Full Chauvet DJ Jam Pack Silver Review
One thing that has changed ridiculously in the past few years is the size of DJ gear. I mean, you can DJ just fine on djay 2 or Traktor DJ on an iPhone, and speakers by the likes of Minirig pack a punch way above their weight. So why shouldn’t lighting get in on the act? That´s exactly what’s happened with the Chauvet DJ Jam Pack Silver.
First impressions and setting up
I had to do a double take in our mailing room when I was handed the box that these came in. “Too small and light to contain lighting of any kind,” I thought. I assumed it was some plastic US$100 DJ controller to be honest (especially considering the size of the box the last Chauvet review items came in), but no, inside were three really very tiny disco lights.
That’s not to say they felt cheap; they are metal, with professional fittings and so on, just… shrunk! Of course, they take advantage of modern LED lighting to make this happen, but really, if you imagine full-sized lighting that´s just a fraction of the size of normal, you’ve got it.
There’s no DMX (the lighting version of Midi), so control is done via a built-in microphone on each unit so they can flash to music, and also via an infrared remote control, of which one is provided. You point it closely at the light you wish to alter, or if you aim it in their general direction from a distance, all will react (good for blacking them all out at once, for instance).
In use
So we tested them in a dimmed-down Digital DJ Tips studio, fittingly with my iPhone playing music through our favourite tiny DJ speaker, the Minirig.
Firstly, they are pretty impressive: Bright and reactive. You get plenty of control (albeit in a slightly clunky way, as you’re never sure if what you’re going to do is going to affect one or all of them!), so you can alter strobe, frequency, colours and so on, and in the case of the UV / strobe, decide which of the functions you want on or off.
If you wanted to fit them permanently, you’d have to get your own fittings or suitable brackets. Also, because the three provided transformer / adapters don’t have very long leads, you’d have to think about positioning pretty near to power outlets, or you can purchase three long extension cords. Longer leads would have been better, or even battery charging so you could charge them up to throw in a bag without taking leads with you at all.
Conclusion
For US$99, a box like this gives a lot of fun. They’re surprisingly effective, and would be plenty for a small dorm party, home disco, or other “domestic” event. I love the idea of packing them in a holdall along with a couple of Minirigs so you could party anywhere, from your hotel room on holiday to a friend’s living room.
Maybe a bit more innovation in fittings (clips would be nice), battery power (so you could use them away from mains for a few hours), and as I say, longer leads wouldn’t go amiss, but overall, these are up for the intended job. If you’re obsessed with having the tiniest DJ set-up going, you’re probably already online trying to order yourself a pack!
Video talkthrough
Want to add some extra flair to your next house party? What do you think of these cheap, tiny, go-anywhere lights? Tell us what you think in the comments below!
Phil Morse
