Except all of these brand are absolute garbage......the rated lumens like the hikari claims 9600lm is nothing but fake marketing, faker than silicon titties. None of them reaches that lumen output.
@@Briceon I'm not saying the channel is bad, im just saying these so called high output LEDs are just naturally garbage. Its all fake marketing. My philips extreme ultinons H11's are way brighter than all of these and best thing is it doesn't have wacky leds in a 360 design that throws light everywhere cause philips designed it to fit halogen housings.
@@BulbFacts Thanks for the informative video. How can we recognize if a LED kit is suitable for the projector type of headlights? I mean is there any way to recognize the suitable option just by looking at them before buying?
@@SamY-el6vm the manufacturers are designing the LED bulbs for both reflector and projector style, however our tests seem to favor bulbs with a non-blocked front end, as the projector does not take well to bulbs with a covering near the front (for a reflector typically). We are working on updating our results to our 2.0 test bench, but you can check out our projector specific results for now; www.bulbfacts.com/led-kits/chart/projectors.html
Awesome video, you guys should include high beam testing too! You guys helped me through the process of upgrading to Hikaris a month back for highs and lows and it turned out very well! Still thankful for everything!
Hey Bobtart12 yes I remember ya! That's great to hear! We'll do a video in the future for high-beams as well. Thanks for the suggestion and for the support!
@@DavidPLopez great to hear from you! We have tested high-beams now, so you can find the results on our charts. We are working on a new video though and will have something up soon!
Finally found an LED that works well in my projectors - the Katanas. *Very* bright, virtually perfect beam pattern without glare. I love that it's actually 5.9k as indicated in the chart, just cool white no icky blue.Thanks so much guys, your tests really help me narrow down my choices with real world info - keep it up!
Hey, just wanted you to know, I followed your advice and bought the Hikari bulbs to replace oem on a Hummer H3. The difference is amazing, I can see so much better, they look modern, were very easy to fit, with no modification. All round an excellent recommendation, the extra money was well worth it, thankyou!
Almost spent $100 each on 2 sets for my car and my girlfriend's car but after this I saved so much! I'm glad you had the Projector and Reflectors, great video.
I used the TechMax LED for about 4 months and it's still working perfectly, is very white and throws a lot more light than halogens. Thank you so much for making these tests ! You changed the notion that LEDs don't belong in reflectors.
I hadn't tested in really heavy rains, however I did have some heavy fog about 10 days ago and I was happy with the results. I was expecting glare and backlash, but it cut through nicely.
I'm in Florida, so we have constant rain here. The rain drops are a bit more visible with the white light compared to yellow halogens, but it's not distracting. You'll be just fine.
Got the hikari to the UK from amazon.com £90.90 delivered. H11 fitted plug and play into a 2016 Suzuki vitara. (Projector style). Its like night and day compared to the stock halogens. Now just need something for the high beams (reflector style) to match the 6450K colour. Thanks blubfacts
I did a lot of research because I wanted to put LED headlight bulbs in my 2006 Ford Ranger (9007) and 1999 Honda CR-V (H4/9003). Your videos and BulbFact Chart were very helpful. I also looked at the reviews of the various bulbs, both positive, and negative., premium, and budget. I finally decided on mid-range LED bulbs for both vehicles: Hikari Ultras, for $88.00 per set (thank you for the 10% discount code). You cover a of features, but you do not cover longevity, and customer service. A lot the negative reviews dealt with chips that fell off the bulb holders. This happened a lot. Some companies did not respond to customer complaints, others tried hard to please the customer. I think these two issues would be very helpful to your viewers. Thanks for all your testing!.
Hey Scoop43! Thanks we appreciate that! The Hikari Ultra's are very popular and seem to work well. We are actually keeping track of customer service for each brand, and will eventually add some details there as well. Most have been good so far, both on Amazon/eBay and premium brands especially. We'll also do bench stress testing of the LED products in the future. Currently, we are working on halogen there. Great suggestions though, and we plan to continue to enhance our testing and results for you guys!
Hello, I just wanted to thank you for this video! I had already bought a pair of LED headlights and they were crap. I had no idea about the difference between reflector and projector style lights. So when I put the ones I bought in my projector housing, it just didn't work. My halogens where brighter! So, after watching a few videos form BulbFacts and going over to their website. I felt comfortable getting these Hikari LEDs. Such a difference! I do not regret getting these one bit! Thanks again BulbFacts!
In the rain its not all about the brightness, color matters a lot also, a whiter/ bluer light is worse in those conditions, a 4.3k xenon bulb works best.
Man, I have the same problem. I'm 59 years old and my eyes have aged a little bit. So I really want all the light that I can get. That's another reason I want to upgrade my fog lights.
@@ronatkinson4142 you should also consider renovating your headlights, most people I see driving with fog lights don't light up the road in front of them anyway, they don't see shit but would have never thought that their headlights are toast unless you pointed it out to them.
@@piciu256 I just put new Hikari LEDs in my low beams, yesterday. Now I'm just wanting to upgrade the fog lights and high beams, and my backup lights. So I am sort of in the middle of an upgrade. Thank you for your help. I am trying to figure out what to put in the high beams though?
@@ronatkinson4142 if I were you, I'd put a HID kit into the low beams, for the warmer 4300k colour, helpful in the wet, and switch the leds to the high beams, more whiter colour helps with range a bit. Ignore the fog lights, they don't really bring anything to the table at this point, just leave the standard halogen bulb as this colour works best in the harsh conditions where you'd need fog lights.
I installed the Techmax 9003s in my 99 Camry on your say so. While I'm not mind blown with the output, they are very, very good. I can see way down the road now and my car looks like it was made in this century. I literally pluged them into my reflectors and was good to go. The beam pattern was so close to the OEM halogens, no re-aiming was necessary. Great price too. Thanks for your great advice.
Thanks Dbf Crell, yes LED is a great upgrade considering prices and ease of install, but HID is still superior, especially in projector headlights. LED or Halogen is best for reflectors though, and you made a great choice, glad it worked out, and thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for your informed, unbiased and scientific comparison of these lighting kits. I opted for and am very happy with the Techmax for the fog lights in my Tacoma and will be ordering Katana's for the projectors in the truck and our Odyssey. So much misinformation and personal bias exists across the web. Your website and these videos are such a welcome change. I highly recommend your website to anyone looking for headlight upgrade information.
Thanks Trevor for the support! We have been offered sponsored and paid promotions but always decline and plan to keep all data and reviews unbiased and true!
thanks for the great video! it’s been very helpful especially to compare the same light to projector vs reflectors !! I want to ask, can i put these bulbs with their fans inside the headlight housing and close the headlight housing with the backing lids, or i have to modify the lids in the back of my headlight housing to make ventilation for the bulbs and their fans??
Hey Mukhalad, thanks I appreciate that! You certainly can leave the cover on, no modification needed. The LED runs much cooler inside of the headlight, but a bit warmer in the back. The fan will keep the air circulated well, and to the touch you will feel the difference coming from halogen to LED. I hope that helps answer it!
You guys are the best! Please keep reviewing new bulbs that come out! Always love to be up to date on this. Just replaced my year old led bulbs with the kitana set based on this review. Absolutely amazing difference a year makes in led tech
Thanks Steven, we appreciate that! We plan to continue to test more products are they are released, and as people make requests! Yes big changes in the LED headlight world in the last few years. How are the Katana's working out?
BulbFacts oh man, night and day difference from the old 25$ set I bought a year ago. But I do have a question that needs answering.. can’t find the answer anywhere... I have a 96 integra and the oem housing is a projector for the low beam. WHAT SIDE SHOULD THE LEDS BE facing?? I turned them to be facing side to side in the housing... But then I see some people say the less should be top and bottom What’s best for projectors??
@@StevennAlexanderr side to side in a projector (9 and 3). They will work in any direction, but not well. Having them clocked side to side will produce the best beam, and mimics how a halogen and HID emits most of the light.
BulbFacts ah yes! Okay I thought so 🙏🏽 thanks for the reply!! Looking forward to your updates throughout the year and as the LED tech progresses! It’s like impossible for me to pinpoint the newest : latest led bulbs on amazon! How do you guys do it?? I get worried just buying a pair that are outdated tech
@@StevennAlexanderr thanks we will be adding more and more this year. We do our research, but you guys (our viewers) really help with the recommendations and requests, and most of the time they wind up being the best products! It really helps having a great group of people helping us out :)
I have Techmax running for almost two years for high/low beams, no problems so far. Considering that one headlight had bad seal and for almost a year, it always had moisture and water in it until I got around to fixing it. Definately a huge improvement over stock halogens. Headlights are reflector btw. All these people can say what they want about spending more for "quality" on GTRs or whatever, in reality there may be options almost as good for a budget price imho.
Thanks for sharing L K! Glad to hear the Techmax kit is working well. We notice an improvement in quality going to the premium options, however you do add in cost for a longer warranty and better customer service, based on feedback we have seen. Just upgrading to LED from halogen though can make a big improvement.
Hi, have you tried the LED headlight kit of the HLXG brand? is the most sold model in Aliexpress and has good punctuation, more than 32,000 sales and score 4.8 out of 5 but maybe most people feedback for the price of the item and not the quality.
Installed a pair of the Nineo II in my 07 Wrangler and am thoroughly impressed. Bright with great beam pattern. Took me a little bit to get them tweaked to my liking. I have the passenger side turned up about half a turn compared to the drivers side. Very bright and I don't get flashed so I know they aren't scattering light where it shouldn't be. Awesome deal for the price.
@@BulbFacts your welcome. I bought the leds based on your recommendation even though you actually didn't review this bulb in the video but was the recommended bulb in the description. Thank you for taking the time to review all of these different bulbs.
@@supersportimpalass no problem! Yes sorry for the confusion, we released this video and shortly after tested the Nineo II (like any other) and it happened to be the new #1 rated kit based on our lab testing! Timing wasn't great but we wanted to provide the link at least so people know. Glad it worked out well!
Just got the hikari on sale for $72 on amazon and so far I love them, I paid twice for other LED and they were garbage, I don’t know how long they’ll last but they got 2 year warranty. Highly recommended if you got a Ford F-150 2015 with the anzo headlights
Thank you for the great review! Based on this review I installed the Katana for my projector low beams and the Techmax for my reflector style high beams in my 2011 Prius. I couldn't be happier! Both perform extremely well in this vehicle! The beam pattern is as perfect as possible and waaay brighter! Thank you!
I tried LED bulbs on our projector type headlights and it was a mess so I seen a video here on You Tube to use HID bulbs so I bought OPT7 and now it looks great guys I bought them off of eBay they were great in helping me out.
