If your venue is making its first serious move toward IP-rated, networked LED fixtures, the price tag on professional outdoor movers can stop the conversation cold. The Martin ERA 700 Performance IP at full MAP is a $17,023.50 decision. The B-Stock unit brings that to $13,618.80 — a $3,404 difference that, for a first install, might be the number that makes the project happen or doesn't.

That kind of savings is worth taking seriously. So is the question of what "B-Stock" actually means on a fixture this sophisticated. Here's how we think about it.

View the Martin ERA 700 Peformance IP - White Product Page

What B-Stock Means on a Fixture Like This

B-Stock on a moving head isn't the same as B-Stock on a guitar with a scuff on the headstock. There are more moving parts — literally — and venues installing IP fixtures for the first time reasonably want to know: is this unit reliable, or are we inheriting someone else's problem?

The honest answer: it depends on the specific listing, and you should look at the noted blemish before you buy. What B-Stock does not mean, by default, is that anything mechanical or electronic is wrong. The most common reason a fixture like this comes back is cosmetic damage from shipping — a ding on the yoke, a scuff on the housing — not a failed gobo wheel or a damaged LED engine. Martin's manufacturing tolerances on a unit at this price point are not loose enough that cosmetic returns mask hidden mechanical issues; those would show up in QC before the fixture ever shipped.

Check the listing photos for what's actually noted. If it's a finish issue on the white housing and everything functional checks out, that's a meaningful savings on a fixture built to last a decade outdoors.

The ERA 700 Performance IP: What You're Actually Getting

The ERA 700 Performance IP is Martin's full-featured outdoor moving head — not a stripped-down weather-resistant version of something else, but a fixture designed from the ground up for permanent and semi-permanent outdoor installation. Here's what that means in practice for a venue running it for the first time.

Light Output and Color

The 680W LED engine produces 26,000 lumens at a 6,500K color temperature — daylight-balanced, which matters if you're mixing with natural light during daytime events or architectural washes. The CMYC color mixing system (cyan, magenta, yellow, and a dedicated CTO/color correction channel) gives you smoother, more accurate color reproduction than CMY-only systems, particularly in the amber and skin-tone ranges where cheaper fixtures tend to go muddy.

The Spectral Enhancement filter with CRI 90 is worth calling out specifically: a CRI of 90 means colors under this fixture look close to how they'd appear in natural sunlight. For event venues, that translates to better-looking stage color for performers and guests — less of the artificial cast you get from lower-CRI LED sources.

Optics and Effects

• Motorized zoom: 5.4° to 44° — a wide operating range that handles both tight spot work and broad wash coverage from a single fixture position
• Dual gobo wheels for pattern layering and aerial effects
• Dual prisms for beam multiplication
• Dual frost for soft-edge wash control
• Animation wheel for dynamic texture effects
• Full curtain framing system for precise beam shaping — useful for architectural installs where you need to hit a surface without spilling onto adjacent areas

For a first IP fixture install, this optics package means you're not buying into a product line and immediately wishing you'd gone up a tier. The ERA 700 has the feature set to grow with your programming ability.

IP66 Rating and Environmental Specs

This is the specification that justifies the ERA 700's price category over a non-IP fixture with similar optics. IP66 means fully dust-tight and protected against powerful water jets — not just light rain, but the kind of sustained weather exposure a permanently-installed outdoor fixture will see over years of operation.

The environmental specs go further than the IP rating alone:

• Operating temperature range: -4°F to 104°F (-20°C to +40°C) — covers most North American climate extremes without de-rating
• C5M marine-grade salinity protection — relevant for coastal venues or anywhere with salt-heavy air
• Active humidity control system — the fixture actively manages internal humidity rather than relying purely on sealed housing, which extends the service life of optics and electronics in humid climates

For venues in Las Vegas specifically, the heat end of that operating range and the dust protection matter more than the marine spec. The active humidity control is still useful during monsoon season.

