By Mike Wood
In this issue, I’m looking at the DTS Alchemy 7, a Fresnel LED wash light with multi-emitter additive mixing and some interesting features that put it in a category of its own. To my mind, it’s a product very much aimed at the theatrical market, but it could be interesting in other sectors, too.
The results presented here are based on the testing of one unit supplied by the manufacturer as typical of the product. The unit came to me immediately after having been exhibited at the LDI show so had a few hours on the clock and is probably reasonably representative of a unit a customer would receive.
I ran the Alchemy 7 at 115V, but it is rated for operation on 100-240VAC 50/60Hz. As is my normal practice, I set all options back to their default
settings, with one exception – I used the advanced DMX512 profile so that I had individual direct access to the six colours of LEDs.
As already mentioned, the Alchemy 7 is a Fresnel wash light but the internal optics have more in common with a spotlight than a traditional Fresnel fixture. LEDs just don’t suit the more conventional optics style and, more importantly, a conventional Fresnel with a spherical reflector is incredibly inefficient, particularly in narrow angles where as little as 25% of the light makes it out of the front.
Better to use more modern optics and get the most out of the LEDs. My review follows the light through the optical system, measuring as I go.
Read the full review at Lighting & Sound International
www.dts-lighting.it
Australian Distributor: Showtools www.showtools.com.au
