Replacement for my beloved Chauvet Intimidators

[Imagine]

Well...they've been with me for a good few years now (8 to be precise!), and I've noticed recently that they're losing a LOT of their brightness. They're struggling now to cut through the wash lights which means they're on the way out :(

My Intimidator 305 barrels have been to more parties and weddings than I care to remember, and they've worked without fault each and every time. BUT...it's time to look to replace them.

I've not been keeping up with kit recently and local "show nights" keep getting cancelled, so no idea what's on the market at the moment.

What I DO know though is that I'm not interested in the Helix (or equivalent) gobo spewers, and I absolutely don't want moving heads (unless they can be mounted vertically to a pole which most I've seen won't do). I'm looking for something at LEAST 80w a side (preferably more), something where I can put in custom Gobos (such as hearts, snow and stars) and preferably available in white (although that's not a showstopper as modern vinyl is awesome at recovering fixtures). Whether they're a barrel or a scanner...I'm not too fussed so long as there's a prism mode.

So gents.....what's out there?

[DJ Jules]

Well...they've been with me for a good few years now (8 to be precise!), and I've noticed recently that they're losing a LOT of their brightness. They're struggling now to cut through the wash lights which means they're on the way out :(

My Intimidator 305 barrels have been to more parties and weddings than I care to remember, and they've worked without fault each and every time. BUT...it's time to look to replace them.

I've not been keeping up with kit recently and local "show nights" keep getting cancelled, so no idea what's on the market at the moment.

What I DO know though is that I'm not interested in the Helix (or equivalent) gobo spewers, and I absolutely don't want moving heads (unless they can be mounted vertically to a pole which most I've seen won't do). I'm looking for something at LEAST 80w a side (preferably more), something where I can put in custom Gobos (such as hearts, snow and stars) and preferably available in white (although that's not a showstopper as modern vinyl is awesome at recovering fixtures). Whether they're a barrel or a scanner...I'm not too fussed so long as there's a prism mode.

So gents.....what's out there?

The short answer is... Nothing new. All of the development recently has been in moving heads and moonflower style effects.

When I looked at barrels a few years ago I got the list down to a pair of Showtec Shark Barrel One's or Chauvet Intimidators.

Julian

[Steven]

I have a friend who is selling some intimidator barrels if you are just looking to replace, don't think his have been used much iirc

[Excalibur]

Not asking for much, are you sonny? Only the Moon on a string! :p:D

I reckon Julian got it spot on when he said Shark or intimidator.

New/newish lights? Only the immensely disappointing Chauvet Gobozap.

Other suggestions? Well they fail on so many of your requirements, but Chauvet Swarm Wash, or Crossfire XP. I still wouldn't discount Helix/Obsession myself.

There is one totally leftfield option, which again is almost certainly disqualified on many grounds, but out of curiosity check the QTX Mesmerizer. It is totally awesome, but perhaps overpriced, and not suitable for you.

Sorry I can't help further, basically cos you're searching for The Holy Grail. :( In my quick search, I did spot some amazing and amazingly cheap and cheerful ones though, which would have been ideal for quick set up pub gigs and similar.

[Benny Smyth]

Sounds like sir would like a pair of moving heads without having a pair of moving heads.

[DJ Jules]

Sounds like sir would like a pair of moving heads without having a pair of moving heads.

That was basically what I was looking for when I last bought a barrel.

I ended up with a pair of ADJ Innoroll HPs (80w led) as a pair be ame available 2nd hand for a bargain price. These fit a lot of your needs, but these fall short of some of your requirements. They're an 80w led barrel scanner with separate colour and gobo wheels with rotating gobos. Gobos can be changed, but that requires screwdrivers and pliers as well as invalidating the warranty, and there's no prism either.

Julian

[rth_discos]

Sounds like sir would like a pair of moving heads without having a pair of moving heads.

No, what Wayne has cannot be achieved with a moving head.

As a previous owner of them, they are by far the best lights I have seen for room coverage.

The only replacement option is, another pair. Which is likely a second hand job now.

Wayne, have you contacted Chauvet to see if they can offer a replacement LED for them?

[Benny Smyth]

No, what Wayne has cannot be achieved with a moving head.

But based on the list if features that he is looking for:

- 80w fixtures
- Changeable gobos
- Prism feature

That's a moving head.

