New Quark high CRI: very pleased.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Hi all,

After my infamous issues with CPF and 4Sevens, I'm pleased to report the new high CRI lights they have out now are excellent.  I received a Regular 123 from Going Gear today, and I'm very happy with the light.

The tint is simply beautiful; no hints of green or blue anywhere to be found in the beam profile.  It's a very peachy and somewhat rosy tint; definitely a warm tint to be sure, but I'm finding I like it even better than my current crop of neutrals, which includes XRE's, XPE's, XPG's, and XML's.  So far my favorite tints have been the XRE/XPE neutrals in the 5 bin, as they are warmer in comparison to other neutrals.  The Xeno E03 I have with a neutral T5 is virtually identical to the 5A/B tints of the XRE/XPE series in other lights I have.  This new high CRI XPG makes them look cool in comparison; it really lets you see that the neutral emitters really are neutral, despite their warmish appearance compared to cool tints.

I've got another on order now, and I also ordered 1xAA and 2xAA bodies as well.  I don't care for the 123 format, but they didn't offer them in the regular AA format, so I'm going to Lego the heads from these onto the AA bodies.  My new EDC is going to be one of these high CRI heads with a 1xAA body and a 14500.  The other head and the 2xAA body will go onto the waist belt of my hiking backpack as my dedicated hiking light.

Overall, I'm very pleased with the tint of this light, and I am a very picky tint snob.  So if you like warm tinted lights, get one of these while you still can.  They're a limited run, so they'll be out fast.

[nuphoria]

Good to know... what kind of output are you getting from them?

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

I don't have a sphere to do any actual testing, but in comparison to some other lights I have with known output values that I trust (like Zebralight and Jetbeam), I'd say the output on max is about 175 lumens. 

I'm not sure about the other levels; just guesstimating, I'd say the high mode is about 100 lumens, and the moonlight mode about .1 lumens.  I can't speculate about the levels in between without some specific comparisons to other lights I have with known output values, which I haven't done yet.

I've carried a Zebralight SC50w+ as my pocket EDC for over a year now.  I haven't found anything I like better until now.  While there are definitely things I like about the Zebralights better than the Quarks, particularly the UI and the side placement of the button, I'm going to carry this new Quark for a few days and see how I like it.  I'll eventually get one of the high CRI Zebralights and when I do, I'll post a comparison report of both lights.

[jekostas]

Yay for 4sevens nickel and diming people to death for what other companies (like Zebralight) don't charge extra for.

[enki_ck]

Glad you got a good one. I for one don't trust them anymore. I like my aa/aa2 r5 tactical but they and their terrible CS won't get a dime out of me anymore.

[mvyrmnd]

I'm glad yours is good. I'd give my factory HCRI Quark a score of 85%. I have a lot of other HCRI lights that are bang on, this one's not quite there.

I've been banging on on CPF about the HCRI XP-G since the moment it came out, and I'm glad it's finally getting some recognition. I find it somewhat entertaining watching people discover the "Holy Grail" many, many months after the fact.

In other words "Welcome (finally) to the club" 

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

I'm glad yours is good. I'd give my factory HCRI Quark a score of 85%. I have a lot of other HCRI lights that are bang on, this one's not quite there.

I've been banging on on CPF about the HCRI XP-G since the moment it came out, and I'm glad it's finally getting some recognition. I find it somewhat entertaining watching people discover the "Holy Grail" many, many months after the fact.

In other words "Welcome (finally) to the club" 

Well, this and the Preon 1 I got are my very first high CRI lights, which is why I'm quite happy with them.  In all honesty though, I felt pretty worried about buying more lights from them after the whole 'neutral' Preon debacle I went through...  I mean, that light... it's not neutral at all... the beam is blue tinted fer cryin' out loud...  Now though I want more high CRI lights... my previously favorite neutrals now look cool tinted in comparison!   

enki: I'm off of their stuff for a while now too, perhaps for good; I've had my fill of their tint lottery, and I consider myself lucky that the ones I've got now have good tints.  After this, it's back to Zebralight and Spark for me.  Even then, it'll be a while before I buy any new lights; I've run my CC up and need to pay it down so I'm on the flashlight/MT/knife wagon for the next few months until I can get my balance back down.

[gunga]

I've been doing mods with the 90+ High CRI XP-G for months now too, so it was nice to get something close in a production run.  Got a preon for my dad, and a Ti satin one for myself.