I just put the Hikari headlights in my low beam, projectors yesterday. I haven't had a chance to test them yet because it was snowing. Although they didn't fit in very tight, to my 2013 Nissan Altima. I think I read on one site on Amazon that they needed an extra collar? I really don't know. But it was a lot of work to put them in. I wished that I had backup, led lights, so I could have put new ones in the high beams and the fog lights. But now that I've watched this video, I think that I will buy some tech max, for the high beam and the fog light. I just need to find out if the fog light and the high-beam are the same size. H-11. Thank you for giving us an honest answer You Google websites to ask which are the best LEDs and I think companies just put the ones they want first , and claim that some company, decided that they were best, not,. Thanks again,
Thanks for sharing Ron! We are happy to product true and honest reviews, and always decline paid sponsored reviews! We have seen in some cases that an aftermarket LED or HID product does not fit well and needs an additional rubber washer or collar to make it work. It depends on the vehicle, but it's nice that you shared your situation here as it should help out others!
@@BulbFacts around a year has passed and I've returned with my opinion about the hikari ultras: they are amazing. No glare, simple install, although I had an small issue with the locking system of the headlights but it was resolved very fast by just swapping them from one housing to the other, and on that subject, the hikari team was quick to respond and very helpful. On the other hand, the bulbs give an outstanding light output with a very cool light temperature, the reach and cut-off of the light beam is truly sharp and such and improvement over the standard halogens, but I must say, that the hikari's doesn't work well with every reflector housing, on my car they leave a blindspot on the sides probably due to the shape of my reflectors. And what worried me the most about the hikari ultra's was reliability, given their hefty price, but so far nothing has gone wrong. I work as an Uber driver mostly at night so the kit has been put through the ring operating at least 5 to 7 hours straight. The fans can be heard when stationary but when driving that's nothing to worry about.
@@rockraphlegal Thanks for the update! They are a great product, but you are certainly correct about performance in different vehicles. We have actually finished re-testing in various headlights as of recent, and are learning more as we add new housings. We have a stockpile now 😄. With LED, there is almost always a drawback of some sort when it comes to the beam, weather too much light where the reflector can't handle it, or light bouncing off the mirrors in the wrong place, which can cause dark spots like you mentioned. It's a trade-off in some cases which is worth the large output upgrade. Just ensure they are clocked 9-3, and you may even need to adjust them off of the original setting from the halogen in order to get the sharpest beam possible. It sounds like yours is dialed in though.
Thanks LilKing420s, that's our goal, glad you enjoyed the comparison! We plan to stay unbiased and true, and always decline sponsored and paid offers to keep it that way.
YES! The Nineo II are rated even higher than the Hikari for $50 or less (extra 15% off coupon ATM) ! I know you made the video before you actually tested, but thanks for including the link here too, and an FYI for those who didn't catch that in the description above.
No problem Daniel! I was very shocked myself when we tested, and re-tested a number of times to be sure, and to our amazement they did extremely well! Our LED chart has all of the details there as well.
@@BulbFacts thanks for what is the definitive LED testing guide out there too with an updated chart with temps added and more. I was REALLY impressed with the Tech Max in how cool they run without an external drive needed too. I maintain a stickied post for LED's on Fiesta ST forum and you guys are the guide I reference constantly! If just like to see some more premium ones like Diode Dynamics and others, but keep it up and I'll keep telling people to click the Amazon link from your charts to help you get your funding!
@@DanielBrownOre thanks I really appreciate the support, and in fact seen your post a few weeks ago, very cool that you shared it, and I'm glad it is helping people out! I am on the vwvortex forums now myself, but used to spend a lot of time on the Maza forums as well. I am most certainly in the process of buying the premium brands for testing including GTR lighting, Supernova, Putco, DD, etc., and should have all of the kits purchased soon and then tested. I'm hoping to have it all done sometime in January. Thanks again!
I bought both of them depending on what u says and i use the BULBFACT discount in Amazon 9 dollars on my bucket thanks for that i bought a hikari ultra for a projecter head light on low beam and techmax for a reflecter on high beam.
I bought *Tech Max LED* (The original not the new orange ones) 2 years ago on my Camry and I transfered them on my Lexus about a year ago. So 2 years and no issues and it's still plenty bright ! If it's started to dim. I can't tell the difference.
Thanx for the info, I noticed right away with the cougar motor lights they didnt project out like I wanted my lights to, I returned them and ordered the HIKARI Ultra, well see how they compare when they get here in a day or so...
I went with the Katana for 2013 Prius, projector type. Great improvement over the halogens and I am satisfied! Wish I had this brightness 15 years ago. Next step up would be slightly brighter Hikari ultra and then HID bulb or HID bulb with kit/headlights. It sounds like around 5k color range looks better to the eyes although most are at 6k+, I'm getting used to the color change vs halogens. Thanks for your helpful videos.
Thanks for sharing Greg! The Katana's can actually be better than Hikari if your looking for more overall light spread. The Hikari Ultra shoots concentrated light further. So it's really preference. I'll be doing some updating soon on the recommendations as that is the feedback I have been hearing, and our new lumens testing proves it as well. So great choice!
Hey @@bf3Willief23! What makes you say that? I am truly curious to help out other viewers. We tested both their standard and premium/plus versions, and the premium model is the brightest and seemingly highest quality kit so far of the bunch. Of course there are much better brands like Morimoto, DeAuto, GTRLighting, etc. but for $60 it's really a great deal in our opinion. It all depends on one's budget though.
Last time I bought a ddm kit they sent me 6000k instead of the 4300k I ordered. Still worked great tho. No issues for 4 years. I really disliked the color tho so I ended up giving them away eventually
Thanks BulbFacts. I ordered the Nineo II for my low beams of my Silverado a few weeks ago, and just ordered the Nineo II for my little bro's Corolla. Used your links for the bulbs, hope it helps!
@@Only1Sethy certainly! We don't do videos too often as we like to provide real value, but you can expect a new video on Amazon LEDs sometime this summer. We'll be releasing a premium LED kit comparison video sooner.
I just purchased from Amazon for a little bit less than $20 the smautop led h4 design type. And I got to admit they are nice and bright and have good high beams but they are spread out and I had a heck of a time getting them aimed right where I can use them and like them. But the Hikari LED headlights are next in line to be purchased. Looks like a really nice deal even at that price. I have a 2004 Honda Odyssey. Very tough to aim the headlights.
Hey Joe! Thanks for sharing. I'll try to check out that kit when I can. The Hikari Ultra is a really great kit, but you may want to check out the Nineo II as well as it's fully clockable, making it easy to get the beam right. The design of the newer LED kits though work much better than some older models for sure.
Thanks for this review. Been scrolling through Amazon reading this and that and you explained and helped me out with this one. Plus including budget options was really nice to. Just got some new headlights that take h1 bulbs and so LEDs is the way I'm going so this helped alot.
I'd like to put some H7 LED's in my 05 Lincoln Town car but have a couple of reservations. First, it is a reflector style housing, but there is also a "cap" in front of the bulb. So a projector style lamp won't work. But also because of this cap, if the LED is to far forward the light won't be able to be cast horizontally to be reflected out toward the front. Second, this is a completely sealed headlamp assembly. Once the bulbs are installed there are covers preventing any ventilation at all so I'm afraid of heat buildup.
Hey Jeff, the cap or shield is normal for most reflector style headlights, and LED bulbs are designed for both reflector and projector based applications. Some work better than others, so just check our recommended page or charts for the best solution for your Towncar: www.bulbfacts.com/led-kits/recommended/ Don't worry about heat buildup either, the fan is to simply keep the diodes as cool as possible to maximize the heat. LEDs run MUCH cooler over halogen even in sealed housings. Hope that helps!
Many thanks for the great reviews! Just bought techmax mini led for my reflector headlight. What i can say, i love it so much! I love the colour temperature and the brightness.
I bought my headlight kit from super bright LEDs. Com. I paid a bit more for it, but it was an easy plug-and-play, with no fans or moving parts. These things are bright, and the design allows the bulb to adjust the beam pattern for the Optics of the headlight housing it's being installed in which is absolutely ingenious.
@@BulbFacts the H4 fanless natural White set, 5000 lumens, with optional sleeves to change the color. $79.95 a set, part #H4-HLV5. I did not add an in line resistor. Beautiful plug-and-play, with a nice bright high beam. Worth every penny I spent.
Great video bro, I have a 2002 Hyundai sonata which uses H7 Projector and H1 reflector, What do you recommend on a budget for these headlamps? Under $50 per kit.
Thanks for the support! The Katana's are a great choice, but we have since tested some new products and the Cougar Motor Flagship LEDs have beat them out and are about $50 currently on Amazon: amzn.to/3nYMTim . You can find them on our recommended page here a well; bulbfacts.com/led-kits/recommended/#hp
Just picked up and installed the Katana h11 leds on my 18 Ford Edge with projector headlights very impressed with these leds..they are bright..I have 55w hids on my F150 with projector headlights after seeing these,I think I’m about to switch
Thanks for sharing that Romy. LED products like the Katana are very close nowadays to HID, and because LED is easier to install, people are going with LED. HID is really the best for projectors though as it's essentially a much brighter halogen bulb in terms of design, but again it's a harder decision nowadays! What HID brand do you have in your F150?
I got the new cougar motors h11 low beams and they are absolutely perfect! Perfect beam and extremely bright.. I can't imaging having anything brighter
On minute 4:48 there is a light pattern that on road will show a dark area. It is the dark area below and at the center. So long, I haven't seen any led bulbs that match the h4 halogen light pattern, even using zes chips.
Hey Carlos, you are right, it is simply a limitation of the current LED technology, and most case a small shadow in the lower center. Something to consider when upgrading.
Thx for all your work, 10/10, I bought led bulbs following your advice, and it is night and day compared to the products I bought before! thank you for the quality of the tests. hope to see the lats techmax'12000' lumens on test here soon.
Hey Mr. Worf! Yes after testing many LED kits I have noticed that. Many share the design of the Katana as it is a very solid product, and they use their own selection of LED chips, so the output always varies. Sometimes more-so than others, and variations in manufacturing come into play of course as well.
BulbFacts Your quite right right as the Katana states 6000Lms each & 5090 Lux . The JDM - ASTAR states 4000Lms each , no lux reading available . The design is great ! Thanks !! Happy New Year !! 🇨🇦
Thanks a lot. Your videos with the projector and reflector style led shootouts helped me choose the correct lights for my projector low beams and reflector high beams.
