Time for an upgrade

[Ricesnaps]

After a few posts about various lights, here's the crunch.

I now have enough set aside to do the first part of my upgrade to the lighting. I have always promised myself a set of four moving heads, but now not completely sure.

Firstly the change will be to replace my Leo's and scimitars (I have two of each).

so, advice please:

1. 4 x stairville Moving heads
2. 4 x Eurolight 150 discharge scans (Thomann)
Above both brand new

or some 2nd hand options:

1. 4 x Abstract VR8
2. 4 x Abstract VRX

I have about £800 at the very most which would sort out the moving heads, so that's the top of the budget.

However, I currently have about £450 for stage one, which would get me two moving heads, a couple of the Eurolight scans or all the VR8 / VRX's

Or are there options I haven't thought of - not keen on the I-solution stuff, sorry guys!

Moving heads or scanners - particularly based on my above thoughts?

[LastMinuteDJs.net]

Big fan of the Abstract VR8s and VRXs. Learned my trade using them crewing at a Student Union and have always liked them and they were the first lights on my wishlist when I started discos. Very good looking machines too and customers are always commenting on them - 'wow - they look like space ships' or 'wow - they look like they should be in a nightclub'.

On the other hand Moving heads are the top dog as far as lighting is concerned. People using scanners always want moving heads. Don't think people running moving heads really long for scanners.

Have just invested in 2 of the Stairville moving heads to complement my VR8s but certainly not to replace them.

Love both - but would say go for the movers...

[groovy-nights]

have a look at evl-lighting you could get 4 pro scans for £800 + vat (£140)
http://www.evl-lighting.com/scanners.html
have heard bad reports about vr8's falling apart as they get old. I would save up and go for the evl pro scan 150

[Danno13]

Yep.. the VR8s aren't particularly bright really. The EVL 150s would be much better, they have rotating gobos too.. which i don't think the VR8s have.

[Twinspin]

VR8s not bright?

thats the first i knew. The VRX have rotating gobos.

[LastMinuteDJs.net]

have a look at evl-lighting you could get 4 pro scans for £800 + vat (£140)
http://www.evl-lighting.com/scanners.html
have heard bad reports about vr8's falling apart as they get old. I would save up and go for the evl pro scan 150

Silver casing does tend to scratch quite easily if you bash them about but if you're careful (like you should be with all your kit) they won't fall apart too easy.

The VR8s at the student union were moved about all the time - taken off the rig to be installed on the stage, then back up on the rig. Every week for 10 years and they're still fine. VRXs are more robust than VR8s.


Yep.. the VR8s aren't particularly bright really. The EVL 150s would be much better, they have rotating gobos too.. which i don't think the VR8s have.

Haven't seen th EVLs so don't know how they compare on brightness, but never had a problem with the brightness of my 8s. VRXs are brighter though. Moving heads would be brighter still.

There are 2 versions of the VR8s and VRXs - one not rotating (VR8, VRX) one rotating (VR8r, VRXr).

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Or are there options I haven't thought of - not keen on the I-solution stuff, sorry guys!



Isolution is the same as Stairville, just rebadged - so how come you like the moving heads? :confused:

[soundscapes]

i was gonna mention that, all the stairville stuff is re-branded acme stuff, the moving heads are imove im-5s's. same gobos, colours everything.
the vrx units appear to be much brighter than the vr8's which arent really that bright.

[Ricesnaps]

Isolution is the same as Stairville, just rebadged - so how come you like the moving heads? :confused:
The moving heads look completely different to the rest of the range.

Let me catch up - generally the VR8's are a good option, BUT I am getting the feeling that if it was a choice between 2 VR8's or 2 Stairville moving heads, the moving heads would win?

If I read right, are you all saying that the moving head will be brighter than the VR8?

[soundscapes]

it would, though the vr8s are discharge bulbs the moving heads have 250w halogens, the vrx's are nice units and can be picked up fairly cheap on ebay.
while the stairville moving heads might look different to the rest of the isoloution range they have the same colours and gobos and after all thats all anyone will see during a function.

