It's crazy how the cheaper ones do better than the more expensive ones. Morimoto is obviously the best, but for regular driving the OEM LED is just fine and just install a light bar for spicy nighttime off roading.
Thank you for this massive effort for creating an ultimate guide for everyone interesting in upgrading his car lights , Masterpiece of video, God bless🙏🙏🙏
The Ultra series bulbs just did so well in every housing they touched! While it does change and vary on the housing, I'd say a very safe universal bet would be the Ultra series, yes!
As a reference, a Morimoto Mini D2S 5.0 with a 35W ballast is : 60 000 cd low beam 125 000 cd high beam And that's with a very wide beam. DOT limits high beam power to 75 000 cd, ECE (rest of the world) allows 140 000 cd. So most LED headlight actually suck. The Toyota OEM LED is pretty good but limited by DOT in high beam. For the Morimoto the Evo with boost is needed, but upgrading an OEM halogen assembly with a bi-xenon or bi-led projector + LED high beam will be even brighter in high beam. The OEM halogen projector does suck, a good halogen should be at 30 to 40 000 cd (not as wide as a good LED or HID though)
D2S 5.0 data you listed is projector level vs data on this video is assembled with front lens level, when fitted with front lens on, Mini D2S 5.0 is about Low beam e-max 52,000Cd High 106,000Cd Mini D2S 5.0 is badly none-compliance lamp, multiple points solid failure, shouldn't be even compared against to. 3.5L 0.86D test exceed glare limit massively, 280% of allowance limit. Evo XB Low 65,000Cd High e-max is 88512Cd ( HV point where it is limited is 74,850Cd) Evo Boosted low is 85000Cd High e-max 121,000Cd But this is the problem, headlamp performance cannot be labeled by e-max of Low or High beam. the rest of the beam composition makes e-max of 60,000Cd comfortably useful or absolutely useless. In Morimoto multi-point evaluation system, putting all test points balance in consideration, Mini D2S 5.0 overall performance balance impression is only at 5.9 vs XB Evo is 7.4 Boosted XB Evo is 9.2 None-boosted XB Evo high beam category score comes to 8.3 while Mini D2S 5.0 fitted 7.3 It's because of balance between foreground and distance zone illuminance contrast XB Evo near field foreground illuminance is 61.5lux vs D2S 5.0 89.5lux Distance zone XB Evo 6.6lux D2S 5.0 7.8 Lux XB Evo illuminate distance area at 10.7% of foreground zone strength vs D2S 5.0 does 8.7% This makes outside of single point e-max limited view point difference. In what balance, how you make it brighter is important, not how bright at singular point Also, HID projector design is hugely outdated, cutoff rely on classic step down, which lose left hand visibility significantly, of course, it is possible to modify HID projector's cutoff shield to improve, but fitting outdated standard makes less sense in my opinion. There is numbers of OE LED optics that is lame, and there are numbers of OE LED optics so refined, once look outside of e-max only comparison, core value of newer optics will start shining much deeper.
@@yoshiishida6577 you loose about 10% with the lense. They’re not compliant with US standards because they’re too bright but they meet EU specs. All the headlight have a step up to the right (or step down to the left). No differences here.