Overall, nice tint, 4 Sevens is prety good overall, decent features, used to have great CS (It has been quite good for me over the years) and I like some of the people there (Trevor, David are great guys).

I'm glad they have this now and hope it becomes a regular item since I won't buy cool white anymore.  It's not hard to mod the regular Quark series, but most others (like the preon) are glued really well and you will likely destroy a light trying to open it.

BTW, Jekostas, what do you mean by the nickel and diming thing?

[jekostas]

BTW, Jekostas, what do you mean by the nickel and diming thing?

The amount they charge for better tints, mostly.  Also, putting utterly useless accessories in the box (what am I going to do with a neck lanyard on a 2xAA light?).

I know 4Sevens is doing the HCRI stuff at standard pricing, but the annoyance still remains.

[gunga]

Ah, I see.

Yes, I guess so.  I have my accessories in a box, I rarely use any of them, probably should use the finger grips more...

Yeah, hit and miss.  But still has some good stuff.  I quite like the preon 1 with clicky added (at extra cost) and high CRI tint.

[mvyrmnd]

Well, this and the Preon 1 I got are my very first high CRI lights, which is why I'm quite happy with them.  In all honesty though, I felt pretty worried about buying more lights from them after the whole 'neutral' Preon debacle I went through...  I mean, that light... it's not neutral at all... the beam is blue tinted fer cryin' out loud...  Now though I want more high CRI lights... my previously favorite neutrals now look cool tinted in comparison!   

I know how you feel. I have a 4500K Mac's Customs Tri-EDC that I can't bear to use anymore because it seems like a hospital flouro by comparison!

[jzmtl]

My only adventure was a neutral white preon 2, I do like the tint in certain situations. Unfortunately it was cut short by it making loud buzzing after a 2 ft drop and 47 still not fixing it after 3 months, got tired of waiting so asked for credit toward something else.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Well, this and the Preon 1 I got are my very first high CRI lights, which is why I'm quite happy with them.  In all honesty though, I felt pretty worried about buying more lights from them after the whole 'neutral' Preon debacle I went through...  I mean, that light... it's not neutral at all... the beam is blue tinted fer cryin' out loud...  Now though I want more high CRI lights... my previously favorite neutrals now look cool tinted in comparison!   

I know how you feel. I have a 4500K Mac's Customs Tri-EDC that I can't bear to use anymore because it seems like a hospital flouro by comparison!

DOH!!!   

All things considered though, couldn't you send it in and ask for an emitter upgrade or replacement?  I mean, a Tri-EDC fer cryin' out loud?  A trio of high CRI Nichia 119's or the new Rebels that are in the Zebralights might be pretty pleasing... 

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

My only adventure was a neutral white preon 2, I do like the tint in certain situations. Unfortunately it was cut short by it making loud buzzing after a 2 ft drop and 47 still not fixing it after 3 months, got tired of waiting so asked for credit toward something else.

Fortunately I've never experienced the inductor whine I've heard many complain about... it might just be that my hearing in the high frequencies is bad because of some tinnitus I have, but still.

It's a shame they've been dragging their feet on your warranty service.  With the exception of the POS Preon 2 I got from them, their CS has been pretty good for me so far.

Still, unless they come out with something pretty compelling, I'll be saving my pennies for some of the new Zebras that will be coming out in the next few months.  I really would like to get a neutral Q50 when it finally comes out, and I'm also very interested in the new H502w they're supposed to be working on too.  Over on CPF a couple months ago the Zebralight rep posted they were working on W and C versions of the SC80 too, and at this point, I'll take any C model over a W if I can get it.

I've got a Spark ST6-460nw on my list too, but I'm going to wait a while on that one until I get some more time to get back on my bike, or to get out for some more caving.  Until then I won't have much of a genuine need for it. 

[mvyrmnd]

Well, this and the Preon 1 I got are my very first high CRI lights, which is why I'm quite happy with them.  In all honesty though, I felt pretty worried about buying more lights from them after the whole 'neutral' Preon debacle I went through...  I mean, that light... it's not neutral at all... the beam is blue tinted fer cryin' out loud...  Now though I want more high CRI lights... my previously favorite neutrals now look cool tinted in comparison!   

I know how you feel. I have a 4500K Mac's Customs Tri-EDC that I can't bear to use anymore because it seems like a hospital flouro by comparison!

DOH!!!   

