REVIEWED
REVIEWED: Equinox Quad Blox
As an older DJ, I am old enough to remember the era of wind-up car windows and chokes on a dashboard. In those days, luxury was a relative term; today, electric windows are the standard, and air conditioning – once a very expensive optional extra reserved for the executive company car – is found in even the most basic entry-level hatchback. Historically, the world of pro audio and lighting has been somewhat slower to democratise its high-end technology.
For years, the good stuff like secure power locking and wireless control was kept behind a significant paywall, reserved for touring bands and massive production houses. However, we are finally seeing that gatekeeping crumble. High-end features such as wireless DMX and PowerTwist connectors are trickling down into much more affordable ranges of lighting, and the Equinox Quad Blox is a perfect example of this shift in the market.
At its core, the Quad Blox is a compact, versatile workhorse that can fulfil a staggering number of roles for a mobile DJ or a small events company. It is one of those rare fixtures that doesn’t just do one thing well, but rather acts as a Swiss Army knife in your lighting rig. Consider the modern wedding DJ who is often asked to provide more than just a dancefloor light show. If you have a photobooth deployed in a dark corner of a manor house and you find the built-in flash is struggling, the Quad Blox is your best friend. You can simply place it on the floor, set it to its dedicated white or warm white setting, and instantly bathe your guests in a flattering, high-quality light that ensures those photobooth prints look professional.
When it comes to the main event, the transition is just as seamless. If you are heading into a wedding breakfast where the client has asked for a romantic wash, you can use a pair of these to flood a feature wall with a lovely, consistent pink or amber. The 20-degree beam angle is punchy enough to draw the eye, but when you utilise the included frost filter, that beam softens out to 30 degrees. This is a crucial addition for me because it doesn’t just widen the spread; it significantly reduces glare. We’ve all been at events where a stray LED beam catches a guest in the eye and ruins the mood – the Quad Blox avoids this by providing a much smoother, diffused output that feels more like a professional architectural wash than a cheap disco light.
The build quality is another area where Equinox have stepped up their game. The unit is housed in a robust, all-metal compact box that feels like it could survive the rigours of a busy summer season without a dent. It is roughly the size of eight iPads stacked on top of each other and weighs in at about 2.6kg, which gives it a reassuring heft without making it a chore to mount. Speaking of mounting, the dual bracket system is an absolute lifesaver. It allows the unit to sit securely on the floor for up-lighting duties or be attached directly to a speaker distance pole or a lighting stand. In my own testing, I had the unit from the box to the pole in under five minutes. The setup is remarkably intuitive. You get a single PowerTwist connection – a massive upgrade from the standard IEC leads that can easily be knocked loose mid-performance.
Once you’ve pulled the battery saver tab from the included IR remote, you can have a colour wash running in less time than it takes to sound-check a microphone. I did notice, however, that for those of us using tall distance poles, the included power cable is only just long enough. It’s a minor quibble, but if you’re planning to mount these at the very top of a lighting rig, you’ll definitely want to carry a longer PowerTwist lead or an extension. This kind of real-world consideration is what separates a professional fixture from a toy; Equinox have clearly thought about the mobile operator, even if the cable length is slightly stingy for high-altitude mounting.
Technically speaking, the Quad Blox punches well above its weight class. It features 16 4W quad-colour LEDs using an RGBWW system.
The WW stands for Warm White, and it is the secret to getting those classy, sophisticated tones that standard RGB lights often fail to replicate. While the raw output is impressive – hitting 6420 Lux at one metre – it’s the control over that light that really matters. The fixture offers pixel zone mapping, which splits the light into four distinct segments. This allows for some incredibly interesting patterns to be produced. If you have a number of these units linked together via DMX, you can create complex chases that move across the room, giving you a high-end production feel on a mobile DJ budget.
For those who are tech-savvy but perhaps don’t want to spend hours programming, the Quad Blox includes a variety of out-of-the-box modes. You have the standard auto, static colour, and sound-active modes, all of which can be tweaked via a clear four-button LED menu. The dimming is smooth from 0 to 100 percent, meaning you can choose exactly how subtle or noticeable the effect should be. If the party shifts gears and you’re playing a high-energy set – perhaps reaching for that classic Insomnia drop – you can switch into the variable strobe mode to create that old-school rave feeling instantly.
One of the most important technical specs for the modern DJ, though, is the refresh rate. The Quad Blox runs at 1200Hz, which ensures it is completely flicker-free. In an age where every guest has a smartphone and most weddings have a professional videographer, this is non-negotiable.
