REVIEWED
REVIEWED: ApeLabs Neon PIX
As a mobile DJ, I’ve long argued that lighting isn’t just an optional extra – it’s the heartbeat of the atmosphere. We’ve all been in those venues that feel a bit flat until the first wash of colour hits the walls. Over the years, I’ve lugged around every kind of fixture imaginable, from heavy, rattling PAR cans to temperamental moving heads that require a degree in engineering just to sync.
However, the new ApeLabs Neon Tube PIX has genuinely made me rethink my entire approach to dancefloor aesthetics. After putting a full set through its paces at a string of weddings and corporate gigs recently, I’ve come to the conclusion that this might be the most versatile kit I’ve ever used. It’s certainly the most user-friendly.
When the kit first arrived, I wasn’t just looking at a single light to test. ApeLabs sent over the professional six-piece TourBox, which is clearly designed for the working pro who needs a show-in-a box solution. Opening the lid for the first time was an experience in itself. You’re greeted by six of the Neon Tube PIX units, each a metre long, nestled in a rugged, IP65-rated flight case. Accompanying them are six dedicated mini tripod stands, which are crucial for those of us who need to position lights vertically on the floor without faffing about with clamps or unsightly gaffa tape.
The real star of the unboxing, however, was the charging case itself. For a mobile DJ, the “pack-down” is often the most painful part of the night, but this case simplifies everything. You don’t have to plug in six individual power leads; you just slot the tubes back into their moulded foam homes, and the integrated charging electronics take over. One mains plug from the case to the wall, and the whole set is topped up for the next gig. It’s a level of efficiency that saves me 20 minutes of cable-coiling at 1am, time that is precious.
The first thing you notice when you get these tubes out in the field is the form factor. At a metre long but only 4cm thick, they are incredibly slim compared to the older “Stick” range. For those of us who are tired of playing Tetris with the van, the lightweight polycarbonate build is a massive win. But don’t let the weight fool you; they feel solid, and the aluminium end -caps give them a premium finish that won’t look out of place at a high-end corporate event or a minimalist art gallery. The aesthetic is very clean – there are no distracting buttons or menu screens on the side of the tube to ruin the lines. This is a godsend when you’re working a rustic barn one day and a sleek, modern hotel ballroom the next. They just blend into the architecture.
Once you power them up, the real magic happens in the pixel control. We’re talking 32 individually controllable segments per tube. Instead of just a solid block of colour, you get these beautifully smooth gradients and chases that look far more professional than your standard budget LED bar. The 180-degree beam angle is a smart choice, too – it fills the space with a soft, neon-style glow without those distracting hotspots you often get with cheaper fixtures. I had a couple of videographers comment on how clean the light looked on camera during a wedding breakfast recently. Being flicker-free is a huge plus for anyone filming the first dance for a highlight reel; there is nothing worse than a client’s professional video being ruined by strobing light bands across the screen.
In terms of colour, the addition of warm white to the RGB mix is a game-changer. Many LED tubes struggle with natural tones, often looking a bit too clinical or blue when you try to create a relaxed mood. With the PIX, you can go from vibrant, saturated party-mode purples to a sophisticated, candle-lit amber for the wedding speeches with a single tap. The colour rendering is excellent, meaning that when you use these for skin-tone lighting or cake highlights, everything looks exactly as it should.
Control is where ApeLabs usually wins people over, and this setup is no different. I mostly found myself using the Connect unit and the app on my phone for quick tweaks between sets. The app is intuitive and lets you group the six lights however you like. For instance, I’ve had four tubes doing a slow, warm amber fade while the other two accent the DJ booth in a sharp, static white – all controlled from my pocket while I’m chatting with the client. For the lighting nerds among us, the wireless DMX integration is rock solid.
You can go as deep as you want, right up to 128-channel mode if you’re looking to do some serious programming.
They’ve even included cloud storage for your settings, which is a lovely peace-of-mind feature if you’re switching between a tablet and a phone.
