ARC AAA LE

Darell · Jul 12, 2002

Ryan -

Here's the deal. The SB1 in the LE has a greener corona, while the SB2 in the standard has a blue/purple center and corona. If you didn't have the two side by side to compare, you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference. They are both fantastic lights, and you can't go wrong with either one. For the money, the standard is the better deal. If you want something a bit more rare, and you must have the natural color, go for the LE. The bang-for-the-buck winner is still the standard though.

Gransee · Jul 12, 2002

Thanks and good to be back with you all.

About the tint. We still specify B1 tint for the LE. That is why it is hard to get stock on them. They do have less blue. But, they still do have some blue in them, so don't be surprised. Instead, just compare it to your other LED flashlights...

I had a customer return their Arc-AAA white last week. He said the package was mislabled as a white when in fact the flashlight was a blue. I tested it, it was white. Ok, so I am flattered if the Arc was his first LED flashlight. I talked to him and he asked me to send it back to him.

You see, "white" LEDs use a blue LED shining through a color changing phosphor to produce a white light. Applying the right thickness of phosphor for each LED (no two are alike) is a black art.

They do have some blue tint folks, especially in the center. The details is in just how much blue it has...

Peter Gransee

ps- Darell! Your fast. I just noticed you beat me to posting the answer..

Saaby · Jul 12, 2002

Ok. As soon as TTS has the LEs in stock I am ordering one. I know LEDs have a blue tint to them but I swear that my Brinkmann is unusally blue, what do you expect for $15 though.

Darell · Jul 13, 2002

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gransee:
ps- Darell! Your fast. I just noticed you beat me to posting the answer..<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Yup. That's why I get paid the big bucks.

I remember what a big, exciting deal it was when "white" LEDs first came out. And BOY, did they suck!

And now, relative to incandescent history, a day later we have the Luxeons. Boy-howdy this is fun!

Zephyr · Jul 13, 2002

Wow, I'd never thought I would miss this forum so much. It's is so nice to be back. Anyways, I was just comparing my two white ARCs version 3.1 side by side that I just recently purchased and found out that one of my ARC has a warmer color than the other. It has that pea green color around the beam area. In additon, I bought one more white ARC and tried to compare this one with the rest of the two ARC that I purchased. Two of them has that blue tint and one has a warmer color. So one out of two white ARC version 3.1 has a slightly warmer color. It appears that the blue tint is a bit more brighter, probably because of the color rendition. But nevertheless, they are all the same brightness. Now my question is, could this warmer tint LED be a B1S rank trapped in a regular ARC AAA version 3.1 body? Or maybe it's just a regular B2S rank with a slightly warmer color? Of course I get to keep the one with a slightly warmer color and gave one to my girlfriend and my dad. I might decide to buy one of the LE's if they would be made availbe at TTS. Not sure yet though as I am satisfied with the current version.

Take care everyone!

ZEPH

Darell · Jul 13, 2002

The tints in any given rank vary more than you would expect (at least quite a bit more than *I* ever expect. After you inspect a bunch of them, you start to realize that some our brighter, some or bluer, some are greener... all within the same rank. I have a standard SB2 that is more SB1-like than most of my SB1's. And no, it is not one of the SB1's in the standard case...

sunspot · Jul 13, 2002

I have an older LE (second batch), a SE (special edtion) and now a ver 3.1 LE.
The first LE has a tighter beam than the SE other than that the same brightness.
The 3.1 LE is brighter to the eye (mine anyway).
All have a slight green corona that I can only tell by a close comparision on a white wall.
Saaby, get the LE while you can, than get a regular later.

Lantern Jack O. · Jul 13, 2002

Ordered one from onestopknifeshop today. Hope they aren't OOS yet. My 3.1 white rocks. Can't wait to see an LE.

Sonic · Jul 14, 2002

I have been reading about this comparison for a while now,and I finaly did something about it.I've had an arc AAA 3.1 for about a week now,I have to admit it's better than I thought it would be.I should be recieving my arc LE 3.1 on Tuesday from 1stopknifeshop.So I can finaly see for myself,once and for all,which is better.I'll be sure to post my opinions after Tuesday.

Darell · Jul 14, 2002

Don't forget that you're just comparing one sample to one other sample. They can vary quite a bit in tint and brightness. Here's hoping you get an LE that is as good as your standard.

Lantern Jack O. · Jul 15, 2002

Muahahahahahhh! My LE is on its way. S/B here Thursday. Sweet.

Saaby · Jul 15, 2002

Somone just tell me when TTS gets em' okay!

John Frederick · Jul 16, 2002

Help a new guy out here, please.

I'm also debating between the 3.1 & the 3.1LE. Do I understand correctly that the finish on both lights is HA, with one black and one white? The only real differance is the LED used in it. If so, with the variances in individual LEDs that exists I don't see that the LE is worth the extra bucks. Someone please persuade me otherwise

jabajet · Jul 16, 2002

John Frederick-
Your thinking is correct, the 3.1 is the much better value. The extra you pay for the LE is more for uniqueness than anything.

Darell · Jul 16, 2002

You got it John, except that you still can't get 'em in white. The LE is "natural" finish like the Arc LS and the top-of-the-line Surefire lights. The standard is only in black (so far). So, besides the case color and the slight tint variation, there is NO OTHER DIFFERENCE now...besides price and engraving. When the LE first came out it was brighter than the standard and was the only one with the HA coating. The standard has now caught up.

Lantern Jack O. · Jul 16, 2002

Agreed. The best $$$ value is probably the standard white. The LE is *reportedly* somewhat brighter and has a beam that is a bit warmer in color. [Edit - sounds like Darell may have some information about the LE's vs. standard's brightness that I don't have.]

I'll try and post something of a comparison in this thread when my new LE gets here. SB here Thursday. Maybe some beamshots of all 3 if I have time.

I do have a 3.1 white already, and a turquoise "EV". They are both fantastic lights. If the LE is at least as good as the standard white, I'll be happy with it.

Darell · Jul 16, 2002

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Lantern, Jack O.:
sounds like Darell may have some information about the LE's vs. standard's brightness that I don't have<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
My info just comes from having owned 12 LEs, and about sixty standards in my day... For many, many months, the two lights have had the same brightness of LED. Peter just said that he managed to get a wee bit more out of the last back of LE's, but up until then, there was no difference in the rank. That isn't to say that one LE might be brighter than another LE, and thus a standard. But I had just as many standards that were brighter than the LEs. Some folks call the LE "whiter" but I have a problem with that. Neither one of them is white. The LE might be a bit closer to incandescent "white" but it is simply a different tint of "white."

OK, off my box. I'm sure most folks are getting sick of me saying this ever week or so....

mc · Jul 16, 2002

Darell, I deleted my last post after reading this one.

Wow! What do you do with so many lights?

Did you just get a new LE?

This (LE) is one light I do not own, I am tetering on the edge...

Saaby · Jul 16, 2002

60?!? What do you have a storage shed for all your Arcs!?

txwest · Jul 16, 2002

I have 2 LE's that are both brighter & bluer than my CPF SE. I like their light better. The only real reason to get LE over the standard is the finish. I prefer the natural HA.

Peter,
The guy that returned the white ARC thinking you had sent him a blue one, obviously never saw a blue one. I recently got mine & it's like a very bright blacklight. Never knew I had some many things that "glow" around the house. All my yellow flashlights stand out like sore thumbs. TX

ARC AAA LE

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