Deciding if I should finally give in and buy an S41 or if my A6 3D with bypassed springs is basically the same output, so what’s the point?
I’m assuming the dead emitter thing has been worked out by now?
Are the current S41 still decent quality or have they been subtly cheaped out over the years?
Yes the S41 and A6 are probably close in lumens on paper, but they’re very different lights. The A6’s reflector gives it some decent throw (its not a thrower, but it has a nice hotspot). The S41 is a quad optic, very floody. No real hotspot at all. In other words the S41 spreads its lumens out over a much larger area, resulting in less intensity than the A6. So if I floody area light is something you need or want, then the S41 is a good choice.
As far as I know the new head design solved the dead emitter problem and I personally haven’t seen any reports of cheapening, but I could very well be wrong about that.
2 totally different lights as what emarkd mentioned. If I have to pick one light, BLF A6/Astrolux S1 for sure. S1 actually comes with the short tube for 18350 and that also works with the S41. S41 can be modded to go over 3000+ lumens very easily. I have 3 of them. 1. stock 219B 2. XP-L HI v3 3c with MTN 17DDm 3. 219C D320 with FET Guppydrv.
I own both (ok, maybe I own more than a few A6s and one new S41 nichia version with tail clicky with A6 firmware). I think 1600 lumens as advertised for the new S41 is a lie. Over 2000 lumens on high is my guess compared to other torches in my inventory.
Omfg… The nichia S41 gets hot quickly. Head is a bit bigger and quite noticeably heavier with all that (very nice looking) copper.
They throw about the same on turbo, but the S41 draws so much current i can only hold it for about 20 seconds. I reckon my skin would burn at 30 seconds (not exaggerating here).
S41 does have a beautiful broad beam pattern that illuminates your feet about the same as the tree 50 meters in front of you. But to hit that really lovely level of light it needs to be in high or turbo (even high gets burning hot after a while). Lower modes feel a little anaemic outside.
The A6 remains my edc, but the S41 is definitely an interesting light and I think it pumps out twice as much light as the a6 which goes into the lovely graduated spill that makes the s41 a better “I don’t want to step on a snake while walking my dogs at night” flashlight
Unfortunately I dedomed the emitters on my s41 by not properly aligning the optic and screwing down… so I can’t do proper tests/photos for you.