Like many of you, searching for a high performing 95+ CRI 95+ R9 LED bulb under $25 US – very difficult, it seems. The performance of even 90 CRI bulbs isn’t good enough for my eyes, colors washed out and ashen – yuck.
Like many of you, searching for a high performing 95+ CRI 95+ R9 LED bulb under $25 US – very difficult, it seems. The performance of even 90 CRI bulbs isn’t good enough for my eyes, colors washed out and ashen – yuck.
I have MASTERLED ExpertColor LED ExpertColor 5.5-50W GU10 927 36D 871869670767800
in warm white CRI (Nom.) 97
they are very nice also the tint is good but I can not test things like CRI or R9
Like many of you, searching for a high performing 95+ CRI 95+ R9 LED bulb under $25 US – very difficult, it seems. The performance of even 90 CRI bulbs isn’t good enough for my eyes, colors washed out and ashen – yuck.
Has anyone tested the Philips ExpertColor line? They claim 95 CRI but I don’t see any R9 or Rf performance.
Anyone measured flicker on Philips LEDspot ExpertColor GU10 ?
On Amazon I see few reviews about flicker,_
“However, there is a very small amount of flicker both at full brightness and when dimmed,
which is disappointing as some cheaper LEDs don’t flicker at all. “_
and _“Actually nice warm light with good color rendering, but: It flickers!
It is impossible to take photos with a digital camera (Lumix G5) or even with a mobile phone, because everything looks striped. “_
Lexel wrote:
I have MASTERLED ExpertColor LED ExpertColor 5.5-50W GU10 927 36D 871869670767800
in warm white
they are very nice also the tint is good but I can not test things like CRI or R9
Can you measure temp. of these lamps (thermometer, thermal imager ) after 1 hour work?
How much flicker on full power or when it’s dimmed ?
—
Flashlights : custom (Jaxman E2L with led4power LD-4 drivers and 3xOsram CQAR.CC), custom Skillhunt H03 with Osram 3К/4К, Zebralight {H600fc IV, Sc600fc IV, H600fc III}, Jaxman E2(N219b), Convoy UV.
Previous: Zebralight {H501, H600W, H600W II, H602W}, NiteCore TIPCRI, A A01, Fenix L2D CE/CEQ5.
I ordered several bulbs from Bulbrite from the below criteria. Mostly filament bulbs because they seem to dim extremely well and have good side output.
I had to repload the CRI result… the image was missing, implying they may have DMCA’d it, but never got a notice from google.. I would not buy from that aliexpress store with the way they bully, the only way that image went missing is they reported it.
They sent me “tests” with numbers very different from my old and outdated calibration tool (which only has a problem with too much green) on aliexpress…. (and of course, it was only “tested for 2 months”)
DIY led uhome if you are reading this it never pays to be a bully!
regarding the heat comment… it creaks when turned on, this implies that it is heating rapidly. so clearly there may be an issue, I have no way to measure the temperature.
—
I only like high CRI, I have or have had in order of pref:
Fireflies NOV-MU 21 4500k E21A (preorder)
Fireflies ROT66 219B SW45 D220
Fireflies E07 219B SW45
Emisar D4 SST20 4000k frosted lens (the lack of some preset levels kinda makes me want to rate it lower though...)
Jaxman E2L 219c 5700k (indoor use only due to color temp)
It is as advertised but nothing spectacular. The CRI is not as high as Yuji or Waveform type 95+ CRI bulbs but the output is nearly double and price slightly cheaper. These types of filament bulbs are probably your best bet if you want to use a dimmer though I did not test that yet.
Received few gu10 and mr16 ExpertColor lamps from Ebay store’s.
Very nice tint, may be slightly better, that from Soraa Vivid 3000K.
Good optics (36 grad).
Color reproduction – very nice for LED lamp (not as good , as from my etalon bulbs, Osram halogen 3000K and Solux halogen 3500K, but very close and better than many other CRI90+ lamps).
