Martin Professional answers the market demand for ever brighter wash lights with the MAC 2000 Wash XB™, a 1,500-watt Fresnel that takes the qualities of the MAC 2000 Wash and adds even greater brightness. New fans, ballast, and starter combine with MAC 2000 modularity, optics, and effects all in the same compact MAC 2000 design. The XB will see its official launch at the Pro Light + Sound exhibition in Frankfurt from March 12-15, 2008.

A 1,500-watt Osram lamp enables an extremely bright output of over 60,000 lumens, depending on the lens option used. That’s 40% brighter than a MAC 2000 Wash. The new electronic ballast offers hot-lamp re-strike and the advantage of flicker-free light, and new powerful fans ensure that the extra heat generated by the lamp is removed efficiently.

“I am absolutely delighted with the XB,” comments Peter Skytte, Martin product manager for Moving Heads. “We’ve managed to achieve an outrageous 60,000 lumens without altering any of the things that people love about the MAC 2000 Wash. It’s 40% brighter but still the same size!”

The extremely high output from the MAC 2000 Wash XB is made possible by a combination of high efficacy and very efficient optics. If users require the XB to match the power output of existing 1,200-watt fixtures, a reduced 1200-watt mode can be employed, saving energy and increasing lamp life. The MAC 2000 Wash XB keeps the same optical train, effects, and form as the MAC 2000 Wash and also fits nicely into the existing MAC 2000 Wash flight case.

The XB’s two four-position (plus open) color wheels are interchangeable, allowing designers to complement perfectly the fixture’s CMY color mixing system. A continuously variable color correction system adds the flexibility to gradually and smoothly increase or decrease color temperature.

A motorized zoom works with four easy-to-swap lens options. PC, Fresnel, and multi-array lenses come supplied with a micro-Fresnel lens for an even tighter beam available as an accessory. This provides a choice of spread angles for long-throw projection and flat, even projection over short distances. The zoom lens can be removed for a “hyper-mode” that gives a fixed but intensely powerful beam of over 60,000 lumens.

Variable and smooth dimming and strobe effects are provided from the combined dimmer/shutter. Mechanical dimming is from 0% to 100%, and the shutter offers rapid strobe effects up to 10Hz, with instant open and blackout. In addition to mechanical dimming, an optional dimming wheel can replace one of the color wheels.

The MAC 2000 Wash XB is modularly constructed for easy maintenance, has an auto-ranging switch-mode for worldwide use. Martin also provides an easy-to-install upgrade kit to bring existing MAC 2000 Wash fixtures to the XB level of performance. The upgrade kit includes a new 1500-watt lamp and lamp socket module, 1,500-watt ballast, starter, heat filter, color mixing flags, base cover plates, and new fans for more efficient cooling. Martin also offers a buy-back program in which users can return the 1,200-watt electronic ballast from their current MAC 2000 Wash fixtures.