[DJ Jules]

- Prism feature

That's a moving head.

Barrel with a prism? That's basically a Wizard? ;)

To be honest, most people I know have gravitated towards the new moonflowers as they give a similar brightness and spread to barrel fixtures in a package with a similar size/weight (unlike a Wizard). The thing that I still find underwhelming about them is the movement.

Julian

[Excalibur]

No, what Wayne has cannot be achieved with a moving head.

As a previous owner of them, they are by far the best lights I have seen for room coverage.

The only replacement option is, another pair. Which is likely a second hand job now.

Wayne, have you contacted Chauvet to see if they can offer a replacement LED for them?

Not necessarily, unless he's in a rush.

The Scan 360 is available from some dealers, and his local dealer has B Stock in sub £400 each.

[rth_discos]

Not necessarily, unless he's in a rush.

The Scan 360 is available from some dealers, and his local dealer has B Stock in sub £400 each.

I'd still argue that a scan 360 is not a barrel - and therefore not going to produce the same results.

That said, as a curve ball, I have been surprised by the spread many of the moving heads provide with a prism.

But the trade-off is that they end up quite bulky and heavy compared to the Barrel 305.

[Excalibur]

I'd still argue that a scan 360 is not a barrel - and therefore not going to produce the same results.

That said, as a curve ball, I have been surprised by the spread many of the moving heads provide with a prism.

But the trade-off is that they end up quite bulky and heavy compared to the Barrel 305.

And you would be absolutely correct, and I shall hang my head in shame for not taking that point on board. I'm just going outside, I may be gone some time. :(

[Benny Smyth]

As a huge left field option, why not look at something that ticks none of your boxes?

As it stands, you have a lighting fixture where you can change the gobos, and spread the spots across the room. So far, so normal...so why not do something completely different?

All DJs have some sort of fixture where gobos can be changed, but honestly who gives a monkey's wotsits? Go crazy. Look at the Portman P1 Mini LED (https://youtu.be/nugtKRWvssM). Don't know how many of those you'll need to make an amazing effect for a wedding, but if it is too much coinage (and I dare say that it probably would be), then use it to influence a different idea that'll be more realistic.

My lighting options still have a lot of life in them, and continue to offer an amazing effect to this day. When the time comes to look at options, I will seriously be considering something different. Make the stage look great and ignore the rest of the room, because the stage is where the show is.

[Imagine]

Wow - I've missed so many responses due to being asleep due to getting over properly confirmed flu (thankfully now well and truly on the back foot which is just as well as I'm out for the next four nights).

So it seems I'm realistically looking for what I've already got then. Shame they haven't made an upgraded version because as Gavin says, they really are one of the best room fillers I've ever seen without spewing gobos all over the place like the new-fangled moonflowers.

I'm not in a massive hurry on this one and may even contact Chauvet directly to see if they can help.

[Imagine]

OK - digging up an old one here (said I wasn't in any hurry).

A replacement has been found!

Yes folks, it's one of those moonflower things everyone else has got....the Equinox Helix XP150. It's already being tamed by SoundSwitch and my Gawd it's bright!

[Excalibur]

OK - digging up an old one here (said I wasn't in any hurry).

A replacement has been found!

Yes folks, it's one of those moonflower things everyone else has got....the Equinox Helix XP150. It's already being tamed by SoundSwitch and my Gawd it's bright!

So, exactly the first item you ruled out. :p:p

I have two of the standard ones, and love them to bits, but:

They don't scan the room.

Only other options are Rush Wizard, or Eliminator style effects. I have the Chauvet scanners myself, and love them. I still have two EFX 500s in the shed, and they take some beating, apart from the fact they weigh a ton.

[DJ Jules]

OK - digging up an old one here (said I wasn't in any hurry).

A replacement has been found!

Yes folks, it's one of those moonflower things everyone else has got....the Equinox Helix XP150. It's already being tamed by SoundSwitch and my Gawd it's bright!

Funnily enough I swapped my barrells for a pair of these as well. And they are bright. I used to rate my Jellydomes as the brightest light I own, but these completely wipe them out.

I picked them up for my lower end packages as a pair of them on a pole along with a set of battery uplighters is all I need to take in for lighting and it's a quick set up. Only down sides are that they don't appear to have an acceessible 5v rail for wireless adaption and they don't balance well when they're mounted on top of a pole.

Julian