Id prefer if the phosphor converted the unwanted wavelengths into the type that was lacking, instead of simply removing the less desirable tint. The other problem with the filter is that it will not filter the exact wavelengths that are in excess, so it too is also a compromise solution.
The only real solution is incan??? (hahah)
Yes, CW torches with the ability to change emitters is seen to me a a very strong selling point. This is why I have bought sunwayman torches
I remember my first power LED light. It was a Streamlight PT2L and it used a cool white Cree XR-E. The tint of the LED was slightly purple but mostly white. Colors seemed to render mostly true.
Then I purchased an XP-G R5 light. The color was BLUE. Horrific blue. I hated that light.
Then I purchased an XP-G S2 light, not thinking clearly, which was even MORE blue.
Then I purchased my first neutral white LED light. The Spark SL6-740NW. The color of the light coming out of the end of that light looks exactly like the Philips 85122s in my car. ~4200K. I LOVE it. I will NEVER go back to cool white. It's worth the lumen loss. I have sold or given away all but one of my cool white lights. But, I have two new neutral white lights on the way so this YEZL Z1X is getting sold.
I got so used to my neutral white and cool white LED lights, that my old 55W halogen incan looks bloody red now.
I only had the chance to compare mine to the warm white C88 Q5 that I bought for my daughter, and the latter seemed to yield much less contrast (softer image) on green foliage to both of us.
Those color filters that correct from 55000 to 3500 or whatever. ...I think they are pretty good but I'm not sure that they are designed for LED (I'm pretty sure they aren't designed for it). After all these are mainly for professional photography and the movie/theatrical industries.
I think these filter are pretty effective however. With LEDs you are generally just trying to even out (filter) the excessive blue. Whether you do it with a filter or phosphor I think it has the same result.
Personally, I'm a bit like Agedbrier. I don't mind most cool white and neutral white and don't care for warm. I used to dive with halogen lights and once powerful white LEDs were available it was so much better as far as being able to see detail. So I have little fondness for halogen. I also have a incan Surefire 6P that I received as a gift. It's 85 lumens but I can't see crap with it outside at night.
Since getting the filters however I have put light amber filters (after some testing) on some of my lights that have easy access to behind the lens. It's a subtle change. It makes the colors a bit truer. It's mainly an issue indoors however. I didn't have a problem with the colors rendition indoors but I experimented with the filters anyway using a red, white and blue soup can and the color with the amber filter appeared more true than with it so I left it on (you could notice the excessive blue without it).
The filters are also interesting if you just want a green (or whatever color light) just for some specific purpose and then you want to change it back to white.
Got the SC51w and it´s bloody far from what I see as a neutral.
It is colored like Cafe latte, far from what I see as neutral. A regular, good R5 emitter or by luck a good T6 XM-L is far closer to what I consider as neutral, colorless white light.
Green is bad, angry blue is terrible, even my iTP A1 sucks because it´s bluish R2 tint. Same goes for Solarforce 3-mode R2 dropin, bad bad bad... (basic Q3 is fine, Q5 is usually a bit on the edge for me).
Almost all of my R5 lights have been OK tint wise.
My ThruNite Neutron 2A in neutral white is like that. It has an amber color to the light.
However, my XENO E03 and Spark SL6 are both a nice white. The Spark is roughly 4000K which has a nice slightly yellow tint like an automotive HID lamp and the XENO is pure white, I would say around 5000K.
They say that the zebra lights neutral is anything but neutral... they should be considered warm . The little s1 stainless steelblf light from ric at cnqg's is an overly warm neutral ..I can believe it's a neutral just not a super tint ..The xpg's have lots of interesting tints and a nice mix of flod and throw .. reasons they still have my attention .