Update: Techmax H4 fitted directly, simple plug n play, fitted inside the shell ok.The beam was spot on, no re-positioning was needed. Pretty impressed for the money!
Random question, but my girlfriend has a 2021 Corolla hybrid with OEM LED lights? Any idea that oem led lumens or lux are? How easy would it be to upgrade the oem bulbs to even brighter LED after market bulbs and how much of a difference would that even make?
Hi PhaseSkater, we are not sure, but we plan to test OE output on vehicles in the future. the Corolla LEDs perform pretty well, but I would just check the aim as they tend to be too high from the factory and that light could be lost. To upgrade, you'd need to replace the entire headlights, which is something you'll want to consider if they get too dim or go bad, and the vehicle is no longer under warranty.
I'm curious on the car that is being used. I have found that if the car has a duel high low beam hid works the best for down road visibility. I run in my 09 Altima a 35 watt 6000k hid low beam and a 80 watt 6000k high beam led. The led is way brighter but the distance isn't there. The less bright hid puts light very far down road and even has overpowered high beams of cars in front of me. Have had this set up since almost 5 years in this car and have done nurmouse led and hid swaps with friends. Hid for the distance, a 35watt is plenty, and for high beams it's worth going led so it's instantly bright, if u have a one bulb car look up others experiences led low beam was not the answer for me but it may be for you. Great video glad someone cares to help show great products to help us see and be seen.
Hey Chris, great points you make! We try to be transparent in how we test, you can find details here: www.bulbfacts.com/how-we-test/. We tested various products in different style headlights though as well to ensure results are consistent enough. 35W HID is best for low-beam projectors, and LED is best for high-beams. It sounds like you have an older model LED if you bought it about 5 years ago, you may want to try a newer model as they shoot light MUCH further than old designs from even 3-4 years ago, based on our testing. We'll put together a video in the future based on people's vehicle types for the best recommendations. For now we do have a help guide for anybody who is confused: www.bulbfacts.com/help
Just installed the HIKARI ULTRAS in my ‘18 Ram 1500, both low and high beams. I’m very pleased with the output. Since the HIKARI ULTRAS have that specialized cut out design, how would one know which is the right and left bulb? I want to make sure I have mine in right.
Hey Furious Jones, each side does not matter, but you want to make sure the smaller end of the bulb is facing upward in the low beam, and down for the high beam. It depends on the housing, but this is typically what we see.
Ah, ok awesome. Got the low beams in right then, but I guess I gotta flip the high beams around so the fat end is on top. Currently have all the bulbs with smaller end facing up. I have the reflector style housing. Thanks for the info, it’s much appreciated.
@@therealfuriousjones of course, glad to help! Once you flip the high-beams around you should notice an improvement in output, if it decreases then of course rotate them back around.
Excellent Video! I picked up the Hikari ultra! And it did not disappoint!!!! With that being said, thanks for the help. You guys should test the best hid bulbs! I run D2R and I need help picking the best!
Thanks DJNEUSPEED23 I'm glad it was helpful, thanks! We actually have tested D-Series HID bulbs as well, no reviews yet but you can check out the full test chart here: www.bulbfacts.com/hid-oe/chart/
I added the SNGL Focus LED as my fog bulb for my ‘15 Grand Cherokee - great bulb! Great review and very helpful chart on BulbFacts.com - Thanks! SNGL is a quality product.
Hi Brand Onion. Take a look at our page here, which has the latest recommendations as we test in new products (it will always be the most up to date); www.bulbfacts.com/led-kits/recommended/ (Katana is still a top pick)
Hey Ted thanks for the support! We have our fog test equipment and are in the process of re-testing, and will be producing a new video in the future, but should have a new page up on our website soon for the fog light results. 5202 is certainly harder to find, as H8 and 9006 bulbs are most common, so aftermarket companies target the most popular sizes unfortunately. Morimoto 2Stroke 2.0 makes that size and it is quite a good quality kit and very bright! If I find anything else I'll let you know!
Hi BULBFACTS... I bought the Techmax 9003s LEDs that are suggested for my Camry. I mentioned to you that I got them last week and was happy. Wellllll... both fans were a bit noisier than I'm used to. They were auditable when I got them, but didn't think much about it. It took me a few more rides to figure what was going on. The fans actually get louder the longer they stay on. They also are annoying when they phase in and out of sync. I drive an hour each way to work and can't hear them at highway speeds, but on the backroads at stops, I keep thinking something is wrong with my car. Plus, after driving a week with them, I'm not really thrilled with the lumen output either. I think I'm going to return them and go with Hikaris, unless you tell me the fans are loud in them.
Hey Dbf Crell! It sounds like they noise isn't jiving well with your Camry. I will say the Hikari fans are louder, and the Techmax was one of the quieter kits available. They do resonate a bit differently though, and the techmax may be vibrating inside your headlights. See if that is the case first, and try to get them tighter perhaps if possible. If you want a silent kit, go with a fanless style like the Beamtech. Best of luck!
@@BulbFacts It's weird, I had those crappy OPT 7 LEDs in my last Toyota, and the fans were barely noticeable. I don't need to go fanless, just not stupid loud would be nice. It sounded like both fan bearings were going bad after a week. The bulbs were tight in the housings and the rubber seal is being used. The good news is there's plenty of room behind my lamps.so I can use flashlights if need be. Amazon is sending return info, so I'll be looking at your other recommendations
@@BulbFacts Well, believe it or not, I returned the TechMax and bought and installed the Hikari Ultras. Now that I can compare the two bulbs, I will say the Techmax definitely had a better cut-off and nice, clear road wash, and I didn't even have to re-aim the housings. The Hikaris will need to be re-aimed and do have a bit of turbid reflector wash on the edges but are just a little brighter (I really thought they'd be a whole bunch brighter, but my old eyes can't see much of an increase). So I'm keeping the Hikaris and will dial in the aim after Xmas.
I've noticed you guys haven't uploaded in awhile, hope everything is okay. Any plans to revisit these kinds of videos and try different kinds of bulbs? I've picked up a set of Sealight Laxmas L2s which appear to be the newest model from them. Hopefully they do good as one of ballasts on my 55W HID kit has gone out and I'm getting sick and tired of managing hids. LEDs are so much more easier to work with.
Hi DannyzPlay! You are correct, we havn't uploaded in a while, as we have been busy testing new products and new processes, which is a priority for us. We do plan to put up a new video once we have everything completed. We will certainly add the new Sealight model to our testing as well, I appreciate the suggestion! LEDs are much easier to install and manage over HID, most people are moving to LED these days, and LED has caught up to HID in terms of output now which is great to see.
So I have a question/would like your speculation on the Techmax leds in projector housings. At 3:10 you said they have a little bit of blocking in the front and you don't recommend them for projectors. I have tried other leds you suggest but they don't fit under my dust caps. My question for speculation is, what if I were to remove/grind/sand off the blockage on the front of the led to make it look more like the Hikari Ultra? Do you think you would get better performance from the Techmax led in a projector housing?
Hey Jordan, that's a great question. Yes the Techmax has the front cover which helps reduce glare in a reflector, but blocks a lot of the light in a projector. Theoretically if you ground down the front end to make it straight, it should product more light in the halogen projector, simliar to Hikari Ultra. Just be careful!
Hi J P, based on our tests they did not cause any issues (error messages) on our 2013 VW Jetta, so I would give them a try and if you do in fact get an error, just grab a set of decoders. You can even reach out to the company on Amazon and many times they'll send a set free.
explain the simple differance's in the pro-jector type & the re-flector type of light's plzz i'm in a all stock 2004 chevy silverado truck here & wanting to simply up-grade to led's...... what do ya recamend for me in my truck plzzzz..........??
Hey Jamie, check out our latest recommendations here; www.bulbfacts.com/led-kits/recommended/ Your Silverado would have halogen reflectors. For the difference check out our article here; www.bulbfacts.com/help#reflvsproj
@@BulbFacts Yes Sir, I'll be making a video about them. I used your affiliate link and will make sure to reference my decision going off of your findings.
Using your recommended best value LED, I purchased the TechMax and they are terrific in my Ford van. Your current suggestion is the NINEO ll. Should I consider trading up for these? How would you compare these two bulbs in size 9007?
Hey Thomas! I replied via email, but the Nineo II is certainly brighter than the Techmax. If you are already running the Techmax I would recommend sticking with them as they are very good unless you want to spend another $50 on the Nieno II's. Both are in the top tier and are great values!
Excellent review!. Really helpfull to make the purchase decision to upgrade my headlights. I just have a question. What about high beams? I have an HID kit that was installed by the previus owner of my car (reflector type). This guy make a great job with low beams, the HID kit has a good patern, no glare to oncoming traffic, good brightness..... but the highbeams are totally unusefull. There is no differente between low and high beams.
Great video, but I have a question. I have a 2012 outback that use H7 bulb. I wonder if I can reinstall the rear cover over the LED bulb since LED bulb has a fan at the end. if not, can I just leave it open?
Hey Ziyi! You'll want to re-install the cover to deep the environment out of your headlight. The fan's primary function is to keep the LED chips cool so they stay bright. LED runs much cooler than halogen and produces a lot less heat.
Hey Davyon, we tested those as well, you can find them in our full test chart under the budget options section (Hikari Standard): www.bulbfacts.com/led-kits/chart/
Hi AwesomeFuture777 - the Fahren bulbs are a newer product so they were not available at the time of this video, but we do have them in our lab and we should have the results posted up soon!
I'd like to see you test the H4 LED Headlight Bulbs w/Canbus, Car Work Box 20000LM 130W 6500K. I just ordered some from Amazon for $69.99 but haven't received them yet. If they really are that bright, I hope the beam pattern is very good, or oncoming traffic will not be happy and I won't use them. Your test results would be very interesting. Thanks!
Hey Darryl! You can find the wattage each kit is pulling from the vehicle's system on our LED chart: www.bulbfacts.com/led-kits/chart/ . You'll notice they are all much lower than halogen, and all run cooler as well. Hope that helps!
I wish you would've talked a little more about the katana. I have projector headlights and was wanting to hear more about them. Good review overall. Thanks dude.
@@BulbFacts sounds great! Love the videos man. They're very informative. Definitely helped me narrow my options down. There's so many options out there, I'm glad I watched this before I bought the cheapest option. Keep up the great work.
Super happy with your recommendation of the Katana kit. The 4300k Kensun HIDs blasted light all over in front of the car and the color looked like straight garbage. I'm pretty sure it color shifted since new. The Katana headlights are bright and clean, comparable to my fiancee's Corolla but not as good as my dad's BMW, which is probably ridiculously expensive.
