LEDs (light emitting diodes) have been around for decades as indicator lights on household appliances and such. But it wasn't until recently these super-efficient, long-lasting lights became bright enough for larger illuminative purposes, like entertainment lighting.

An LED is basically a semiconductor that produces light when charged with an electrical current, the color of the light determined by the material the diode is made of. Over the past decade, scientists have figured out how to make LEDs much brighter, tweak them to generate a dazzling array of colors, and even produce a high-quality white LED. As a result, LEDs have started appearing on stage/club lights like color washes and chase effects.

Now manufacturers are bringing LED technology to one of the most "basic" entertainment fixtures of all - the par can. This represents the first major innovation to a light that hasn't changed much since it was adapted to club use nearly three decades ago -- and the industry is aptly taking notice.

American DJ's new LED par cans (P36 LED and P64 LED) won the 2005 Crystal Disc Award from DJZone, the web's largest DJ information network, for "superior technical innovation." We recently checked out the P36 LED and P64 LED and it's easy to see why, given features like RGB color mixing that you couldn't begin to fathom on a conventional par can.

To get colored light from an old-style par, you had to use inconvenient gels and could create only a handful of colors. With the DMX-controllable P36 LED and P64 LED's RGB color mixing system, you can produce any hue imaginable simply by moving the channel slider up and down. The P64 LED is equipped with 151 LEDs (51 red, 49 green, 51 blue), and the P36 LED with 61 (21 red, 19 green, 21 blue), which can be manipulated to create thousands of colors and scroll through the entire spectrum.

What's superior about the P36 LED and P64 LED's design is the placement of the different-colored diodes on the fixture. Red, green and blue LEDs are intermingled with one another, which gives you really smooth RGB color mixing. On other LED par cans we've seen, same-colored diodes are grouped together, producing less even-looking, more spotty color washes.

We were also impressed that the pinspot model P36 LED comes with both a hanging bracket and a base, allowing you to put it on the ceiling or illuminate from below. You can even stand it on speakers - no need for a tripod stand - so it's very mobile. The P64 LED has a wider beam diameter for larger staging applications and includes a hanging bracket.

LEDs generate very little heat and draw very little power-- another area where ADJ's new products upstage traditional pars. No more sweating under hot lights on stage or the dance floor! Plus, if you're a mobile entertainer, you'll be able to pack up your lights right after the gig, rather than having to wait for them to cool down.

Make no mistake - you'll pay more for an LED par can than a conventional one. But it's truly a case of "getting what you pay for." In addition to the above benefits, you'll recoup some of your investment through LEDs' long operating life and energy efficiency. Unlike conventional par lamps, you probably won't ever have to replace any of the LEDs. In addition to reduced electric bills, LEDs' low energy draw can be a big plus if you're DJ-ing at a reception hall and are already sucking up most of the available juice with your sound system.

Apparently DJs and entertainers are recognizing these benefits and making the trade-up to LED pars. American DJ says the P36 LED and P64 LED are among its fastest-selling new products ever. In fact, the company has already expanded the line, introducing all-white versions (P36 LED WH and P64 LED WH), as well as blinders with multiple LED par lights that produce large color washes and are great for stages, rentals, clubs and bands (P36 LED Blinder and P64 LED Blinder). The P36 LED and P64 LED are also available as complete systems that include 4 par cans, a DMX Duo controller, LTS-6 light stand and cables. All this should tell you that par cans are definitely moving in a high-tech direction and will do anything but remain "par" in the future.