We test the best music stand lights on a wide range of attributes so you can find one right for you. Which ones work well for you . . . or leave you in the dark?

Aria Forte

Aria Forte

The rechargeable Aria Forte balances battery life, brightness, and even page coverage in one amazing, albeit pricey, package. It has several helpful features, including a full-range dimmer, constant brightness to the end of the battery, a visual battery gauge, a powder-coated aluminum case (similar to a Manhasset stand), and a …

Brightness:
1673 lux
 
Aria Diva

Aria Diva

This wall-powered LED music light is the brightest light we have tested (either LED or incandescent). Like the other Aria lights, the light quality is similar to incandescent bulbs and level is also the most consistent across two pages of music, reaching every corner. This light is bright enough for …

Brightness:
1641 lux
 
Lotus Pro14

Lotus Pro14

This improved light from Lotus Design is significantly brighter than its predecessors and includes an effective battery gauge which illuminates when the light is first turned on. A push button cycles between three levels of brightness, two which are similar in brightness (860 lux and 676 lux) and one which …

Brightness:
960 lux
 
Lampcraft GigLight Max

Lampcraft Giglight Max

With a creatively compact design, the Lampcraft Giglight Max is a solid performer which folds to about the size of a paperback book for transportation and storage. The arm provides a wide range of positions for the light. Its most interesting feature are the two LEDs which can be pivoted …

Brightness:
808 lux
 
Manhasset 1050

Manhasset LED Lamp II

Manhasset replaced their rechargeable model 1050 with the 1060, also known as LED Lamp II, which removes the rechargeable capability and uses three AA batteries instead. Designed by Manhasset to fit their stands, this light is priced affordably. Two clips provide excellent stability, but do not accommodate stand desks any …

Brightness:
745 lux
 
Mighty Bright BrightFlex

Mighty Bright BrightFlex

With a run-time of 8 hours on full-brightness, the BrightFlex is Mighty Bright’s top choice for musicians. The single clip is designed for both music stands and books. The tradeoff means that on many music stands, the light has difficulty staying vertical. However on the classic Manhasset music stand, the …

Brightness:
450 lux
 
Grover/Trophy BLS1

Grover/Trophy BLS1

Because of its durable aluminum construction, 40-watt bulb, and decent light pattern, this light has been the workhorse in professional groups for years. But there are better choices today. The light includes a reflector that focuses light on the page, but the reflector screws can come loose over time and …

Brightness:
422 lux
 
Mighty Bright Orchestra

Mighty Bright Orchestra

The Mighty Bright Orchestra attaches with a single clip which also contains the batteries. We found that when centered, the battery pack interferes with the Manhasset music stand and needs to be shifted left or right to prevent rocking. Once there, the clip holds the light securely. Plastic lenses focus …

Brightness:
149 lux
 
Manhasset 1000

Manhasset 1000

This wall-powered light has been one of the two standard music lights for musicians for decades. With a recent design update, there is now plenty of clearance for tall parts or music folders to turn beneath the light. Unlike its competitor’s light, however, the elegant cylindrical design limits the amount …

Brightness:
137 lux
 
MightyBright Duet 2

Mighty Bright Duet 2

This battery-operated light is light and portable. Each arm has two LEDs which can be individually illuminated for two brightness levels. The pushbutton control on each arm for power is convenient, but can easily turn the light on during transport in a bag. It doesn’t ship with batteries, but does …

Brightness:
110 lux