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Thread: Unique Solutions 2.1 Hazer

  1. #1
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    Default Unique Solutions 2.1 Hazer

    This is a mini-review based on initial experience as I've only had the opportunity to use the product once so far due a recent diode failure in my laser.

    I hope to maybe add a longer term report later, although there are plenty of users on here who report positive long term experiences with the Unique.

    This product was bought from the Thomann Superstore in Germany where the current price is £646 including VAT at 20%. Considerably less than any UK supplier and comes with free postage, albeit delivery takes around a week.

    Being European the product comes with a 2 pin Euro plug however the use of a 13 amp Euro to UK Adapter bought from www.euronetworks.com (see my seller review - http://www.photonlexicon.com/forums/...rsion-Plugs%29) alleviated any warranty problems associated with having to cut the cable to fit a UK plug. The Euro adapter fits like this:





    Ok so on to the Unique.

    It comes packaged in a brown cardboard box with no internal foam packing just cardboard cut outs inside in a base and top piece of card (photos with top card removed):







    That said, it arrived in cosmetically perfect condition.

    I have to say with the box it has left me a little nervous about putting it away after use from a fire point of view. Why this should be given that my previous Jem smoke machine had a cardboard box, I don't know. Maybe its because the Jem's box was stronger and more resilient printed cardboard with a glossy finish whereas this is an ordinary brown lightweight box. I suppose it saves money and is kinder to environment packaging it this way, but leaves less of a good package for storage.

    What's in the box:

    Broadly speaking you get:

    1. The Hazer

    2. A set of printed instructions including a multilingual manual

    3. A haze fluid syphon (supplied detached with the hoze on the machine capped off - nice touch to stop debris entering the machine during transit). It's also top quality with a brass air hose style snap fitting to connect it to the main machine hose.

    4. A 2 litre bottle of Haze fluid worth around £20

    The latter is worth noting as I was advised it came without fluid and bought a bottle only to find one included! Never mind. At least I have some spare now.




    IMPORTANT NOTE: Its worth reading the manual now!

    Us blokes tend not to do this but the Unique has specific shut down procedures which if not followed can clog the machine and cause it to fail or reduce its lifespan before failure.



    When 1st switched on the machine displays P99 in the digital display. This indicates that the machine is working at 99% of pump capacity. This will produce a thick fog / quickly fill a room at this level so is something most people will want to adjust when the machine is switched on. Adjustment is easy using the up / down buttons and holding a button down, causes it to scroll quickly up or down the percentage menu (1-100%).




    Both pump output and fan speed are adjustable between 1-100% and pressing the menu button once takes you to the fan speed menu which displays F and then the number indicating the percentage of speed applied. This again is adjustable using the up / down buttons.

    The greater the fan speed and lower the pump speed the finer the hazer and vice versa.

    Obviously when picking a combination you need to find the right speed combination for the size of room and effect you're looking for.

    Another useful feature of the Unique is the fact that its equipped with a very intelligent timer than not only allows you to set a time interval for re-hazing, but also allows you to set two different haze settings so that when the machine is first turned on, it will haze heavily for the initial period you set and then after that period expires, go into a lower cycle of hazing at a much lower rate.

    Eg you could set initial hazing at P99 / F100 for 5 minutes then P10 / F30 from then on at the interval you specify.

    Any combination is possible although what is chosen will depend on your room size and requirements obviously and will require some experimentation until you find the required levels for your venue. Luckily the machine has full manual control as mentioned earlier so for unfamiliar venues you can simply adjust the machine on the fly.

    You'll also notice on the rear of the machine ports for a remote controller and DMX in / out.





    In operation, the machine is quiet although on my hard floor the pump did cut in with a bit of a thump. The fan becomes audible around 20% or above although its hardly very loud and in any music environment will easily be drowned out.

    The machine delivers a nice even haze although in my small test room I still managed to get some shimmering patterns in the tunnel walls as you'd see typically from smoke which was quite nice.

    As mentioned before there is a specific shut down procedure with this hazer where it goes through a self cleaning cycle. This can be seen here where the display shows two moving horizontal lines that indicate cleaning is under way:




    Cleaning is complete when the horizontal lines disappear and give way to a full stop (period) symbol in the bottom right hand corner.

    Overall, I have to say the machine appears very well made and exactly what you'd expect for that kind of money with even the air intake filtered.

    Here are some views from the other angles:

    Side View 1




    Front View:




    Side View 2 showing filtered intake:





    Based on my initial impressions, I'd say this machine is highly recommended.
    Last edited by White-Light; 12-23-2011 at 10:40.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
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    East Sussex, England
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    Default

    Be careful with those adaptors. I was using some for the very same reason as you (warranty) and when I came to PAT them, they all failed the earth bond test until I cut the plug off and fitted a proper one.
    I don't think you actually invalidate the Thomann warranty anyway.
    Frikkin Lasers
    http://www.frikkinlasers.co.uk

    You are using Bonetti's defense against me, ah?

    I thought it fitting, considering the rocky terrain.

  3. #3
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    Aug 2009
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    Auburn, Washington
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    My only complaint about my Unique 2.1 is I wish it had a lighted touchpad. It's hard as hell to see at gigs if you need to make an adjustment.

    Other than that it's a great little hazer.

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by norty303 View Post
    I don't think you actually invalidate the Thomann warranty anyway.
    That used to be the case but now: http://www.thomann.de/gb/faq_2_3640.html

    Thanks for the warning on adapters. I don't have the means to PAT test but this one is marked as complying with BS standards and was sourced from a specialist UK adapter company, so hopefully the earthing is well though out.

  5. #5
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    Brno, CZ / Povazska Bystrica, SK
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    thanks for the review and congratulations to your selection, i was looking at this neat small machine as well since my hazer has broken down but currently is out of budget so i'll have to go with some cheapo

  6. #6
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by White-Light View Post
    That used to be the case but now: http://www.thomann.de/gb/faq_2_3640.html

    Thanks for the warning on adapters. I don't have the means to PAT test but this one is marked as complying with BS standards and was sourced from a specialist UK adapter company, so hopefully the earthing is well though out.
    If there is a problem with the adaptor it will fail a P.A.T. Most (all?) venues require a valid current P.A.T. Euro plugs don't have what you could describe as a meaty grounding lug.
    http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/3985/laser.gif

    Doc's website

    The Health and Safety Act 1971

    Recklessly interfering with Darwin’s natural selection process, thereby extending the life cycle of dim-witted ignorami; thus perpetuating and magnifying the danger to us all, by enabling them to breed and walk amongst us, our children and loved ones.





  7. #7
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    Nov 2008
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    South West Florida
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    I love this hazer as well it works great!!!

  8. #8
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    Amsterdam, NL
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    And with this case from Thon, your smoking baby will be protected during transport.

    Attachment 29625

    http://www.thomann.de/nl/thon_hauben...k_unique_2.htm

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
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    Yorkshire, UK
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    Hey Al

    I didn't realise you'd Bought a Unique... Good choice, I'm sure you'll be happy with it :-)

    Cheers

    Jem
    Quote: "There is a theory which states that if ever, for any reason, anyone discovers what exactly the Universe is for and why it is here it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another that states that this has already happened.”... Douglas Adams 1952 - 2001

  10. #10
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    Yeah big choice Jem and more than I could really afford or justify, but having been bitten with a cheaper smoke machine that didn't do what it was supposed to, I decided to go quality.

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