I'm seriously looking at buying a 12 watt RGB projector and I have a question (FYI - 3 watts 637, 3.6 watts 520, 6 watts 445).
One of the things we discussed at SELEM and even demonstrated was how little difference there can be in perceived brightness between two projectors with substantially varying levels of power. A 3 watt RGB next to a 6 watt RGB really didn't look considerably less powerful. Sure, some of that could have been the wavelengths and beam quality but all things considered, they were fairly close.
But, before I do this, anyone with some real world experience care to elaborate on how much brighter a 12 watt is going to be over say, 3 watts?
Is the benefit more about visibility over a longer distance (read: larger crowd) or, increasing the brightness when standing at the same point? For example:
If I use it as a center projector indoors flanked by 3 watt RGBs, at a distance of say 75 feet, is it going to be a "holy shit!" moment, at just how much more attention grabbing it is for an audience or, is it just going to seem marginally brighter? or,
Is the real advantage going to be that the 3 watt's intensity fizzles out at 125 feet but the 12watt carries out 400 feet? (Given that you've got good atmosphere.)
I guess what I'm after is the real motivation behind getting it. After helping with the Newton show and seeing the Alexandria show that buffo, rgb-gas and Dream Beamz did, I'm realizing I don't have adequate firepower. Granted, they were using some gas stuff but, we always talk about not biting off more than you can chew when booking a gig. I want to be in the position where if I am asked about doing a gig in a venue larger than mine, such as the college basketball arena up the street, that it's a good show and not an embarrassment with a collection of 3 watt RGB's. I also want something that causes more attention in my own venue. I'm getting tired of hearing wow's come from the crowd when you hit the Chauvet Geysers (fog machine w/LED's in the fog) and yet, no perceived reaction when you kick on half a dozen 3 watt RGB's.