Sofirn D25LR LH351D 5000K / SST20 Deep Red Review

Allow me to add to this review from a stargazing perspective.

Just received mine and this headlight is absolutely brilliant if you like looking at the stars (with or without telescope)! Over the years I’ve tried several lights for looking up in the dark, but none of them really suited. From dirt cheap plastic red LEDs to a Noctigon KR4 with red LEDs, they all stayed inside when I went out. Long story short, the D25LR is a headlight so you keep your hands free to operate a telescope. It’s easy to operate and lowest level for red is good. The LH351D is very nice, especially when there’s snow. I’ve found that snow brings out the worst in crappy emitters (e.g. Cree eggs) and I just can’t stand those. The LH351D is nice floody, clean and not green.
The only downsides are memory mode (not a problem if you don’t change levels) and it feels kinda cheap compared to the better brands. But considering the positives that’s totally ok. Even thinking of getting a 2nd to swap the 5000K for 2700K just for fun.

Thanks for the input. No memory would be nice, but then there’ll be users who need memory, so perhaps X clicks to enable/disable.

Yes, the D25 series feel a bit cheap, but that’s because they aren’t made by Sofirn. They just ask the factory for their custom versions.

There are pros and cons for rebranding as if cheaply made it can give a negative impact if someone has never had a Sofirn made product to compare

Yes I have it too and like it a lot. Meteor observing where dark adaptation important.

This is a long overdue light. Good job Sofirn.

I have a few redundant headlamps now.

I should clarify that with “better brands” I mean, amongst others, Sofirn. I did a quick read up before buying this and it’s absolutely no secret that Sofirn is only involved with basically specifying certain emitters (thank you Sofirn for doing this!) and selling it in their store. But the light itself has no Sofirn branding whatsoever, so no risk of confusing this one with Sofirn produced lights.

Ps, put some oil on the threads where the battery goes in, that side was bone dry. Strangely the charge port side was lubed…

I reviewed this light (link in signature) and prefer the last mode memory (even better that it is memorizes the last used settting for both white and red). It is very useful to be able to turn the light in the last used mode without having to fumble through modes - you just have to remember to turn it off in the mode you will require next.

A quick follow up to my statement that the LH351D led is not green. After using it on multiple occasions I started to ask myself if there was a slight green tint in there after all. By now I also received a D25L (2x LHD351D 5000K, no red) and after a quick compare I can say conclusively that the D25LR does have a very slightly greener tint. But it is absolutely minimal, you really have to look hard for it.

edit: can the (minor) difference be due to 1 vs multiple emitters? I mean you do get a more even beam with multiple emitters and that just might explain what I’m seeing.

PS, remembering the level is not a problem. However, having a son who borrows my lights is :smiley:

Not a fan of the memory mode on this light because you're always guessing what mode it will turn on in .

The red emitter seems to be a bit of an odd color red . A little to pink ? or rose ? IDK what it is . I like the fact you can really crank up the output where on most lights red is just a 5 lumen after thought

Having the secondary red LED makes the UI use the extra click ,or hold to work the red emitter where I'd prefer to have the HOLD go to a moonlight .

...time to go buy the D25L

Makes an awesome hunting headlamp though. A lot of my customers require one for walking around as not to spook rabbits or deer. The red also stops the insects bothering you too much. Had a 4000K on with bugs everywhere, switched over to red and nothing at all for the whole night

The deeper red you go, the more pink it becomes, but disturbs animals less

Boaz - you might prefer the Wurkkos WK15R better

Maybe I'm just done with the whole red led thing . The trustfire mini x got me thinking that a higher output red might make some sense .But reality is I rarely /if ever use red.

Someone was asking about an upgrade for his D-10 Boruit and I wanted to try this one before suggesting a light to him.

I have multiple D10's ,a pair of D25lr's and a D25s . Does the D25L have the same Ui as the D25s which can reverse mode direction and no memory ?

H25LR is a new version with USB-C charging. Looks like all of the D25xx are being replaced with H25xx with USB-C charging now. I bought one thinking it was a typo on the Aliexpress listing and expecting micro USB charging port. I was surprised to see it had USB-C charging port.

I agree.

My Sofirn HS20 has a floody/TIR emitter in LH351D at 5000K and I get no noticeable green, even on a white wall. Those who see green it it have recently looked at 219b or B35AM. However I also recently received the Sofirn D25S with dual SST40 emitters, and it took me all of 5 seconds to pack it back up and return it to Amazon. Just ugly green. I don’t care how far it throws… I’d rather not see whatever it is than see it in green tint.

Out of the Sofirn D25LR & Wurkkos HD15R,

I wonder which one puts out a better light in both red and white options?
and do they hold “high” output with “similar” times and brightness

Both have the same LED’s but the Sofirn version “appears” to have bigger cones but hard to tell unless they are side by side

Check out this comparison video.

The only reason why I wanted to review the HD15R was because the range white spec said 148m, only to find out they copied the HD15 spec which had a throw TIR and the R version used a flood TIR. We all measured around 90-100m. I also didn’t pay attention to the TIR on the red LED which was also a flood TIR. I was far from impressed, that and the horrible thermal regulation. I still sell the D25LR in my store, I gave the HD15R a pass.

The D25LR is unregulated on both red and white. The HD15R is regulated on the red. Both hold roughly the same lumens. The HD15R has some major issues with the thermal regulation, you can look at zeroair’s graphs which also show the issue

Here’s my comparison of the D25LR and HD15R. I also used the drone to show the difference much better.

1 Thank

Excellent comparison video. Thank you.

Thanks for those video’s. To my tiered eyes :), seems from the drone footage the HD15R puts out a better lights but if its got terrible thermo reg, then its deal breaker.

You could always get the Armytek C2 WR, that has a very decent red beam.

Wow, looks a nice light. 3 times the price however seems to tick every requirement including a fail safe (water ingress) magnetic charging point.