There is nothing worse than seeing a beautiful first dance video ruined by black bands flickering across the screen because the LED lights weren’t compatible with the camera’s shutter speed. Because of this stability, I’ve actually found the Quad Blox doubles as a fantastic video fill light for when I’m filming my own rig setups or promotional content for social media.
The connectivity options further prove that Equinox is listening to the needs of the working DJ. Along with the 3-pin XLR in and out for traditional DMX control, there is a dedicated USB port for W-DMX. While you do need to buy the additional dongle to make it work, having the option to go wireless is important for tidy setups. If you had ten of these scattered around a marquee, being able to trigger a room-wide colour change wirelessly would look absolutely spectacular.
Even without the wireless upgrade, the primary and secondary modes allow you to link multiple units so they all stay in perfect sync, which is essential for maintaining a polished look across a larger venue.
Perhaps the most understated feature, however, is the cooling. Unlike many fixtures in this price bracket that rely on noisy internal fans to stay cool, the Quad Blox is convection cooled. This means it is virtually silent. I cannot overstate how important this is for corporate gigs, intimate wedding ceremonies, or church services where the hum of a dozen cooling fans would be a major distraction. It is important to remember that because it relies on convection, you need to ensure the unit has a bit of breathing room to dissipate heat, but in standard use, it stays perfectly stable. This silent operation alone makes it a serious contender for DJs who work in high-end hotels where ambient noise is often a point of contention with venue staff.
In real-world use, I recently tested the Quad Blox alongside a standard party bar at a medium-sized event. While the party bar provides plenty of movement and dancefloor energy, its small PAR cans often struggle to cast a wide enough wash to cover the walls of a larger room. By attaching the Quad Blox under the speaker, I was able to flood the entire room with a consistent, saturated wash that simply wasn’t there before.
It transformed the space from a dark room with some lights into a fully themed environment. The supplementary nature of this light is its greatest strength; it fills the gaps in a traditional rig without requiring a massive amount of extra transport space.
Ultimately, the Equinox Quad Blox represents a shift in what we should expect from affordable lighting. It brings together robust, all-metal construction, professional power connections, and sophisticated pixel mapping into a package that is accessible to the average mobile performer. While it might not have the raw horsepower required for a massive outdoor festival stage, it is more than capable of handling almost any venue a mobile DJ or small events company is likely to encounter. It’s a versatile, silent, and incredibly easy-to-deploy fixture that has earned a permanent spot in my van.
Whether you’re looking to add a bit of wedding pink to a ballroom or a bit of rave strobe to a birthday party, the Quad Blox delivers without breaking the bank.
For years, the good stuff like secure power locking and wireless control was kept behind a significant paywall, reserved for touring bands and massive production houses. However, we are finally seeing that gatekeeping crumble. High-end features such as wireless DMX and PowerTwist connectors are trickling down into much more affordable ranges of lighting, and the Equinox Quad Blox is a perfect example of this shift in the market.
At its core, the Quad Blox is a compact, versatile workhorse that can fulfil a staggering number of roles for a mobile DJ or a small events company. It is one of those rare fixtures that doesn’t just do one thing well, but rather acts as a Swiss Army knife in your lighting rig. Consider the modern wedding DJ who is often asked to provide more than just a dancefloor light show. If you have a photobooth deployed in a dark corner of a manor house and you find the built-in flash is struggling, the Quad Blox is your best friend. You can simply place it on the floor, set it to its dedicated white or warm white setting, and instantly bathe your guests in a flattering, high-quality light that ensures those photobooth prints look professional.
When it comes to the main event, the transition is just as seamless. If you are heading into a wedding breakfast where the client has asked for a romantic wash, you can use a pair of these to flood a feature wall with a lovely, consistent pink or amber. The 20-degree beam angle is punchy enough to draw the eye, but when you utilise the included frost filter, that beam softens out to 30 degrees. This is a crucial addition for me because it doesn’t just widen the spread; it significantly reduces glare. We’ve all been at events where a stray LED beam catches a guest in the eye and ruins the mood – the Quad Blox avoids this by providing a much smoother, diffused output that feels more like a professional architectural wash than a cheap disco light.
The build quality is another area where Equinox have stepped up their game. The unit is housed in a robust, all-metal compact box that feels like it could survive the rigours of a busy summer season without a dent. It is roughly the size of eight iPads stacked on top of each other and weighs in at about 2.6kg, which gives it a reassuring heft without making it a chore to mount. Speaking of mounting, the dual bracket system is an absolute lifesaver. It allows the unit to sit securely on the floor for up-lighting duties or be attached directly to a speaker distance pole or a lighting stand. In my own testing, I had the unit from the box to the pole in under five minutes. The setup is remarkably intuitive. You get a single PowerTwist connection – a massive upgrade from the standard IEC leads that can easily be knocked loose mid-performance.