Temperture after 25…30min of work :
gu10 5.5w 230v : approx. +50…+53 (Seek Thermal xr),
6.5w 12v : approx +61+63, +60 on foto, 1min after off and removed from fixture (ambient temp. : +20 …+21).
1) philips Expertcolor gu10 5.5w in open fixture, Wofi Minit , after30min
2) philips Expertcolor mr16 6.5w in Ikea desk lamp
3) || 1min after off and removed from fixture
—
Flashlights : custom (Jaxman E2L with led4power LD-4 drivers and 3xOsram CQAR.CC), custom Skillhunt H03 with Osram 3К/4К, Zebralight {H600fc IV, Sc600fc IV, H600fc III}, Jaxman E2(N219b), Convoy UV.
Previous: Zebralight {H501, H600W, H600W II, H602W}, NiteCore TIPCRI, A A01, Fenix L2D CE/CEQ5.
I am going to do an experiment. I have a ton of Lee minus Green (804). I am going to see what happens if I open these up and add a minus green filter to them.
Just purchased some Feit LED’s from Costco for $12.99 for a 6pk. 91 CRI, 90 R9. Can’t find them on Costco’s site or Feit’s. I can tell a significant difference in the color of my walls in comparison to my 80 CRI recessed lights (need to find replacements for these next).
When you say full brightness is it still on a dimmer? I could never get the flicker out on my dimmer either and Lutron are regarded as some of the best dimmers for LED
When you say full brightness is it still on a dimmer? I could never get the flicker out on my dimmer either and Lutron are regarded as some of the best dimmers for LED
These particular ones are on a Lutron Caseta dimmer. PD-6WCL i believe. I have no flickering or anything during dimming, they get really low before just simply turning off. They’re just randomly failing, probably crappy caps.
But it only allows changing CCT, which already exist. I wish it allows tweaking DUV also.
It can tweak to Duv as well and even adjusts based on LED age (by detecting fwd voltage) to maintain 1 step eclipse. It can dim through wireless commands or via in wall dimmer which detects waveform.
I been trying atleast two different models. Both said it was dimmable, but unless it was on full power it was a strobo. Well finally got rid of that old halogen lamp because it was too hard to find any good leds for it.
Just purchased some Feit LED’s from Costco for $12.99 for a 6pk. 91 CRI, 90 R9. Can’t find them on Costco’s site or Feit’s. I can tell a significant difference in the color of my walls in comparison to my 80 CRI recessed lights (need to find replacements for these next).
I’ve really been out of the hobby for lack of time since early May.. Just moved into a new house and as any true lighting snob would, despised most of the bulbs/fixtures currently installed. Really wishing a truly good and affordable bulb becomes available soon. I still have a handful of Great Value bulbs waiting to get emitter swaps with SunLike 3030s. Also have really been desiring a truly good variable CCT (but not RGB) bulb. Ideally a smart bulb (circadian) that has a time/calendar/latitude programming maybe via BT or even one-time flashing via USB..
p. IKEA Ledare, type LED1708R5.
A dimmable GU10 bulb that uses very warm leds at the lowest brightness setting and gets cooler tint at higher setting by gradually mixing in a cooler set of leds and switching off the warm set at the highest setting.
Gave the 600 lumen version of these a try, and it seems to have mad tint shift. The edges of the beam are outright orange on this set of them. I’m also getting more glare than I expected, but it might be just the beam being a bit narrower (36°).
That being said, found a 3000k Luminus 50W equivalent dimmable 90+CRI 40° GU10 claiming 71 lm/w (as opposed to the 80 lm/w that the 600 W Ledare claims) that seems to be pretty good.
Not seeing it online, but the model name in-store was Luminus Elite+ LED.
I’d be very interested to hear more about these StarLike bulbs. Is this the next evolution of your SunLike bulbs? Still using the Seoul/Toshiba SunLike 3030’s/COBs?