Thanks for sharing David! It sounds like the Katana worked out well. The BMW OE headlights are probably very expensive, and created specifically for the vehicle with the headlight and lighting together to get the best performance.
I watched your HID video and purchased your recommend set, deauto. They did not focus well in my 300ZX. I believe your link was to a universal kit and not Nissan specific. Anyway before I make that mistake again, what brand do you recommend for the 300ZX low beam, it has a round/projector style lens. Surely some of your watchers comments can assist me too. Thanks and keep the videos coming.
Hey George! Sorry to hear that. DeAuto has great support and should be able to help you out if you still have the kit. Just be sure to double-check the return wire and make sure it's facing downward. Projector lenses flip the light when it leave the headlight. It's odd how it didn't work out, but perhaps the 300ZX has a special design. I would check the automotive forums for some recommendations there. Hopefully somebody can chime in here as well.
Im so happy i found your video. Replaced halogen bulbs on my 2018 F150 with Techmax based on your review. I can see now! I do have one question about the positioning of the bulb. With the diode at 3 and 9 o clock. Do you install with thin side up with the fat side down? Thanks again!
Thanks Lexi'nmotion, glad to help! The Techmax is a great product for the money. You'll want the bulbs clocked 9-3, so the diodes will be facing side to side, left to right. In a Reflector, the smaller side should be facing up in the low beam, and down for the high beam. In a Projector, the smaller end should be facing up. Hope that helps!
@@BulbFacts Thanks for quick response back. Just wanted to make sure. The reason I asked cause there was a bus driver turned hi and lo beam toward me as he pass by and he was pissed.... :( I was heading uphill and he was heading down. Go figure. Thanks again!
@@09G8GT no problem. Yes it's common for people to misinterpret the driver's beam area on hills, even in OEM applications including HID, LED, and Halogen. I had it happen to me a few times when I ran halogen bulbs. The Techmax has a higher color, so again that adds confusion, but the beam is as good or nearly as good as halogen, so on a normal angle they won't bother oncoming traffic.
Thanks for your videos, they helped me a lot but I would like to ask which one should I get to replace my halogen H8 (reflector) Beamtech, Fahren or Techmax LED ? Any other suggestion ? Thanks a lot a willreslly appreciate your answer
Hi Alvaro, you can find our latest recommendations here, and I presume you are looking for a set of Fog Lights based on the H8 size; www.bulbfacts.com/led-kits/recommended/#fr - we test products regularly and keep this page up to date.
Hey great review. Very informative. Just wondering if you will be doing a similar review for LED/HID kits for Fog lights. Thanks, keep doing these reviews.
Thanks Steve! Actually yes, we just got in a few fog light housings, and will be re-testing all of the products soon in order to better recommend in that application. Thanks for the support!
Hi Nish, the Hiraki Ultra's are a bit on the blue side for inclement weather, so I would take a look at other options of 6000k or less from our tests. We have the Hikari Acme X in our lab and should have them finished up soon and posted on our website as well. Appreciate the suggestion and patience!
In the comments you have the NINEO II LED listed. How did these perform in a projector style headlight? I was thinking of running them over the Katana LED at that price point, and assumed the style or design would allow for similar performance in a projector style housing. I just liked the specs of the headlight over the Katana.
Hey Jacob! The Nineo II is best for reflectors, but the Hikari Ultra and Katana kits are better in projectors. The Katana is really great honestly as it allows for adjustment if needed in certain projector styles. Hope that helps!
@@BulbFacts bought hikari ultra for low beam (projector) and katana for high beam (reflector). The hikari was brighter (than old halogen) with really good pattern. But if comparing it to how much it improved in comparison to the reflector headlight using katana, reflector wins. Its like 2x improvement on projector while 3x in reflector. Next time il try hid for the ptojector and see if how better it would be. Anyway, bought those brands fron your recommendations and it is really helpful.
Btw, what do you mean by katana can be adjusted? The hikari i bought can also be adjusted in my projector. At first i had problems with the adjustment, but then i realized the locking mechanism can be removed then rotated to arrive to the proper led positions (on H11 btw). Or you are referring to something else?
@@heille1221 that's great to hear! It's hard to say exactly how they will perform in different vehicles, but they should perform very well overall. By adjusted yes, you can 'clock' or rotate them (turning the degrees). I was not aware the H11 is rotatable, and will look into that further, that is great to know, thanks!
Which is the best led bulb you would recommend for h4 reflector housing? 2013 Toyota vitz/Yaris hatchback ... I want something that’s very bright in the night!
Hey Christina! The best LED products would be the Hikari Ultra, Nineo II, and Katana (from Amazon). We like the Morimoto 2Stroke 2.0's as well for their pure white color. We have tested the H7/H11 sizes, but H4's design is a bit different, so your results may vary a bit. We'll be adding that size in the future, but for now you can reference our recommendations. Hope that helps!
What do you think of the Boslla Headlight kit? The one where you can flick on and off to change to different colored light for when the situation calls for it?
hello , all the option was with external driver and cable,, what is your opinion of the H4 ones that doesnt have cable or external driver, similar to the halogen bulb original design ?? thank you very much for your help in this concern
No problem. We have tested many models without an external driver and the results are not greatly different. The fanless models however seem to have much lower output due to the lack of cooling required for a high-powered diode.
First id like to thank you for your site. Really helpful for me since i dont reside in the US and i need to ship things i buy from amazon to my country so i cant return items. So i must be sure of what i buy. Your ranking really helped me. Sometimes cannot trust what the sellers post on their ads. Anyway, do you have plans in the future to test/review other leds aside from headlights like t10, 1156, 1157,etc?
Hey Michael! Thanks I'm glad it's helpful! We do have plan to both expand on products from the EU/UK & CA, and will be adding the smaller bulbs in the future as well!
Be sure to visit our latest LED review video: th-cam.com/video/14unhZavoSU/w-d-xo.html
Finally a thorough and unbiased comparison. Thanks!
Thanks Norman!
Except all of these brand are absolute garbage......the rated lumens like the hikari claims 9600lm is nothing but fake marketing, faker than silicon titties. None of them reaches that lumen output.
Aoru exactly
@@441meatloaf you have to give the channel credit. He tested all of them in both housings and showed us the raw results.
@@Briceon I'm not saying the channel is bad, im just saying these so called high output LEDs are just naturally garbage. Its all fake marketing. My philips extreme ultinons H11's are way brighter than all of these and best thing is it doesn't have wacky leds in a 360 design that throws light everywhere cause philips designed it to fit halogen housings.
Thanks for including the projector style too. Great information
Thanks TJ!
@@BulbFacts Thanks for the informative video. How can we recognize if a LED kit is suitable for the projector type of headlights? I mean is there any way to recognize the suitable option just by looking at them before buying?
@@SamY-el6vm the manufacturers are designing the LED bulbs for both reflector and projector style, however our tests seem to favor bulbs with a non-blocked front end, as the projector does not take well to bulbs with a covering near the front (for a reflector typically). We are working on updating our results to our 2.0 test bench, but you can check out our projector specific results for now; www.bulbfacts.com/led-kits/chart/projectors.html
Awesome video, you guys should include high beam testing too! You guys helped me through the process of upgrading to Hikaris a month back for highs and lows and it turned out very well! Still thankful for everything!
Hey Bobtart12 yes I remember ya! That's great to hear! We'll do a video in the future for high-beams as well. Thanks for the suggestion and for the support!
@@BulbFacts still waiting for it
@@DavidPLopez great to hear from you! We have tested high-beams now, so you can find the results on our charts. We are working on a new video though and will have something up soon!
@@BulbFacts Are the Joker is street legal? Are the ONLY for offroad use? I do not want to Get a ticket for using these LEDS on the street. Thank you
@@darylmason971 Off-Road use only in most parts. Check with your local ordinances to be sure.
Finally found an LED that works well in my projectors - the Katanas. *Very* bright, virtually perfect beam pattern without glare. I love that it's actually 5.9k as indicated in the chart, just cool white no icky blue.Thanks so much guys, your tests really help me narrow down my choices with real world info - keep it up!
Thanks that's great to hear! That is truly an amazing kit. Thanks for the support!
Hey, just wanted you to know, I followed your advice and bought the Hikari bulbs to replace oem on a Hummer H3. The difference is amazing, I can see so much better, they look modern, were very easy to fit, with no modification. All round an excellent recommendation, the extra money was well worth it, thankyou!
Hey Barry, thanks for sharing, I'm glad it worked out!
Almost spent $100 each on 2 sets for my car and my girlfriend's car but after this I saved so much! I'm glad you had the Projector and Reflectors, great video.
Thanks Ethan for sharing and for the support!
FYI - For those who are interested, the Hikari Ultra LED kits are on sale right now for $72 on Amazon lightning deal.
Yep just happened again about 2 weeks ago. Got an h11 and hb3 for $144!
I used the TechMax LED for about 4 months and it's still working perfectly, is very white and throws a lot more light than halogens. Thank you so much for making these tests ! You changed the notion that LEDs don't belong in reflectors.
Thanks for sharing Migel, that is great to hear! We appreciate the support as well 👍
How would you compare the Lightening Dark to Hikari ultra?
How well do LED lights hold up during heavy rains, when compared to halogen lights in a reflector setup?
I hadn't tested in really heavy rains, however I did have some heavy fog about 10 days ago and I was happy with the results. I was expecting glare and backlash, but it cut through nicely.
I'm in Florida, so we have constant rain here. The rain drops are a bit more visible with the white light compared to yellow halogens, but it's not distracting. You'll be just fine.
Got the hikari to the UK from amazon.com £90.90 delivered. H11 fitted plug and play into a 2016 Suzuki vitara. (Projector style). Its like night and day compared to the stock halogens. Now just need something for the high beams (reflector style) to match the 6450K colour. Thanks blubfacts
Love this channel 👍🏾. You and the team are the only ones i come for this type of info.
Thanks Wiston, appreciate the support!
I did a lot of research because I wanted to put LED headlight bulbs in my 2006 Ford Ranger (9007) and 1999 Honda CR-V (H4/9003). Your videos and BulbFact Chart were very helpful. I also looked at the reviews of the various bulbs, both positive, and negative., premium, and budget. I finally decided on mid-range LED bulbs for both vehicles: Hikari Ultras, for $88.00 per set (thank you for the 10% discount code). You cover a of features, but you do not cover longevity, and customer service. A lot the negative reviews dealt with chips that fell off the bulb holders. This happened a lot. Some companies did not respond to customer complaints, others tried hard to please the customer. I think these two issues would be very helpful to your viewers. Thanks for all your testing!.
