Malkoff Opinions

[Dicaeopolis]

I don't have the SHO, but my M61 450 lumens is just slightly dimmer than my 600 lumen G2X Pro. If the SHO is only half as bright I would let Malkoff know. Maybe you somehow go shipped the wrong head. I've always liked the G2X Pro, but I wish it was potted and took 18650s. I've go the old M61HOT, which I think is 500 lumens and it has a brighter hot spot with less spill than the G2X.

 

[sgt253]

I got my 16650 Orbtronic batteries today, charged them up in my nitecore charger.

My G2x LE ran exactly 90 minutes on them. Same run time as the CR123 primaries. So that's a win for today.

I wish I could report better news on the Malkoff SHO drop in. I put it in my 6P defender host and it is supposed to be 750 lumens, which should be brighter than my G2x. You'd think. It was easily half as bright as my stock G2x. Super disappointed. My G2x easily outshines it by beam, throw, distance, and flood.

Fail. I'm sticking with my tried and true, trusted stock G2x with 16650 cells.

I'd let Malkoff know. Sounds as though your SHO is underperforming. Malkoff will make it right. Best of luck.

 

[michiganstud]

Got a great reply from Gene....he gave me several options.

Here are some beam shots I sent him.

 

[thermal guy]

The sho should outperform your Surefire. Not sure what's going on. Your SF is 600 Lumens?

 

[knucklegary]

Besides returning Sho, what all options did Malkoff offer?

 

[F89]

I recently had a problem with a new Malkoff light. It turned out to be something I could fix myself in the end but it took a little figuring out, although hind sight being what it is I could have fixed it sooner (contact issue).

Gene was excellent to deal with. Provided fast and helpful service and was quick to accommodate me to provide a 100% satisfactory solution.
I don't think anyone will find better service than Malkoff, they're just that good.
I also think that Malkoff gear is way up there in quality, utility, durability, and reliability.

Whatever issue there may be with a purchase from Malkoff, based on my experience, Gene will provide the customer with 100% confidence.
I can't speak for what he'll offer, but I know he'll make it right whatever the case.

With the case above (SHO) I wouldn't be surprised if there's just some simple (yet sometimes tricky) issue contact or otherwise that could be sorted and get it running great. I'd be very surprised if there's actually a fault with that drop in.
Whatever the case, I'm sure it'll be promptly sorted.

 

[michiganstud]

The sho should outperform your Surefire. Not sure what's going on. Your SF is 600 Lumens?

Yes....G2x is 600 lumen. The m61 SHO is supposed to be 750.

 

[michiganstud]

Besides returning Sho, what all options did Malkoff offer?

Refund, replace.....but he even offered me to send the m61 back along with my Surefire light and he would see what he could do to fix it.

 

[NH Lumens]

Yes....G2x is 600 lumen. The m61 SHO is supposed to be 750.

My sample of the M61SHO was under 600 when I measured it.

IMO, the M91B is one of the best (if not the best) drop-ins by Malkoff. On a single Li-ion cell, it will equal the lumen output of the M61 SHO but with a much smoother beam. On two cells it's even better. The M61SHO does have a brighter (higher candela) hot spot, but it's a tiny spot in the middle of the beam.

IMO, Gene needs to make a M61 drop-in version of the Bodyguard v.2 which is really a superb performer: it easily meets its 1150 lumen rating, has a wide, smooth beam and a broad hot spot that is at least 12,000 candela.

 

[Kestrel]

Oh my goodness so much to like this thread, I would wear out my 'Like' button on all the posts, lol.

I still remember getting my first-order 20%-off from the Malkoff website, back in 2007 I recall - qty.2 M30's. Good times.

And yes the M91B would also be my first choice for a dropin - output, efficiency, ample flood, reliability. The fact that it has original M91-level output on 1xLiIon and a ~double output M91B-level on 2xLiIon, is still a fantastic design IMO.

 

[ampdude]

The M61 SHO 750 is almost twice as bright and has a lot more throw. It will give you the same output on 2X123's or a single lithium

That version is 5700K though.. which.. is crap IMO. I'd opt for the neutral or warm ones.

 

[thermal guy]

The neutral an warm definitely have a much better tint no doubt but your going to lose throw over the 5700.

 

[vicv]

Is the 5700 a nichia 519? I imagine even that cool it'll still look pretty good. Can always dedome it to get around 4500k and you'll double the throw while only losing 10% output

 

[F89]

It's an SST20 like in the Hound dog 18650 XT.
750 lumens (out the front) does sound ambitious for this LED at SHO drive current.

 

[vicv]

It's an SST20 like in the Hound dog 18650 XT.
750 lumens (out the front) does sound ambitious for this LED at SHO drive current.

Thanks. I didn't know the sst-20 came in 5700k. I know I don't care much for the 5000k or 6000k version and swapped all my sst-20 lights to the 4000k 95cri one

 

[F89]

In the Hound dog XT it's actually pretty nice. Quite white and neutral on high, not so nice on low but also not particularly noticeable unless you compare the tint and/or shining it on a wall.
In use it's a great LED in this head. At first I was a little disappointed not to see an Osram in there like the previous model had but I may well like the SST version better if I were able to compare.

 

[vicv]

I am a big fan of the sst-20. It's a good emitter. Now that the 519a is available though…. But I just received a new light yesterday day that has 3x sst-20s. So they're not dead yet

 

[F89]

I'm not particularly partial to the SST20 or the 519a but I can say that the Hound dog 18650 XT with its 5700K SST20 is a beast.

 

[vicv]

What led do you prefer? My faves are the 519a and xhp 50.3 hi high cri 4500k right now. I've heard good things about the b35am but it has thermal issues due to no DHP

 

[F89]

I don't dislike the 519a and SST20 (I have them in a couple of lights and also have some bare chips to reflow onto boards).
As far as what LEDs I like really depends on the light they're going into and what I'm wanting from it.
I hadn't even heard of the b35am until you mentioned it. Looks great, although I generally stick to 3V LEDs.