Lidl have some E27 2700k 806Lm bulbs £3.49 for 2 pack. They are advertised as Ra >=97 but they are just an awful yellow hue, not the normal white/orange but more a bright yellow colour.
Livarno Lux branded OWIM GmbH
HG06289A IAN 339473_1910
I’d like to make a web app for this list that is a searchable, filterable list and includes spectrum data/charts. Right now I’m using the X-Rite Colormunki Photo, but I’d really like to be able to chart beyond 730nm. The much more expensive Sekonic meters only go to 780nm. The only competing product I’ve found that goes beyond is an aliexpress find for $1550 called the Hopoocolor OHSP350S that covers 350-950nm, or they have an integrating sphere setup with sensors that cover 200-1100nm, model HPCS6500, for the low low price of $7k.
Any options that I’m not aware of that would allow accurate, repeatable capture beyond 350-750nm?
Most of the sunlike bulbs are under that price
I have MASTER LED ExpertColor LED ExpertColor 5.5-50W GU10 927 36D 871869670767800
in warm white
CRI (Nom.) 97
they are very nice also the tint is good but I can not test things like CRI or R9
[Reviews] Miboxer C4-12, C2-4k+6k, C2, C4 / Astrolux K1, MF01, MF02, S42, K01, TI3A / BLF Q8 / Kalrus G35, XT11GT / Nitefox UT20 / Niwalker BK-FA30S / Sofirn SF36, SP35 / Imalent DM21TW / Wuben I333 / Ravemen PR1200 / CL06 lantern / Xanes headlamp
[Mods] Skilhunt H03 short / Klarus XT11GT, XT12GTS / Zebralight SC50+ / Imalent DM21TW / colorful anodisation
[Sale]
Drivers: overview of sizes and types
DD+AMC based drivers Anduril or Bistro OTSM 12-24mm, S42, 24-30mm L6, Q8, MF01(S), MT03, TN42
Anduril or Bistro 8A buck driver for 20-30mm, MF01/02/04, TN40/42, Lumintop GT, MT09R
UVC and UVC+UVA drivers
programming key
Remote switch tail DD board with FET
Aux boards:
Emisar D1, D1S, D4, D4S, D18, Lumintop FW3A, Fireflies ROT66, Astrolux MF01, Tail boards like S2+
Soraa lamps is nice by CRI & R9 , but tint isn’t ideal ; excellent heatsinks (I use AR111& mr16 lamps). And “violet pump” instead of blue.
Philips ExpertColor line — 95 CRI for E26/27 lamps , 97CRI for mr16/gu10 lamps.
Flashlights : custom (Jaxman E2L with led4power LD-4 drivers and 3xOsram CQAR.CC), custom Skillhunt H03 with Osram 3К/4К, Zebralight {H600fc IV, Sc600fc IV, H600fc III}, Jaxman E2(N219b), Convoy UV.
Previous: Zebralight {H501, H600W, H600W II, H602W}, NiteCore TIPCRI, A A01, Fenix L2D CE/CEQ5.
> Soraa … but they are terribly expensive
Yep, I’m hoping the price falls on those over time. I can wait.
Can you measure temp. of these lamps (thermometer, thermal imager ) after 1 hour work?
How much flicker on full power or when it’s dimmed ?
Flashlights : custom (Jaxman E2L with led4power LD-4 drivers and 3xOsram CQAR.CC), custom Skillhunt H03 with Osram 3К/4К, Zebralight {H600fc IV, Sc600fc IV, H600fc III}, Jaxman E2(N219b), Convoy UV.
Previous: Zebralight {H501, H600W, H600W II, H602W}, NiteCore TIPCRI, A A01, Fenix L2D CE/CEQ5.
One more warm white CRI95+ bulb tested here:
Prometheus A60 E27 LED Bulb
I ordered several bulbs from Bulbrite from the below criteria. Mostly filament bulbs because they seem to dim extremely well and have good side output.
