[Review] NOCTIGON K9.3 by Hank Wang

Amber! I like how the yellow RGB colour is more amber too

Took me a week to decide lol

A wonderfully well done and informative review;
thank you for the hard work!

I love how much more saturated nature becomes with the SST20. Thanks for the review.

Flashoholic, can you please check if your K9.3 has the same software bug that mine has?

https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/57210/2599

In order to test, please do the following:

1. From OFF, 4C to lock the light

2. In Lockout mode, 7C until you get to the Blink/Beacon AUX mode

3. Select any from the fixed colors (red or yellow or green...) via 7H

Expected behavior:

Beacon keeps blinking indefinitely until stopped by 4C. 1C or 1H should only temporarily activate Moon/Low mode until you release the button.

Actual behaviour:

Beacon blinks in a random duration (sometimes only 3x, sometimes more) and then stops. When it stopped blinking the Lockout mode is left and the flashlight will be turned on via 1C.

I made a video of the faulty AUX mode:

Thank you for testing!

Yes mine has the bug too :frowning:

I guess this bug will eventually be fixed with the next update for Andúril 2, so you can flash a new hex file onto the driver. I hope your K9.3 has less imperfections than mine. I am somehow disappointed with the quality control, which is rather unusual for lights from Hank.

Hey, this wasn’t a review by Hank Wang, this was a review by you! I want my money back… :smiley:

Excellent review as always, even with the sound down in an impatient mood i end up watching your vids all the way through. Good delivery!

And just to show i pay attention (and nothing to do with an uneccessarily over-developed need to get as many ducks in a row as possible), at 4:31 you list the measured throw for channel 1, and at 5:22 the throw for channel 2, and they’re the same! I’m assuming that’s not the case?

And also (sorry), at Vanhalla the FW21 pro (test at 10:23) is of similar brightness to the other lights as is easy to see in the comparison photo at 11:20 but in the midrange test that follows at the school
the FW21 Pro (test at 11:50) is noticebly dimmer as evidenced in the comparison photo at 12:48. Was that just a high/turbo mode mix-up?

Throw for CH2 was around 180m and the switch plays up on all my FW lights.

Nice review, it is surprisingly throwy!

My K9.3 is still not delivered :cry: :neutral_face:

Damn, would of thought someone would test aux led functionality before shipping these.

For most of you guys with flashing devices probably not a big deal but this is an expensive light to have to buy something to fix it.

While my first K9.3 arrived in a blink of an eye, the second one seems to be going back and forth in Shanghai for two days now. :FACEPALM: I wonder what’s going on over there. FedEx still expects it to be delivered in Germany on January 21...yeah, sure. ^:)

2021-01-21 05:27, SHANGHAI CN, In transit
2021-01-21 04:40, SHANGHAI CN, In transit
2021-01-21 04:03, SHANGHAI CN, In transit
2021-01-21 04:02, SHANGHAI CN, International shipment release - Export
2021-01-20 23:00, SHANGHAI CN, At local FedEx facility
2021-01-20 23:00, SHANGHAI CN, In transit
2021-01-20 04:06, SHANGHAI CN, At local FedEx facility
2021-01-20 04:06, SHANGHAI CN, In transit
2021-01-19 23:00, SHANGHAI CN, At local FedEx facility
2021-01-19 23:00, SHANGHAI CN, In transit
2021-01-19 03:31, SHANGHAI CN, At local FedEx facility
2021-01-19 03:31, SHANGHAI CN, In transit
2021-01-19 00:58, SHANGHAI CN, International shipment release - Export
2021-01-18 20:55, SHANGHAI CN, Left FedEx origin facility
2021-01-18 15:36, SHANGHAI CN, Picked up
2021-01-18 00:30, Shipment information sent to FedEx

Well, I agree it’s a bit annoying to deal with software bugs. At least these can be fixed by using a flashing kit and an Android smartphone. Maybe Hank can offer his flashing kit for a reduced price to those who purchased the first batch of K9.3 (like he did with the more dangerous muggle mode software bug in the first batch of D4v2).

I am more disappointed by the mediocre workmanship (notches, scratches) of my K9.3. I did not expect this to happen with a $ 145 light.

Not an excuse, but I think Hank’s company is exhausted and overtaxed. It’s difficult to be as careful and ensure top quality when your working frantically to meet demand.

I hope they get a handle on it soon, or the business will dry up as quickly as it came.

I must admit the anodisation is to the usual flaky Noctigon standard lol

Wow,interesting

I have a feeling he is in this weird growth spot where he really needs more labor, but you have to train your unskilled workforce and it means quality missteps and takes time, but I have no doubt Hank will regain tight QC.

Yeah, that’s my impression too. That’s why I’ll look the other way for now.

Also, I did just receive another immaculately flawless D18 yesterday, so it’s not all doom and gloom.

No noticeable flaws on the 5-6 lights I have bought recently, except maybe a switch boot that is deformed, but I have extras.

Wow, per order numbers, Hank’s current workload is an average of about 70 orders a day. Presumably most of them are lights, not parts. That’s quite the workload.