@@dufonrafal front lens optical loss is depend on thickness and ray entrance angle, 10% is material level absorption when typical thickness lens are at perpendicular against optical axis. 4runner lens measured 11% down at beam center, 17% down inner 30+° approach angle zone. Optical compliance is not defined by e-max only. If you try to use Mini D2S5.0 as high beam only projector, sure you can enjoy, but as bi-xenon projector, low beam won't comply. DOT has 23 unique test points for low beam + gradient Mini D2S 5.0 for example 3.5L 0.86D point exceed 280% 0.5U 1R-3R not enough, only 35% of minimum requirement, 1.5U 1R-3R not enough, 70% of minimum requirement, 2U 4L not enough, 82% min requirement. In high beam, HV too high as you mentioned. That's why not compliant, not only because of HV max allowance of 75,000Cd R112 Mini D2S 5.0 can't be even accepted because it is VOR optics. You can aim like VOL but then 50L needs serious shading to reduce intensity. Cutoff too sharp, 2.5L gradient can't exceed 0.40, but D2S 5.0 has over 0.859 If you talk about compliance, those are the aspect actually matters beside e-max subject. Nearly almost every aftermarket projectors, recent LED projectors are terribly designed incorrect in so many aspects. even CAPA certified replica lamp optics fall short in quality. Including Mini D2S 5.0, They just make cutoff that kind of look like cutoff shape commonly seen on OE projector, but never been optically engineered, copy of guess at the best. XB Evo optics is fully designed to LB2V and UB2, different level of development class satisfy all test points defined by LB2V and UB2, in much more advanced refined distribution balance. This is the reason I advised it is not good idea to try evaluate headlamp performance by singular point e-max values. Missing so much of important qualities. Classic step down on left cutoff is suitable and primitively easier for lower intensity lamp or strictly VOL lamp. More advanced VOR lamp can further increase 150m/250m left curve illumination stretch by giving enhanced additional illumination, this typically takes form of selective shading at 3.5L 0.86D point, often described as dip shape, some more acutely punch it out like 5th gen 4runner OE LED(Koito) XB Evo optics is also using selective shading method cutoff, put in perspective, D2S 5.0 aimed to "blind" on coming per regulation, but aimed as VOR, 250m left curve reach is only 40m vs XB Evo reaches 75m without causing glare at 1m of lamp mount height. If to aim D2S 5.0 to prevent glare at 3.5L 0.86D definition, then left curve distance is even less, straight ahead down road reach also reduce from 90m to 48m XB evo optics remain 130+m High beam distance zone contrast balance is still weaker than XB Evo optics All those quality cannot be explained by how many candela low beam or high beam has. BTW, UB2 limit HV value at 75,000cd max, but it is OK to have higher e-max elsewhere. Not too few OE LED reflector lamp enjoy 100,000+Cd just by avoiding HV value to go above 75,000Cd It's all depend on distribution balance and design.
@@yoshiishida6577 I know the test points. They’re stupid. Especially 3.5º left, 0.86° down. Being compliant with outdated DOT standards is not something I’m looking for. Especially that testing point and the 75,000cd limit for high beam (the international standard is 140,000cd). A mini D2S 5.0 aimed at -0.7% to -1,2% (according to the true height) is amazing in low beam, very wide, very good distance and no glare. E max is good, right below the cutoff line, too the right and bright enough but not too bright (close to OEM units, so it’s not too blinding when oncoming cars are in the beam pattern when going over a hill or speed bump). And yes I know that e max is not the most important, I’m the first one to say it ! Beam pattern is the most important. And the high beam is also one of the best there is. And remember that in this car you would also still have the additional halogen high beam (which you can upgrade). For the loss at lense levels, yes I agree, honestly it’s not very significant as long as the lense is a good one. HID also have a very good color reproduction making them much better in adverse weather (and they don’t need a heated lense).
This is tricky, and we'll clarify! The XB LED Headlights used in this video are Gen2 XB LED Headlights, they are referred to in this video as Gen1 because they are the original XB LED Headlight design, not the new XB Evo Headlight design which is technically "Gen2" of the 4Runner headlights. Sorry for any confusion!
can yall do one for the 2.5 gen tundras? really want to know which ones work with the leveling feature in the truck. Actually many people wanna know lol
I want upgrades the led headlights on my 2022 honda passport. Does anyone know where I can buy the aftermarket headlights? Or any way to boost it brighter? Thanks
Not many full headlight options available for the Passport, but you could definitely retrofit and make them just as bright! If you want to shoot us an email, we can recommend some parts and local builders to help! sales@headlightrevolution.com
The clips showing the output shots are just representative of the output, but were not the way the headlights were aimed when taking the optical measurements. Fair point though!