The headline feature for most of us, though, will be the battery life. ApeLabs claims 15 hours, and, in my experience, that’s bang on. I ran the full set of six for a full day-to-evening wedding – from the ceremony right through to the final song – and didn’t have to hunt for a single power outlet. That lack of cable clutter around the dancefloor makes the whole setup look ten times more professional. I also made frequent use of the Power Save mode. During the speeches, I didn't need the tubes at full brightness, so I dimmed them down via the app. This not only sets a better mood for the guests but ensures you’ve got plenty of oomph left for when the dancefloor fills up.
The versatility in the field is where the TourBox really pays for itself. The included mini tripods were a revelation; I used them to up-light some large stone pillars in a manor house venue, and, because they are so small, they were virtually invisible. On another gig, I used the built-in magnets to snap a couple of tubes on to the metal frame of my DJ booth, creating a glowing frame that looked incredible in the event photos. I’ve even experimented with hanging them from eyelets for a more industrial look. Because they are so light, you don’t need heavy-duty rigging to get them up in the air. This flexibility means that every time I walk into a new venue, I can look at the space and find a way to use the Neons differently.
It is worth mentioning the MusikMode as well. While some sound-to-light features on other fixtures can be a bit frantic and random, the PIX seems much more musical in how it reacts to the beat. It doesn’t just flash; it pulses and flows in a way that feels intentional and rhythmic. Combined with the free Connect App – and I do love that they don’t hide features behind a subscription – it’s a very complete package.
So, is the ApeLabs Neon Tube PIX TourBox worth the investment? It’s certainly not the cheapest system on the market, but you really do get what you pay for here. You aren’t just buying six lights; you’re buying a complete, professional ecosystem that is weatherproof, wireless, and incredibly easy to manage. Between the German build quality, the sophisticated 32-segment pixel effects, and that marathon battery life, it’s a tool that genuinely makes my job easier and my show look better. If you’re a mobile DJ looking to elevate your lighting game without adding hours to your setup time, the Neon Tube PIX 6-pack is, quite simply, the best in its class. It’s moved from being a nice-to-have to an essential part of my rig, and I can’t imagine going back to wired bars.
However, the new ApeLabs Neon Tube PIX has genuinely made me rethink my entire approach to dancefloor aesthetics. After putting a full set through its paces at a string of weddings and corporate gigs recently, I’ve come to the conclusion that this might be the most versatile kit I’ve ever used. It’s certainly the most user-friendly.
When the kit first arrived, I wasn’t just looking at a single light to test. ApeLabs sent over the professional six-piece TourBox, which is clearly designed for the working pro who needs a show-in-a box solution. Opening the lid for the first time was an experience in itself. You’re greeted by six of the Neon Tube PIX units, each a metre long, nestled in a rugged, IP65-rated flight case. Accompanying them are six dedicated mini tripod stands, which are crucial for those of us who need to position lights vertically on the floor without faffing about with clamps or unsightly gaffa tape.
The real star of the unboxing, however, was the charging case itself. For a mobile DJ, the “pack-down” is often the most painful part of the night, but this case simplifies everything. You don’t have to plug in six individual power leads; you just slot the tubes back into their moulded foam homes, and the integrated charging electronics take over. One mains plug from the case to the wall, and the whole set is topped up for the next gig. It’s a level of efficiency that saves me 20 minutes of cable-coiling at 1am, time that is precious.
The first thing you notice when you get these tubes out in the field is the form factor. At a metre long but only 4cm thick, they are incredibly slim compared to the older “Stick” range. For those of us who are tired of playing Tetris with the van, the lightweight polycarbonate build is a massive win. But don’t let the weight fool you; they feel solid, and the aluminium end -caps give them a premium finish that won’t look out of place at a high-end corporate event or a minimalist art gallery. The aesthetic is very clean – there are no distracting buttons or menu screens on the side of the tube to ruin the lines. This is a godsend when you’re working a rustic barn one day and a sleek, modern hotel ballroom the next. They just blend into the architecture.
