Arc AA

[paulr]

I resisted for a long time but finally just got one (thanks Matt!). It feels a little nicer in the hand than the CMG Ultra. It's a tiny bit smaller and some people really notice the size difference, but I don't, at least so far. Total output is about the same; the spill beam is brighter but narrower. I like wider spill, but that's a subjective thing, and it's no big deal either way. The Arc head is a bit tighter, making it harder to turn on one-handed. Maybe it will loosen up with use or if I lubricate it.

The Arc's main functional advantage over the CMG is the stand-up tail. I really like the stand-up tail.

The lack of battery rattle is also nice, though easily fixed in the CMG by wrapping the battery in paper. That the Arc is built not to rattle, though, comes across as a sign that Arc is willing to take more pains in design and manufacture, and that the Arc is a classier light.

I'd give the Arc the edge in cosmetic appearance too, though neither one exactly looks like jewelry. Mag is really onto something by offering the Solitaire in various colors. The CPF edition Arc AAA in red anodize is far prettier to my eye than either of those AA lights. I think the Arc AA would look best in a silver finish. AAA lights are inherently more jewelry-like to begin with regardless though. AA's are more purely about functionality.

Basically I still see the Arc vs CMG difference as like the difference between a nice pen and a really nice one, the difference between a good Seiko watch and a Rolex, etc. The Arc AAA is an indispensible light. The AA is, given the CMG's existence, well, sort of a deluxe but functionally similar version of the CMG. As an appreciator of good flashlights I'm glad I got the Arc AA, but if I took a purely utilitarian point of view (none of us really do that even if we pretend to though), spending 2x as much for it as a CMG costs is harder to justify.

 

[cy]

Very well stated. Please note that in another thread asking what light grew on you the most. Arc AA was mentioned the most.

I've had my Arc AA for quite some time. I EDC my firefly w/ultra neck lanyard and carry arc AAA for a backup.

My two boys ages 11 & 15 carry infinity ultras and Arc LS on camping trips.

The Arc AA gets forgotten again...

 

[paulr]

Thanks Cy. I added a few more comments to the review.

 

[Fitz]

The one thing that to me made a big differece in how often I carry my Arc AA is putting one of the pocket clips that comes in the M@g AA accessory packs on it. I find that I slip it onto my pocket when a 1x123 light is a little too big for EDC'ing.

 

[Lux Luthor]

I prefer the Arc over the CMG. Put a lithium in it and it's nice and light. I was carrying one on my keychain until I got the Micra. Now I just hope my ignition switch doesn't blow. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[fluorescent]

what do you think about the tint? Mine really sucked...

 

[The_LED_Museum]

Mine has a slightly bluish-white hotspot with a creamy white penumbra (the region between the hotspot and corona) and dimmer white corona.

This is rather typical of a Nichia NSPW500 LED, and I do not consider it troublesome or bothersome whatsoever.

Please note that this is my 2¢ only; individual results may vary.

 

[paulr]

Hmm, mine (inspected March 2004) didn't have a pocket clip. I just finished wrestling a BP Mini-clip onto it. Yes, I like the Arc better than the Ultra too. But if someone asks me if they should pay 2x as much for one, I'd have to say "if you have to ask, then probably not".

Re tint: mine is way way blue/purplish but I'm used to that and I expect it from these Nichia 5mm leds. I don't really care if they improve it from being way way blue to just being way blue. If they want to fix the tint, they should use a Luxeon, and then they could increase the drive current too. That combination seems to me what everyone who buys these lights really wants.

 

[Fitz]

I expect that when my TnC AA Luxeon gets here, my Arc AA will be pushed out of my EDC rotation. I will still keep my Arc AAA on my keychain though. Or at least 'till my TnC N cell Luxeon shows up! paulr, my Arc AA didn't come with a clip, I used one designed for the Mini-M@g. Fits perfectly, and lets me carry it bezel down clipped to my front pocket.