@@HeadlightRevolutionbut in the video it is said as “the first generation morimoto xb headlights.” As well as in the video chapters - Morimoto XB Gen1 Headlights - Is that just a mistake?
Hope morimoto adapts these new more powerful drivers to more headlights. Or, I hope some other company does it, I knew these headlights had more juice to them. It’s always bothered me that the Morimoto MLED 2.0 projectors were significantly better than the XB headlights. I get DOT compliance and what not. Just crazy that I can retrofit some morimoto projectors for half the price or more than the XB headlights, and they’d be brighter.
Many aftermarket LED projector output brighter impression at all wrong places. MLED2.0 was rather composed output, but its outdated, peaky road center acute focus type of lamp, not wide, overall balance is not that outstanding. XB Evo optics has qualities MLED2.0 could not have. How intense at what part of the beam and in what kind of balance determine headlamp performance. Pump out lumen itself is pretty meaningless and more meaningless to asses headlamp performance by maximum lux somewhere near beam center along the cutoff line. To give contrast, In new evaluation system overall impression Low distance/Low road center coverage/Low width/High distance road projection/High Distance object order MLED2.0 4.5/7.8/3.4/5.5/3.4 Overall 4.9 XB Evo 6.6/8.0/5.8/8.6/8.0 Overall 7.4 XB Evo SC 7.8/8.9/6.7/10.6/11.6 Overall 9.2 MLED2.0 is weak at width impression and mainly road center acute focused type of beam If you only look at "maximum lux" somewhere in the beam as representation of beam quality, you will miss all the rest of important quality of beam This is the reason new evaluation system is introduced.
@@yoshiishida6577 I get what your saying, but I have legitimately seen a retrofit headlight with the MLED2.0 and a Morimoto XB headlight in person at night and the retrofit was brighter. I have a 2012 F250 but looking at getting a 2019 F359 and can do a retrofit with a MLED in the bottom and upper portion of the headlight and it would shit on any set of XB. I could even do a set of NHK 4+ projectors and have a high beam thats 2x as bright as the MLED and it would be much cheaper than a set of XB headlights. The XB headlights have their pros for sure, and not all retrofit’s are done properly, but I have seen enough proof to know the bi-led projectors you retrofit are brighter than the XB headlights. Obviously the XB headlights with multiple projectors are gonna have better beam distribution, but coming from someone using led bulbs in the stock housing, any projector will be better than what I’m used to. My one buddy bought the AlphaRex Nova for his Ram 2500 and they’re terrible. My LED bulbs literally have better distance and width, and my bulbs are like 5 years old.
This XB Evo headlamp optics are at completely different level refinement, past gen XB lamp, they weren’t so much of optical refinement and not particularly astonishing strong performance either. So when you stand on that past gen XB headlamp, I somewhat understand why you seeing gap between late model LED projector to give you feel of retrofit projector to be brighter. But do not mix up XB Evo and past gen XB, XB Evo performance is far beyond what XB had shown, that’s one important aspect you should know! And your concept of Brighter is at wrong placement, this is very common confusion among lighting enthusiasts community, but priority focus on wrong concept brightness and not aware of importance of beneficial meaningful illumination quality. Full assembly headlamp must have compliance at bottom line, or at least should be, even though, so many aftermarkets full headlamp assembly uses pure junk projectors, hardly ever show any compliance performance in general. Beside full assembly of course more expensive than “Component” simply because of scale of product difference, full assemble lap tend to use optics that’s fit to design concept, not necessary output performance was only criteria it can give full attention to. But not with XB Evo, optics are designed for this particular project from ground up, not convenient selection of projector that fit to design, it is designed both together as no compromise refinement. That’s probably the biggest highlight and difference from any other aftermarket full headlamp product. Retrofit intended LED projectors can pump out very high output, that is true but just at wrong balance, not in useful way, something you want to be aware of. So far, no BiLED projector has ever been designed properly, and output beneficially including MLED2, balance is past era standard. NHK4+, even worse balance. In short, stack up projector with wrong distribution balance only multiply the same exact balance issue, just forcing your eyes to intake higher volume of luminosity but not meaningfully improving illumination Past gen XB, I can’t argue much, other than being full assembled ready to go, optically they are not at highest refinement, being compared to retrofit by those who passionate about own work can be same class discussion, and cost argument is somewhat valid to me in my opinion But that's for past gen XB With XB Evo, you won’t find any retrofittable aftermarket LED projectors that beneficially outperform ones in being developed for XB Evo
@@yoshiishida6577 what you’re saying makes sense, but I don’t believe optical refinement can make these EVO lights “the best” if they are operating at 50%. Now these new EVO lights running with the supercharged driver is another thing. I hope morimoto adapts this new EVO optics and Supercharged driver to other headlights. I’m interested in getting the morimoto headlights for a 2019 F350 and the idea of having 4 projectors with EVO optics and a SC driver is kinda exciting. But, if they never get around to adapting the EVO tech to what I want, I’ll probably go the Retrofit route.
