There’s no special event in the world that couldn’t be enhanced with proper lighting. Lights can set the mood for any scenario, whether it be a wedding ceremony, a live music event, or even when you’re home alone. DJ headlights are some of the best for this purpose. Don’t get confused with the ‘DJ” in its name. Such equipment can work in any setting, although the technology can be enhanced with the right accessories (such as DMX machines).
Below are five of the best DJ lights around, picked for their high-quality construction and strength of illumination. But before you choose, remember to read the Buyer’s Guide that follows, showing product/category-specific information to make your final decision easier. Let’s begin!
Top 5 DJ Lights For Parties and Weddings
This comparison guide shows primary features/stats for each DJ light brand. Additional information can be obtained by clicking the links further down (in the product description).
Image | Product |
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Editor's Choice | LUNSY 36LED Stage Lights
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Best for Small Parties | Litake Party Lights Disco Ball Strobe Light Disco Lights
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Best for DMX Compatibility | Tomshine 60W Moving Head Lights
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Best for Manual Controls | LaluceNatz Par Lights with RGB 18LEDs
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Best for Large Entertainment Venues | ADJ Products Stage Light Unit (STARBURST)
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LUNSY 36LED Stage Lights – Best DJ Light for Indoor/Outdoor Events (Editor’s Choice)
The Lunsy 36LED Stage Lights are made for everywhere. Take them out at your next home get-together or work party. Shaped in a way that makes them easy to install for temporarily or permanently, they’ll quickly become a favorite among your family and friends. The bulbs are primary colors that change according to the sound being played (or at the direction of anyone with a DMX board).
The light’s pattern is focused and will appear on a flat as a hexagon.
It has a 25-degree turning angle, which means that the light will focus on the area that doesn’t touch the mounting portions of the devices. But since there are two sold together, coverage is increased, filling in voids with bright light and color. Use them on dance, a dance floor, or even in your room/living room to liven the mood!
What about the features? The brand certainly packs as much as they can in the product, which is a little surprising considering how lightweight they are. Transport is very easy, though you’ll have to find a carrying case. When using the remote, there are seven modes for you to try.
Several Modes to Choose From
The automated mode is best for beginners, those that just want lights to show but not worried about it being synced to any music. But the Sound Mode works flawlessly whenever audio is detected. There’s a small microphone located on the back of both lights.
It’s sensitive enough to move in tune with the music that’s either low or high in frequency (bass).
Installation is very easy to do, even if you’ve never used light such as this before. Again, permanent or temporary mounting is optional and should take only a few minutes to have it set up in your desired location. fixing the lights up through a master/slave connection is almost instantaneous once you’ve completed your daisy-chain more info on this is detailed in the Buyer’s Guide).
Be sure that you have an extension cable on hand when setting the lights up. Chances are high that you’ll need one. The cable provided is very short. If you don’t have one, it’s suggested that you acquire a cable to go alongside the Lunsy. Other than this minor inconvenience, the Lunsy has no controversial qualities of any kind. Recommended for home, personal, and commercial use.
Pros:
- There are seven modes on the device that range from Automated, Sound, and DMX control (the latter with the appropriate external hardware)
- Has all primary colors (red, green and blue; in addition to white) that can display secondary colors when blended
- Contains a thorough user manual that makes setup very easy
- If hooked up to a DMX machine, no programming is necessary since the lights will integrate through a master/slave configuration
Cons:
- Has very short power cables; extension cord likely required for each individual light
Litake Party Lights Disco Ball Strobe Light Disco Lights – Best DJ Lights for Small Parties (Editor’s Choice)
The Litake Party Lights has a disco ball effect, although it’s not a disco ball. Instead, users can place each fixture on walls, the floor, or any makeshift post. Just by taking a look at the colored lens on the exterior, one can see that its light is varied. Visuals appear almost kaleidoscope-like, vivid on any surface where it’s displayed. It has some cool effects that would be well-taken by guests, particularly in an entertainment setting.
Mounts are at the bottom, perfectly capable of being placed wherever you choose to suspend the lights.
As with many DJ lights, the lights will alter their direction and change colors according to the music that you play. It does this quickly thanks to the powerful microphone housed behind the two units.
