Chris.
I am looking for 2 lighting effects.I dont want them dancing all over the walls(my GENI's do that- I know you dont like them but they were my first buys!) I just want them to stay on the dancefloor,have a number of colours and gobo's.
I think the choice is between- Soundlab DMX Vistas,NJD Datamoon or Chaos and Mikee's preference Chemeleon or Chauvet
Cost is an issue and also size and weight.

I don't know if Chris, does or has got the Chauvet Abyss, great for weddings and the slow sets. Saw them at PLASA and just had to have.

I prefer the Chaos, as it doesnt have the annoying strobeing effect of the datamoon, plus its lighter. The only problem with mine is you can't link them.

Tonyj, do you have the chaos on all the time during a gig? as I have two but they get so hot I have to turn them off every 20mins

I also have two units with almost the same spec to the datamoons, but only have a 100W bulb in em-not bad for half the price of a pair of datamoons!!

I don't hold stock of Chauvet, but I am a distributor, so the Abyss wouldn't be a problem. If it's subtle mood lighting that you are after, then consider the Abyss, Retrobeam (Oil wheel projector), or a colourchanger.

The original NJD Chaos was 100W, so a little underpowered by todays standards, and if you have 250W + effects, or you do large venues then it is likely to look lost. The New Chaos 2, is better because they have up rated it to 250W, but slightly bigger / heavier as a result.

The Datamoon has been around for many years, and is an excellent effect, and during the latter part of the 90's it won awards. All 250W effects are very similar with regard to size / weight, since they all use a similar rated transformer to lower the voltage to the 24v that the lamp requires and this accounts for the weight.

The Vista / Datamoon are similar effects, and now even made in the same factory!, although there is a vast difference in price . The Vista also has 15 gobos / colours as opposed the the Datamoon which only has 7. Both can be controlled by DMX - Both can be linked together!.

A lot of the decision comes down to personal choice, and with that I can't really help you

QUOTE

A lot of the decision comes down to personal choice

True, because all they are to punters are flashy lights!!!
punters dont really care what lights you have, as long you have music they're fine!!

if its any use i use 3 vista's, have never linked them or used them DMX as i think the leaflet that came with them is slightly wrong. I was going to buy datamoons but the vistas won on price and have been fine.

QUOTE (Dj SBD @ May 17 2003, 10:03 AM)

Tonyj, do you have the chaos on all the time during a gig? as I have two but they get so hot I have to turn them off every 20mins

To be quite honest i shove the chaos on a tripod stand and leave the unit to it for about and hour, then let them cool down for 15 minutes. The lamps seem to last for ever

I think sound lab should have left it as a 100 watt unit, It looks just as bright as my chamellion 3 250 watt unit.

Personal speaking i'm into the Soundlab gear, it works well for me.

Actually, here is a tip from the trade, to extend the lamp life of your 12v 100W lamps, which use the A1/231 type dichloric lamp.

Next time you need to replace the lamp, fit a A1/232 - 15V 150W version. At first glance this may seem like it will overload the Transfomer, but under running the 15v lamp at 12v also results in a drop of current, so that the lamp only draws around the same as the original .

The idea - running a 15v lamp at 3v below it's rating also means that you get loads of lamp life, for around the same light output! in fact i've had a pair of Abstract Gladiator Revolution MK1's running with this configuration on hire for almost 2 years with no lamp change!.

Now that is useful! I hate it when my gladiator decides to throw a bulb halfway through the evening (which is'nt often but anything to extend the life)