Alpharex is a lot better than a lot of headlights you can find on the market, so don't discredit too hard! (In this case, Morimoto has taken the crown 👑)
Moral of the story: get your hands on an OEM led headlight for cheap.
If that's your style preference, absolutely and you'll get a killer deal 🙌🏻
Really digging the new scoring system and graph. Keep up the great work, I watch videos for vehicle I don’t even own.
Glad you enjoy it!
I've upgraded to the Morimoto XB 2nd generation. It joins my 4 banger fogs and my 1st generation XB tail lights.
Wow. Thanks for the video. Getting new OEM LED. What an amazing analysis. Much appreciated.
You're welcome!
It's crazy how the cheaper ones do better than the more expensive ones. Morimoto is obviously the best, but for regular driving the OEM LED is just fine and just install a light bar for spicy nighttime off roading.
I'm glad I saw this before purchasing some "cheap ones" even the OEM projector with HID/LED bulbs are way better then the halogen/alpharex etc.
Thank you for this massive effort for creating an ultimate guide for everyone interesting in upgrading his car lights , Masterpiece of video, God bless🙏🙏🙏
Glad it helps!
Was there a definite winner when it comes to an LED bulb in the 2018 (halogen) housing? If I remember correctly, it was the GTR Ultra 2?
The Ultra series bulbs just did so well in every housing they touched! While it does change and vary on the housing, I'd say a very safe universal bet would be the Ultra series, yes!
Great info thx u ...
Are the Alpharex Nova Gen 1 or 2? The Gen 2 uses an extra beam in the low beam.
These are the MK2 units
As a reference, a Morimoto Mini D2S 5.0 with a 35W ballast is :
60 000 cd low beam
125 000 cd high beam
And that's with a very wide beam.
DOT limits high beam power to 75 000 cd, ECE (rest of the world) allows 140 000 cd.
So most LED headlight actually suck. The Toyota OEM LED is pretty good but limited by DOT in high beam. For the Morimoto the Evo with boost is needed, but upgrading an OEM halogen assembly with a bi-xenon or bi-led projector + LED high beam will be even brighter in high beam.
