Akoray K-106 Quality Control Survey

[LeifUK]

This thread is to find out about the quality control of the Akoray K-106 light, and the Trustfire F20 Q5 clone. These lights take 1 AA size battery. Please only vote and post if you own one or more Akoray/Nkoray K-106 lights (or clones) with 3, 5 or 6 modes. If you own multiple lights, then vote once for the worst one, and then give details of ALL lights in your post.

Please also add a post as per the following example:

Example ########################################

I own 3 Akoray K106 lights.

Akoray K106, 5 modes, no issues. Bought from DX one year ago.
Akoray K106, 6 modes, faulty tail switch, unusale, bought from DX 1 month ago.
Akoray K106 6 modes, no issues. Bought from DX one month ago.

########################################

And then at the end add further information that you think will be relevant and useful. Please do not wander off topic, as I would like the thread to remain concise and useful. Please do not add data for other Akoray lights, or any other lights. (I'd rather you started a separate poll so this one remains on topic, and not too long.)

 

[LeifUK]

I own 1 Akoray K106 with 5 modes, bought a few weeks ago from DX. The light has no issues, although the mode memory only works after the light has been off for a few minutes. There is a high pitched whine, so it is unsuitable for people who place the light in an ear, and it might annoy dogs too. The build quality is very good in my opinion.

 

[Gryffin]

Bought one K-106 from KaiDomain a couple months ago. Mine is a "six level" (three programmable settings, with mode memory) model, it's faultless. :twothumbs

 

[Ecolang]

Mine is a programmable from DX. No issues - but got it quite a while ago.

 

[astro4554]

I have an A(N)koray K106 five mode and an Akoray K106 six mode light. The five mode light has been faultless on either NiMh or14500. However, the six mode light flickers when a NiMh is installed but is perfectly fine on 14500.

The five mode is around six months old and the six mode only a couple of months old.

 

[Benson]

Akoray K-105/K-106, 3-mode fully-programmable sold as '5-mode' (or 6-mode, maybe :shrug from DX. No problems at all for over 6 months, until I lost it in the brush somewhere...

 

[compasillo]

My both Akoray K-106 are 3-mode programmable. The first one bought on 2009/Jan, the second one on 2009/May. Not faulty at all.
I wonder how many versions of this model have been released :thinking:

 

[reflecyion]

there are 6 mode versions??
i thought there were just the 3 and 5 mode?

high med low strobe sos
what's the 6th setting?


anyways, my 5 mode version that i received a couple weeks ago works just fine so far, except for the dumb memeory setting which skips to the next mode each time you turn it on..

 

[vali]

The "original" sku.16607 was 6 mode more than a year ago. Then they started to sell a programmable 3-mode and the fuss about akoray started...

I have the programmable version too. Bought it about a year ago and cero issues. Its not that bright but can take a beating, is waterproof and got a runtime of 37-38 hours using alkalines.

AFAIK that is the version to get. I dont recall any reports of faulty units of that model. Then DX started to sell the 5 mode and "clones" and the complaints started.

 

[Radiophile]

I have the programable model from DX and it's excellent. I tend to carry it with a 3V primary (1/2 a CR-V3 Duracell).

 

[jhitch]

Another good 3 mode programmable K-106 here! No issues and has survived my three year old for about 4 months so it has some decent durability :twothumbs

 

[Luminater]

I have the programable model and Bought from DX one year ago.

 

[amigafan2003]

Own one 3 mode programmable and a 6 mode non-programmable - colour slightly different on both.

No issues with either.

I also bought a 3 mode programmable for my father in law - tint was slightly bluer than the one I chose to keep, which is on the warm side. It did flicker a little but tightening the tail cap sorted it.

 

[jk037]

I have the "Nkoray" K-106 5-mode, it doesn't have the mode memory as claimed by DX (tried leaving it for various time periods) and I had to resolder the driver board into the pill as it was poorly fitted.

Despite the above I'm still very pleased with the K-106; it's good points more than make up for the bad!

It's a really useful light, having 3 well-chosen modes (plus the not-very-useful strobe and SOS), it's attractive and nicely finished, feels sturdy and puts out a decent amount of light on a mere NiMh/alkaline AA

(Oh, and it cost $13.99 - about £8.70 - bargain!! )

 

[boomhauer]

I have both programmable 3-mode AND the non-programmable 5-mode (Nkoray).

The 3-mode is much nicer. You can see the difference in the machining (square-cut threads) and the inside of the head portion is much cleaner.

Had one DOA with an Nkoray, as well as a rattley lens.

I think the extra cost for the former is money well spent. That's not to say that an Nkoray couldn't be a perfectly suitable flashlight. If you get a good one, and don't mind the fixed modes, it can be quite a bargain. Output is pretty comparable.

 

[Blackbeard]

Bought 3 "Nkorays" with the green clicky, 1 was DOA, 1 would not work with AA, only 14500. The third worked ok. Sent them back to DX over a month ago, still awaiting replacement or a lousy email from them.

Also have a "Akoray" with the orange clicky, which has never given me problems.

 

[boomhauer]

Bought 3 "Nkorays" with the green clicky, 1 was DOA, 1 would not work with AA, only 14500. The third worked ok. Sent them back to DX over a month ago, still awaiting replacement or a lousy email from them.

Also have a "Akoray" with the orange clicky, which has never given me problems.

I should correct my post to clarify that my "DOA" was in fact a failure to work with standard AA; it worked with 14500. And it didn't get that way because I tried the 14500 first.

 

[Blackbeard]

well I hope DX makes good on their exchange, they had me ship the defective lights to a Miami address. I would rather get a credit and buy different lights, but I dont think they got my point/understood my request and they'll probably ship 2 more nkorays

 

[speedsix]

I got a 5 mode non programmable. It has minor flicker issues and the five modes are pointless. The button is a pain to activate as well.

It would be a better light if it was a simple single mode or maybe a high/low mode. I do like the strobe but don't need it on the regular modes.

 

[reflecyion]

i'm curious what makes you say that the 5 modes are pointless?
mine doesn't flicker at all, and the brightness levels seem well spaced.
but maybe i was lucky?

the clicky doesn't activate as easily as some, but i don't think it's an issue for me personally...and i don't have to worry about accidental turn-ons.