Wireless LED lighting specialist Astera is launching the AX9 PowerPAR. The AX9 is designed to be a high-intensity, all-purpose everyday LED lighting fixture and features battery operation, wireless control, and quality engineering.
“AX9 is the ‘big brother’ of Astera’s hugely successful AX5 TriplePAR which became an industry-standard LED PAR,” the announcement states. “AX9 is bigger, brighter and benefits from all Astera’s latest innovations, like the Titan LED engine, an optimized bracket with Airline Track, a Titan-style keypad for fast and easy local control and direct control via the versatile AsteraApp.”
Designed as a three-in-one solution, the AX9 is a wireless PAR light source that can also be run as a wired PAR for longer-term installations and an up-lighter. The fixture’s 105-Watt output offers over 3000 Lumens of homogenized light.
AX9 can be used wireless anywhere – on set, onstage, in the studio or on location – and is designed for quick deployment on short notice. In situ as a wired PAR – it is just like any standard PAR – designed for situations requiring the lighting to be on for sustained periods of time. AX9 is also a wall or surface washing up-lighter – without a flex cover and with the bracket removed – it can produce a sleek, streamlined effect to transform any space.
The stated benefits of Astera’s Titan LED engine include a high CRI and a wide range of tuneable colour temperature whites, plus a rich and diverse gamut of colors.
The built-in battery is designed for up to 20 hours of runtime, which can be programmed to maintain optimal output over the designated period. Direct control via the AsteraApp removes the need for an AsteraBox.
The keypad on the rear has a menu resembling the Titan Tube layout with dedicated buttons for quickly adjust colour and brightness.
Wireless DMX is available utilizing LumenRadio’s CRMX technology, and for wired options, there is a choice of Powercon and XLR connectors on the rear.
The AX9 unit can connect to a smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth and can then act as a transmitter, sending the radio signal to other Astera fixtures.
The standard 13-degree beam angle can be modified with the addition of two filters, a 32-degree flood filter and a 17 x 46-degree elliptical wall-wash filter.
The AX9 comes with mounting / rigging brackets that can be slid on and off (a feature of the original Astera AX5 PixelPAR), and this bracket contains an Airline Track to hold a selection of rigging accessories like Astera’s TrackPin. A 3/8-inch thread is also integrated into the bracket, with a 14mm hole for attaching clamps. The AX9 legs can be folded for transportation and the same legs used for truss hanging, also like the AX5.
A spring-loaded quick-release kickstand is available for the fixture that pops out with a button press and is for angling an AX9 without a bracket.
The AX9 is IP65 rated for outdoor use and combines with all other Astera products.
AX9 accessories include flexible covers – available in white and mirrored finishes in addition to black for blending into different environments – which can be wrapped around the light to suit the set, room or other visual elements.
Glare reduction can be enhanced by using an egg-crate which also produces sharper beam definition.
Like the AX5, a charging plate allows for AX9s to be placed upside down into the flight case and start charging even without the units needing to be plugged into electricity.
The main applications will be for film and television productions, stages and concerts and all indoor and outdoor events.
Astera Sales & Marketing director Sebastian Bückle states, “The AX9 is Astera’s best value for money light right now with twice the output of the AX5 and only 1.5 times its price, featuring cinema-grade light output and tons of premium features to make daily lives and usage even easier! We are expecting this to be very popular!”