The OEM halogen projector does suck, a good halogen should be at 30 to 40 000 cd (not as wide as a good LED or HID though)
D2S 5.0 data you listed is projector level vs data on this video is assembled with front lens level, when fitted with front lens on, Mini D2S 5.0 is about Low beam e-max 52,000Cd High 106,000Cd Mini D2S 5.0 is badly none-compliance lamp, multiple points solid failure, shouldn't be even compared against to. 3.5L 0.86D test exceed glare limit massively, 280% of allowance limit. Evo XB Low 65,000Cd High e-max is 88512Cd ( HV point where it is limited is 74,850Cd) Evo Boosted low is 85000Cd High e-max 121,000Cd But this is the problem, headlamp performance cannot be labeled by e-max of Low or High beam. the rest of the beam composition makes e-max of 60,000Cd comfortably useful or absolutely useless. In Morimoto multi-point evaluation system, putting all test points balance in consideration, Mini D2S 5.0 overall performance balance impression is only at 5.9 vs XB Evo is 7.4 Boosted XB Evo is 9.2 None-boosted XB Evo high beam category score comes to 8.3 while Mini D2S 5.0 fitted 7.3 It's because of balance between foreground and distance zone illuminance contrast XB Evo near field foreground illuminance is 61.5lux vs D2S 5.0 89.5lux Distance zone XB Evo 6.6lux D2S 5.0 7.8 Lux XB Evo illuminate distance area at 10.7% of foreground zone strength vs D2S 5.0 does 8.7% This makes outside of single point e-max limited view point difference. In what balance, how you make it brighter is important, not how bright at singular point Also, HID projector design is hugely outdated, cutoff rely on classic step down, which lose left hand visibility significantly, of course, it is possible to modify HID projector's cutoff shield to improve, but fitting outdated standard makes less sense in my opinion. There is numbers of OE LED optics that is lame, and there are numbers of OE LED optics so refined, once look outside of e-max only comparison, core value of newer optics will start shining much deeper.
@@yoshiishida6577 you loose about 10% with the lense. They’re not compliant with US standards because they’re too bright but they meet EU specs.
All the headlight have a step up to the right (or step down to the left). No differences here.
@@dufonrafal front lens optical loss is depend on thickness and ray entrance angle, 10% is material level absorption when typical thickness lens are at perpendicular against optical axis. 4runner lens measured 11% down at beam center, 17% down inner 30+° approach angle zone. Optical compliance is not defined by e-max only. If you try to use Mini D2S5.0 as high beam only projector, sure you can enjoy, but as bi-xenon projector, low beam won't comply. DOT has 23 unique test points for low beam + gradient Mini D2S 5.0 for example 3.5L 0.86D point exceed 280% 0.5U 1R-3R not enough, only 35% of minimum requirement, 1.5U 1R-3R not enough, 70% of minimum requirement, 2U 4L not enough, 82% min requirement. In high beam, HV too high as you mentioned. That's why not compliant, not only because of HV max allowance of 75,000Cd R112 Mini D2S 5.0 can't be even accepted because it is VOR optics. You can aim like VOL but then 50L needs serious shading to reduce intensity. Cutoff too sharp, 2.5L gradient can't exceed 0.40, but D2S 5.0 has over 0.859 If you talk about compliance, those are the aspect actually matters beside e-max subject. Nearly almost every aftermarket projectors, recent LED projectors are terribly designed incorrect in so many aspects. even CAPA certified replica lamp optics fall short in quality. Including Mini D2S 5.0, They just make cutoff that kind of look like cutoff shape commonly seen on OE projector, but never been optically engineered, copy of guess at the best. XB Evo optics is fully designed to LB2V and UB2, different level of development class satisfy all test points defined by LB2V and UB2, in much more advanced refined distribution balance. This is the reason I advised it is not good idea to try evaluate headlamp performance by singular point e-max values. Missing so much of important qualities. Classic step down on left cutoff is suitable and primitively easier for lower intensity lamp or strictly VOL lamp. More advanced VOR lamp can further increase 150m/250m left curve illumination stretch by giving enhanced additional illumination, this typically takes form of selective shading at 3.5L 0.86D point, often described as dip shape, some more acutely punch it out like 5th gen 4runner OE LED(Koito) XB Evo optics is also using selective shading method cutoff, put in perspective, D2S 5.0 aimed to "blind" on coming per regulation, but aimed as VOR, 250m left curve reach is only 40m vs XB Evo reaches 75m without causing glare at 1m of lamp mount height. If to aim D2S 5.0 to prevent glare at 3.5L 0.86D definition, then left curve distance is even less, straight ahead down road reach also reduce from 90m to 48m XB evo optics remain 130+m High beam distance zone contrast balance is still weaker than XB Evo optics All those quality cannot be explained by how many candela low beam or high beam has. BTW, UB2 limit HV value at 75,000cd max, but it is OK to have higher e-max elsewhere. Not too few OE LED reflector lamp enjoy 100,000+Cd just by avoiding HV value to go above 75,000Cd It's all depend on distribution balance and design.