Bulbrite product search
I guess this is the same company who makes SORAA to i’m hopeful they are good. I will run basic spectral tests when they arrive.
Update on http://budgetlightforum.com/comment/1593524#comment-1593524
I had to repload the CRI result… the image was missing, implying they may have DMCA’d it, but never got a notice from google.. I would not buy from that aliexpress store with the way they bully, the only way that image went missing is they reported it.
They sent me “tests” with numbers very different from my old and outdated calibration tool (which only has a problem with too much green) on aliexpress…. (and of course, it was only “tested for 2 months”)
DIY led uhome if you are reading this it never pays to be a bully!
regarding the heat comment… it creaks when turned on, this implies that it is heating rapidly. so clearly there may be an issue, I have no way to measure the temperature.
I only like high CRI, I have or have had in order of pref:
Fireflies NOV-MU 21 4500k E21A (preorder)
Fireflies ROT66 219B SW45 D220
Fireflies E07 219B SW45
Emisar D4 SST20 4000k frosted lens (the lack of some preset levels kinda makes me want to rate it lower though...)
Jaxman E2L 219c 5700k (indoor use only due to color temp)
Jaxman E2L 219c 4000k
Klarus Mi7
Varmint removal (throw):
Convoy M21A C8 ver SST20 4000k (5a)
Convoy S2+ SST20 4000k (3200ma)
Lumintop ODL20C
CRI test dump https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1kcl_uOhgfpR4RSsa8F4b-UUVP9mkL6Cr...
Bulbrite 90 CRI measurements
Bulbs and unscientific test setup:
Measurements taken at 10 minutes:
Model: LED12A19/930/J/D/3
Price: $4.60
Model: LED8A19/30K/FIL/2/JA8
Price: $7.50
Model: LED8A19/27K/FIL/2/JA8
Price: $7.50
Model: LED9A19/30K/FIL/3
Price: $8.80
Model: LED9A19/30K/FIL/M/3
Price: $9.50
TL;DR
It is as advertised but nothing spectacular. The CRI is not as high as Yuji or Waveform type 95+ CRI bulbs but the output is nearly double and price slightly cheaper. These types of filament bulbs are probably your best bet if you want to use a dimmer though I did not test that yet.
Thanks, that one looks good for the price.
Received few gu10 and mr16 ExpertColor lamps from Ebay store’s.
Very nice tint, may be slightly better, that from Soraa Vivid 3000K.
Good optics (36 grad).
Color reproduction – very nice for LED lamp (not as good , as from my etalon bulbs, Osram halogen 3000K and Solux halogen 3500K, but very close and better than many other CRI90+ lamps).
Temperture after 25…30min of work :
gu10 5.5w 230v : approx. +50…+53 (Seek Thermal xr),
6.5w 12v : approx +61+63, +60 on foto, 1min after off and removed from fixture (ambient temp. : +20 …+21).
1) philips Expertcolor gu10 5.5w in open fixture, Wofi Minit , after30min
2) philips Expertcolor mr16 6.5w in Ikea desk lamp
3)
||1min after off and removed from fixtureFlashlights : custom (Jaxman E2L with led4power LD-4 drivers and 3xOsram CQAR.CC), custom Skillhunt H03 with Osram 3К/4К, Zebralight {H600fc IV, Sc600fc IV, H600fc III}, Jaxman E2(N219b), Convoy UV.
Previous: Zebralight {H501, H600W, H600W II, H602W}, NiteCore TIPCRI, A A01, Fenix L2D CE/CEQ5.
What is the easiest E27 high CRI bulb to acquirer in the UK, without high costs?
I have the Philips ExpertColour GU10s in some places, but they don’t seem to have a ExpertColour E27.
FEIT Electric OM60DM/930CA/4
$2.47/bulb
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CP2TT4N/
I am going to do an experiment. I have a ton of Lee minus Green (804). I am going to see what happens if I open these up and add a minus green filter to them.
