While YouTube is the DIY pyro's best friend in planning a show, it is tough to really nail down what effects will blend well with others, and make fair comparisons between items by their vid - what with all the varying conditions, editing, zoom, compression and differing videocam fidelity, both audio and video-wise. See links below for examples.
In an ideal world, a larger distributor of fireworks here in Ontario would ignite each of their offerings one-by-one in a row, filmed by a camera fixed in place, so the buying pyro may make accurate determinations on size, sound and effects. (Ed. note to any retailers reading: I would take this challenge on, for nothing greater than the fun of doing so, and do an amazing job of it - would only need a 1-each SKU of your entire inventory.)
The closest I've seen of the above wish comes from the Powerhouse line of fireworks. But they look like they had their YouTube clips sloppily chopped into a series of 5 to 60-odd second segments from a master tape. Each one briefly titled in Times New Roman but poorly edited, in the port lands of some unknown city, between stacked sea containers (with resulting audio qualities). What annoys me though, is in watching the fountain vids; the dudes igniting these things seem bored.
So, overall there's some hit & miss qualities to the show planning via retailer's video offerings, which means there's a mild 'buyer beware' since the playing field isn't exactly level. Last year's show which was ordered based on video clips made this clear to me.
My value picks are strictly my opinion and first-hand experience based on bang for buck (sorry). I list manufacturer to show I don't have any allegiances. I just like good value.
My top ten, with video links:
10. Keg Fountain (BEM): This thing comes in a really stupid plastic container that it is NEVER properly secured to. No matter, I remove it / toss in blue box, and glue down what remains for a nice loud, long lasting, cheap fountain.
9. Roman Candle (Pick one - all manufacturers make them): On their own they're a bore. Blow off many multiples and they're quite pretty. They belong in this list since every retailer seems to have a deal on candles, whether 5, 8, 10, 12 or 15-shot. Good value is at, or less than $0.10 per shot. This can be negotiated, if not found. Very versatile.
8. Detonator* (Hands): This is a MSRP $60 firework that is rapid, noisy and tension-building. Asterisk is there because it appears on this list as vendor-specific: Victory is selling them for $32 this year. Helluva deal, I bought 2.
7. Goldeneye (Mystical): Totally shocked at this, at first the video sold me, but then when blowing it off for the first time saw that the video really did it justice. For a >$3 mortar that reached the 80' range, diameter of the lingering willow was nearly 20'. I ordered many multiples.
6. Asteroids (Powerhouse): I think all the accolades went to the heads of the makers of this thing, or inflation hit it especially hard. Last year these were just over $3, gone up in price in 2012 but still an excellent effect - I particularly like the consistent 40-odd foot height, great if trying to fill multiple parts of the viewing area simultaneously.
5. Hot Tamali (Mystical): Touched on their value in a previous post. It may be because there are so few cakes available for under $5 that I have an affinity for these, but the effect just seems so worth it. Each of the ten comets crackle sharply, and as with Asteroids effects are consistently mid-height.
4. Menace (Mystical): It doesn't last very long, but the slow-ish automatic gunfire deployment and bursting flower-to-wide field crackle is impressive. From what I've read, this item has been on the Mystical roster for some time, and is very popular. I can see why. (Still cannot understand why it is the only firework to come in its' very own plastic bag, though).
3. Molten Fury (Mystical): Similar to Menace, though longer lasting, slower overall, and strobe effects to add to the floral bursts and (more subdued) crackle. Yet Molten Fury is typically half the price of Menace - it can be had for $14. Seriously good value.
2. Golden Rain Willow (Vulcan): I absolutely love how long the willow effect lasts in the sky, combined with the heights it reaches. Not as loud as it seems in the vid (I wish). GRW elicited many oohs and aahs in my 2011 show, and that was using one. This year, eight will make up part of the finale. Not a cheap shell, but well worth it.
1. Air Bomb (BEM): I just love air bombs. I've always loved loud shells, $0.60 buys among the loudest available 1.4G fireworks in Ontario. I combine many for a brain rattling experience.
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