Cool White (5700K) Cree XP-L versus Neutral White (4000K 80 CRI) Cree XP-L

[etc]

I have both and can't figure out which one best reflects reality. Seems neither one does.


My MDC cool white is a bit off of course like all cool whites but it's not nasty by any means. The 4000K CRI seems kind of off all also. It paints things a bit too much yellow while the above paints things a bit white. All in all, it *seems* to me the cool white is closer to reality than the 4000K CRI. But I could be mistaken. What does the community think about that matter.

Also 4000K CRI is hard to call "neutral", it's rather warm I would say. The 5700K is also off but at least you get more lumens.

 

[Rossymeister]

I had the 4000k xpl and sold it. Way too yellow for me.

 

[hamhanded]

Yes 4k XP-L in my experience is very yellow-green (positive duv). Despite that, It renders reds and browns much better than the 5700K. But its tint is so unpleasant to me that it's not really worth it.

The 4000K SST-20 in the Malkoff looks very neutral in comparison.

 

[etc]

The low 15 lumen mode is terrible, dim and poor color rendition. The middle mode is acceptable and the high mode is best.
Seems like the brighter it becomes, the better color rendition it gets.
I will keep it if I can adjust to the low mode.

 

[sebis]

I have a 2017 edition "Neutral" Hound Dog 18650 with the 4000K XP-L and the low mode looks really yellow, indeed. However, this is my woods thrower and it does a great job rendering reds and vegetation in general. Especially useful when tracking a blood trail .

 

[LED1982]

I'm thinking of getting a Hound Dog Super and the options are a bigger spread, the 4000K is the same but the cool option is 6200K. I wonder why it ain't also 5700K like the regular Hound Dog and the Wildcat. I'm also checking out the Green Head just because it looks so cool, does anyone own the green?

 

[sebis]

I'm thinking of getting a Hound Dog Super and the options are a bigger spread, the 4000K is the same but the cool option is 6200K. I wonder why it ain't also 5700K like the regular Hound Dog and the Wildcat. I'm also checking out the Green Head just because it looks so cool, does anyone own the green?

I don't own the Hound Dog green, was tempted but I have to two other green LED modules from Customlites mounted in Surefire P60 and Malkoff hosts. I only use the green lights for hog hunting at night, it has very limited use otherwise... if any. And since the hogs pretty much disappeared on our land, haven't had the need to use one in more than 3 years.

 

[LED1982]

I don't own the Hound Dog green, was tempted but I have to two other green LED modules from Customlites mounted in Surefire P60 and Malkoff hosts. I only use the green lights for hog hunting at night, it has very limited use otherwise... if any. And since the hogs pretty much disappeared on our land, haven't had the need to use one in more than 3 years.

Yeah that is pretty much the only use I have heard of for the green or red, hunting. I don't even hunt, but I'm just horrendous at wasting money on cool things that I don't need lol. Even the form factor itself for a Hound Dog seems limited, but it's so nice!! I still don't understand how people have MD3 Hound Dogs, all I can find on the website is MD4 or MD2 (because I have read that MD3 is a sweet spot since an MD4 is long enough to keep bumping into your leg if you have it on a holster).

 

[thermal guy]

You have to buy the MD3 body separately. And use the hound dog head that you get with the MD4 body. not the 18650 head😁

 

[LED1982]

You have to buy the MD3 body separately. And use the hound dog head that you get with the MD4 body. not the 18650 head😁

It took me a little while but now I understand the four bodies (MD2, MD21700, MD3, MD4), and I did find them all on the website. But I'm still confused when people refer to a "18650 HD"Hound Dog Head" because there's no such option when ordering a HD, HD Super, or Wildcat, the only option is cool or neutral.

 

[sebis]

Yes @LED1982 , there is: https://malkoffdevices.com/products/malkoff-cool-hound-dog-18650-head-only

 

[LED1982]

Anyway, getting back to the OP, I'm really happy that all I ever hear is that Malkoff cool whites are a little warmer than most cool whites. Since I like cool white, yet sometimes question if I'm missing out when I skip neutral, this "Warmer cool white Malkoff cool white" thing seems ideal for me!! I got all my Malkoffs in cool white.

 

[thebarefooter]

I'm also debating a hound dog purchase. The 18650 in 5700 looks nice for its portability but don't want to get the "diet" version of a light and be disappointed. Has anyone bought the 18650 and switched to a super for the extra power? Or vice versa and went from super to a more pocket friendly model?

 

[sebis]

I'm also debating a hound dog purchase. The 18650 in 5700 looks nice for its portability but don't want to get the "diet" version of a light and be disappointed. Has anyone bought the 18650 and switched to a super for the extra power? Or vice versa and went from super to a more pocket friendly model?

I just got both and solved the problem.

 

[thebarefooter]

I just got both and solved the problem.

I ordered the hound dog super in 6200k yesterday. I will see how I like it and go from there. Indoors and up close my M61 219 looks really nice to me so maybe I will go for a warmer and more compact model after playing with this one for a bit.

 

[Buck91]

I'm a big fan of warms. In fact I've swapped various (high cri) 3500k emitters into many lights and very much enjoyed the results.

That said, my m91n xpl is somewhere between brown and yellow. Closer to brown. I guess I still prefer it to cold white (or especially angry blue)…. But it's not wonderful by any means.

As for the cri, when I inquired with him the reply was 80cri but my opel measures it in the mid to low 70s.

 

[vegassig]

I'm also debating a hound dog purchase. The 18650 in 5700 looks nice for its portability but don't want to get the "diet" version of a light and be disappointed. Has anyone bought the 18650 and switched to a super for the extra power? Or vice versa and went from super to a more pocket friendly model?

I have the Super Hound Dog and the 18650 Wildcat (running without the diffuser) up close you would be hard pressed to tell the difference in output. Of course the optics on the SHD throw better at a distance. I think the only place you'll notice where you take a hit going with the 18650 is runtime.

 

[LED1982]

I have the Super Hound Dog and the 18650 Wildcat (running without the diffuser) up close you would be hard pressed to tell the difference in output. Of course the optics on the SHD throw better at a distance. I think the only place you'll notice where you take a hit going with the 18650 is runtime.

Is your Super Hound dog cool white or neutral? I just bought the cool white but only shined it in my living room so far. What an awesome looking flashlight.

 

[wayben]

I don't have a Super Hound Dog, but the Wildcat 18650 on a 21700 body works great for me. I haven't tested the run time, but should be greater than on an 18650 body.
Wayne

 

[vegassig]

Is your Super Hound dog cool white or neutral? I just bought the cool white but only shined it in my living room so far. What an awesome looking flashlight.

Both are neutral, I also have the 21700 body for the 18650 (If Gene made a 2x21700 I would be all over it) it actually gets pretty close to the runtime of the 2x18650.