After spending 6 months with the Ape Labs Coin Wash, we’ve gone a little “coin crazy.” We’ve used them in a ton of situations, and we’ve got a lot to share about our experiences. Today, we’re going to take a deep dive into what makes these little lights so great for DJs and performers.
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Why is the Ape Labs Coin so cool?
It’s easy to tell why the Coin is so different when you pick it up. It’s small! So small, in fact, that they are the only product without a built-in battery. If you hold up a Coin next to an Ape Labs can, you’ll notice something right away. A Coin is simply a can without a battery! However, the lights still work wireless with other Ape Labs products.
The Coin, just like the can, has a bright 15W RGBW LED diode. The colors are bright and very vibrant. It also has the fan-favorite music mode included for the easiest out-of-the-box light shows around.
The Coin is great when you want the signature Ape Labs light effect without the added cost and size of a battery. What makes it even better, though, are the accessories. The different effects you can achieve with those accessories really elevate this light to another level.
Ape Labs Coin Wash – What’s included?
We mentioned that the Coin isn’t battery-powered. Hanging off of the light itself is a little USB pigtail for powering the fixture. However, it’s only a couple of inches. Luckily, Ape Labs includes a 15ft USB extension so that these tiny lights can reach wherever you need them. Each Ape Labs Coin Wash also comes with two lenses – a 4-degree and a frosted filter lens. The 4-degree lens is perfect for truss warming and tight uplight beams. The frost filter gives that classic diffuse array of light Ape Labs is known for. Ape Labs also throws in an Ape Remote, which functions as the brain of everything.
Swivel-Ball Adapter and Glow Tube
Another available accessory is the swivel-ball adapter. Screwing this handy adapter into the Coin allows you to magnetically mount the light anywhere and aim it according to your needs. Need to spotlight a cake or a DJ? Boom! Swivel-adapter to the rescue.
The last accessory for the Coin isn’t included in the package but is definitely worth mentioning. The Coin tube adapter (and base plate) creates the currently popular glow tube effect that DJs are loving. Instead of simply serving as an upright, the tube transforms your Coin into an eye-candy piece. You can use one section or multiple to dial in the height perfectly.
Ape Lab Coin Wash – In Use
We headed out to the local Knights of Columbus hall to put the Coins to the test. First off, we slapped the 4-degree lens on a pair of coins to warm up our truss totems. No struggling to squeeze a bulky uplight in the truss, thank goodness. They slipped right in!
We also mounted a Coin on the swivel adapter and stuck it to our DJ booth. No need for clunky bolts or safety cables. In a couple of seconds, we had an easy-to-aim DJ and dancefloor wash. Lastly, we put a coin in the glow tube accessory. In a matter of minutes, we had used the same light to create 3 completely different effects. Not bad for a light that fits in the palm of your hand!
Even though there isn’t a battery built into the Coin, it doesn’t mean you can’t use them with a battery. Adding a simple USB power bank makes the coin the most compact battery-powered uplight we’ve seen. If you need to backlight a display away from a plug (or you just want to avoid wires) simply add a USB power bank and you’re good to go. The Coin is so efficient that any decently-sized power bank should run the light for hours on end.
Wrapping Things Up
Hopefully, you’ve been able to get the sense that the Ape Labs Coin Wash is a super versatile light. Their small size, including magnet, and multiple lenses make a compact solution for many tricky DJ lighting situations. If you’re a bar or club owner, they make fantastic architectural lighting. They’re affordable, powerful, and just plain awesome. They work great in pairs and even better in sets (you can grab a pack of 4 here). Do you own the Ape Labs Coin? Let us know down in the comments!