@@yoshiishida6577 I know the test points. They’re stupid. Especially 3.5º left, 0.86° down. Being compliant with outdated DOT standards is not something I’m looking for. Especially that testing point and the 75,000cd limit for high beam (the international standard is 140,000cd).
A mini D2S 5.0 aimed at -0.7% to -1,2% (according to the true height) is amazing in low beam, very wide, very good distance and no glare. E max is good, right below the cutoff line, too the right and bright enough but not too bright (close to OEM units, so it’s not too blinding when oncoming cars are in the beam pattern when going over a hill or speed bump).
And yes I know that e max is not the most important, I’m the first one to say it ! Beam pattern is the most important.
And the high beam is also one of the best there is. And remember that in this car you would also still have the additional halogen high beam (which you can upgrade).
For the loss at lense levels, yes I agree, honestly it’s not very significant as long as the lense is a good one.
HID also have a very good color reproduction making them much better in adverse weather (and they don’t need a heated lense).
@@yoshiishida6577 also, you are not contradicting any statement I made in my first post. I agree that this new headlights are very good.
Are the Morimoto XB LEDs gen 1 or gen 2? The timeline says gen 2, but you said gen 1?
This is tricky, and we'll clarify! The XB LED Headlights used in this video are Gen2 XB LED Headlights, they are referred to in this video as Gen1 because they are the original XB LED Headlight design, not the new XB Evo Headlight design which is technically "Gen2" of the 4Runner headlights. Sorry for any confusion!
can yall do one for the 2.5 gen tundras? really want to know which ones work with the leveling feature in the truck. Actually many people wanna know lol
Don't worry, there is a lot more headlight testing to come with this new system! 🙌🏻
I want upgrades the led headlights on my 2022 honda passport. Does anyone know where I can buy the aftermarket headlights? Or any way to boost it brighter? Thanks
Not many full headlight options available for the Passport, but you could definitely retrofit and make them just as bright! If you want to shoot us an email, we can recommend some parts and local builders to help!
sales@headlightrevolution.com
Seems to me that a few of these headlights were improperly aimed when ther were tested, like the gtr
GTR one is precisely right on VOR aim
The clips showing the output shots are just representative of the output, but were not the way the headlights were aimed when taking the optical measurements. Fair point though!
Good note for future testing!
How is the Gen II in comparison?
The Gen1 XB lights have been replaced by the Gen2 XB lights for a long time - the most recent version are the ones in this video!
@@HeadlightRevolutionbut in the video it is said as “the first generation morimoto xb headlights.” As well as in the video chapters - Morimoto XB Gen1 Headlights - Is that just a mistake?
Hope morimoto adapts these new more powerful drivers to more headlights. Or, I hope some other company does it, I knew these headlights had more juice to them. It’s always bothered me that the Morimoto MLED 2.0 projectors were significantly better than the XB headlights. I get DOT compliance and what not. Just crazy that I can retrofit some morimoto projectors for half the price or more than the XB headlights, and they’d be brighter.
We have a feeling theres a lot more Supercharged Drivers to come!
Many aftermarket LED projector output brighter impression at all wrong places. MLED2.0 was rather composed output, but its outdated, peaky road center acute focus type of lamp, not wide, overall balance is not that outstanding. XB Evo optics has qualities MLED2.0 could not have. How intense at what part of the beam and in what kind of balance determine headlamp performance. Pump out lumen itself is pretty meaningless and more meaningless to asses headlamp performance by maximum lux somewhere near beam center along the cutoff line. To give contrast, In new evaluation system overall impression Low distance/Low road center coverage/Low width/High distance road projection/High Distance object order MLED2.0 4.5/7.8/3.4/5.5/3.4 Overall 4.9 XB Evo 6.6/8.0/5.8/8.6/8.0 Overall 7.4 XB Evo SC 7.8/8.9/6.7/10.6/11.6 Overall 9.2 MLED2.0 is weak at width impression and mainly road center acute focused type of beam If you only look at "maximum lux" somewhere in the beam as representation of beam quality, you will miss all the rest of important quality of beam This is the reason new evaluation system is introduced.
