THAT SUCKS! i was talking to another member who ran into the same issue. I think I lucked out & got a first run of the light… I think the other ’batches’vary… Very similar to the SRK.
Yea….I was a little bummed. Was hoping for an improvement….not a decrease in output. There may be alot of variations. I really liked the way the torch looked with the red button and 4 emitters. I will keep checking…perhaps CNQG’s will get one that he likes. So far the reaction is mixed. I did order the XM-L2 U2/black version (3 emitter) from LightMalls….see how that one does. I will post my impressions. 
If you like this style of light, I’d get CNQG’s Warrior with XML2s, it is brighter than SRK, fixes a lot of the issues people have about SRK type styles: its not as fat, throws further, variable output mode, battery light indicator and with XML2s it doesn’t get quite as hot
I do agree Kung SHOULD be brighter, but even if you randomly get a “good” model, it still has all the above faults. After the dust cleared and I was issued a refund, I do still like my beat up Kung for the price I ended up paying, but thats not the cost you’ll pay to try to get one. Mine was a mediocre one if it arrived in good condition: it is probably brighter than my SRK because it floods more (but is not obviously visually brighter), tint is more twoards neutral, but nothing like Dale reported with his.
If you wanna truly want to not worry about it… Buy a Blackshadow Terminator…with the U3 emitters… It eats the SRK & Kung alive. 
Both those suggestions are really nice! I was buying this for a friend ….so was trying to get the best bang for the buck! In the past, the SRK was just that……and probably still is. I should not have purchased the “Kung” from an “Ebay” dealer that I have not dealt with in the past.
To give you an idea on the performance of my Kung, I compared it to my (single emitter) Zebralight SC600 MK2. It is rated at 900 lumens. The Kung was only slightly brighter….had about the same throw. I can’t imagine it is putting out more than 1500 lumens max. My Zebra 6330 (triple XM-L U3 emitters/rated at 2400L) was significantly brighter in both flood and throw. The 6330 and my “original” SRK from CNQG’s are pretty close…giving a slight edge to the Zebra. I guess too good to be true….I did love the 6500 lumen hype… S)
I am hoping the Ebay vendor will reimburse 1/2 the cost and I will keep the Kung for “host” mods or parts.
Look how off center the (top right) led is….
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SOOOO glad I didn’t impulse buy one of these as a CNQG SRK replacement…
Well, mine isn’t as bad as yours in output then, it does beat SRK in output when you account for wider spill, just hard to see visually. It came damaged with the driver hanging out though 
Too many cheap versions out there it seems.
It sucks thats performance & quality varies to such an extent on these…
If you had to buy one of these 2, which one would you choose and why?
http://www.kaidomain.com/product/details.S022211
(both with 4 emiters. Compared to the 3 emiter sky, they have a little more spill)
its grey. its cheaper. and they will all probably need to be modded to meet original SRK specs
That's a good deal Pulsar. Too bad I didn't wait for demand to drop. Since SRK's are thermally challenged with just 3 leds, I think I'm going to drop Nichia 219 H1 B10's in my Kung.
I have 4 versions of the SRK now……fun to play with and mod….but perhaps the time and money would be better spent getting a light with deeper/better reflectors.
Case in point…the Zebralight 6330 is what we all want are Kings to “mod” into. It is brighter, has better spill, more throw, awesome UI, incorporates U3 emitters….but it is still limited by the depth and size of the reflectors.
I would love to find a torch with the same “form factor” as the SRK….but with the reflector depth and size found in the (inexpensive) Ultrafire KF-T60. It’s crazy how much spill and throw it has! I guess I could ducktape 3 of those together…
Just purchased the BlackShadow Terminator Quad with the (new) XM-L U3 emitters. Illumination Supply is selling it for $105/free shipping! :bigsmile: Thats the best price I have seen it for. Be curious to see how it stacks up against my TM26.
From Reading JohnnyMac’s review (here) I believe this is what I was thinking about! I just wanted this package for the SRK’s price point.
I don’t know if anybody here has tried to submerge kung under water or not yet.
if not yet, better not to do so, because the switch is the weak point.
put in the bucket of water, half way submerge (switch facing upward) is fine. when the switch below water level instantly auto cycle mode from hi to low. tried to get it back to high again. less than 1 minute under water. took it out and yeahh the switch was screwed. couldn’t change mode, got stuck, couldn’t shut down, pressed once got it entered into hidden strobe.
popped out the driver board it was dry. popped out the switch button, found few tiny water droplets. dried with cloth.
already operating normal. then, after switched on high for few minutes it will auto cycling mode by itself, LOL 
after popped out the whole switch board and dry it for few hours, now it seems to be normal again…
Were you THAT mad at your Kung? Or was it just burning your hand?
Would love to know how it compares to the TM26 mate
@B42, no, I was just playing it around when testing my camera underwater
definitely the switch button need o-ring and lube too…
@mike sloan, terminator is real bright, however at that price range BTU seems to be good option especially when for sale.
The Blackshadow Terminator arrived! Awesome fit and finish. Really surprised that it is at the $100.00 price point. It is every bit as nice as the finish on the Fenix TK75 and Nitecore TM26. Did not know what to expect. The emitters in the Terminator are a later generation (U3 Vs TM26’s U2). Same overall lumen output of 3500. Reflectors are smooth and appear to be pretty close in circumference and depth to the TM26. Both run on “4” 18650’s……However, the beam patterns are totally different. The TM26 has a very defined spill pattern with a diffused hot spot. The overall flood is alittle brighter and wider on the TM26. The Terminator has a much brighter “hot spot” and the flood is more diffused and slightly smaller (very nice, however). The surprising difference is the throw from the Terminator dominates the TM26. It is pretty close to the throw on the TK75. Really surprised me! As compared to the Skyray King, the flood is not quite as wide…but the flood and throw from the Terminator are significantly brighter. The Terminator and the Skyray king appear similar in output when you are in the “medium” mode on the Terminator. Once you kick up to high….it washes out the King. Not really in the same league.
I would say that the BS Terminator sets the benchmark for the $100 torch. Really happy with the purchase.
I got one a few months ago… I agree completely. Awesome light.
I have a faulty skyray kung switch, anyone know where to get a replacement?
Thanks