Moving Heads

A moving head puts pan, tilt, colour and beam control under console command, which is what separates a programmable show from a static wash. The fixtures here cover beam, spot, wash, profile and hybrid behaviour across a range of LED and discharge sources, including IP-rated models for uncovered outdoor positions. Light source output, DMX channel count and ingress protection are the three figures that decide which one fits your rig.

Compare the range

Specifications below are taken from the product data for each item in this collection. Rows with fewer than two published figures are omitted. Sorted by price.

How to choose a moving head

Pick the behaviour first. Beam fixtures throw a narrow, parallel shaft that stays visible in haze and reads from the back of a room. Spot fixtures have gobo and iris control for projecting shapes and lighting performers. Wash fixtures spread wide soft colour. Hybrids attempt all three and compromise on each. Decide what the fixture is doing in your plot before comparing wattage.

Read the light source, not the headline wattage. A 200 W LED engine and a 200 W discharge lamp do not produce the same output or the same colour. The published source description tells you what the fixture actually contains, and output comparisons between different source types are rarely like for like.

Check the DMX channel modes. Channel count drives how many fixtures fit a universe and how much control you get. A fixture offering a 16-channel and a 24-channel mode lets you trade fine colour and movement control for universe capacity, which matters once you are past twenty fixtures.

Match ingress protection to position. An IP65-rated head can sit uncovered on an outdoor stage. A head with no published rating must be under cover. This is not a specification to assume from the rest of the range.

Plan power per circuit. Divide the circuit capacity by the published consumption. A 16 A / 230 V circuit at 3680 W carries about twelve 300 W heads at full draw, and you want headroom below that figure, not at it.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a beam and a spot moving head?
A beam produces a narrow parallel shaft that stays visible in the air, used for aerial looks. A spot produces a focusable pool with gobos and shaping, used to light performers and scenery.

How many moving heads fit on one DMX universe?
Divide 512 by the channel count of the mode you select. A 24-channel mode gives 21 fixtures per universe; a 16-channel mode gives 32.

Can a moving head be used outdoors?
Only if it carries a published ingress protection rating such as IP65. Fixtures without a published rating should be used indoors or in covered positions.

How much power does a moving head draw?
It varies by fixture and is published on each product page. As a planning figure, a 16 A / 230 V circuit carries about 3680 W, so divide that by the fixture's consumption.

Do I need haze for beam fixtures to work?
To see the beam itself in the air, yes. Without haze or fog in the room the shaft is invisible and you only see where the light lands.