Once you’ve pulled the battery saver tab from the included IR remote, you can have a colour wash running in less time than it takes to sound-check a microphone. I did notice, however, that for those of us using tall distance poles, the included power cable is only just long enough. It’s a minor quibble, but if you’re planning to mount these at the very top of a lighting rig, you’ll definitely want to carry a longer PowerTwist lead or an extension. This kind of real-world consideration is what separates a professional fixture from a toy; Equinox have clearly thought about the mobile operator, even if the cable length is slightly stingy for high-altitude mounting.
Technically speaking, the Quad Blox punches well above its weight class. It features 16 4W quad-colour LEDs using an RGBWW system.
The WW stands for Warm White, and it is the secret to getting those classy, sophisticated tones that standard RGB lights often fail to replicate. While the raw output is impressive – hitting 6420 Lux at one metre – it’s the control over that light that really matters. The fixture offers pixel zone mapping, which splits the light into four distinct segments. This allows for some incredibly interesting patterns to be produced. If you have a number of these units linked together via DMX, you can create complex chases that move across the room, giving you a high-end production feel on a mobile DJ budget.
For those who are tech-savvy but perhaps don’t want to spend hours programming, the Quad Blox includes a variety of out-of-the-box modes. You have the standard auto, static colour, and sound-active modes, all of which can be tweaked via a clear four-button LED menu. The dimming is smooth from 0 to 100 percent, meaning you can choose exactly how subtle or noticeable the effect should be. If the party shifts gears and you’re playing a high-energy set – perhaps reaching for that classic Insomnia drop – you can switch into the variable strobe mode to create that old-school rave feeling instantly.
One of the most important technical specs for the modern DJ, though, is the refresh rate. The Quad Blox runs at 1200Hz, which ensures it is completely flicker-free. In an age where every guest has a smartphone and most weddings have a professional videographer, this is non-negotiable.
There is nothing worse than seeing a beautiful first dance video ruined by black bands flickering across the screen because the LED lights weren’t compatible with the camera’s shutter speed. Because of this stability, I’ve actually found the Quad Blox doubles as a fantastic video fill light for when I’m filming my own rig setups or promotional content for social media.
The connectivity options further prove that Equinox is listening to the needs of the working DJ. Along with the 3-pin XLR in and out for traditional DMX control, there is a dedicated USB port for W-DMX. While you do need to buy the additional dongle to make it work, having the option to go wireless is important for tidy setups. If you had ten of these scattered around a marquee, being able to trigger a room-wide colour change wirelessly would look absolutely spectacular.
Even without the wireless upgrade, the primary and secondary modes allow you to link multiple units so they all stay in perfect sync, which is essential for maintaining a polished look across a larger venue.
Perhaps the most understated feature, however, is the cooling. Unlike many fixtures in this price bracket that rely on noisy internal fans to stay cool, the Quad Blox is convection cooled. This means it is virtually silent. I cannot overstate how important this is for corporate gigs, intimate wedding ceremonies, or church services where the hum of a dozen cooling fans would be a major distraction. It is important to remember that because it relies on convection, you need to ensure the unit has a bit of breathing room to dissipate heat, but in standard use, it stays perfectly stable. This silent operation alone makes it a serious contender for DJs who work in high-end hotels where ambient noise is often a point of contention with venue staff.
In real-world use, I recently tested the Quad Blox alongside a standard party bar at a medium-sized event. While the party bar provides plenty of movement and dancefloor energy, its small PAR cans often struggle to cast a wide enough wash to cover the walls of a larger room. By attaching the Quad Blox under the speaker, I was able to flood the entire room with a consistent, saturated wash that simply wasn’t there before.
It transformed the space from a dark room with some lights into a fully themed environment. The supplementary nature of this light is its greatest strength; it fills the gaps in a traditional rig without requiring a massive amount of extra transport space.
Ultimately, the Equinox Quad Blox represents a shift in what we should expect from affordable lighting. It brings together robust, all-metal construction, professional power connections, and sophisticated pixel mapping into a package that is accessible to the average mobile performer. While it might not have the raw horsepower required for a massive outdoor festival stage, it is more than capable of handling almost any venue a mobile DJ or small events company is likely to encounter. It’s a versatile, silent, and incredibly easy-to-deploy fixture that has earned a permanent spot in my van.
Whether you’re looking to add a bit of wedding pink to a ballroom or a bit of rave strobe to a birthday party, the Quad Blox delivers without breaking the bank.