[Ricesnaps]

it would, though the vr8s are discharge bulbs the moving heads have 250w halogens, the vrx's are nice units and can be picked up fairly cheap on ebay.
while the stairville moving heads might look different to the rest of the isoloution range they have the same colours and gobos and after all thats all anyone will see during a function.
I think if I'm honest, it's not the gobo's and colours that put me of the rest of the range - more the look. the I-Rock scanner seem to have the most ugly floor standing feet.

So, have found the VR8 on ebay for £130 each - so not sure I could afford more than three right now, or I go for two moving heads.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARG!

[soundscapes]

the feet are removeable. look at the pics i put up in the gallery last month, the feet are for if you want to floor mount them.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Also, don't forget, the moving heads don't link with the rest of the range unless you use a DMX controller. (as I found out during December)

[soundscapes]

i wonder if i can link my ishows and i rocks together ???

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Barrels, scanners and flowers can be linked but not the heads. I found the Amce site in Taiwan which showed the configurations possible.

The only thing you will be limited by, is if they have separate colour and gobo wheels etc

[soundscapes]

hmm, the ishows have a single wheel, barrels and colour changers have seperate. might have to have a look for the website

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

hmm, the ishows have a single wheel, barrels and colour changers have seperate. might have to have a look for the website

It just means that they wont all be the same gobo and colour at the same time. Still effective though.

[Dragonfly]

do the ishow 4 s have separate colour/gobo wheels?

[Ricesnaps]

All I really want to know is do I go for a moving head package or a scanner package!

The VR8's look really tempting, but I can't afford to get all four right now, but if I bought two, what's the likelyhood of being able to pick up another two in a couple of months?

Or am I still going to wish I had gone for the moving heads?

By the way, anyone know where I can fins a full spec for the VR8's - I think they are a discontinued range, so nothing east to hand on the Abstract web site.

[Dragonfly]

ive got 2 moving heads rice and have had nothing but good things said about them. add a more expensive upmarket "look" to your show imo.

[dannyboy]

ive got 2 moving heads rice and have had nothing but good things said about them. add a more expensive upmarket "look" to your show imo.

I agree, to Joe public, scanners are scanners.

Whether they have seperate gobo/colour wheels, rotating gobos etc.

I personally would go for the moving heads because they are "different"

[groovy-nights]

Are you thinking of upgrading anything else

[Ricesnaps]

Are you thinking of upgrading anything else
Alwarys thinking!

But probably not.

I did toy with keeping the leo's / scimitars and changing my moonflowers to Twister 4's or Datamoons. Also have a pair of Lynx's that aren't the brightest light in the book. But I would want to "trade in" so to speak, so the value of the unit forms part of the new one.

Might be why I am looking at 2nd hand as well - sometimes you can get a much better higher spec unit for less buying 2nd hand.

[groovy-nights]

If you are wanting to upgrade your moonflowers then i would go down the evl route and get a mirco controller excellent lightshow very easy to control.
Sold loads of evl spins always had great feedback from them.

[TONYTIGER]

Hi i have been using moving heads on our discos and hire stock for a number of years . My advice is only buy a unit whith a metal halide bulb i know they are more costly but you will get 6000 hours use stay away from the cheap far east imports they are very noisy and wont stand up to life on the road, i have found one of the most reliable brands to be Robe also there scaners are very good as well go for rollers as they will give you much better covererage hope this is of some help Tony Lyall

[groovy-nights]

have a look at this ebay number 320091132464

[Corabar Steve]

Hi i have been using moving heads on our discos and hire stock for a number of years . My advice is only buy a unit whith a metal halide bulb i know they are more costly but you will get 6000 hours use stay away from the cheap far east imports they are very noisy and wont stand up to life on the road, i have found one of the most reliable brands to be Robe also there scaners are very good as well go for rollers as they will give you much better covererage hope this is of some help Tony Lyall
I'm not sure, but I think Matt would actually like more than just the one :d

I have about £800 at the very most which would sort out the moving heads, so that's the top of the budget.

However, I currently have about £450 for stage one, which would get me two moving heads, a couple of the Eurolight scans or all the VR8 / VRX's


have a look at this ebay number 320091132464You could've been nice & posted a link :P :d


........ hope this helps Tony James

........ hope this is of some help Tony LyallSplit personality Tony??????? :D