 

[Lux Luthor]

With all due respect to Peter, we have repeatedly asked him for things that he doesn't seem to want to do. Someone else eventually does it, and so we buy their lights instead.

He is a man with vision, and I respect that. But sometimes I can't help but think that he needlessly misses the boat.

 

[dougmccoy]

Lux Luthor,

I'm not into defending anyone but cant but help think that your statement is a little unfair to Arc. Yes, I'm sure Peter could alter designs and components to suit us and thereby,'possibly',not loose some of the initiative with the competition. However, don't forget that Arc is only a small company, small companies have to budget very carefully on materials and components in order to maximise profitability. Changing designs and or components is quite costly and might mean many parts remain unused before they are disposed of.

If Arc were larger then it might be able to change or alter products more quickly due to it being able to exert more influence on their material and component suppliers. As it is Arc is not a volume manufacturer but a specialist company making premium products in a very competitive market and I've no doubt that even now Peter is far from being a millionaire.

Doug /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[DaveT]

I have to agree with paulr mostly...Arc AA is a better product, but the Infinity Ultra is hard not to recommend to non-flashaholics, who won't notice the difference much - especially at $15 for a new unit, less on B/S/T.
And Lux - you're right, Peter has missed a couple boats by not listening to customers...but there are a lot of boats, and no one can catch them all. On balance, my opinion is that Arc's boat is one of the best ones to be on.
Dave

 

[BentHeadTX]

I like my Arc AA, the larger reflector gives a smoother beam over my AAA-P (thanks cy!) The long runtime is a great reason to have one packed with a lithium for lightness and emergencies.

Were the boat was missed was multiple LED heads, not hard to accomplish. The Luxeon AA would be much more expensive to make it to Arc's standards. Ahhhh, to have an Arc AA that puts out the beam and intensity of my R3J fitted, AAA powered MicroIlluminator.

Modders can consistantly blow away Arc (or other manufacturers), they get the premium Luxeons and make small batches for them to work correctly. I don't think Peter has enough pull with Lumileds to purchase 10,000 R3Js (or R2Hs) to make an Arc AA Luxeon with 4 hours of runtime.

Maybe in a year or so, Peter can get the high binned Luxeons with some consistancy to build an Arc AA running at 155mA for the magic 3-4 hour runtime. I would even take a Q3H or Q3J running at 155mA, not as bright as the fabled R bins, but not too big of a difference in actual use.

For now, my Arc AA sits on a lanyard loaded with a lithium...nice and light with a decent beam for reading and you can't beat 12+ hours of run time.

 

[Zigzago]

The Arc AA is my "desert island" flashlight - the one I would choose if I could only take one. To me it has the best combination of size, brightness, run time, ruggedness and ergonomics. There are brighter lights in my collection but they are also bigger, have shorter run time, use expensive batteries, can't stand on end, etc.

 

[cy]

following bentheadTx's suggestion, stuck a lithium AA in my arc AA. What a difference, w/ lithium AA weights not much more than arc AAA. just perfect hanging on a ultra neck lanyard.

I wonder how much more runtime (if any) you gain with lithium VS alk.? No matter, the weight reduction alone makes worth running.

 

[paulr]

The weight diff between a lithium and alkaline AA is only 1/3 of an ounce or so. I put a BP Mini-clip on my AA that already weighs more than a third of an ounce. But I don't know if the clip is that useful on the AA, so I may take it off again.

For me at least, the AA's size is more of an issue than its weight. I stuck it on my pocket to take on a trip, then shrugged my shoulders and left it at home, since I already had the AAA on my keys.

 

[Peter Atwood]

I've had mine for only about a week but it's been riding in my pocket next to my Firefly. Mine is quite blue/purple but it is fairly bright for a light it's size. Almost no difference between it and my CMG Ultra other than much tighter threads. Wish the threads were a little looser....

It's in the top ten on my favorite list for sure.

 

[NewBie]

Are there any runtime graphs showing light output with time for the ARC AA?

 

[Roy]

Yes! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crackup.gif

 

[NewBie]

Okay Roy, show me please?