Hey Scoop43! Thanks we appreciate that! The Hikari Ultra's are very popular and seem to work well. We are actually keeping track of customer service for each brand, and will eventually add some details there as well. Most have been good so far, both on Amazon/eBay and premium brands especially. We'll also do bench stress testing of the LED products in the future. Currently, we are working on halogen there. Great suggestions though, and we plan to continue to enhance our testing and results for you guys!
Finally, a decent review! Subscribed.
Thanks for the support Robert!
Hello, I just wanted to thank you for this video! I had already bought a pair of LED headlights and they were crap. I had no idea about the difference between reflector and projector style lights. So when I put the ones I bought in my projector housing, it just didn't work. My halogens where brighter! So, after watching a few videos form BulbFacts and going over to their website. I felt comfortable getting these Hikari LEDs. Such a difference! I do not regret getting these one bit! Thanks again BulbFacts!
Thanks Wesley, glad it worked out and the information was helpful! Stay safe out there 👍
When driving at night I need all the light I can get..especially if it's raining
In the rain its not all about the brightness, color matters a lot also, a whiter/ bluer light is worse in those conditions, a 4.3k xenon bulb works best.
Man, I have the same problem. I'm 59 years old and my eyes have aged a little bit. So I really want all the light that I can get. That's another reason I want to upgrade my fog lights.
@@ronatkinson4142 you should also consider renovating your headlights, most people I see driving with fog lights don't light up the road in front of them anyway, they don't see shit but would have never thought that their headlights are toast unless you pointed it out to them.
@@piciu256 I just put new Hikari LEDs in my low beams, yesterday. Now I'm just wanting to upgrade the fog lights and high beams, and my backup lights. So I am sort of in the middle of an upgrade. Thank you for your help. I am trying to figure out what to put in the high beams though?
@@ronatkinson4142 if I were you, I'd put a HID kit into the low beams, for the warmer 4300k colour, helpful in the wet, and switch the leds to the high beams, more whiter colour helps with range a bit. Ignore the fog lights, they don't really bring anything to the table at this point, just leave the standard halogen bulb as this colour works best in the harsh conditions where you'd need fog lights.
I installed the Techmax 9003s in my 99 Camry on your say so. While I'm not mind blown with the output, they are very, very good. I can see way down the road now and my car looks like it was made in this century. I literally pluged them into my reflectors and was good to go. The beam pattern was so close to the OEM halogens, no re-aiming was necessary. Great price too. Thanks for your great advice.
Thanks Dbf Crell, yes LED is a great upgrade considering prices and ease of install, but HID is still superior, especially in projector headlights. LED or Halogen is best for reflectors though, and you made a great choice, glad it worked out, and thanks for sharing!
@@BulbFacts Cool. I truly appreciate your reviews!
Do you have something with everything for under $100 and 6000k light
Thank you for taking the time to put this video together. You have helped me to select the right LED's for my vehicle.
Thanks for watching Gabriel!
Great video, just bought the Katanas for my projector headlights let's see how they work. Got a new subscriber here!
Thanks for the support Darwin!
@@BulbFacts The Katana should be installed in left to right position? for the LEDs and the thin edge facing up or down? Thanks
You got it, left to right facing LEDs
Thank you so much for your informed, unbiased and scientific comparison of these lighting kits. I opted for and am very happy with the Techmax for the fog lights in my Tacoma and will be ordering Katana's for the projectors in the truck and our Odyssey. So much misinformation and personal bias exists across the web. Your website and these videos are such a welcome change. I highly recommend your website to anyone looking for headlight upgrade information.
Thanks Trevor for the support! We have been offered sponsored and paid promotions but always decline and plan to keep all data and reviews unbiased and true!
thanks for the great video! it’s been very helpful especially to compare the same light to projector vs reflectors !!
I want to ask, can i put these bulbs with their fans inside the headlight housing and close the headlight housing with the backing lids, or i have to modify the lids in the back of my headlight housing to make ventilation for the bulbs and their fans??
Hey Mukhalad, thanks I appreciate that! You certainly can leave the cover on, no modification needed. The LED runs much cooler inside of the headlight, but a bit warmer in the back. The fan will keep the air circulated well, and to the touch you will feel the difference coming from halogen to LED. I hope that helps answer it!
You guys are the best! Please keep reviewing new bulbs that come out! Always love to be up to date on this. Just replaced my year old led bulbs with the kitana set based on this review. Absolutely amazing difference a year makes in led tech
Thanks Steven, we appreciate that! We plan to continue to test more products are they are released, and as people make requests! Yes big changes in the LED headlight world in the last few years. How are the Katana's working out?
BulbFacts oh man, night and day difference from the old 25$ set I bought a year ago. But I do have a question that needs answering.. can’t find the answer anywhere...
I have a 96 integra and the oem housing is a projector for the low beam.
WHAT SIDE SHOULD THE LEDS BE facing??
I turned them to be facing side to side in the housing...
But then I see some people say the less should be top and bottom
What’s best for projectors??
@@StevennAlexanderr side to side in a projector (9 and 3). They will work in any direction, but not well. Having them clocked side to side will produce the best beam, and mimics how a halogen and HID emits most of the light.
BulbFacts ah yes! Okay I thought so 🙏🏽 thanks for the reply!! Looking forward to your updates throughout the year and as the LED tech progresses! It’s like impossible for me to pinpoint the newest : latest led bulbs on amazon! How do you guys do it??
I get worried just buying a pair that are outdated tech
@@StevennAlexanderr thanks we will be adding more and more this year. We do our research, but you guys (our viewers) really help with the recommendations and requests, and most of the time they wind up being the best products! It really helps having a great group of people helping us out :)
Can you compare supernova v4 from headlight revolution to the amazon katana led in a projector headlight
FYI, I like the unbiased presentation for both applications and budget considerations, well done.
Thanks Stewart!
For half the price the katana headlight bulbs are 65k and just as good!
Xplicit fpv can you use those for high beams as well.
I have Techmax running for almost two years for high/low beams, no problems so far. Considering that one headlight had bad seal and for almost a year, it always had moisture and water in it until I got around to fixing it. Definately a huge improvement over stock halogens. Headlights are reflector btw. All these people can say what they want about spending more for "quality" on GTRs or whatever, in reality there may be options almost as good for a budget price imho.
Thanks for sharing L K! Glad to hear the Techmax kit is working well. We notice an improvement in quality going to the premium options, however you do add in cost for a longer warranty and better customer service, based on feedback we have seen. Just upgrading to LED from halogen though can make a big improvement.
Hi, have you tried the LED headlight kit of the HLXG brand? is the most sold model in Aliexpress and has good punctuation, more than 32,000 sales and score 4.8 out of 5 but maybe most people feedback for the price of the item and not the quality.
Hey Futbol Sports! We have not, but are certainly interested! Can you send a link over by chance? And we can order from there. Thanks!
@@BulbFacts Check the TH-cam Spam messages, send the link but TH-cam marked it as Spam and hid it.
@@futbolsports8320 I don't see it over there. If you can, send the link through our contact page: bulbfacts.com/contact-us/. I appreciate it!
@@BulbFacts store with all items ( goo .gl/65FVbQ ) and Top selling headlight ( goo .gl/j3AxUG ) eliminate the space between goo and .gl
I am also very interested in the led headlights of hlxg
Installed a pair of the Nineo II in my 07 Wrangler and am thoroughly impressed. Bright with great beam pattern. Took me a little bit to get them tweaked to my liking. I have the passenger side turned up about half a turn compared to the drivers side. Very bright and I don't get flashed so I know they aren't scattering light where it shouldn't be. Awesome deal for the price.
supersportimpalass thanks for sharing that's great to hear!
@@BulbFacts your welcome. I bought the leds based on your recommendation even though you actually didn't review this bulb in the video but was the recommended bulb in the description. Thank you for taking the time to review all of these different bulbs.
@@supersportimpalass no problem! Yes sorry for the confusion, we released this video and shortly after tested the Nineo II (like any other) and it happened to be the new #1 rated kit based on our lab testing! Timing wasn't great but we wanted to provide the link at least so people know. Glad it worked out well!
Just got the hikari on sale for $72 on amazon and so far I love them, I paid twice for other LED and they were garbage, I don’t know how long they’ll last but they got 2 year warranty. Highly recommended if you got a Ford F-150 2015 with the anzo headlights
Thanks Hypertonto for the comment, great to know! They are truly an amazing product for the cost.
Thank you for the great review! Based on this review I installed the Katana for my projector low beams and the Techmax for my reflector style high beams in my 2011 Prius. I couldn't be happier! Both perform extremely well in this vehicle! The beam pattern is as perfect as possible and waaay brighter! Thank you!
That's great to hear thanks for sharing, glad it worked out well!
How are these still holding up 10 months later?
I tried LED bulbs on our projector type headlights and it was a mess so I seen a video here on You Tube to use HID bulbs so I bought OPT7 and now it looks great guys I bought them off of eBay they were great in helping me out.
Hi Xavier, I'm glad we were able to help, thanks for sharing, and thanks for the support!
I just put the Hikari headlights in my low beam, projectors yesterday. I haven't had a chance to test them yet because it was snowing. Although they didn't fit in very tight, to my 2013 Nissan Altima. I think I read on one site on Amazon that they needed an extra collar? I really don't know. But it was a lot of work to put them in.
I wished that I had backup, led lights, so I could have put new ones in the high beams and the fog lights. But now that I've watched this video, I think that I will buy some tech max, for the high beam and the fog light. I just need to find out if the fog light and the high-beam are the same size. H-11. Thank you for giving us an honest answer
You Google websites to ask which are the best LEDs and I think companies just put the ones they want first , and claim that some company, decided that they were best, not,. Thanks again,
Thanks for sharing Ron! We are happy to product true and honest reviews, and always decline paid sponsored reviews! We have seen in some cases that an aftermarket LED or HID product does not fit well and needs an additional rubber washer or collar to make it work. It depends on the vehicle, but it's nice that you shared your situation here as it should help out others!
Just bought the Hikari Ultras thanks to this video plus more research. Will be back by the last quarter of the year to provide a more informed opinion
Thanks Pedro, let us know how they work out for you!
@@BulbFacts around a year has passed and I've returned with my opinion about the hikari ultras: they are amazing. No glare, simple install, although I had an small issue with the locking system of the headlights but it was resolved very fast by just swapping them from one housing to the other, and on that subject, the hikari team was quick to respond and very helpful. On the other hand, the bulbs give an outstanding light output with a very cool light temperature, the reach and cut-off of the light beam is truly sharp and such and improvement over the standard halogens, but I must say, that the hikari's doesn't work well with every reflector housing, on my car they leave a blindspot on the sides probably due to the shape of my reflectors. And what worried me the most about the hikari ultra's was reliability, given their hefty price, but so far nothing has gone wrong. I work as an Uber driver mostly at night so the kit has been put through the ring operating at least 5 to 7 hours straight. The fans can be heard when stationary but when driving that's nothing to worry about.
