DJ Equipment Reviews

Z800II is a worthy fogger for the working DJ on the move

Here’s a new type of product, something that most DJs don’t own mainly because they think it involves a lot of hassle and they don’t need extra problems with their gear. That just means those DJs have yet to find out how far off the fog machine industry has reached, and that, just like mixer or turntable companies, special effects companies that also make fog machines, like Antari, are in continuous development. So let’s see what specific challenges owning a fogger like the Z800II from Antari raises for a working DJ.

We’ll get to the technical aspects later, because I want to start with the portability and convenience factors. I’m not here to convince anybody to buy a Z800II for their next gig, but I do want to show that if you do, the Z800II won’t be a handful. This specific model, the Z800II, was designed using the highest technology available in fog production, but with the needs of a single DJ in mind, so it’s portable and easy to carry and setup. It won’t fog an entire park, it doesn’t have the capacity, but it works perfectly for smaller venues like the clubs or discos where working DJs usually perform.

The Z800II is also made to be a worry free fog machine, you have the choice of how to control it (either with wireless, a built in timer or just in stand alone mode) and once you plugged the Z800II in, that’s it. In its reduced heating time of under 100 seconds, you’ll start getting a continuous constant and steady flow of fog out of your Z800II, and for as long as you want, without any pauses caused by reheating time. The Z800II is a fogger you can rely on for your fogging needs wherever you are, as long as you don’t throw at the Z800II more than it can chew (and by that I mean a concert room or a larger venue).

The Z800II is made to work for working DJs and in the usual places they work in, and it will do so flawlessly, steadily making itself a favorite because of the increased mobility it allows for. With its dimensions of  L 315 W 128 H 165.5 (all in mm) and more importantly a weight of just 3.5 kgs (that’s about 7 lbs), the Z800II makes carrying it around a treat, considering the high-quality performance you get when you actually plug the Z800II in.

Let’s now look over at some other features of the Z800II fogger (link to PDF manual) :

• its power needs are AC100V/AC120V/AC230V/AC240V, at 50Hz-60Hz, with the added bonus that, unlike its previous model, the Z800II can now run in low-temperature mode with a 20% decreased energy consumption
• the heater works at 800W
• you can count on an output of 3000 cubic feet  per minute
• first-time heat-up will be around 1.5 minutes
• tank capacity of 0.8 liters, making it truly lightweight
• the fluid consumption rate is of about 76 minutes/0.8 liters.  That means a full tank will hold well over 1 hour of continuous fog production
• the Z10 fogging on/off switch remote is included
• optional remotes are the Z40, which is a timer remote, and the Z50, which is wireless

Having said all that, you need to know that the recommended fluid for the Z800II is Antari FLR/FLG and that’ what the Z800II works best with. Other options are at your own risk and I’d advise against, mainly because it’s safer and more relaxing to have such a piece of equipment as the Z800II working perfectly for a long time than slowly putting it down by using some fluid that will hurt the fogger or even worse, yourself or others. Take care and the Z800II will take care of your fog.

PS: The Antari site looks like it’s not made with regular linked-between webpages, so you might have to navigate on the site to find the Antari Z800II Pro Fog Machine, because I can only get one link for every and all pages of the site (it could use framing, I’m not really sure…).

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