I probably shouldn't have used $700 as a number because you are correct... there is a gap in the middle there not served by any new product although you can find things used in that range occasionally. I've not bought any of my expensive atmosphere producing units brand new. They've all be used. Lemaitre G300, The F-100 although that's a fogger, the two DF-50's and the Antari Z-400 were all used. All the cheaper things were brand new.
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One you might really want to take a look at though is the American DJ Haze Generator
https://www.google.com/shopping/prod...hXSv4AKHXv8A5E
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You'll get a lot more output than the Chauvet. The key to an American DJ hazer is simply this. If it works for the first month or two, it should work forever. If you start having a problem out of the box, it will always be a problem unit. Return it and try again.