ADJ has been stepping up their game in the professional grade segment of their business with the introduction of the 3 Sixty 2R split head moving light. The company’s goal: to offer a wide range of products for every segment of the market from entry level to professional and installation markets. The 3 Sixty 2R, first featured at LDI 2013, is aimed at lighting pros aiming for both affordability and an array of amazing looks.
What It Is
The 3 Sixty 2R is a moving light that takes the head of the unit and splits it into two independently controllable light sources. Along with the split head function, which allows for continuous tilt rotation of each of the heads, the fixture as a whole has continuous pan rotation. The result: unique fixture functionality, based on those attributes alone.
Since the head unit is spilt into two segments, designers get a fixture with double the features, including two light sources. Each side has one of the latest in Philips’ Platinum series of lamps, the 2R. It’s a 135-watt lamp promising more than 6,000 lamp hours of operation. Although the 2R each only use 135 watts, their 8,000K color temperature output is comparable to a 650W to 750W tungsten lamp source.
Feature List Times Two
Typically when you see a feature list, it is for the entire device. With the 3 Sixty that is true, but you have to do a bit of math — basically multiply the head unit features by two. A case in point: the fixture has a 13 color plus open white color wheel and a 14 rotating fixed gobo plus open spot wheel. And each side of the head unit has its own independent wheel. Same goes for the other beam shaping features, such as the 8-facet prism, frost filter and shutter control.
Keeping track of the separate but similar features in the split head can get a bit confusing when starting out. It first depends on how your console of choice decides to control the fixture. After a few missteps, you should be able to figure out which parameter wheel controls which side, and the logic behind the control system for the 3 Sixty’s separate heads becomes apparent. And once you harness the power of your console and its various palettes or presets, you will be able to take full advantage of the 3 Sixty 2R’s many features without seeing double.
Power Consumption and Control
A key thing to remember with the 3 Sixty 2R is that while the lamps are 135W, there are two of them. Add the lamps’ total wattage and a few more watts for the base unit, and the fixture uses a total of 400 watts. Sounds like a lot for a fixture of its size, but not really when you consider that this one fixture has two lamp sources and two completely independent tilting heads to control. Consider it a two-for-one kind of thing.
As for controlling the fixture, I am always a huge fan of complete and utter control of every single parameter, so my preference, of course, is to use the maximum number of DMX channels to control the fixture — the Extended mode, at 32 channels. ADJ is aware that not everyone feels that way, so the company offers two other control modes — the Basic, at 21 channels; and the Standard at 24 channels of control.
Still a bit wary of having to individually control each side of the fixture? ADJ also offers a Master/Slave & Sound Activated modes in addition to the DMX mode for quick and easy setup.
Conclusion
The ADJ 3 Sixty 2R is a great step-up to professional grade fixtures for the DJ, club and medium sized venues. It offers some unique visuals and features not necessarily found in comparably priced fixtures. The fixture can easily find it way on tour, although the lack of 5-pin DMX and PowerCon pass through may require crew members to add an extra measure of care with cable planning during setup and rehearsals.
At a Glance
One Moving Fixture + Two Moving Beams = A Plethora of Looks
The 3 Sixty 2R is a moving light that takes the head of the unit and splits it into two independently controllable light sources along with continuous tilt rotation of each of the heads and continuous rotation of the pan of the fixture as a whole.
ADJ 3 Sixty 2R
Pros: A truly unique fixture, based on the attributes alone. Master/Slave & Sound Activated modes for those worried about getting a splitting headache from all the possibilities. Long list of added features (see below).
Cons: The fixture could become more tour-friendly with 5-pin DMX and PowerCon pass thru connections.
Features
- 2x Philips MSD Platinum 2R light sources
- 4° beam angle
- 360° continuous Pan / Tilt movement /rotation
- 13 colors + White
- 14 rotating fixed gobos + open spot
- 3 DMX channel modes (21, 24, 32ch)
- 8-facet prism
- Frost filter for wash effect
- Shutter for pulse and random strobe effects
- RDM compliant
- Power consumption: 400W total
- Size: 17x13x18.75”
- Weight: 45 lbs.
Price: MSRP: $3,999.95; Street: $2,799.99
More Info: www.adj.com
