amaran Pixel Tubes and Aputure INFINIBAR Ecosystem Explained

by Jeff LochApril 17^th, 2023

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On the show floor of NAB 2023, we had the chance to talk to Brandon Le from Aputure to learn more about their INFINIBAR LED pixel bars, available in 1/2/4ft, and the whole ecosystem of accessories the company released for them. If you don’t need all the pro-grade features of the INFINIBAR, we also learned more about the budget-friendly amaran Pixel Tubes. So let’s take a closer look at all these products!

At the end of February 2023, Aputure launched many products, including the INFINIBAR and the amaran PT1c, PT2c, and PT4c pixel tubes. During NAB 2023, the company launched the amaran 150c and 300c LED lights as well as multiple lighting modifiers.

But while trade shows are great for discovering new products, they are also perfect for getting our hands on recent launches and learning more about them. Indeed, if you missed it, my colleague Graham did an in-depth review of the INFINIBAR that you can watch here. However, at that time, the numerous lighting connectors and rigging tools that are now available to enhance the LED pixel bars were not yet available.

amaran Pixel Tubes – features

The amaran Pixel Tubes refer to the PT1c, PT2c, and PT4c LED lights. As their name suggests, they are available in 1ft/30cm, 2ft/60cm, and 4ft/120cm lengths.

The tubes have a CCT range of 2,700K-10,000K with green-magenta adjustment, and according to Aputure, they have a CRI of 95, a TLCI of 98, and high SSI ratings, so they are very color accurate.

All amaran Pixel Tubes have an internal battery that you can recharge via a USB Type-C port. The PT1c has a battery life of 70min at full power, while the PT2c/PT4c can run for 170min at 100%.

On each end of the tubes, you’ll find rotatable and magnetic plastic caps with 3/8″-16 mounting points. The PT2c and PT4c come with two magnetic T12 brackets and a 3/8″-16 eyebolt, so you have plenty of ways to rig the Pixel Tubes wherever you want them.

You’ll find a power button at the back of the tubes, a small TFT color screen, and control buttons to adjust the fixtures’ settings. All lights are compatible with the well-known Sidus Link App for smartphones and tablets, and there is an optional USB Type-C to DMX cable available if you want to push things one step further.

In the end, the amaran PT series offers a solid value-for-money ratio. If you are starting out or don’t plan to use them daily, they are hard to beat for owner-operators. But, for bigger productions or if you’re looking for a more robust and expandable solution, the Aputure INFINIBAR lineup, with its solid aluminum housing, might be a better choice!

Aputure INFINIBAR Ecosystem

The Aputure INFINIBAR LED bars are the “pro” version of the amaran Pixel Tubes: they have aluminum housing, more control options including LumenRadio CRMX, a much larger pixel per foot density of 24 (instead of four for the amaran PT line), but most of all, a lot more mounting options.

At both ends of the Aputure INFINIBAR PB3/PB6/PB12, you’ll find magnets and 1/4″-20 mounting points. You can connect as many INFINIBAR together as you want, as, according to Brandon Le, nobody has reached the limit of how many fixtures can be connected yet.

Multiple INFINIBARs can share AC power when connected together, so you only need one power cable if you want to run them from wall power. Each light comes with an INFINIBAR straight connector, but Aputure also released an entire ecosystem of connectors to create various shapes.

The Aputure INFINIBAR ecosystem consists of no less than ten different connectors. Of course, you can buy all connectors individually, but Aputure also has an INFINIBAR multi-light shaping kit.

Pricing and availability

All products are now available and shipping. The amaran PT1c retails for $139/€142, the PT2c is $299/€299, and the PT4c is $429/€419. Also, multiple 2-light kits are available starting at $598/€590.

The Aputure INFINIBAR PB3 retails for $299/€305, the PB6 is $479/€469, and the PB12 will cost you $639/€642. The Aputure connectors for the INFINIBAR Ecosystem start at $79/€81, and the multi-light shaping kit retails for $1,390/€1,420.

For more information, please visit Aputure’s website here.

What do you think about the Aputure INFINIBAR ecosystem? Do you believe LED bars are more convenient than tubes? Have you used any of these new Aputure Pixel products yet? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments down below!