Well I got mine from DX today and I am sad to report the quality is just a bit lower than when first introduced.
The star is no longer screwed in or even glued, it just has some standard heat sink compound applied to the star and a white plastic LED centering/insulating washer fits between the star and reflector and it is all held together by the reflector assembly being tightened down on the plastic centering device. I don't think this is a real big issue as it seems to fit well and do the job but it is a step backward in my opinion. (at least they remembered heat sink compound!)
The driver has also been changed so I don't know if it is configurable anymore or if it is 14500 safe. The driver I think might be OK on 14500 if it is the one piece driver. It is the red driver without the trace which is the one that seems to work with 14500, but I'm not sure. I'm not sure if it is a one piece driver or 2 piece though since I didn't completely disassemble the pill.
The good news is that it is well driven and pretty bright although it is very cold/blue tint LED.
The low is also nice and is a true low.
On high my sample was drawing 2A from tail and low was 200mA on a slightly discharged NiMh.
Overall I am happy but I wish I had ordered from KD!!
My favorite and best tinted budget torch I own is still my SkyRay S-A1!! It is a beautiful torch!! I wish there were more out there that ran the XP-E LED. It is my favorite LED in a torch with a small reflector.
I wouldn't call the one I got from DX a fake. It is a pretty good torch really. It just isn't the same as when it was first introduced. It is typical Chinese manufacturer...introduce a good product that sells good then find every way possible to cut cost without too many people knowing!
Had I not know the first one was better I would be very very happy with the current offering although I feel as though this is a 15 dollar torch.
Recieved my R5-A3 this weekend. I'm pretty happy with it. However, the tailcap seems to be a little odd. I've had to adjust it multiple times and the light flickers on and off. Hoping I can fix it.
lightmall has this for 14.00.. I have no idea about light mall but 14 is the cheapest I've seen it go for yet .. have one on order from KD. feel a little behind the times on this one .
If you somehow manage to get a peep out of them, it's pretty much on par with DX. And that's a big if. You might as well sacrifice a small goat on the altar at midnight and pray to the mail order Gods now, because chances are, they will just ignore you. That's pretty much their MO and I've given up entirely on communicating with KD and whenever there's a problem, I go through Paypal.
That's also the reason I tend to avoid KD. If you can't be bothered to reply to your customer's emails, I'll just vote with my wallet and take my business elsewhere.
The R5-A3 I got from KD had some issues, possibly with the clicky. The light tends to cut in and out. It's a pain in the ass when you have to tinker with it in the dark. Also the glow in the dark washer doesn't seem to fit in it's crevice, and so is not doing its job to keep water out of the emitter. I would not buy the light again because of these issues.
You posted 2 months ago you were having problems with the clicky switch take it apart and clean it with WD40 or order a new switch. It is to late to send it back which is what you should have done in the first place.
Here is the link 5 new switches for 1.88 with free shipping.