Physical Specs at a Glance

• Weight: around 87.3 lbs. (39.7 kg) — plan your rigging and truss load accordingly
• Head length: 21.3 in. (542 mm)
• Base length: 17.1 in. (436 mm)
• Base width: 12.3 in. (314 mm)
• Width across yoke: 17.7 in. (450 mm)
• Finish: White (standard for architectural and outdoor installs where the fixture is visible during the day)

Network Integration and Security

The ERA 700 Performance IP supports IP-based control, which is the reason venues adopting networked lighting infrastructure are looking at it in the first place. The anti-tamper box — which prevents unauthorized removal of power and data connectors — is a practical feature for semi-public outdoor installs where the fixture is accessible but you don't want guests or staff accidentally disconnecting it mid-show.

The Honest Trade-Off: Is B-Stock Right for a First Install?

There's a reasonable concern that a first IP fixture install is not the moment to introduce uncertainty. We get that. If your venue is staking a significant portion of its lighting budget on a single fixture category it hasn't used before, the last thing you want is a unit that needs service in month three.

Here's our actual take: for a venue buying one or two units to evaluate IP fixtures before a larger rollout, B-Stock at this savings level is a smart way to do it. You're learning the product, the control integration, and the maintenance requirements on a unit that cost you $3,404 less — and if the unit develops an issue, it's covered under warranty the same way a new-in-box unit would be. Check the specific warranty terms on the listing before you buy.

Where we'd say skip B-Stock: if you're doing a full venue install of six or more units at once and consistency of finish matters for the visual look of the rig. B-Stock units may vary in their specific cosmetic blemishes, and matching white-finish fixtures across a permanent install is harder if each unit has a different noted flaw. For that scenario, the incremental savings per unit also start to look smaller relative to the project total.

Who This Is Actually For

Buy the B-Stock ERA 700 if: you're a venue, production company, or AV integrator buying your first one or two IP-rated moving heads and want to absorb the learning curve without paying full MAP on every unit. The $3,404 savings is real, the fixture's capability is uncompromised, and the environmental specs are the same as new.

Look at new-in-box if: finish consistency across a matched rig matters for your install, or you're purchasing for a client who will scrutinize the cosmetics of every unit. That's a real scenario, and we'd rather tell you now.

The ERA 700 Performance IP is not a budget fixture with a weather-resistant housing bolted on. It's a purpose-built outdoor moving head with a feature set that competes at the top of its category. At $13,618.80 B-Stock, you're getting that fixture for less — and for a first IP install, that's a meaningful difference.

View the Martin ERA 700 Peformance IP - White Product Page

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the IP66 rating actually protect against in a real venue environment?

IP66 means the fixture is fully dust-tight and protected against powerful, sustained water jets from any direction — not just drizzle. For outdoor installs, that covers rain, pressure washing nearby surfaces, and dusty environments. The ERA 700 goes further with an active humidity control system and C5M marine-grade salinity protection, which extends the service life of internal optics and electronics in humid or coastal climates. For Las Vegas venues, the dust protection and heat operating range (up to 104°F / 40°C) are the specs that matter most day-to-day.

Is the B-Stock ERA 700 covered under the same warranty as a new unit?

B-Stock warranty coverage varies by listing — check the specific terms before purchasing. In general, Martin B-Stock units through authorized dealers like LV Guitars carry warranty coverage on functional components; the B-Stock designation covers cosmetic condition, not electrical or mechanical status. Review the listing details or contact us directly if you need warranty clarification before committing to the purchase.

How heavy is this fixture, and what do I need to know about rigging it?

The ERA 700 Performance IP weighs around 87.3 lbs. (39.7 kg). That's substantial, and your truss, rigging hardware, and safety cables all need to be rated accordingly. For a first IP fixture install, we'd strongly recommend having a qualified rigger involved in the hang — not because the fixture is unusual to rig, but because at this weight class, getting the load math wrong has real consequences. Budget for that labor if it's not already in your project plan.

Can the ERA 700 be controlled from our existing DMX system, or do we need to upgrade to IP-based control to use it?

The ERA 700 Performance IP supports standard DMX control in addition to IP-based networking, so it can integrate with an existing DMX infrastructure without requiring an immediate upgrade to a fully networked control system. That said, the fixture's IP control capabilities — including real-time monitoring, remote diagnostics, and RDM feedback — are only available through network-based control. If you're buying this fixture specifically to start building toward IP-based control, plan for the controller investment as part of the project; if you're testing the fixture in an existing DMX rig first, that's a workable starting point.