$1500... what LED lights to buy?

I am going to have roughly $1500 spend and change-out/update my Lighting Rig. I have an idea of what I am looking at, but I want to hear what your suggestions would be.

Here are some notes:
- I am lighting up a 6-10 piece wedding/corporate party band. Some of the band members do have a darker skin tones.
- Stages are generally 20’-24’ in width, but sometimes have been up to 40’ in width. Typical stage depth is 16’ but it can range anywhere from 8’-30’.
- Performances are usually in Hotel Ballroom and most of the hotels have a strict “NO Fog or Haze” policy.
- I do use the Amber LED color to brighten up the faces.
- The Lighting stands can put the overhead lights up to 10'-12' in the air.
- Lights are you be purchased through a USA dealer/rep.
- Old light rig is being sold

Current rig consist of:
AmericanDJ MyDMX (original) as the DMX controller
4: 36x 1watt RGBAW Par575 lights; 25 degree beam angle, Red:6 Green:8 Blue:8 Amber:6 White:8
2: 60x 1watt RGBAW strip lights; 25 degree beam angle, 12 LEDs on each color

Set-Up: I have 2 LED Par575 lights on lighting tree (prewired) that sits on each side of the stage beside the speaker stacks. The LED bars are then lying across the ground to wash the stage as well. The Pars are aimed head level, while the Bars cover the lower portion of the members.
 
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Re: $1500... what LED lights to buy?

So what you all are says in that my 4 year old Chinese imported lights are still better than what is being produced now?

Just for an example wouldn’t the Blizzard Puck Fab5 be brighter than my 36x1w cans?
Fab5: 7x 15w = 105 watts
Par575: 36x 1w = 36 watts
I even looked at the Puck RGBAW (10mm bulb) and it should be brighter as well: 198x .5w = 99 watts

I have compared my lights to the AmericanDJ Mega Tripar Profile and from the naked eye, mine looked to be about 2/3rd brighter. This light is only 15 watts (5x 3w).
 
Re: $1500... what LED lights to buy?

I think what he is saying is that once you hit the $500/per mark, you get into products like the Chauvet Colorado which is a fairly well respected product, I've used some (Tri Tours I believe) and they are quite bright.
 
Re: $1500... what LED lights to buy?

Blizzards are pretty good but using them what they aren't for is the problem. I don't remember the specs but I don't think they will do what you would like them to.
 
Re: $1500... what LED lights to buy?

What problem are you trying to solve? I might argue that non-garbage LED pars start at $300 instead of $500, but even so, that's not very many for your budget.
 
Re: $1500... what LED lights to buy?

I have compared my lights to the AmericanDJ Mega Tripar Profile and from the naked eye, mine looked to be about 2/3rd brighter. This light is only 15 watts (5x 3w).

I think the problem may be how far back from the band you are able to place the lights, and as a result, how large of an area they cover.

If you want to borrow a couple of the 4 tripars on a bar I have set up to compare the wash on the stage area, let me know.
 
So what you all are says in that my 4 year old Chinese imported lights are still better than what is being produced now?

Just for an example wouldn’t the Blizzard Puck Fab5 be brighter than my 36x1w cans?
Fab5: 7x 15w = 105 watts
Par575: 36x 1w = 36 watts
I even looked at the Puck RGBAW (10mm bulb) and it should be brighter as well: 198x .5w = 99 watts

I have compared my lights to the AmericanDJ Mega Tripar Profile and from the naked eye, mine looked to be about 2/3rd brighter. This light is only 15 watts (5x 3w).

Also, keep in mind that lighting is lumens, not watts just like audio is spl and not watts.
The spec in lumens is what will tell you which is brighter. The watts won't.


Sent from my iPad HD
 
Re: $1500... what LED lights to buy?

i do A LOT of very high calibre wedding and corporate bands. what are you trying to solve? I am using the Blizzard q6a which would easily get you 4 per side with money to spare which would probably be too much for a 24 ft stage ie you would not often use it at 100%
 
Re: $1500... what LED lights to buy?

i do A LOT of very high calibre wedding and corporate bands. what are you trying to solve? I am using the Blizzard q6a which would easily get you 4 per side with money to spare which would probably be too much for a 24 ft stage ie you would not often use it at 100%

Just looking to update the rig. If I can get lights with a power out feature, it'll help simplify the rig a little.
 
Re: $1500... what LED lights to buy?

Which model Blizzard Pucks?


Sent from my iPad HD

I think it's the Q12W The Puck might be the Q12A - whatever they are they are noticeably brighter than my old dinosaur Chauvet PAR Rain LED64 type that can be seen on tripods in the clip. For now my pucks are mounted on 2 old aluminum sailboat masts painted black and I find ways to hang them. I'll probably break down and buy some more tripods eventually.
 
Re: $1500... what LED lights to buy?

after a lot of research my company went with 20 of the puck q6a from blizzard. I think the q12a would be too bright for most of my applications but i guess you can always dim it down. the q6a has been a perfect fixture for me. The amber gives me a ton of extra colors including a very usable white that you can easily adjust the temperature to your liking. I do a lot of shows with 2 per side and some up fixtures into the drums.
 
Re: $1500... what LED lights to buy?

The q6a has been on my list to check out someday. How does one of them, say a warm white, compare in brightness and pattern with a normal 90w halogen par38 flood light?
 


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