Bright Lights for all Occasions
But even in an outdoor setting, these lights will work and shine great, especially in the evening hours. There are two remotes featured. They can control one or both lights simultaneously.
It won’t happen when the lights are close together but don’t count on them moving in sync when they’re several feet of space away from each other. Regardless, the Litake Lights are an exciting product to have around for any event, and a good way to add light around dark areas of a party space that already has larger light fixtures.
Pros:
- The lights can change patterns and movement based on the sounds around it (has a microphone)
- Safe to use in an outdoor setting (so long as it doesn’t touch the water)
- Comes with two remotes, both of which can control either light
- Has lots of different color variations and shapes
- There are holes in the base for suspending the light on a wall or ceiling
Cons:
- The remote will only control one light if the other is set a small number of feet away
- No direct DMX compatibility
Tomshine 60W Moving Head Lights – Best DJ Lights for DMX Compatibility
The Tomshine 60W is moving state light, capable of delivering fast lighting effects that are bright and fun to look at. The body of the device is all black, housed with four LED bulbs that move over a very wide angle. It displays only single primary colors (and white), so you’ll need to get more than one if you’re planning on combining them to form secondary colors.
Being that this is a stage light, the housing is very durable, built with a dense plastic that won’t crack or chip away. The body feels very tight and all screws are fitted to where you won’t have to do any tweaking when unboxing the lights for the first time. There’s only one light fixture per-four LED bulbs.
Easy to Mount
You can connect the Tomshine anywhere that you wish, although it works best when displayed from a high wall or ceiling. Feel free to mount it any way you want, either for the short term or permanently. The light has a powerful microphone that picks up sound immediately when activated.
There’s also DMXX support, either through programming or a master/slave configuration.
It’s 18 channels are perfect for fine-tuning the synchronization to the way you want. But even on a tripod, the lights will work great. When setting them on a location that isn’t an indoor stage, mounting in this fashion is highly recommended.
As stated, all lights are very bright, save for the UV (blacklight). It won’t become strong enough for objects at a normal distance to glow very brightly. If you are looking for a fixture with this color, consider either a separately-sold UV light or one of the other products shown in the reviews. Overall, the Tomshine 60W is good for large entertainment venues that are indoors.
Pros:
- Easily connects to most light bars
- Supports DMX integration through smartphone and tablet DMX applications
- Shines brilliantly in small and medium-sized rooms/venues
- T-bar and tripod compatible
Cons:
- Has a weak UV light (black light)
LaluceNatz Par Lights with RGB 18LEDs – Best DJ Lights for Manual Controls
The LaluceNatz Par Lights with RGB 18LEDs, is its name suggests, is a multi-bulb light with a lot to offer for people that’ll operate the light in various ways. For example, it has solid DMX support but also a strong sound activation system with enough sensitivity to pick up the nuanced melodies in all kinds of music. That means music with low and mid-frequency will manipulate the color variations in ways that are seen in large concert venues.
Heavy-Duty and Strong
It weighs about two pounds, the total for both lights. The colors are fun to watch, no matter what setting you have it on. Hues shine brilliantly, even in areas where there’s a lot of white light. The remote has good range and can power both lights when they’re close to each other.
Like all electronics, the LaluceNatz isn’t perfect. Upon the first inspection of the lights, you might think they’re a bit weak along the exterior. The plastic shell is quite thin and feels as if it could break if one handles it carelessly. And because there are two lights, controlling them one a single remote could be a little tricky.
Be prepared to use two remotes are the same time if you’re operating them manually and want the colors/patterns to stay in sync with each other. Still, none of these issues take away from the overall quality of the quality that LaluceNatz brings into DJ lighting. Try it for yourself and you won’t be disappointed.
Pros:
- Weighs approximately 2 pounds total; very easy to transport
- Secondary colors are illuminated in bright, conspicuous hues
- Great remote range and instantaneously reacts when a button is pressed (when both lights are close together)
Cons:
- Because the exterior consists of thin plastic, care must be taken to avoid dropping the lights
- Without DMX, the remote may not respond well to both lights at the same time
ADJ Products Stage Light Unit (STARBURST) – Best DJ Lights for Large Entertainment Venues
The ADJ Products Stage Light Unit resembles a disco ball in a lot of ways but can do a lot more than its rudimentary predecessor.