@@rockraphlegal Thanks for the update! They are a great product, but you are certainly correct about performance in different vehicles. We have actually finished re-testing in various headlights as of recent, and are learning more as we add new housings. We have a stockpile now 😄. With LED, there is almost always a drawback of some sort when it comes to the beam, weather too much light where the reflector can't handle it, or light bouncing off the mirrors in the wrong place, which can cause dark spots like you mentioned. It's a trade-off in some cases which is worth the large output upgrade. Just ensure they are clocked 9-3, and you may even need to adjust them off of the original setting from the halogen in order to get the sharpest beam possible. It sounds like yours is dialed in though.
Unbiased comparison is the key!! Another comparison well done!! Keep it up!
Thanks LilKing420s, that's our goal, glad you enjoyed the comparison! We plan to stay unbiased and true, and always decline sponsored and paid offers to keep it that way.
YES! The Nineo II are rated even higher than the Hikari for $50 or less (extra 15% off coupon ATM) ! I know you made the video before you actually tested, but thanks for including the link here too, and an FYI for those who didn't catch that in the description above.
No problem Daniel! I was very shocked myself when we tested, and re-tested a number of times to be sure, and to our amazement they did extremely well! Our LED chart has all of the details there as well.
@@BulbFacts thanks for what is the definitive LED testing guide out there too with an updated chart with temps added and more. I was REALLY impressed with the Tech Max in how cool they run without an external drive needed too. I maintain a stickied post for LED's on Fiesta ST forum and you guys are the guide I reference constantly! If just like to see some more premium ones like Diode Dynamics and others, but keep it up and I'll keep telling people to click the Amazon link from your charts to help you get your funding!
@@DanielBrownOre thanks I really appreciate the support, and in fact seen your post a few weeks ago, very cool that you shared it, and I'm glad it is helping people out! I am on the vwvortex forums now myself, but used to spend a lot of time on the Maza forums as well. I am most certainly in the process of buying the premium brands for testing including GTR lighting, Supernova, Putco, DD, etc., and should have all of the kits purchased soon and then tested. I'm hoping to have it all done sometime in January. Thanks again!
I bought both of them depending on what u says and i use the BULBFACT discount in Amazon 9 dollars on my bucket thanks for that i bought a hikari ultra for a projecter head light on low beam and techmax for a reflecter on high beam.
That's great TKMJ, we really appreciate the support! How did they work out for you?
I bought *Tech Max LED* (The original not the new orange ones) 2 years ago on my Camry and I transfered them on my Lexus about a year ago. So 2 years and no issues and it's still plenty bright ! If it's started to dim. I can't tell the difference.
Thanks for sharing! We recently re-tested all LED products as well and the 1st Gen Techmax are a really superior product for the price.
Thanx for the info, I noticed right away with the cougar motor lights they didnt project out like I wanted my lights to, I returned them and ordered the HIKARI Ultra, well see how they compare when they get here in a day or so...
Great choice Narek, I think you'll love the Hikari's as they tested extremely well based on our road tests and in our lab!
I went with the Katana for 2013 Prius, projector type. Great improvement over the halogens and I am satisfied! Wish I had this brightness 15 years ago.
Next step up would be slightly brighter Hikari ultra and then HID bulb or HID bulb with kit/headlights.
It sounds like around 5k color range looks better to the eyes although most are at 6k+, I'm getting used to the color change vs halogens.
Thanks for your helpful videos.
Thanks for sharing Greg! The Katana's can actually be better than Hikari if your looking for more overall light spread. The Hikari Ultra shoots concentrated light further. So it's really preference. I'll be doing some updating soon on the recommendations as that is the feedback I have been hearing, and our new lumens testing proves it as well. So great choice!
According to previous video,
I bought DDM tuning plus 35W premium HID kit for LOW BEAM
and also KATANA H7 LED headlight for HIGH BEAM.
Hi 멍 멍! That's a great combination, thanks for sharing!
DDM tuning is trash for hid kits.
Hey @@bf3Willief23! What makes you say that? I am truly curious to help out other viewers. We tested both their standard and premium/plus versions, and the premium model is the brightest and seemingly highest quality kit so far of the bunch. Of course there are much better brands like Morimoto, DeAuto, GTRLighting, etc. but for $60 it's really a great deal in our opinion. It all depends on one's budget though.
@@bf3Willief23 Hello there. Can u explain what makes you say that?
Last time I bought a ddm kit they sent me 6000k instead of the 4300k I ordered. Still worked great tho. No issues for 4 years. I really disliked the color tho so I ended up giving them away eventually
Thanks BulbFacts. I ordered the Nineo II for my low beams of my Silverado a few weeks ago, and just ordered the Nineo II for my little bro's Corolla. Used your links for the bulbs, hope it helps!
Great to hear Seth, hope they worked out well, and I do appreciate the support, every little bit helps us keep going!
@@BulbFacts I'd love to see a video of the Nineo II vs the hikari lights! Any idea when you will be able to make one if you're planning on it?
@@Only1Sethy certainly! We don't do videos too often as we like to provide real value, but you can expect a new video on Amazon LEDs sometime this summer. We'll be releasing a premium LED kit comparison video sooner.
@@BulbFacts awesome!
I just purchased from Amazon for a little bit less than $20 the smautop led h4 design type. And I got to admit they are nice and bright and have good high beams but they are spread out and I had a heck of a time getting them aimed right where I can use them and like them. But the Hikari LED headlights are next in line to be purchased. Looks like a really nice deal even at that price. I have a 2004 Honda Odyssey. Very tough to aim the headlights.
Hey Joe! Thanks for sharing. I'll try to check out that kit when I can. The Hikari Ultra is a really great kit, but you may want to check out the Nineo II as well as it's fully clockable, making it easy to get the beam right. The design of the newer LED kits though work much better than some older models for sure.
Thanks for this review. Been scrolling through Amazon reading this and that and you explained and helped me out with this one. Plus including budget options was really nice to. Just got some new headlights that take h1 bulbs and so LEDs is the way I'm going so this helped alot.
Thanks Roy, I'm really glad it helped you out, thanks for watching and for your support!
I'd like to put some H7 LED's in my 05 Lincoln Town car but have a couple of reservations. First, it is a reflector style housing, but there is also a "cap" in front of the bulb. So a projector style lamp won't work. But also because of this cap, if the LED is to far forward the light won't be able to be cast horizontally to be reflected out toward the front. Second, this is a completely sealed headlamp assembly. Once the bulbs are installed there are covers preventing any ventilation at all so I'm afraid of heat buildup.
Hey Jeff, the cap or shield is normal for most reflector style headlights, and LED bulbs are designed for both reflector and projector based applications. Some work better than others, so just check our recommended page or charts for the best solution for your Towncar: www.bulbfacts.com/led-kits/recommended/ Don't worry about heat buildup either, the fan is to simply keep the diodes as cool as possible to maximize the heat. LEDs run MUCH cooler over halogen even in sealed housings. Hope that helps!
Many thanks for the great reviews! Just bought techmax mini led for my reflector headlight. What i can say, i love it so much! I love the colour temperature and the brightness.
ayu kama thanks for sharing, that is great to hear!
I bought my headlight kit from super bright LEDs. Com. I paid a bit more for it, but it was an easy plug-and-play, with no fans or moving parts. These things are bright, and the design allows the bulb to adjust the beam pattern for the Optics of the headlight housing it's being installed in which is absolutely ingenious.
Thanks for sharing, what model did you buy? We'd love to pick up the same one for testing in our lab.
@@BulbFacts the H4 fanless natural White set, 5000 lumens, with optional sleeves to change the color. $79.95 a set, part #H4-HLV5. I did not add an in line resistor.
Beautiful plug-and-play, with a nice bright high beam. Worth every penny I spent.
@@SouthSideChiTown thanks! We'll be sure to pick up a set soon for testing.
Great video bro, I have a 2002 Hyundai sonata which uses H7 Projector and H1 reflector, What do you recommend on a budget for these headlamps? Under $50 per kit.
Thanks for the support! The Katana's are a great choice, but we have since tested some new products and the Cougar Motor Flagship LEDs have beat them out and are about $50 currently on Amazon: amzn.to/3nYMTim . You can find them on our recommended page here a well; bulbfacts.com/led-kits/recommended/#hp
@@BulbFacts Oh bro you took so long to respond, I ended up buying something that was almost $50 it's not worth it.
@@theoxygen876 sorry we get a lot of inquires I try to keep up with them all. What did you wind up getting? You said it didn't work out well?
@@BulbFacts lasfit h7 50W 6000K
@@theoxygen876 oh very nice choice. We tested all of the Lastfit LEDs and they're a great line of products.
Just picked up and installed the Katana h11 leds on my 18 Ford Edge with projector headlights very impressed with these leds..they are bright..I have 55w hids on my F150 with projector headlights after seeing these,I think I’m about to switch
Thanks for sharing that Romy. LED products like the Katana are very close nowadays to HID, and because LED is easier to install, people are going with LED. HID is really the best for projectors though as it's essentially a much brighter halogen bulb in terms of design, but again it's a harder decision nowadays! What HID brand do you have in your F150?
BulbFacts I’ve been running the 55w opt 7 6000k for almost 2yrs
@@Doobiesack23 thanks! The 55W HID kit will surely be brighter than any LED kit out there. 35W is about on par with the best LED currently.
I got the new cougar motors h11 low beams and they are absolutely perfect! Perfect beam and extremely bright.. I can't imaging having anything brighter
Mikey paul can put a link to which one you got exactly or the full name
www.amazon.com/Cougar-Motor-Headlight-Bulbs-Conversion/dp/B01H6NZ7D8/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?adgrpid=59879843481&hvadid=274762687626&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9026631&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=7578956595405311599&hvtargid=kwd-450125971170&keywords=cougar+motors+h11&qid=1554411425&s=gateway&sr=8-3
@@christinagordon1071 now those are the h11 bulbs.. You may need a different size
Just to reiterate what others have said, is I appreciate you mentioning which light housing the bulbs will sit in.
No problem Mike! We'll be doing vehicle specific tests soon as well in addition.
