Favorite LED Pars

M

Marc Hayes

Freshman
Jan 12, 2011
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Quad Cities, IL/IA
www.tnprod.com
I am looking to make a move to LED PAR's, and sell of a good majority of my conventional's. With that, there are many options on the market today and the technology has come a long way recently. What is your favorite "low priced" LED PAR fixture? Looking to spend no more than $150 a fixture, less is preferred. What is the best feature set/quality vs. price you've experienced?

Like to have:
Linkeable power...in and out
3 Pin DMX
Less than $150
Full RGB
Comes with Power Cable

Let me know what you've found....
 
Re: Favorite LED Pars

Shane Presley said:
My only suggestion is get nothing less than a 3 watt led. The 100 mm x 150 count doesn't cut it. This will probably land you north of $200 per fixture...
Click to expand...

I wouldn't be looking at the LED's power to compare brightness. Similar to speakers' power ratings, you may end up with a 900W LED fixture that's extremely inefficient due to something like poor optics.

Instead, look at footcandles or lux to compare them to another source.

The Chauvet Colorado tour series actually is pretty decent for lower cost fixtures. I don't know model numbers, but I think the fixture resembling a Source 4 PAR goes for under $400 or so new. You may be able to find a good deal used.
 
Re: Favorite LED Pars

It sure takes a pretty bright LED fixture to replace a decent PAR. What size PARs are you replacing?
$150 each will replace PAR38s in my experience.
Remember, since each fixture can do multiple colors, you may be able to use fewer to get the show you want and therefore pay a little more per unit.
 
Re: Favorite LED Pars

Rob Spence said:
It sure takes a pretty bright LED fixture to replace a decent PAR. What size PARs are you replacing?
$150 each will replace PAR38s in my experience.
Remember, since each fixture can do multiple colors, you may be able to use fewer to get the show you want and therefore pay a little more per unit.
Click to expand...

These would be replacing 300W Par56's.

I am okay spending more than $150 a fixture if need be, provided its worth it. There are just so many out there that have terrible optics and aren't worth their money. Just want to make sure I dont end up with one of those....
 
Re: Favorite LED Pars

You'll probably find that once you step to a Chinese fixture they are all about the same. The only difference is the quality control and possibly the brand of LEDs installed. It's pretty easy to pick up the standard 54 or 48x 3W cast aluminum LED pars from China direct for very cheap. I'm not going to say specifics but cheaper than anything mentioned in this thread thus far.
 
Re: Favorite LED Pars

Silas Pradetto said:
You'll probably find that once you step to a Chinese fixture they are all about the same. The only difference is the quality control and possibly the brand of LEDs installed. It's pretty easy to pick up the standard 54 or 48x 3W cast aluminum LED pars from China direct for very cheap. I'm not going to say specifics but cheaper than anything mentioned in this thread thus far.
Click to expand...

Downside is that... warrently claim process and getting parts suck.

I orderd a 4-n-1 and the "white" led was dead, the company shipped me the part for free but I had to pay shipping.
 
Re: Favorite LED Pars

I have a pile of Colorkey cans that have performed flawless for the last few years but there are better fixtures out there now. One of my friends just bought a 3 watt waterproof can with linkable power in the $150 range including shipping. I will try to find a link and post it.
 
Re: Favorite LED Pars

I'll give another vote for the chauvet Colorado fixture, there are some on flea bay I have both the rgb and the rgbw fixture, they are great for many things including building wash and tents, they have a stand alone programming feature which is wonderful as well, although not super intuitive to use.

tk
 
Re: Favorite LED Pars

At the price range, the only thing I can think of is this and I don't believe it's as bright as you want.
They aren't bad though and they can be bought right at $100
Venue Thinpar64 10mm LED Lightweight Par Light | GuitarCenter

I'd save up and get the Blizzard Q12W (If amber is important, look at the Q12A, but if it's not, the white on the Q12W is twice as bright as the Q12A). Going to need close to $250 ea to do it though.
 
Re: Favorite LED Pars

Marc Hayes said:
I am looking to make a move to LED PAR's, and sell of a good majority of my conventional's.
Click to expand...

Rob Spence said:
It sure takes a pretty bright LED fixture to replace a decent PAR.
Click to expand...
If you step-up to an LED lighting rig, I'll offer hanging onto your conventional par cans if they're in servicable condition and set-up nicely... depending on your latitude and the market you're working, because:

One thing LED fixtures are really lousy at is producing heat. Probably 50% of the work I do that requires lighting involves stage temperatures <60 deg F... and can easily drop to <50 or even <40 deg F by the end of the performance. Without the heat that my conventional par cans produce, I'd likely need to otherwise heat the performance area with "something"... and chances are that "something" would cost more and be less desirable.

Besides, the resale value of used conventional par cans (and dimming) is pretty much zilch. Might as well hang onto what you have if you need stage heaters that as a bonus produce light (and do it silently without needing to pack jerry cans of kerosene to the gig).
 
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Re: Favorite LED Pars

I find pictures speak volumes... it's hard to tell from the bad iphone pic but....

8 x mac 101s is doing the red colour - on truss, on an angle from the deck to an empty monitor case
6 x Blizzard PRO par 336 is doing the pink colour from the front veritcal truss.

the second pic, the 101's are doing a purple, and the propars are pink....
 

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Re: Favorite LED Pars

Not to hi-jack the thread, but are there any suggestions for affordable LED pars if you don't need the super high light output?

It would replace several 250W Par38's for basic small stages with covers bands/wedding bands and small club work?


Thanks,
Phil
 
Re: Favorite LED Pars

(Answering Phil)
Chauvet 4-Bar. Under 300 for a bar of 4 lights. You can run it on DMX or use the included footswitch.

They also have a new 4bar called the 4Bar Flex for $275
Chauvet 4Bar Flex
It has the same 4 lights as the normal 4Bar. The bar that the lights are mounted to, is better
(it has brackets for attaching more lights, brackets for floor use, and AC-out sockets)
The flex does not come with a tripod stand and thus sells for a little less than the regular 4 bar

If you want single lights, Guitar Center sells a cheap slim LED for $99
I think it's the same as the Chauvet Slimpar64
Venue Thinpar64 10mm LED Lightweight Par Light | GuitarCenter

They also sell the Chauvet slimpar64 for $129
Chauvet SLIM PAR 64 LED Par Can | GuitarCenter
 
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