All things considered though, couldn't you send it in and ask for an emitter upgrade or replacement?  I mean, a Tri-EDC fer cryin' out loud?  A trio of high CRI Nichia 119's or the new Rebels that are in the Zebralights might be pretty pleasing... 

I've actually had that conversation with Mac, and he's given me instructions on how to swap the light engine. I just have to front up $100 to buy a new LE from Lux-RC.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Well, this and the Preon 1 I got are my very first high CRI lights, which is why I'm quite happy with them.  In all honesty though, I felt pretty worried about buying more lights from them after the whole 'neutral' Preon debacle I went through...  I mean, that light... it's not neutral at all... the beam is blue tinted fer cryin' out loud...  Now though I want more high CRI lights... my previously favorite neutrals now look cool tinted in comparison!   

I know how you feel. I have a 4500K Mac's Customs Tri-EDC that I can't bear to use anymore because it seems like a hospital flouro by comparison!

DOH!!!   

All things considered though, couldn't you send it in and ask for an emitter upgrade or replacement?  I mean, a Tri-EDC fer cryin' out loud?  A trio of high CRI Nichia 119's or the new Rebels that are in the Zebralights might be pretty pleasing... 

I've actually had that conversation with Mac, and he's given me instructions on how to swap the light engine. I just have to front up $100 to buy a new LE from Lux-RC.

Sounds like a worthwhile upgrade to me.  I just wish I could afford one of Mac's lights in the first place!  I'd love to have a ti Sundrop or a Mule.  I'd definitely want one with a high CRI emitter though.  I've read a lot of great things about the Nichia 119's.  I really can't afford to spend more money, but I've also read a lot of good things about the Rebel 85 that's in the Zebralight 51c's, and I've been jonesing for one.  (As if I really need it...    )

One of the members over on CPF I've chatted with a bit is an engineer; we've had some good discussion about CRI and visual perception, and he's given me some good info on the Rebels Zebralight is using, that they're very well done emitters as they have a much broader power spectrum than a lot of the other high CRI emitters that are available right now, even the Nichia 119's.  I think Zebra is underdriving them in the 51c and 31c series so they're capable of more output too, so maybe you might want to consider those as well?  They might not have enough top end on them though, even when driven at a higher rate, to justify putting them in a Tri-EDC.

You could always go with three warm XML's!!!   

[mvyrmnd]

The Tri-EDC is destined for 7a3 90+ XP-G's. I know them, and love them (I have a Mac's 3300L with 9 of them running at 1550mA - 2500 High CRI lumens!)

I always experiment with emitters in P60 dropins. Much cheaper that way. I wonder if nailbender could build one...

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

The Tri-EDC is destined for 7a3 90+ XP-G's. I know them, and love them (I have a Mac's 3300L with 9 of them running at 1550mA - 2500 High CRI lumens!)

I always experiment with emitters in P60 dropins. Much cheaper that way. I wonder if nailbender could build one...

9 of them!  Holy laser cannon Batman!!!   

I gotta say, I'm envious of your knowledge of how to tinker with this kind of stuff...  I have pretty much 0 knowledge of electronics.  I'd love to be able to do some modding, but even if I knew how, it's not like I'd really have the time...

Let me know how it turns out with your light; I'd love to see a beamshot after you're done with it.  In the mean time, I'll busy myself with my new Quarks to keep me happy.  It's getting dark here now, so a walk through the local golf course on the multi-use trail sounds like a perfect way to both play with my new Quarks and get some exercise at the same time. 

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Just a little update on the Quark...

It snowed all day here where I'm working in Iowa, and we had a good 4" or 5" on the ground by about 5 p.m.  I pulled my boots out, grabbed my parka and fuzzy hat, put my new high CRI Quark head on my 18650 body, and went for a short little walk. 

I'm very happy with the performance of the high CRI head in the snowy conditions.  It really did a good job of lighting things up and showing the texture and contours in the snow.  I'll be heading back to my apartment from my office in a little while, and I'll compare it to my Xeno E03 with a neutral T5 and see how they both do in the snow.

It's funny... I've lived in California most of my life, and unless you live in up in the Sierras or the Trinities, snow is something you just drive up to for a day or two to have some fun, then go back home.  I'm giddy as a schoolboy now with all this snow here, and am really looking forward to getting out and having some fun in it.  If we get more of it this week, I'm gonna head over to intramurals and rent some snowshoes and head out into some of the open fields around the college here, and have some fun.