On minute 4:48 there is a light pattern that on road will show a dark area. It is the dark area below and at the center. So long, I haven't seen any led bulbs that match the h4 halogen light pattern, even using zes chips.
Hey Carlos, you are right, it is simply a limitation of the current LED technology, and most case a small shadow in the lower center. Something to consider when upgrading.
Thanks a lot for the helpful comparisons on your website and road tests on your videos! 👍
Glad to help, thanks for the support!
Thanks for this great comparison!
I purchased the Hikari LED H7 bulbs a few months ago and it looks if like if I drive with projector headlights!👍👍
Thanks Bob that's great to hear! They are truly an amazing product.
Thx for all your work, 10/10, I bought led bulbs following your advice, and it is night and day compared to the products I bought before! thank you for the quality of the tests. hope to see the lats techmax'12000' lumens on test here soon.
Thanks spartak spartakus, glad it worked out well for you! We have the new model Techmax in our lab and will be testing them very soon!
I’ve got the Katana’s for High Beam ( Reflector ) and JDM-ASTAR Gen 7 for Low Beam . Both bulbs are exactly the same except for the LED chipset .
Hey Mr. Worf! Yes after testing many LED kits I have noticed that. Many share the design of the Katana as it is a very solid product, and they use their own selection of LED chips, so the output always varies. Sometimes more-so than others, and variations in manufacturing come into play of course as well.
BulbFacts Your quite right right as the Katana states 6000Lms each & 5090 Lux . The JDM - ASTAR states 4000Lms each , no lux reading available . The design is great ! Thanks !!
Happy New Year !! 🇨🇦
Thanks a lot. Your videos with the projector and reflector style led shootouts helped me choose the correct lights for my projector low beams and reflector high beams.
Sayantan Pramanik - thanks for watching, glad to help!
Update: Techmax H4 fitted directly, simple plug n play, fitted inside the shell ok.The beam was spot on, no re-positioning was needed.
Pretty impressed for the money!
That's great to hear Andy, thanks for the update!
Does it have a very faint buzz/hum when the lights on and cars not?
Random question, but my girlfriend has a 2021 Corolla hybrid with OEM LED lights? Any idea that oem led lumens or lux are? How easy would it be to upgrade the oem bulbs to even brighter LED after market bulbs and how much of a difference would that even make?
Hi PhaseSkater, we are not sure, but we plan to test OE output on vehicles in the future. the Corolla LEDs perform pretty well, but I would just check the aim as they tend to be too high from the factory and that light could be lost. To upgrade, you'd need to replace the entire headlights, which is something you'll want to consider if they get too dim or go bad, and the vehicle is no longer under warranty.
I'm curious on the car that is being used. I have found that if the car has a duel high low beam hid works the best for down road visibility. I run in my 09 Altima a 35 watt 6000k hid low beam and a 80 watt 6000k high beam led. The led is way brighter but the distance isn't there. The less bright hid puts light very far down road and even has overpowered high beams of cars in front of me. Have had this set up since almost 5 years in this car and have done nurmouse led and hid swaps with friends. Hid for the distance, a 35watt is plenty, and for high beams it's worth going led so it's instantly bright, if u have a one bulb car look up others experiences led low beam was not the answer for me but it may be for you. Great video glad someone cares to help show great products to help us see and be seen.
Hey Chris, great points you make! We try to be transparent in how we test, you can find details here: www.bulbfacts.com/how-we-test/. We tested various products in different style headlights though as well to ensure results are consistent enough. 35W HID is best for low-beam projectors, and LED is best for high-beams. It sounds like you have an older model LED if you bought it about 5 years ago, you may want to try a newer model as they shoot light MUCH further than old designs from even 3-4 years ago, based on our testing. We'll put together a video in the future based on people's vehicle types for the best recommendations. For now we do have a help guide for anybody who is confused: www.bulbfacts.com/help
Excellent review. 20/10 stars!
Thanks for the support!
Just installed the HIKARI ULTRAS in my ‘18 Ram 1500, both low and high beams. I’m very pleased with the output. Since the HIKARI ULTRAS have that specialized cut out design, how would one know which is the right and left bulb? I want to make sure I have mine in right.
Hey Furious Jones, each side does not matter, but you want to make sure the smaller end of the bulb is facing upward in the low beam, and down for the high beam. It depends on the housing, but this is typically what we see.
Ah, ok awesome. Got the low beams in right then, but I guess I gotta flip the high beams around so the fat end is on top. Currently have all the bulbs with smaller end facing up. I have the reflector style housing. Thanks for the info, it’s much appreciated.
@@therealfuriousjones of course, glad to help! Once you flip the high-beams around you should notice an improvement in output, if it decreases then of course rotate them back around.
Excellent Video! I picked up the Hikari ultra! And it did not disappoint!!!! With that being said, thanks for the help. You guys should test the best hid bulbs! I run D2R and I need help picking the best!
Thanks DJNEUSPEED23 I'm glad it was helpful, thanks! We actually have tested D-Series HID bulbs as well, no reviews yet but you can check out the full test chart here: www.bulbfacts.com/hid-oe/chart/
I added the SNGL Focus LED as my fog bulb for my ‘15 Grand Cherokee - great bulb! Great review and very helpful chart on BulbFacts.com - Thanks! SNGL is a quality product.
Thanks k miller for sharing! The SNGL is really a great bulb for halogen projectors, glad you like them!
Thank you I am looking for some advice on this I would like the Katana bulbs in H7 and 9005. Looking to put them in a projector headlight.
Hi Brand Onion. Take a look at our page here, which has the latest recommendations as we test in new products (it will always be the most up to date); www.bulbfacts.com/led-kits/recommended/ (Katana is still a top pick)
+1 for the Hikai ultra. I changed out my cougar less and they are much MUCH better. They cost a little more but well worth it.
Great to hear thanks for sharing!
My Auxbeam FS3 series (9005 and 9006) bulbs are the best bulbs i have used. At $40, also affordable
Thanks for sharing UCN Conversions!
Thanks for a great video. I would like to see a led compare for fog lights. Specifically the 5202 bulbs, hard to find good replacement.
Hey Ted thanks for the support! We have our fog test equipment and are in the process of re-testing, and will be producing a new video in the future, but should have a new page up on our website soon for the fog light results. 5202 is certainly harder to find, as H8 and 9006 bulbs are most common, so aftermarket companies target the most popular sizes unfortunately. Morimoto 2Stroke 2.0 makes that size and it is quite a good quality kit and very bright! If I find anything else I'll let you know!
Hi BULBFACTS... I bought the Techmax 9003s LEDs that are suggested for my Camry. I mentioned to you that I got them last week and was happy. Wellllll... both fans were a bit noisier than I'm used to. They were auditable when I got them, but didn't think much about it. It took me a few more rides to figure what was going on. The fans actually get louder the longer they stay on. They also are annoying when they phase in and out of sync. I drive an hour each way to work and can't hear them at highway speeds, but on the backroads at stops, I keep thinking something is wrong with my car. Plus, after driving a week with them, I'm not really thrilled with the lumen output either. I think I'm going to return them and go with Hikaris, unless you tell me the fans are loud in them.
Hey Dbf Crell! It sounds like they noise isn't jiving well with your Camry. I will say the Hikari fans are louder, and the Techmax was one of the quieter kits available. They do resonate a bit differently though, and the techmax may be vibrating inside your headlights. See if that is the case first, and try to get them tighter perhaps if possible. If you want a silent kit, go with a fanless style like the Beamtech. Best of luck!
@@BulbFacts It's weird, I had those crappy OPT 7 LEDs in my last Toyota, and the fans were barely noticeable. I don't need to go fanless, just not stupid loud would be nice. It sounded like both fan bearings were going bad after a week. The bulbs were tight in the housings and the rubber seal is being used. The good news is there's plenty of room behind my lamps.so I can use flashlights if need be. Amazon is sending return info, so I'll be looking at your other recommendations
@@dbfcrell8300 sounds good, let me know if I can help!
@@BulbFacts Well, believe it or not, I returned the TechMax and bought and installed the Hikari Ultras. Now that I can compare the two bulbs, I will say the Techmax definitely had a better cut-off and nice, clear road wash, and I didn't even have to re-aim the housings. The Hikaris will need to be re-aimed and do have a bit of turbid reflector wash on the edges but are just a little brighter (I really thought they'd be a whole bunch brighter, but my old eyes can't see much of an increase). So I'm keeping the Hikaris and will dial in the aim after Xmas.
@@dbfcrell8300 thanks for the update! That's great to hear you found something that works, and it's always smart to validate the beam cut-off.
I use the same Hikari LED on my high beams and they light up everything. Crazy brightness.
I've noticed you guys haven't uploaded in awhile, hope everything is okay. Any plans to revisit these kinds of videos and try different kinds of bulbs? I've picked up a set of Sealight Laxmas L2s which appear to be the newest model from them. Hopefully they do good as one of ballasts on my 55W HID kit has gone out and I'm getting sick and tired of managing hids. LEDs are so much more easier to work with.
Hi DannyzPlay! You are correct, we havn't uploaded in a while, as we have been busy testing new products and new processes, which is a priority for us. We do plan to put up a new video once we have everything completed. We will certainly add the new Sealight model to our testing as well, I appreciate the suggestion! LEDs are much easier to install and manage over HID, most people are moving to LED these days, and LED has caught up to HID in terms of output now which is great to see.
So I have a question/would like your speculation on the Techmax leds in projector housings. At 3:10 you said they have a little bit of blocking in the front and you don't recommend them for projectors. I have tried other leds you suggest but they don't fit under my dust caps. My question for speculation is, what if I were to remove/grind/sand off the blockage on the front of the led to make it look more like the Hikari Ultra? Do you think you would get better performance from the Techmax led in a projector housing?
Hey Jordan, that's a great question. Yes the Techmax has the front cover which helps reduce glare in a reflector, but blocks a lot of the light in a projector. Theoretically if you ground down the front end to make it straight, it should product more light in the halogen projector, simliar to Hikari Ultra. Just be careful!
Really good video review, I am really interested in getting the Techmax for my 2013 VW golf but are they canbus error free type bulbs?
Hi J P, based on our tests they did not cause any issues (error messages) on our 2013 VW Jetta, so I would give them a try and if you do in fact get an error, just grab a set of decoders. You can even reach out to the company on Amazon and many times they'll send a set free.
I miss those great lightbulbs videos from you!
Please post again when you get a chance.
Thanks Persi! We hope to release a new video very soon! We are just waiting for a few new products to release to test prior to finalizing the video.
explain the simple differance's in the pro-jector type & the re-flector type of light's plzz i'm in a all stock 2004 chevy silverado truck here & wanting to simply up-grade to led's......
what do ya recamend for me in my truck plzzzz..........??
