3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights

If you look at the first data comparison which shows stock, look at the CCT value (correlated color temperature) aka color temp. Stock is 3071k and the Platinums are 3453k, so the Platinums are 382k whiter. It’s not huge, but it is noticeable in that it has less of the halogen yellow hue. Factory HIDs are 4300k and LED 6000k by comparison.

 

Appreciate that - I knew it was in there somewhere. Thanks for taking the time to clarify. I swapped my halogens for LEDs that I found to closely match the filament pattern of the stock halogens before seeing this thread. I think they’re working well but after reading all of this I’m thinking about going to upgraded halogens instead. I just don’t really like the yellowish light in the stock halogens as I want the output to match the LED DRLs. The LEDs I put in have a good cutoff it seems but, again, after reading this I am wondering about their actual performance. Took some pics while out on a rural road last night…

 

+1 I did the same, might as well have a backup at that price. Thanks for doping this out for us!

 

You could put horrible LEDs in and it would still have good cut off because of the projector assembly design. There is an internal light shield in the projector that enforces the cut off. Your picture has a lot of foreground light, that bright spot should be out at the horizon cut off, not immediately in front of your truck, which is usually the result of using a poorly designed LED having reduced distance projection. There are some reasonable performing LEDs if really wanting the 6000k look, but halogens perform better in a halogen assembly. Which LED units do you have?

 

Currently $7.71 at Walmart online as well.

 

they are a brand called Fahren. 10000 lumens 6500k. Good point about the cutoff, that makes sense. I did notice the concentration of light in the foreground rather at the ridge of the cutoff which has reinforced me desire to go back to halogens. These Fahrens do seem to be designed to mimic the halogens. But I can understand where they may not do a great job.

Really appreciate your knowledge here!

 

Been following this thread for a while, thanks for sharing all the testing and data @crashnburn80. Picked up a set of the Tungsram Platinums this morning and looking forward to getting them installed

 

Looking at those on Amazon, they look reasonably thin but the margin of error is difficult to determine in photos. 2mm wide between emitter faces is outstanding, 3mm wide doesn’t perform well. Hard to tell in a photo that doesn’t provide dimensions. The emitters also appears too large and not the best job at replicating halogen filament dimensions, which leads to loss of focus and increased foreground light. The big red flag though is price, at $40 a pair the quality and performance just won’t be there. They claim 60w, aka 30w each. Most bulbs tested that are far more expensive are in the high teen-low 20w range. The 30w spec is likely theoretical and inflated, I bet they are near half that. If wanting LED, Morimoto 2stroke 2.0, Hikari Ulta and the latest Philips are all reasonable ones to consider. None match the performance of the Tungsram Platinums, and at $8 a pair that is hard to pass up.

Note that the Platinums will have much less foreground light but vastly superior distance light. For some that is a hard adjustment to understand in practice as people naturally favor foreground light as it makes it seem like you can see better, when that is the opposite of how a headlight is supposed to work as the foreground light limits your distance vision. So initially the halogens may not seem as impressive due to the natural favoring of undesirable foreground light, but go out on some dark roads and the superior distance projection should be obvious, especially when driving at higher speeds where the extended distance illumination is even more important.

 

Something tells me those Platinums are going to be out of stock everywhere soon. I see Amazon is already sold out.

 

I ordered some of those Tungsram this morning! You are literally a scholar, @crashnburn80, and TW is a better place for your presence/participation. Cheers!

 

I literally bought them off Amazon moments after reading your review. I would presume them being sold out had something to do with that. I just got lucky I guess.

 

I bought a couple sets from Amazon as well. They aren't showing as sold out, but 2-5 weeks for delivery.

 

36 at time of posting, now sold out

 

I think it’s worthwhile to note that, in Alaska at least, these are available off the shelf at Fred Meyer. Usually $39.99 I think for the pair. So if the internet is out check local stores too.

 

Yeah I've seen both these and Philips bulbs here in the Anchorage Fred's. I'd be curious if they have an automotive section at the Kroger or King Supers

 

They were available for immediate delivery last night, now it shows 2-5 weeks which I suspect means they are sold out and waiting for the next shipment but will gladly take your order in the mean time.

Fred Meyer carries Tungsram, ironic good source for quality lights available locally for some. My local one carries them as well. To bad Sylvania has such a monopoly on the auto parts stores lighting products.

 

Now available on Amazon.

 

Review in post #3390. Good, but not as good as GE/Tungsram performance products in the 3rd Gen Projector.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ctor-headlights.589465/page-170#post-24327146

Edit: But interesting to finally see them available domestically!

 

I like the shorter glare cap compared to the GE/Tungsram. Big difference. It’s gotta let a lot more light through. I presume it will give a wider throw?

 

In a 3rd Gen projector, the vast majority of light is reflected from the back and sides of the projector bowl, very little light is forward projecting from the bulb. So the deeper glare cap wouldn’t be as harmful as it may seem at least in theory. While I didn’t take any off-center comparison measurements between the Pro and Megalight there is a side-by-side output shot. Where it would be more detrimental is in the side entry 4Runner projectors, where the extended glare cap sits perpendicular to the back of the projector bowl, and having a longer glare cap would directly block more light output. In that case a shorter glare cap would certainly be more beneficial.