For instance, the lights can switch to nearly all colors on the color spectrum, which includes ultraviolet.
If you’re having a hard time figuring out which light will rest as your centerpiece for an event, this is the product that would likely get the most attention. Again, just like a disco ball, it’s mountable to a ceiling so be sure to have the proper equipment to suspend it in the air.
Some balls of this type can produce quite a bit of noise, something that would be easily heard if such a unit were used in a small room. But not here. With the ADJ light, you get a functional machine that spins quietly, only picking up the audio from the tracks that are played. Manual control is also nice, although you’ll likely enjoy it the most with either DMX or audio configurations.
When turning it on for the first time, you’ll marvel at the way that it “disperses” light into all directions, sort of like a star. It’s a very nice effect on the dance floor and stage areas.
Excellent Build Quality
Construction is also stellar. Less worry will be placed on getting the product damaged when transporting to your event. But even at home, this fixture would be a great way to liven up the mood in a game room, or simply for special occasions.
The total weight is about eight pounds. And no matter how you intend to use the ball, you’ll have to completely reconfigure your settings whenever you restart it. If you have it set a certain way, be sure that you know exactly how to get it back to the way it was before you turned it off (if you’re going to use the same theme again).
In the end, the ADJ Products Stage Light has everything that one looks for in a DJ light.
It might be a little too extravagant for single use but will definitely get a lot of compliments if taken out during get-togethers Great for professional or personal use.
Pros:
- Doesn’t produce a lot of noise when spinning
- Creates a “star” effect that projects rays of light at all angles
- Made from solid materials that feel strong and built to last for a long time
Cons:
- Quite heavy (8 pounds); must be secured well to avoid it dropping
- All settings are reset to their default when the light is restarted
Best DJ Lights – Buyer’s Guide
This guide will detail a few important things that’ll allow you to pinpoint the right DJ light brand for your next event.
How to Choose the Best DJ Light
When searching for quality DJ lights, remember to purchase according to the location they’re going to be used in. If it’s a small wedding ceremony or other minor events (such as a holiday party with friends or loved ones), you probably won’t need anything too extravagant.
You could limit your occasion to lights that change light and position based on audio.
However, DMX machines are perfectly fine to use them with.
However, there is a small learning curve for one to successfully operate. Due to the nature of live events, they aren’t likely limited to anything, so consider all products when setting up the stage for a venue.
Getting Dj Lights with The Right Settings
Another factor to remember is what sort of controls you’ll use to manipulate the DJ light’s colors and movements. For most people, this will be either DMX controlled or automatically done based on the audio.
Knowing the future ahead of time can give you an idea of what you want to do with the lights and any sort of theme that you have in mind.
DMX Compatibility
DMX consoles are a type of electronics equipment that gives users the ability to control how DJ lights work around them. There are generally two ways this can be done. The more complicated method is by using programs on top of the hardware. Outside of professionals, most today will go for the second option, which is setting the DMX to a master/slave mode in connection with the DJ lights.
To do this, you’ll need either DMX or microphone cables, enough of them to attach additional lights to your “master” light. The master light is what you’ll use to control the “slave” lights. Setup is pretty simple and can be done with most of the lights that are shown.
Set and Setting
Are you using DJ lights indoors, outdoors, or at home? Your location and the setup in your location mean everything with DJ lights. For example, a holiday party could be set up to resemble a real club with the proper lights. If it’s a big occasion, disco balls (or something similar) can help the mood stay lively.
But when handling live music, stage lights that mount quickly over a suspended dock (or tripod) can add lots of dramatic effect to the performance. Whatever you decide on, have these things in mind before you buy. And if must, add more that one light if you know that the event calls for a wide area of space to be filled with color!
Summary/Conclusion
Did you find the lights that you want? All five of the products reviewed have outstanding built quality and powerful LED bulbs. Truthfully, you could randomly choose any of them and still come out of your search a happy customer.
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And while you probably don’t plan on doing that, it’s good to know that you’re getting something that’ll last you for a long time. And when you’re waiting for the DJ lights to arrive at your door, be prepared to experience light in a way that you didn’t think was possible to do outside of a live concert.