Ultimate LED Bulbs - Ultra High CRI - The Honorable Quest

Photon_Master · 2023-02-08T23:22:36.000Z

One million % agreed my friend

Correllux · 2023-02-09T00:19:15.000Z

EU has already done some of this and as of this coming August (previously announced as September but pushed) they will be banning most fluorescent tubes. We’ve done similar here in the US with many incandescent standard bulbs…can only find decorative and appliance bulbs now, plus a few types of watt-limited service bulbs. The bans (as far as I know) are on manufacturing but sales will continue until old stock is sold through and of course ownership/use isn’t policed (again…as far as I know). This gives a long sunset period for transitions. I got alarmed a little while ago because of the changes/scarcity of some common T8 fluorescent tubes in regular retail outlets, googled and saw the ban, wondered how on earth our office building should go about dealing with this in 8 months (omg…$$:money_mouth_face:, and then figured out it was only EU at this time. We’ll follow suit eventually I’m sure, but in the mean time as global manufacturers stop making some of these products, the price shoots up considerably. T8 tubes are already nearly twice the price they were just two years ago…between that and the energy savings of LED, it can sure prod people to change more quickly. The phosphors for T-type tubes are already much better than they were not too many years ago, so lumens and cri are pretty good, and they’re long lived as are the ballasts these days……shopping around I’m a little unimpressed with what I’ve been seeing from commercial LED solutions (and if you want to hunt down high cri, the cost is kinda ridiculous, esp knowing what the actual costs are…robbery based on marketing alone).

I heard from an industry fellow that even when EU plants stop manufacturing what’s left of incandescent and fluorescent products, Mexico may continue and it’s very likely that China or India would pick up the slack, so they’ll probably still be available somehow.

bigEnjoyer · 2023-02-17T03:26:22.386Z

I don’t know why people don’t use the EPREL database for this. You can get CRI, full spectra, flicker, etc for all LED bulbs that are legal to sell in the EU, and sometimes R9 and so on too. Just scan the QR code in the store and then read all the info, or search here: EPREL Public website

If you’re really good with OCR, it shouldn’t be hard to automatically process the spectrum images to calculate everything you need. Surely it’s not so hard to write a program to process images like this into a CSV of the SPD?

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Here is a list of all E27 bulbs over 599lm with CRI, luminous flux, and some other info: https://files.catbox.moe/x2zo0p.csv. You can open this in Excel and then use the filter to find relevant bulbs.

There are other fields too, but some don’t map cleanly into CSV, so I can’t just export all of them. Can share the script I used to download if anyone cares.

Anyway: Why aren’t there any good high-CRI (>90), high-R9 (>60) bulbs that have decent luminous flux (>1000lm)? Why are they all so weak?

Hoop · 2023-02-17T04:51:21.516Z

bigEnjoyer:

Anyway: Why aren’t there any good high-CRI (>90), high-R9 (>60) bulbs that have decent luminous flux (>1000lm)? Why are they all so weak?

There are, in the A21 size.

From Waveform there’s 4006.30, 4006.40, etc. 15W, 1600 lumens. Not dimmable. Not for enclosed fixtures. Flicker free.

From “90+ lighting” there’s SE-350.052 which is 14W, 1100 lumens. Dimmable. Not for enclosed fixtures. <30% flicker.

robertsig · 2023-02-17T14:47:46.858Z

Based on the last few posts, I bought these:

TCP LED, 40W equivalent, CRI 95 and CCT 3000
90+ Lighting, 60W equivalent, CRI 90+ and CCT 3000

I measured both with my cheap Opple Lightmaster Pro.

Summary: Both perform exactly as advertised. Unfortunately they are advertised with a flicker of 30% or so, and yep…it’s that bad. Or maybe I’m just spoiled with my Waveform Lighting bulbs.

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Opple was at the base of a lamp, pointing up.

TCP LED

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90+ Lighting

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Hoop · 2023-02-17T20:58:43.313Z

Until there’s an LED bulb which is advertised as dimmable, rated for enclosed fixtures, and flicker free, we don’t have an ideal LED bulb.

