LED headlight shootout

[Mike_H]

Since I see posts about LED headlights ALL THE TIME, I thought I'd post this. These guys showed the beam patterns and brightness of the Name Brands and the knock-offs, back to back. I thought it was interesting to see all the different beam patterns. You'll also see that the beam pattern is what you pay for, when you compare Truck-lights, JW Speaker, KC, etc to all the chinese knock-offs.

 

[Mumblewood]

So I just watched that and I’m kinda interested in those morimoto lights. Anyone have any experience with them?

 

[thomat65]

I thought I'd post this

Thank you! That is some excellent information. I still have a hard time swallowing the price on some of these but at least now I can see people are actually getting something for their money.

I’m kinda interested in those morimoto lights

Yeah those tested really well in that video!

 

[Nightmare9]

I thought I was all set on the KC Gravity 7" LED, but now I'm not so sure.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Since I see posts about LED headlights ALL THE TIME, I thought I'd post this. These guys showed the beam patterns and brightness of the Name Brands and the knock-offs, back to back. I thought it was interesting to see all the different beam patterns. You'll also see that the beam pattern is what you pay for, when you compare Truck-lights, JW Speaker, KC, etc to all the chinese knock-offs.

My cheap Chinese knockoffs are at least better & brighter than what the factory installed.

 

[mrblaine]

My cheap Chinese knockoffs are at least better & brighter than what the factory installed.

Can we not also say the exact same thing about these?
https://www.roughcountry.com/jeep-adjustable-control-arms-1190.html

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Can we not also say the exact same thing about these?
https://www.roughcountry.com/jeep-adjustable-control-arms-1190.html

I obviously have less interest in top quality headlights than I do top quality control arms.

 

[Mike_H]

So I just watched that and I’m kinda interested in those morimoto lights. Anyone have any experience with them?

I thought I was all set on the KC Gravity 7" LED, but now I'm not so sure.

The KC Gravity lights are what brought me to that video in the first place. Also having second thoughts. The morimoto's are pretty interesting to me too. Lots of fill light, excellent cut-off. The big hang-up for me going to LED is that I really don't like the look of most of them, aesthetically. Those morimotos just look like projectors at least. Still don't know if I want to make that big of a change to a classic vehicle (for my 1978 GMC motorhome, not the Rubi)

 

[DWR]

Not gonna lie.. some of the ones the praised I thought looked like trash. In all honesty the first set of knockoff JW speaker lights had one of the best cutoffs, the KC ones looked terrible.

 

[03coloradowrangler]

ive own both trucklite and jw speaker led headlights, both have their own pros and cons on light pattern & both improved lighting than factory.

jw speaker has a better cutoff in the low beam pattern & better light output though high beams not so fantastic. while trucklite has a better output for the highbeam but leaves more to be desired for the low beam and the cutoffs look strange from the drivers view.

Imo, both look kinda goofy but the jw speaker looks kinda bug eyed.

 

[Mike_H]

My cheap Chinese knockoffs are at least better & brighter than what the factory installed.

I'm confused...you have Chinese knockoff lights, but your signature says -When you have a choice, buy American Made.

JW Speaker's are made in America...

 

[glowell222]

I have tried 7" LEDs on my other car. I had a real problem in wintry-mixed inclement weather with the lenses freezing up and really affecting visibility-not enough heat is generated by the LEDs to keep the lenses ice-free.

I pulled them off and put on the JW Speaker lights with heated lenses, and that is what I would go with if I ever put LEDs on my Sahara.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I'm confused...you have Chinese knockoff lights, but your signature says -When you have a choice, buy American Made.

JW Speaker's are made in America...

I traded a used winch rope straight across for them.

 

[Chris]

My cheap Chinese knockoffs are at least better & brighter than what the factory installed.

A good flash light is better than the factory headlights.

 

[Ephry73]

The reason I upgraded my headlight wiring with the K-Suspension unit was to upgrade the headlights. I have the Upgraded JW Speaker J units waiting to be installed. Bought them mainly because the low beam pattern and light output was superb when I saw the reviews and from what I have read online. Plus I got a really good deal on them.

I seldom use high beams unless I'm travelling to work late at night for an emergency and I can use the extra auxiliary lights for that.
Now that I have upgraded the wiring, the KC H4 housings and stock 9003 Osram bulbs are almost as bright as the HID headlights in my old Audi.

 

[Uncommon]

I've got these vision X vortex in my shopping cart from quadratec and am almost ready to buy. they are 679.00 for the pair. Is there anything better that I should be buying, or is this going to perform as well as I expect them to?

 

[Chris]

I've got these vision X vortex in my shopping cart from quadratec and am almost ready to buy. they are 679.00 for the pair. Is there anything better that I should be buying, or is this going to perform as well as I expect them to?

View attachment 174354

I had those on my last TJ and really loved them.

However, I have these ones on my current TJ and I actually like them just a little more:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DNK7BFA/?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[il buono]

I've got these vision X vortex in my shopping cart from quadratec and am almost ready to buy. they are 679.00 for the pair. Is there anything better that I should be buying, or is this going to perform as well as I expect them to?

View attachment 174354

I currently have those on mine. I got a great deal for them and they replaced my JW Speaker Evo J2 headlights. I prefer the light output and beam pattern on the JW Speakers. If I was going solely off of that, I would've stuck with the JW Speakers, but I kept the Vision X headlights since it's still a huge upgrade over stock and I like how they look. When it comes to the higher end options, you really can't go wrong with KC, Vision X, or JW Speaker.

 

[OHFIVETJ]

A good flash light is better than the factory headlights.

So is a "BAD" flashlight !!!

 

[Ephry73]

I currently have those on mine. I got a great deal for them and they replaced my JW Speaker Evo J2 headlights. I prefer the light output and beam pattern on the JW Speakers. If I was going solely off of that, I would've stuck with the JW Speakers, but I kept the Vision X headlights since it's still a huge upgrade over stock and I like how they look. When it comes to the higher end options, you really can't go wrong with KC, Vision X, or JW Speaker.

I bought the JW speaker headlights because of all of the videos and reviews on the the light pattern and output as well as light temperature. However, after upgrading the wiring on my headlights I’m seriously considering keeping the setup I have and selling the JW units and put that money towards something else in the Jeep.
I’m a stickler for lights and brakes. Specially in the rain.