@@yoshiishida6577 I get what your saying, but I have legitimately seen a retrofit headlight with the MLED2.0 and a Morimoto XB headlight in person at night and the retrofit was brighter. I have a 2012 F250 but looking at getting a 2019 F359 and can do a retrofit with a MLED in the bottom and upper portion of the headlight and it would shit on any set of XB. I could even do a set of NHK 4+ projectors and have a high beam thats 2x as bright as the MLED and it would be much cheaper than a set of XB headlights. The XB headlights have their pros for sure, and not all retrofit’s are done properly, but I have seen enough proof to know the bi-led projectors you retrofit are brighter than the XB headlights. Obviously the XB headlights with multiple projectors are gonna have better beam distribution, but coming from someone using led bulbs in the stock housing, any projector will be better than what I’m used to. My one buddy bought the AlphaRex Nova for his Ram 2500 and they’re terrible. My LED bulbs literally have better distance and width, and my bulbs are like 5 years old.
This XB Evo headlamp optics are at completely different level refinement, past gen XB lamp, they weren’t so much of optical refinement and not particularly astonishing strong performance either. So when you stand on that past gen XB headlamp, I somewhat understand why you seeing gap between late model LED projector to give you feel of retrofit projector to be brighter. But do not mix up XB Evo and past gen XB, XB Evo performance is far beyond what XB had shown, that’s one important aspect you should know! And your concept of Brighter is at wrong placement, this is very common confusion among lighting enthusiasts community, but priority focus on wrong concept brightness and not aware of importance of beneficial meaningful illumination quality. Full assembly headlamp must have compliance at bottom line, or at least should be, even though, so many aftermarkets full headlamp assembly uses pure junk projectors, hardly ever show any compliance performance in general. Beside full assembly of course more expensive than “Component” simply because of scale of product difference, full assemble lap tend to use optics that’s fit to design concept, not necessary output performance was only criteria it can give full attention to. But not with XB Evo, optics are designed for this particular project from ground up, not convenient selection of projector that fit to design, it is designed both together as no compromise refinement. That’s probably the biggest highlight and difference from any other aftermarket full headlamp product. Retrofit intended LED projectors can pump out very high output, that is true but just at wrong balance, not in useful way, something you want to be aware of. So far, no BiLED projector has ever been designed properly, and output beneficially including MLED2, balance is past era standard. NHK4+, even worse balance. In short, stack up projector with wrong distribution balance only multiply the same exact balance issue, just forcing your eyes to intake higher volume of luminosity but not meaningfully improving illumination Past gen XB, I can’t argue much, other than being full assembled ready to go, optically they are not at highest refinement, being compared to retrofit by those who passionate about own work can be same class discussion, and cost argument is somewhat valid to me in my opinion But that's for past gen XB With XB Evo, you won’t find any retrofittable aftermarket LED projectors that beneficially outperform ones in being developed for XB Evo
@@yoshiishida6577 what you’re saying makes sense, but I don’t believe optical refinement can make these EVO lights “the best” if they are operating at 50%. Now these new EVO lights running with the supercharged driver is another thing. I hope morimoto adapts this new EVO optics and Supercharged driver to other headlights. I’m interested in getting the morimoto headlights for a 2019 F350 and the idea of having 4 projectors with EVO optics and a SC driver is kinda exciting. But, if they never get around to adapting the EVO tech to what I want, I’ll probably go the Retrofit route.
Gosh alpharex is such trash lol
Alpharex is a lot better than a lot of headlights you can find on the market, so don't discredit too hard! (In this case, Morimoto has taken the crown 👑)
Alpharex Nova Alpha Black after a yr so far and I just love love the look on my black runner