Right now as far as I know you have to trade between those features. You can have flicker free but not the other two, or the other two but not flicker free.

You could take a flicker free Waveform bulb and attempt to dim it, and also put it in an enclosed fixture, but it will lose brightness relatively quickly in an enclosed fixture.

I just use Incan/Halogen where I want dimming, which is bathrooms and bedrooms. This is better than LED dimming because the CCT also drops as the bulb is dimmed.

An alternative option to LED bulbs is to build a custom system with dimming LED drivers, like certain models from Meanwell, and use some super high CRI COBs like Bridgelux Thrive. Then you can have it all, but this is not very practical outside of a new home construction, or a garage or basement environment, or a stand alone lamp.

About the “California Building Energy Efficiency Standard CEC JA8-2016 Title 24” which the 90+ Lighting bulb is advertised as complying with:

• CRI must be ≥ 90
• R9 must be ≥ 50
• Flicker must be < 30%
• CCT lower than 4000
• Rated life ≥ 15,000 hours
• Minimum 10% dimming required

I have not noticed flicker or any effects of flicker from the 90+ bulbs.

lights_on_bikes · 2023-02-21T19:42:14.014Z

How about these Philips LED Frosted Dimmable Warm Glow Effect A19, Ultra Definition, Flicker-Free, EyeComort bulbs?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B92VRHJ2

CRI 95
R9 84
800 lumens
Dimmable
Suitable for enclosed fixtures
No flicker that I can detect using my high speed camera at 240 fps. I haven’t tried a photodiode yet. The only other lights I have seen with no flicker are the strips I have from Waveform. Even my Halogens have more flicker.
Plus, these are ridiculously cheap. <$3 each.
I don’t really know how they did it. I think they are cheating on the R9 a bit by adding some red LEDs in there. The spectrum plots aren’t as nice as Waveform bulbs, but pretty close.

energystar.gov

Product Finder — ENERGY STAR Certified Light Bulbs

Compare ENERGY STAR Certified Light Bulbs, find rebates, and learn more.

They have a whole family of bulbs with the same CRI 95 spec. I am going to try the A21 1600 lumen bulb as well. I couldn’t find it in the energy star database, though. Any ideas why?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B8TMM25D

lights_on_bikes · 2023-02-21T19:47:56.928Z

I was hoping to get this bulb, because I prefer 3000k and 1600 lumens in an A19 form factor! But, it seems to be impossible to order, since every time I order based on the UPC 046677561079 I get the old version!
New version with great specs:

energystar.gov

Product Finder — ENERGY STAR Certified Light Bulbs

Compare ENERGY STAR Certified Light Bulbs, find rebates, and learn more.

Old version with not so good R9 and not rated for enclosed:

energystar.gov

Product Finder — ENERGY STAR Certified Light Bulbs

Compare ENERGY STAR Certified Light Bulbs, find rebates, and learn more.

Hoop · 2023-02-22T01:21:03.466Z

I haven’t looked at that Philips bulb before. The listed specs are sparse. Link to Philips product page.

They do not say if the bulbs are rated for enclosed fixtures or recessed fixtures. Where did you see this claim? (edit: I see now, on the energystar.gov page)
Unfortunately Philips provides no photometric reports, no details regarding the flicker characteristics. One might be able to procure these from Philips.

The feature where the CCT lowers as it dims is nice, although a reviewer mentioned: “at about 90% dimmed, they seem to lose most of the amber color and go back to a soft white.” The dimming behavior might be dependent on the dimmer controls used. Ideally the bulb would be 3000k at the top end instead of 2700k, and ~1900k at the bottom or whatever can be realistically achieved.

lights_on_bikes · 2023-02-22T15:48:59.144Z

There’s some info here:

r/flashlight - Very New High CRI bulbs came in! --- Philips Ultra Definition...

138 votes and 101 comments so far on Reddit

My guess is the photometric data will look like this, from a different Philips bulb:

One user measured a similar spectrum from these specific bulbs here:

I haven’t noticed anything unusual in the dimming behavior. The CCT lowers. Maybe at the lowest level it gets cool again, but it’s hard to say. Our eyes aren’t that good at recognizing color in extreme darkness.

