I’ve purchased a few Chauvet lights over past couple of years. I would like to share my experience.

I’m a DJ, maybe 35-40 gigs this year. 1/2 are weddings, the other half are parties. My lights are used less than 1/2 the time as sometimes I plug into another system or a company is hired for lighting. I’m probably your typical part time mobile dj. I have cases or bags for everything I own and would consider myself to be very considerate of keeping my gear in good shape. I’m in the Foothills / Tahoe market. Lighting is not a priority for most mobile DJ’s around here. Your average wedding DJ might bring 1-2 lights for the dance floor. My set up might not be great on a national level, but around here it’s one of the better displays.

To start, I’m was a fan of Chauvet. I like the videos they put out, (Geoff Short) and they have a solid collection of lights to choose from. Not knowing any industry stats, I’d guess they are #1 in the mobile lighting market.

My reviews, In order of my purchase

Scorpion Laser: Group purchase 6+ years ago for Burning Man. This thing is a beast that has survived some really harsh conditions. Been mounted on an art car for a few years and is still going strong.

Chauvet 4 Play: 1 year in, zipper on the super thin bag breaks. 3 years in, the casing around every light fixtures shows signs of melting. I contacted customer service. They said I can pay $45 + shipping to send it in, then they will review the problem and get me a quote to fix it. Shipping, + $45 + the repair cost i assume would be over the price of the light. I know i’m out of warranty, but this appears to be a major fire hazard. Their reaction: Don’t use it anymore

Chauvet 4 Bar: Day one: foot switch has to be hit very hard to switch functions. 2 years in: bolts on tripod legs and height adjustment are stripped and failing. 3 years in: I purchase a new 6 channel dmx controller because the foot switch no longer works, with the plan of controlling this light in the optional 3 channel mode, as noted on all marketing material. Come to find out, there was an earlier version that shipped without the 3 channel option.
Chauvet is willing to sell me the new chip for $50 that allows for 3 channel DMX. Chauvet doesn’t say anywhere that there are some lights that don’t have the 3 channel feature. I find a few questions on their Facebook page and youtube by owners that are looking to figure out how to change their 4bar to 3 channel mode. Every question is left unanswered. On the positive side, the bag is pretty nice. Without the footswitch, options are limited and the "sound" setting flashes at a speed sure to cause a seizure.

Chauvet Hurricane 1800 Fog Machine: leaked just enough to annoy me from the very beginning. Still leaks, can’t find the problem but is still working.

Chauvet Bubble King: The trough that holds the bubble juice looks like the bottom of a milk carton that someone cut to size with a pair to scissors. Insanely cheap. Bolts on the side that allow you open up the machine to access liquid are finished with plastic. After 2 years, they are corroded and impossible to hand tighten or loosen. The use of pliers breaks the plastic apart and now I use a wrench to open and close.

Chauvet Obey 6 DMX controller: This thing arrived with what sounds like a bunch of loose screws inside of the unit. Construction quality is probably lower than a children’s toy and the overall feel is terrible. Loud clicks when you push a button and everything in general just feels bad.

Chauvet Slimpar 64: Purchased 4 units. 2 of the four units tilt screws are stripped after 2 years of use. What functions as the nut is just threaded plastic in the hole for the bolt. Jeez, this is as cheap as you can get.

Chauvet Bag for Slimpar 64 x4: Working as it should.

Chauvet Beamer 8: 3 months in, working as it should.

Overall, almost every piece of equipment I’ve purchased has had issues within a year of ownership. Some have issues from day one. I’m not expecting gear to last forever, but I do expect a company to use nuts and bolts that last more that 100 tighten and loosen cycles. By comparison, my EV speakers, Yorkville sub, Rane 56 and 62 mixers, Shure mics, gator speaker stands and most everything else I use when dj’ing has been trouble free for many years.

I think it's time that I kick Chauvet to the curb and find a new brand to invest in.