Which CCT of SFT25R did you get the new phosphor? My biggest problem with this emitter is uneven phosphor distribution in 5000K (dark center), followed by high Vf that makes full output impossible for almost every 18650.
The 3000K SFT40 is really something else. I had a 3000K SST20 for a side-by-side, and the SFT40 has noticeably better color rendering: cyans and red are well-contrasted, and nothing looks pale. Without a side-by-side comparison, I could not tell the difference between a SFT40 3000K and a halogen spectrum. For every other blue-pumped LED I’ve tried, including 519A, the difference is obvious without comparison.