Once you power them up, the real magic happens in the pixel control. We’re talking 32 individually controllable segments per tube. Instead of just a solid block of colour, you get these beautifully smooth gradients and chases that look far more professional than your standard budget LED bar. The 180-degree beam angle is a smart choice, too – it fills the space with a soft, neon-style glow without those distracting hotspots you often get with cheaper fixtures. I had a couple of videographers comment on how clean the light looked on camera during a wedding breakfast recently. Being flicker-free is a huge plus for anyone filming the first dance for a highlight reel; there is nothing worse than a client’s professional video being ruined by strobing light bands across the screen.
In terms of colour, the addition of warm white to the RGB mix is a game-changer. Many LED tubes struggle with natural tones, often looking a bit too clinical or blue when you try to create a relaxed mood. With the PIX, you can go from vibrant, saturated party-mode purples to a sophisticated, candle-lit amber for the wedding speeches with a single tap. The colour rendering is excellent, meaning that when you use these for skin-tone lighting or cake highlights, everything looks exactly as it should.
Control is where ApeLabs usually wins people over, and this setup is no different. I mostly found myself using the Connect unit and the app on my phone for quick tweaks between sets. The app is intuitive and lets you group the six lights however you like. For instance, I’ve had four tubes doing a slow, warm amber fade while the other two accent the DJ booth in a sharp, static white – all controlled from my pocket while I’m chatting with the client. For the lighting nerds among us, the wireless DMX integration is rock solid.
You can go as deep as you want, right up to 128-channel mode if you’re looking to do some serious programming.
They’ve even included cloud storage for your settings, which is a lovely peace-of-mind feature if you’re switching between a tablet and a phone.
The headline feature for most of us, though, will be the battery life. ApeLabs claims 15 hours, and, in my experience, that’s bang on. I ran the full set of six for a full day-to-evening wedding – from the ceremony right through to the final song – and didn’t have to hunt for a single power outlet. That lack of cable clutter around the dancefloor makes the whole setup look ten times more professional. I also made frequent use of the Power Save mode. During the speeches, I didn't need the tubes at full brightness, so I dimmed them down via the app. This not only sets a better mood for the guests but ensures you’ve got plenty of oomph left for when the dancefloor fills up.
The versatility in the field is where the TourBox really pays for itself. The included mini tripods were a revelation; I used them to up-light some large stone pillars in a manor house venue, and, because they are so small, they were virtually invisible. On another gig, I used the built-in magnets to snap a couple of tubes on to the metal frame of my DJ booth, creating a glowing frame that looked incredible in the event photos. I’ve even experimented with hanging them from eyelets for a more industrial look. Because they are so light, you don’t need heavy-duty rigging to get them up in the air. This flexibility means that every time I walk into a new venue, I can look at the space and find a way to use the Neons differently.
It is worth mentioning the MusikMode as well. While some sound-to-light features on other fixtures can be a bit frantic and random, the PIX seems much more musical in how it reacts to the beat. It doesn’t just flash; it pulses and flows in a way that feels intentional and rhythmic. Combined with the free Connect App – and I do love that they don’t hide features behind a subscription – it’s a very complete package.
So, is the ApeLabs Neon Tube PIX TourBox worth the investment? It’s certainly not the cheapest system on the market, but you really do get what you pay for here. You aren’t just buying six lights; you’re buying a complete, professional ecosystem that is weatherproof, wireless, and incredibly easy to manage. Between the German build quality, the sophisticated 32-segment pixel effects, and that marathon battery life, it’s a tool that genuinely makes my job easier and my show look better. If you’re a mobile DJ looking to elevate your lighting game without adding hours to your setup time, the Neon Tube PIX 6-pack is, quite simply, the best in its class. It’s moved from being a nice-to-have to an essential part of my rig, and I can’t imagine going back to wired bars.
