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[Rich Grisier]

For several years now I've been running a pair of Chauvet 4Bars up front.  While these do ok on smaller stages, they aren't enough for stages wider than 30'.  They just don't have adequate brightness.  For this reason I'm looking to upgrade my lighting.  I'm looking at 12 to 16 washes in the $150 to $250 range.  Typical applications are 300 to 500 occupancy bar gigs.

So far I'm considering Chauvet Quad6, and Blizzard Fab5.  I'm not sure how these compare to each other.  Anyone have other recommendations?

[Josh Daws]

i can speak very highly of the chauvet quad 6 IRC...i have used them myself many many times. the thing i love most about them is that they come with a gel holder so that i can place diffusion in front of it....

[duane massey]

MegaLight Baby Color. 70w (7x10wRGBW), 25degree beam, comes with optional diffuser, small footprint, approx $220 each.
http://www.venuesupply.com/detail/mega-lite-baby-color-q70-ultra-compact-color-changing-rgbw-led-wash-fixture-w-double-mounting-yoke-diffuser-and-more-5753.cfm

[Mike Pyle]

Check out the Blizzard Rockbox EXA. They are more expensive than the models you are considering, but 4 of them with the optional diffuser panel would front light a 30 foot stage well and the color mixing is excellent.

[Mike Pyle]

In these two photos there are two of the Rockbox EXA front lighting the stage, one at either end of the truss. All the movers on the front truss are aimed away from the stage.

[Mike Pyle]

Same stage, a couple more shots.

[Jonathan Goodall]

I have recently purchased 4 of the Chauvet Quad 6 lights and have been quite impressed with them so far (granted,  I have not had any other LEDs to compare them with).  For what it's worth, my use is mainly for theatre but they worked well, nice colors, were plenty bright enough with 2 per side (stage was approx 8m wide and 4m deep) and the lighting guy that ran the show liked the shades of white they produced and was happy to use them for front lighting.

[Steve Garris]

Here is a nice light for front wash that has a 40 deg beam angle, amber color as well:

http://www.zzounds.com/item--ADJFLATPARQA5X

[Rick Powell]

For several years now I've been running a pair of Chauvet 4Bars up front.  While these do ok on smaller stages, they aren't enough for stages wider than 30'.  They just don't have adequate brightness.  For this reason I'm looking to upgrade my lighting.  I'm looking at 12 to 16 washes in the $150 to $250 range.  Typical applications are 300 to 500 occupancy bar gigs.

So far I'm considering Chauvet Quad6, and Blizzard Fab5.  I'm not sure how these compare to each other.  Anyone have other recommendations?

I have 4 of the Blizzard Q12A's and they are bright enough to light up the front of a 25' or 30' wide stage with no problem.  They have a few more LED elements than the Fab 5.

[John Rader]

The Chauvet Quad6 is a decent small format fixture, but a 30' wide stage would really be pushing it for 4 units.  Examine the total power draw when purchasing a light - it is the only thing that really matters.  To a much, much smaller extent, the specific brand of LED used matters, and to a smaller extent still, the beam angle of the lens used to disperse the light.

Below is an image of one of my stages using the lights that I build and offer warranty service on:

[jasonfinnigan]

The Chauvet Quad6 is a decent small format fixture, but a 30' wide stage would really be pushing it for 4 units.  Examine the total power draw when purchasing a light - it is the only thing that really matters.  To a much, much smaller extent, the specific brand of LED used matters, and to a smaller extent still, the beam angle of the lens used to disperse the light.

Below is an image of one of my stages using the lights that I build and offer warranty service on:

What lights do you bulid? must say it's kinda odd for someone with two posts to come in and try to sell something they are building.

[Jerome Casinger]

I got ahold of the company today on these because I was curious and there is no specs anywhere on line.  They are the same exact output specs of the Blizzard HotBox....coincedence?

MegaLight Baby Color. 70w (7x10wRGBW), 25degree beam, comes with optional diffuser, small footprint, approx $220 each.
http://www.venuesupply.com/detail/mega-lite-baby-color-q70-ultra-compact-color-changing-rgbw-led-wash-fixture-w-double-mounting-yoke-diffuser-and-more-5753.cfm

[jasonfinnigan]

I haven't used these personally but I've heard these are worth checking out. They would be a bit brighter than the Blizzard HotBox/Megalight BabyColor

http://www.amazon.com/I3C-PAR64-Party-Stage-Effect/dp/B00KIMHPDU/

This is the only video I have found of them https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU38k146DlU

There all over eBay/amazon under different names.  RGBW lights. No power linking on the cheaper units is what's kept me away from at least trying one so far.