Here’s an amazing tunable high CRI bulb of the “future”. Tech would need to trickle down to households but it’s an interesting read.
https://www.powerelectronictips.com/teardown-super-adjustable-ketra-a20-...
Update: I’ve replaced 6 bulbs so far because of major flickering issues (at full brightness or any range). Disappointing.
I’ve contacted their customer support to see if they’ll send replacements.
When you say full brightness is it still on a dimmer? I could never get the flicker out on my dimmer either and Lutron are regarded as some of the best dimmers for LED
These particular ones are on a Lutron Caseta dimmer. PD-6WCL i believe. I have no flickering or anything during dimming, they get really low before just simply turning off. They’re just randomly failing, probably crappy caps.
But it only allows changing CCT, which already exist. I wish it allows tweaking DUV also.
It can tweak to Duv as well and even adjusts based on LED age (by detecting fwd voltage) to maintain 1 step eclipse. It can dim through wireless commands or via in wall dimmer which detects waveform.
I love improved tech, but this sounds like it crosses a line into overly complex.
Samsung 30Q vs Nickel Strip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys5wwUJOz58
My Spectrometer Tests:
SST-20 4000K
219b R9080 4000K
COBs_5700K_CRI95+
E21A R9080 5000K
D-C-Fix Diffuser Film
Are there any R7S LED bulbs worth recommending?
I been trying atleast two different models. Both said it was dimmable, but unless it was on full power it was a strobo. Well finally got rid of that old halogen lamp because it was too hard to find any good leds for it.
I’ve really been out of the hobby for lack of time since early May.. Just moved into a new house and as any true lighting snob would, despised most of the bulbs/fixtures currently installed. Really wishing a truly good and affordable bulb becomes available soon. I still have a handful of Great Value bulbs waiting to get emitter swaps with SunLike 3030s. Also have really been desiring a truly good variable CCT (but not RGB) bulb. Ideally a smart bulb (circadian) that has a time/calendar/latitude programming maybe via BT or even one-time flashing via USB..
Gave the 600 lumen version of these a try, and it seems to have mad tint shift. The edges of the beam are outright orange on this set of them. I’m also getting more glare than I expected, but it might be just the beam being a bit narrower (36°).
That being said, found a 3000k Luminus 50W equivalent dimmable 90+CRI 40° GU10 claiming 71 lm/w (as opposed to the 80 lm/w that the 600 W Ledare claims) that seems to be pretty good.
Not seeing it online, but the model name in-store was Luminus Elite+ LED.
StarLike (tssss, it is the secret):
Crowdfunding of mass model of SunLike bulb (TRI-R) — http://budgetlightforum.com/node/74261
BelMORDOR’s Ламповщик|Lampman

https://t.me/sunlikenews
I’d be very interested to hear more about these StarLike bulbs. Is this the next evolution of your SunLike bulbs? Still using the Seoul/Toshiba SunLike 3030’s/COBs?
Lidl have some E27 2700k 806Lm bulbs £3.49 for 2 pack. They are advertised as Ra >=97 but they are just an awful yellow hue, not the normal white/orange but more a bright yellow colour.
Livarno Lux branded
OWIM GmbH
HG06289A
IAN 339473_1910
I’d like to make a web app for this list that is a searchable, filterable list and includes spectrum data/charts. Right now I’m using the X-Rite Colormunki Photo, but I’d really like to be able to chart beyond 730nm. The much more expensive Sekonic meters only go to 780nm. The only competing product I’ve found that goes beyond is an aliexpress find for $1550 called the Hopoocolor OHSP350S that covers 350-950nm, or they have an integrating sphere setup with sensors that cover 200-1100nm, model HPCS6500, for the low low price of $7k.
Any options that I’m not aware of that would allow accurate, repeatable capture beyond 350-750nm?
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