Which RETRO is right for you? This short guide helps you compare Canto USA’s RETRO Series retrofit options and decide which model best suits your existing fixtures and the needs of your space.

Canto USA’s RETRO Series lets facilities upgrade existing incandescent fixtures to LED while keeping much of their current lighting infrastructure. All RETRO models share smooth 0–100% dimming (flicker-free with compatible dimmers), interchangeable optics, customization options, and a range of color temperatures.

RETRO-Classic^® – Flexibility & Customization

RETRO-Passive® - Absolute Stille

RETRO-Fusion^® – Lighter & Smaller

Choosing the Right RETRO

For most installations, pick the model that matches the physical and acoustic constraints of the existing fixture and the space. Below are straightforward items to check before specifying a RETRO retrofit.

• Fixture depth and clearance — If the existing can or housing is shallow, the smaller-profile RETRO-Fusion® 2.0 often fits where larger assemblies do not.
• Acoustic sensitivity — For concert halls, houses of worship, or other noise-sensitive spaces, choose the fanless RETRO-Passive® 2.0.
• Customization and mounting — If a fixture required the original RETRO-Classic’s custom options, consult Canto USA; RETRO-Fusion® 2.0 and RETRO-Passive® 2.0 cover many common mounting configurations.
• Dimming system compatibility — All RETRO models provide smooth 0–100% phase dimming with compatible dimming systems. If you have older SCR, TRIAC, or IGBT dimmers, confirm compatibility during specification.

If you are unsure which configuration fits your existing fixtures, contact Canto USA for assistance choosing the right RETRO and confirming dimmer and mounting compatibility.

Canto USA Previews the RETRO-Fusion® Series at USITT 2019

Marietta, GA — At USITT 2019, Canto USA gave attendees an early look at the RETRO-Fusion® Series, expanding the company’s RETRO family with a smaller, lighter LED retrofit designed to fit a wider range of existing fixtures.

The original RETRO lineup had already given theaters, schools, houses of worship, auditoriums, and other facilities a way to convert older incandescent houselights to LED without replacing the entire fixture or lighting system. With the RETRO-Fusion, Canto USA developed that same retrofit concept in a more compact form factor.

At its introduction, the RETRO-Fusion Series included 150, 300, 500, and 700 configurations, along with the new RETRO-Fusion 1000. The 1000 model delivered more than 10,000 lumens while operating at approximately 90 watts, giving venues a higher-output LED option for applications that had traditionally relied on much higher-wattage tungsten lamps.

Expanding the RETRO Output Range

The RETRO-Fusion 1000 was another important addition to the product family.

Many venues still relied on high-output tungsten lamps because lower-output LED alternatives could not provide enough light for the existing fixture spacing or throw distance. Moving from those lamps to LED could require either a significant compromise in output or a much larger lighting renovation.

The RETRO-Fusion 1000 was developed to help close that gap.

With more than 10,000 lumens of output at roughly 90 watts, the new model gave facilities another option for replacing higher-wattage tungsten sources while taking advantage of the lower power requirements associated with LED technology.

Together, the 150, 300, 500, 700, and 1000 models allowed customers to select an output level based on the needs of the individual space rather than trying to make one retrofit work everywhere.

Keeping Existing Lighting Infrastructure in Service

The broader goal of the RETRO Series has always been to give customers another option before they commit to replacing an entire lighting system.

In many venues, the houselight cans, pendants, wiring, and dimming equipment may still be usable even though the incandescent lamps inside them are inefficient or becoming increasingly difficult to maintain.

A properly matched LED retrofit can allow those existing components to remain in service while changing the light source itself.

For facilities with dozens or even hundreds of houselights, that can make the difference between a focused lighting upgrade and a much larger renovation involving new fixtures, wiring, ceilings, and controls.

The introduction of the RETRO-Fusion expanded the number of installations where that approach could be considered.

From RETRO-Fusion to RETRO-Fusion® 2.0

The original RETRO-Fusion previewed at USITT 2019 helped establish the smaller-profile design that Canto USA continues to use today.

The current RETRO-Fusion® 2.0 builds on that concept with models ranging from 150 through 1000, standard and custom mounting options, and compatibility with both older and newer dimming systems.

What began as a way to fit RETRO technology into more existing fixtures ultimately became an important part of Canto USA’s current LED retrofit lineup.

RETRO-Fusion^® Series Availability

Die RETRO-Fusion-Serie ist ab sofort lieferbar.