[Rick Powell]

I got ahold of the company today on these because I was curious and there is no specs anywhere on line.  They are the same exact output specs of the Blizzard HotBox....coincedence?

You can go to alibaba.com and find just about any Chinese sourced LED light direct from the manufacturer, and a lot of them look suspiciously like something you've seen in the USA with a brand name, and for about 1/3 of the retail you get them for in the USA.  Lack of domestic warrantee and service is the gamble you take if you buy.

[jasonfinnigan]

You can go to alibaba.com and find just about any Chinese sourced LED light direct from the manufacturer, and a lot of them look suspiciously like something you've seen in the USA with a brand name, and for about 1/3 of the retail you get them for in the USA.  Lack of domestic warrantee and service is the gamble you take if you buy.

That's what I was told as well unless you want to pay more for the warranty you might as well buy Chinese lights. as almost all of the brand name ones with the exception of maybe martin lights are made by the same company. I didn't believe it at first but then I compared some Chavuet, Elation and ADJ moving heads and they all were basically the same. Some of them even have the same name like "250" etc. Par Cans Ill take a chance with after buying one and taking it apart to look at, Not so sure about moving heads.

[jasonfinnigan]

I got ahold of the company today on these because I was curious and there is no specs anywhere on line.  They are the same exact output specs of the Blizzard HotBox....coincedence?

BTW I found the similar oem version of these, they said they are $51/unit with discounts if you buy more of course. they can also do some customizing for you.

[Stephen Swaffer]

You can go to alibaba.com and find just about any Chinese sourced LED light direct from the manufacturer, and a lot of them look suspiciously like something you've seen in the USA with a brand name, and for about 1/3 of the retail you get them for in the USA.  Lack of domestic warrantee and service is the gamble you take if you buy.

Check out the thread on LED par can ground.  As an electrician I am expected to use "listed devices".

I wonder what your liability is, if you use a non-UL listed light for a gig and there is a safety incident?   I know there are those on the forum that understand the liability issues better than I do.

I wonder if these are factory QC rejects of name brand lights?  Not saying they wouldn't be serviceable or that I wouldn't buy them, either.

[jasonfinnigan]

Check out the thread on LED par can ground.  As an electrician I am expected to use "listed devices".

I wonder what your liability is, if you use a non-UL listed light for a gig and there is a safety incident?   I know there are those on the forum that understand the liability issues better than I do.

I wonder if these are factory QC rejects of name brand lights?  Not saying they wouldn't be serviceable or that I wouldn't buy them, either.

That was just a bad one I came upon most of them are grounded and UL & CE listed.

[Jerome Casinger]

Not gonna lie, I knew it was all made overseas, but that sight blows me away.  First time I have seen it, watched a few youtube clips of some of the moving heads, the factories, etc.  Why cant we have a factory here so warranty wouldn't be an issue and we could all have awesome light shows for cheap haha.  I see quite a few offering 2 year warranty - but of course sending the crap back I am sure is fun.   

You can go to alibaba.com and find just about any Chinese sourced LED light direct from the manufacturer, and a lot of them look suspiciously like something you've seen in the USA with a brand name, and for about 1/3 of the retail you get them for in the USA.  Lack of domestic warrantee and service is the gamble you take if you buy.

[duane massey]

Unless you actually take the fixtures apart and compare, never assume that they are the same. Even if the "specs" are identical the components and materials can be vastly different, even if from the same factory. I have had clients bring in no-name fixtures for service that looked like decent products, but the wiring harness were garbage, the transformers and power supplies were junk, and the serviceability was non-existent, not to mention that parts and support were completely out of the question. If you consider your purchase disposable you might be OK.

[Stephen Swaffer]

Had a family member that worked for a major automotive manufacturer tell me that alternators leaving his facility going to Europe got a better bearing than those with domestic destinations-supposedly the same alternator...  No doubt the same is true with lights.

[ProSoundWeb Community]