Hey Jamie, check out our latest recommendations here; www.bulbfacts.com/led-kits/recommended/ Your Silverado would have halogen reflectors. For the difference check out our article here; www.bulbfacts.com/help#reflvsproj
Thanks man, based off your stats, and the running temp of the lights I'm going with the techmax h7 for my motorcycle.
Hey Joseph, the Techmax is a great choice as it's very small and compact for a bike, and extremely bright. Let us know how it works out!
@@BulbFacts Yes Sir, I'll be making a video about them. I used your affiliate link and will make sure to reference my decision going off of your findings.
@@JosephMyLife awesome! And thanks for the support, it really helps us continue to test new products 👍
Using your recommended best value LED, I purchased the TechMax and they are terrific in my Ford van. Your current suggestion is the NINEO ll. Should I consider trading up for these? How would you compare these two bulbs in size 9007?
Hey Thomas! I replied via email, but the Nineo II is certainly brighter than the Techmax. If you are already running the Techmax I would recommend sticking with them as they are very good unless you want to spend another $50 on the Nieno II's. Both are in the top tier and are great values!
Excellent review!. Really helpfull to make the purchase decision to upgrade my headlights. I just have a question. What about high beams? I have an HID kit that was installed by the previus owner of my car (reflector type). This guy make a great job with low beams, the HID kit has a good patern, no glare to oncoming traffic, good brightness..... but the highbeams are totally unusefull. There is no differente between low and high beams.
Hi Daniel, take a look at our newest video for high-beam specific recommendations; th-cam.com/video/VH1P5aa24Y4/w-d-xo.htmlm24s
Great video, but I have a question. I have a 2012 outback that use H7 bulb. I wonder if I can reinstall the rear cover over the LED bulb since LED bulb has a fan at the end. if not, can I just leave it open?
Hey Ziyi! You'll want to re-install the cover to deep the environment out of your headlight. The fan's primary function is to keep the LED chips cool so they stay bright. LED runs much cooler than halogen and produces a lot less heat.
what about the new Hikari 9600lm which cost around 40 bucks! its somewhat the Ultra version, or wost than the katanas!!?
Hey Davyon, we tested those as well, you can find them in our full test chart under the budget options section (Hikari Standard): www.bulbfacts.com/led-kits/chart/
Waiting on my Hikari Ultras in the mail for my projectors.. can't wait!
Have you tried them yet? If so how are they?
Very good! How about the Fahren 9007 bulbs? I got those for my 01 lincoln town car and they are awesome... I'm surprised you didn't include them.
Hi AwesomeFuture777 - the Fahren bulbs are a newer product so they were not available at the time of this video, but we do have them in our lab and we should have the results posted up soon!
I'd like to see you test the H4 LED Headlight Bulbs w/Canbus, Car Work Box 20000LM 130W 6500K. I just ordered some from Amazon for $69.99 but haven't received them yet. If they really are that bright, I hope the beam pattern is very good, or oncoming traffic will not be happy and I won't use them. Your test results would be very interesting. Thanks!
Thanks for the suggestion Joe, we'll add them to our list for testing!
Nicely done , but how many amps ? On my stock KIA my wires are burning, need to know the amperage draw. Thanks.
Hey Darryl! You can find the wattage each kit is pulling from the vehicle's system on our LED chart: www.bulbfacts.com/led-kits/chart/ . You'll notice they are all much lower than halogen, and all run cooler as well. Hope that helps!
I wish you would've talked a little more about the katana. I have projector headlights and was wanting to hear more about them. Good review overall. Thanks dude.
Hi rich ray! Yes sorry I realized that as well. The next video I do I'll be sure to discuss projector options more. Thanks for the support!
@@BulbFacts sounds great! Love the videos man. They're very informative. Definitely helped me narrow my options down. There's so many options out there, I'm glad I watched this before I bought the cheapest option. Keep up the great work.
Thanks again I’m glad it’s helpful!
Super happy with your recommendation of the Katana kit. The 4300k Kensun HIDs blasted light all over in front of the car and the color looked like straight garbage. I'm pretty sure it color shifted since new.
The Katana headlights are bright and clean, comparable to my fiancee's Corolla but not as good as my dad's BMW, which is probably ridiculously expensive.
Thanks for sharing David! It sounds like the Katana worked out well. The BMW OE headlights are probably very expensive, and created specifically for the vehicle with the headlight and lighting together to get the best performance.
Please, keep doing your job! Thank you so much! Really!
Thanks Alex!
I watched your HID video and purchased your recommend set, deauto. They did not focus well in my 300ZX. I believe your link was to a universal kit and not Nissan specific. Anyway before I make that mistake again, what brand do you recommend for the 300ZX low beam, it has a round/projector style lens. Surely some of your watchers comments can assist me too. Thanks and keep the videos coming.
Hey George! Sorry to hear that. DeAuto has great support and should be able to help you out if you still have the kit. Just be sure to double-check the return wire and make sure it's facing downward. Projector lenses flip the light when it leave the headlight. It's odd how it didn't work out, but perhaps the 300ZX has a special design. I would check the automotive forums for some recommendations there. Hopefully somebody can chime in here as well.
Im so happy i found your video. Replaced halogen bulbs on my 2018 F150 with Techmax based on your review. I can see now! I do have one question about the positioning of the bulb. With the diode at 3 and 9 o clock. Do you install with thin side up with the fat side down? Thanks again!
Thanks Lexi'nmotion, glad to help! The Techmax is a great product for the money. You'll want the bulbs clocked 9-3, so the diodes will be facing side to side, left to right. In a Reflector, the smaller side should be facing up in the low beam, and down for the high beam. In a Projector, the smaller end should be facing up. Hope that helps!
@@BulbFacts Thanks for quick response back. Just wanted to make sure. The reason I asked cause there was a bus driver turned hi and lo beam toward me as he pass by and he was pissed.... :( I was heading uphill and he was heading down. Go figure. Thanks again!
@@09G8GT no problem. Yes it's common for people to misinterpret the driver's beam area on hills, even in OEM applications including HID, LED, and Halogen. I had it happen to me a few times when I ran halogen bulbs. The Techmax has a higher color, so again that adds confusion, but the beam is as good or nearly as good as halogen, so on a normal angle they won't bother oncoming traffic.
Thanks for your videos, they helped me a lot but I would like to ask which one should I get to replace my halogen H8 (reflector) Beamtech, Fahren or Techmax LED ? Any other suggestion ? Thanks a lot a willreslly appreciate your answer
Hi Alvaro, you can find our latest recommendations here, and I presume you are looking for a set of Fog Lights based on the H8 size; www.bulbfacts.com/led-kits/recommended/#fr - we test products regularly and keep this page up to date.
Thanks guyz! Awesome job!
Thanks, appreciate the support!
Hey great review. Very informative. Just wondering if you will be doing a similar review for LED/HID kits for Fog lights. Thanks, keep doing these reviews.
Thanks Steve! Actually yes, we just got in a few fog light housings, and will be re-testing all of the products soon in order to better recommend in that application. Thanks for the support!
How are the Hikari LED bulbs during rains at night? Also, please review the new Hikari Acme X 2021 bulbs.
Hi Nish, the Hiraki Ultra's are a bit on the blue side for inclement weather, so I would take a look at other options of 6000k or less from our tests. We have the Hikari Acme X in our lab and should have them finished up soon and posted on our website as well. Appreciate the suggestion and patience!
In the comments you have the NINEO II LED listed. How did these perform in a projector style headlight?
I was thinking of running them over the Katana LED at that price point, and assumed the style or design would allow for similar performance in a projector style housing. I just liked the specs of the headlight over the Katana.
Hey Jacob! The Nineo II is best for reflectors, but the Hikari Ultra and Katana kits are better in projectors. The Katana is really great honestly as it allows for adjustment if needed in certain projector styles. Hope that helps!
@@BulbFacts bought hikari ultra for low beam (projector) and katana for high beam (reflector). The hikari was brighter (than old halogen) with really good pattern. But if comparing it to how much it improved in comparison to the reflector headlight using katana, reflector wins. Its like 2x improvement on projector while 3x in reflector. Next time il try hid for the ptojector and see if how better it would be. Anyway, bought those brands fron your recommendations and it is really helpful.
Btw, what do you mean by katana can be adjusted? The hikari i bought can also be adjusted in my projector. At first i had problems with the adjustment, but then i realized the locking mechanism can be removed then rotated to arrive to the proper led positions (on H11 btw). Or you are referring to something else?
@@heille1221 that's great to hear! It's hard to say exactly how they will perform in different vehicles, but they should perform very well overall. By adjusted yes, you can 'clock' or rotate them (turning the degrees). I was not aware the H11 is rotatable, and will look into that further, that is great to know, thanks!
Which is the best led bulb you would recommend for h4 reflector housing? 2013 Toyota vitz/Yaris hatchback ... I want something that’s very bright in the night!
Hey Christina! The best LED products would be the Hikari Ultra, Nineo II, and Katana (from Amazon). We like the Morimoto 2Stroke 2.0's as well for their pure white color. We have tested the H7/H11 sizes, but H4's design is a bit different, so your results may vary a bit. We'll be adding that size in the future, but for now you can reference our recommendations. Hope that helps!
What do you think of the Boslla Headlight kit? The one where you can flick on and off to change to different colored light for when the situation calls for it?
Hey ardvacadoful! We actually have their product in our test lab, and will have the results up in the next week or so. Thanks!
H13 on techmax don't have the little cutout like the ones in this video. But the beam is still just as good for anyone wondering!
Thanks Truth Be Told. H13 has a different bulb design from the standard H11/H7 so they vary typically. Thanks for sharing!
hello , all the option was with external driver and cable,, what is your opinion of the H4 ones that doesnt have cable or external driver, similar to the halogen bulb original design ?? thank you very much for your help in this concern
No problem. We have tested many models without an external driver and the results are not greatly different. The fanless models however seem to have much lower output due to the lack of cooling required for a high-powered diode.
First id like to thank you for your site. Really helpful for me since i dont reside in the US and i need to ship things i buy from amazon to my country so i cant return items. So i must be sure of what i buy. Your ranking really helped me. Sometimes cannot trust what the sellers post on their ads. Anyway, do you have plans in the future to test/review other leds aside from headlights like t10, 1156, 1157,etc?
Hey Michael! Thanks I'm glad it's helpful! We do have plan to both expand on products from the EU/UK & CA, and will be adding the smaller bulbs in the future as well!
@@BulbFacts That's great. Thanks again.