Current recommendation for high CRI E26 standard LED bulbs?

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I have no experience with these bulbs, but Monoprice (whom I have done business with numerous times over the years) recently launched some 90+ CRI bulbs. I’m curious how they are.

90CRI light bulbs are widely available from stores such as Costco, Home Depot, Lowes etc. However, all the ones I’ve tried don’t have tint anywhere as nice as those on the E21A emitters. I prefer below the BBL tint so I’ve been ceiling bouncing E21A lights for night time use. Wish there are some warm 90CRI bulbs with good rosy tint. The only bulbs I’ve found with nice rosy tint is the Ikea GU10 halogen replacement bulbs but those are not A19. If you don’t care about tint, and just want hi CRI, you can also just order some cheap ones on Amazon.

GE Reveal 2850K is what you want.

I have the higher wattage/larger size versions but I’m sure the 60W equivalent have a similar tint but “vibrant whites” is a selling point of the brand and I’m pretty sure it’s done by tint mixing. They are very rosy and even compared to obviously cooler temp lights they somehow make white/beige look “better”. Hard to describe the effect but they’re just “cleaner” somehow.

The GE Reveal does look very interesting. I like warm light but don’t like yellow tint so this seems ideal. However, I’m not sure how CRI is affected by filtering out yellow wavelengths.

Widely available does not seem to have crossed the Altlantic… Last time i asked about high CRI bulbs in a hardware store they had no clue as to what i was talking about.

Would you care to share some Amazon link?

or just do a search for 90CRI E26
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=90+CRI+E26&i=tools&ref=nb_sb_noss

I guess it depends on how much you need TRUE color rendering in whatever space the lights will be used for, but if absolute accuracy is what you wanted a rosy light wouldn’t be the right choice anyway since sunlight is above the BBL.

Found this:

From my experience 70 to 80 CRI emitters can either be a good bdeal more or less yellow than super-high CRI ones (and I don’t think that’s just because of where they sit on the BBL) so I’d imagine the Reveal bulbs sit towards the bottom of that range. CRI is an outdated measurement anyway though.

What I can definitively say is that the Reveal models really look great to me and I’d worry more about atmosphere and aesthetics than a few digits of CRI for my actual living spaces. My Waveform lighting bulb has been relegated to work table bendy-lamp duty for that reason.

Thanks SKV89 for the links, that gives me a few hints… Now to find them over here…

BurningPlayd0h, I’m also wondering where high CRI bulbs would work best. Right now i’m considering a bathroom but wondering whether plain low CRI warm white wouldn’t be better then high CRI neutral white…? I’ll have to try i imagine.

The Soraa lights look great but are quite expensive… Any feedback about them?

Anyone looked or used the CRI97 Philips Expert Color bulbs?

The GU10 spots are available for less then 10 euros which is way more affordable then the Soraa…

About 1 month ago I went down this rabbit hole. I ended up choosing Hyperikon on Amazon with their CRI of 90+. Even better they offer all the CCT. 2700/3000/4000/5000K. (Woohoo!) I bought 5000K for my work/photo area, 4000K for my office, and have been drooling over the 3000K. 3000K would be my favorite I think, but I have so many Cree 2700K I don’t need them.

I am very happy with the CRI/Tint of these bulbs and recommend them. The price works out to $4 per bulb. That’s pretty great for high CRI and your choice of CCT. I would caution you to choose between 3000 or 4000 though, as my wife says the 5000 remind her of work.

Hyperikon Dimmable LED Light Bulbs, A19 60 Watt Equivalent LED Bulbs, 9W, 4000K Daylight, 6 Pack

I just recently installed a few Emery Allen high CRI bulbs in my house and van. Very impressed with the quality of the bulb and tint. (3000K)
They make 3 different wattage LED high CRI bulbs for E26 base, but only offered in 2700K and 3000K.

I bought mine from LBC lighting and got really good service too.

I’ve got the Hyperikon 3000K bulbs in my bathroom. I like 3000K for activity spaces like the kitchen and bathroom, because you get a little more neutral light, without as harsh of a transition coming from relaxing spaces like the living room where I have 2700K bulbs. I can’t stand 5000K in the home, but I’d be ok with it in a dedicated workspace.

My Hyperikons all seem to occasionally flicker off than back on for a fraction of a second. I think I got a bad batch, as there are a handful of reviews on Amazon reporting similar.

I still would like to find some good enclosed fixture rated, 3000K, high CRI bulbs for my kitchen. They Hyperikon’s are not listed as enclosed fixture rated. I already killed some Feit 90CRI bulbs that claimed they were.

Soraa indicates their A19 bulbs can be used in enclosed fixtures, so I might try them in other locations, but they only have 2700K.

Philips has a good overall reputation. I wouldn’t hesitate to try them if I needed that form factor.

Glad to see Philips getting more serious about the high CRI market. I hope they expand that product line.

Good to hear imlucky13. But yea, exchange anything that faulters. Mine don’t.

… And those Hyperikon 3000K are CRI95+ for $4 each. I mean, what’s not to love?

I wish i could find those Hyperikon bulbs over here…
I just ordered a few CRI 90+ Philips GU10 spots to try out. I’ll let you know.

Lots of reviews showing heat damage to those Hyperikon bulbs. Sounds like they cut a lot of corners on heatsinking.

LED panel light also is a good choice for indoor place

I too went down this rabbit hole. If not looking to spend the big money on Sunlike or Waveform bulbs, 3000K Feit is a big win. Tested them with my X-Rite: Ra 93, R9 63, duv 0.0001, CCT 2997K Rf 92 Rg 101. For a couple bucks, hard to beat!

Edit: Nearly as good in every way is Bulbrite. Here’s my shopping list for general home lighting while I plan a slow migration to Sunlike:

Same in Australia. High CRI bulbs aren’t much of a thing.