I’ll measure the flicker percentage, but it looks very good. I’m not sure how they did it. I can see a 12 uf capacitor in the bulb. I’m guessing there is an IC in there, since it has a delayed turn on. Maybe a linear regulator to even out the remaining ripple? But no idea how they did all that with no external cooling. I might have to tear down one to see the inner circuits.

randy0331 · 2023-04-15T09:17:38.501Z

Longtime lurker here, but wanted to see if anyone has experience buying from Yuji LED? I’m reviewing their shipping policy and I’m a bit concerned if the shipping is reliable with international import duties and whatnot. I would hate to spend hours dealing with FedEx or DHL while they hold my goods ransom. I’m based in Los Angeles and I’m hoping to pick up a few of their A19s, and their adjustable-zoom PAR38 also seems pretty cool.

hyperknot · 2023-07-16T00:13:32.817Z

Hi, in Europe I can get cheap LED bulbs from a Czech brand called EMOS.

Their previous version E14 / 2700K (ZQ1223) was CRI 97 with R9 = 90. I could get these for about 4 EUR each.

Their new version (ZQ1225) is with Bridgelux Thrive LEDs yet they are ridiculously cheap, under <2 EUR each.
What’s interesting is that although Bridgelux Thrive is CRI 98 with R9 over 98, their light built on this LED is only CRI 94 wih R9 = 50.

Here is the datasheet + spectrum for the old one: EPREL Public website
and the new one: EPREL Public website

Which one do you believe is better? The new one is advertised with low levels of blue light, but I wonder what happened to the R9.

zabulbo · 2024-08-08T05:06:20.405Z

Hi everyone,

I created an account just to post under this topic! I’m looking for high CRI (95+) CCT (white tunable) smart bulbs that support Zigbee. The CRI of Ikea Tradfri and Philips Hue bulbs leaves a lot to be desired. If anyone has any insights in this area, I’d really appreciate them!

raccoon · 2024-08-08T05:07:48.089Z

I hope you have fun here, zabulbo!

aCuria · 2024-09-12T17:39:48.078Z

Zabulbo, I too would like to know if such bulbs exist, but I don’t think they exist

However you can get similar results using a zigbee switch and regular light. That’s the approach I am exploring

AmperaGE · 2024-12-07T17:29:58.245Z

Was trying to find some decent bulbs in the EU and came across these:

ledvance.com

LED Lamps with natural light CRI97

They claim 97 CRI and 85 R9 with 2700K CCT. Anyone tested these?

NeutralFan · 2025-05-25T02:34:49.521Z

I bought a 6 pack of these switchable CCT LEDs from Costco a couple weeks ago for $10 for a bathroom light fixture.

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I was having problems with the previous LEDs flickering with the dimmer switch. It’s a regular, non-LED specific, dimmer. So I put some 60W incandescent bulbs back in, but didn’t like the energy they were using.

So I tried these bulbs. Surprisingly they dim just as well as the incandescents and no flickering at all. I thought the switchable CCT was a gimmick at first, but it works very well. Usually I prefer 2700K throughout the house, but after a while I preferred 3000K.

I found it interesting that the plastic bulbs are so thin and pliable that they can press in while installing, but fortunately they bounce right back into shape.

Right to left are the 5 different CCT settings with the very left again being the 3000K that I prefer.

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QReciprocity42 · 2025-05-25T15:18:40.727Z

I’ve gotten the same bulbs a few months ago, and didn’t find the plastic pliable. Maybe they somehow made a new design.

The 3000K setting is definitely cooler than 3000K, and the middle 3 CCTs are all very rosy.

The color rendering is not uniform across the CCTs, with 2700K being the worst and 6500K being the best. Whatever emitter they used for the 6500K, there is no blue spike or cyan dip, while the 2700K is noticeably lacking in deep red and has a very spiky spectrum in the orange-red region.

NeutralFan · 2025-05-26T00:50:44.631Z

Agreed that they appear cooler than advertised. Here’s another pic with the very left now with an incandescent bulb that should be around 2700K. I should’ve done that initially.

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raccoon · 2025-05-26T01:39:53.064Z

Great photo!