 5 boxes! Will receive tomorrow. 600$ down the toilet! Maybe... lol
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04-12-2017, 07:00 PM #16
apparently there is one huge hit per inner, but how does that justify the rest of the boxes? this is downright embarrassing!!! also heard that SPA is being pushed to june so wth am i supposed to buy until then??
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04-12-2017, 07:04 PM #17
i noticed a trend that ud releases one good product and then one bad product etc etc. trilogy was good, spx was bad..showcase bad..ice bad...series one and two good..ice terrible. hope spa is a big time winner b/c they are DUE.
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04-13-2017, 07:42 AM #18
also heard that SPA is being pushed to june so wth am i supposed to buy until then??
Where did you hear this? My LCS is still saying late April. Not happy if this gets pushed...
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04-13-2017, 07:54 AM #19
Checked on c&c, says May 10th
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04-13-2017, 10:20 AM #20
The past 3 years, SPA was pushed to June. So i wouldn't be surprised if it gets pushed to Late May/early June for this year even though UD has been pretty good with releases this year.
I keep joking with my LCS every year saying that UD should just put a June release date for SPA so they can actually meet the release date.
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Originally Posted by theboxbreaker96 
