Diamond Saber Review: Archon 2.1

[karaokefreak]

Hey, everyone. Now that I have my very first diamond saber, I can also provide you with a full video review that shows most of the features. I have to say I really love the Archon 2.1. It is a great design and although I also like my apprentice sabers, this one suits me much better in every way imaginable. Size, grip, configuration features... you name it.

Watch the youtube video here, and please be considerate when it comes to the language. I am german, so one or the other expression might not be correct.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zawo7roRnc" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zawo7roRnc</a>

 

[HoverFloat]

Good review! Congrats on the Diamond! It's not something I would get myself as I wouldn't really know what to do with all those features (I'm only interested in the gradual on/off effect at the moment) so reviews like yours help me understand it better.

Sidenote: Has anyone told you that you have a striking resemblance to Steve Austin? 

[karaokefreak]

Sidenote: Has anyone told you that you have a striking resemblance to Steve Austin?  

haha, no, never ... But, you know...eeeh  .. urm.....---> *heads for the gym"  


I see it right before me:
The Steve Austin Double Feature..... "The Condemned Order" and "Hunt to Kill Jedi"

[Vervidian]

Great review - thanks!  I am looking forward so much to playing with flicker/pulse/shimmer settings as soon as my diamond saber arrives.  I wonder what the battery life will be like - hopefully ~ 2 hrs between charges, and I am sure that LED power levels will influence the draw-down rates.

Is there a method to reduce the volume within the application, or would that require a .wav file modification?  Since I have taken digital processing coursework, I am confident I could do the latter if I had to.  But I like easy just as much as the next engineer.

Jedi Sentinel Vervidian

[BatMike90]

Wow. Very imformitive video. I thank you a lot. Makes me want a first saber equipped with Diamond more.

[karaokefreak]

Is there a method to reduce the volume within the application, or would that require a .wav file modification?  Since I have taken digital processing coursework, I am confident I could do the latter if I had to.  But I like easy just as much as the next engineer.

Yes, you can set the volume for every single sound when creating or editing an effect.
Battery life isn't much longer than with the normal blades. My result is 1 hour and 10 minutes constant use with the rechargeable batteries that came with the saber. However, this was measured without swinging the saber, so I guess when you fight or swing it a lot, it will last way shorter due to the gesture recognition and change of sound samples. I asked a befriended physician and he said that the main issue here could be the sound, since it is very loud, which costs a lot of power. Usually more than the light (though he is not sure when it comes to 4 extra strong LEDs.) So if you make all your effects quieter, you might extend the battery life by a bit.

There is one thing that puzzles me: Given that the light of this saber is so strong that it can render you blind for some time when you point it at somebody without a blade or a plug on the emitter, these kinds of sabers could actually be illegal in germany. Does anybody know the exact lumen value of the four LEDs combined?

For instance: In Germany, laserpointers may only use 1mW power due to the fact that this power alone can hurt your eyes permanently when shining on your eyes in a range of 10 meters or below and a time span of one fourth of a second or longer....

[karaokefreak]

Ok, a quick update here: The sabers are not illegal in germany, since from a technical point of view they are just glorified flashlights. The more you know...

[hazard502]

"This is a MAN's saber" ... ha couldn't agree more I LOVE my Archon.

Another wonderful review, karaokefreak ... points to you.

I already mentioned this in another thread, but I haven't seen many black AV switches on an Archon and yours looks fantastic, nice contrast with the rest of the black accents.

Congrats on such a great lightsaber.

[Vervidian]

Yes, you can set the volume for every single sound when creating or editing an effect.
Battery life isn't much longer than with the normal blades. My result is 1 hour and 10 minutes constant use with the rechargeable batteries that came with the saber. However, this was measured without swinging the saber, so I guess when you fight or swing it a lot, it will last way shorter due to the gesture recognition and change of sound samples. I asked a befriended physician and he said that the main issue here could be the sound, since it is very loud, which costs a lot of power. Usually more than the light (though he is not sure when it comes to 4 extra strong LEDs.) So if you make all your effects quieter, you might extend the battery life by a bit.

Thanks, karaokefreak - wow, 70 min is pretty short.  Hopefully I can find a 'happy medium' where the sound is quieter and the light maybe a tad dimmer and can squeak 90 min+ out of the Li-ion cells.

Appreciate the thorough response!!!  Great help.  Also - glad you are not wielding contraband in your homeland. 

[Lord Bladewraith]

Great video review, karaokefreak! Your explanation and walk-through of the Archon and the Diamond features were spot on. The Archon 2.1 is such a great hilt for MHS emitter/pommel swaps, too. One of the best, if not, thee best for that versatility. I like your method of just turning the saber clockwise continually rather than the way I've been activating the Diamond menu on mine of a clockwise "snap" to the right. Sometimes I accidentally activate the gesture menu instead of the saber font menu.    Congratulations on adding that beauty to your collection, and hats off for jumping right in and programming both pulsing and gestures on your saber already. I just barely started looking at the new version of the Ultra Sabers launcher yesterday, as I've been using the Obsidian Launch version for Emerald for a while, and I must say, it is ridiculously cool and much improved. What a control panel for your saber it is!

Anyway, points awarded and the next question is, what will be your next Diamond saber, eh?

[karaokefreak]

s!

Anyway, points awarded and the next question is, what will be your next Diamond saber, eh?

Not sure yet. I will have to wait some time (probably until octobre or so) with my next saber or my wife will kill me  It is an expensive hobby after all, and I also have to book a venue for my 40th birthday in August. My band and I will play on that day, along with another band, so that venue will be huge and I will invite a ton of guests. That's gonna be expensive.... But I will order some additional blades (40 inch) very soon.
I guess the next saber will be the "chosen one" or "graflex" or a non-diamond "phantom initiate" double saber. But I have some time to make up my mind, so that choice might change until fall.

[karaokefreak]

LOL, friends of mine are cracking jokes on the 4 LEDs in the diamond saber... like "Return of the LEDi" .. muahahaha