BuddTX
Flashlight Enthusiast
Just a quick post:
I have been wanting to upgrade my stock bulbs (9005 / 9006)in my 2001 GMC Sierra for a while.
I bought some Sylvania SilverStar 9005 / 9006 bulbs, and I replaced all 4 of my stock bulbs with these bulbs.
They were expensive (just under 80 bucks for 4), but I am pleased with the results.
To my eyes, these bulbs seemed to be both whiter and brighter than my stock bulbs (standard sylvania) bulbs.
I very much dislike those cheap "blue bulbs" that you can find at most auto stores, they "seem" brighter, but they actually reduce total light output.
I just learned that Daniel Stern Automotive Lighting does not esp like the SilverStar lights from reading THIS ARTICLE ON SAFE BLUE BULBS.
I missed this article before buying the lights.
I might have had second thoughts about buying the SilverStar lights if I were to have read this article prior to buying the SilverStars, but I am still happy with my purchase.
This article on BAD BLUE bulbs is very informative.
Just FYI, I did not buy these to "look cool", I bought them for two reasons:
Better night time visibility
To BE SEEN more effectively by other drivers.
Daniel Stern seems to think that the Silverstar bulbs, produced OUTSIDE OF NORTH AMERICA are the best replacement bulbs:
=======================
It Sounds As If You Don't Think These Are The Best Choice For Maximizing My Headlamps' Performance. What Is?
For those who want the best possible performance from their headlamps and are more concerned with their ability to see rather than the appearance of their headlamps, the major bulb companies offer optimized bulbs WITHOUT the light-stealing blue coloration. Sylvania Xtravision (in the pink-and-black package), Osram Super and SilverStar(outside North America only!); Philips High Visibility (North America), Premium and Vision Plus (outside North America); Narva RangePower are the ones to look for.
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Why do you specify "Outside North America only" on the SilverStar bulbs?
Osram, the well-established German lampmaker, sells a line of automotive bulbs they call "SilverStar". These are Osram's top-of-the-range headlamp bulbs, equivalent to Philips VisionPlus and Tungsram Megalight Premium. They produce the maximum legal amount of light while staying within legal power consumption limits. They have clear glass.
Osram bought the well-established American lampmaker Sylvania in the early 1990s, so Osram is now Sylvania's parent company. Sylvania also sells a line of automotive bulbs they call "SilverStar", but it's not the same product at all. These bulbs have a blue coating on them. Light output is of legal levels, but as with all blue-filtered bulbs, you do not get more light from them. The Sylvania SilverStar bulbs have a very short lifetime, because the filament is selected so as to be overdriven. This is necessary because the blue filtration coating "steals" so much light that only an overdriven filament can push enough light through the filter to be legal. The Sylvania SilverStar bulbs are also priced quite high. This is not because they cost a lot to make, and not because they're based on some exotic new technology. It's because the goal with this product is to take market share away from other overpriced bulbs like the PIAA line.
For best headlamp performance and best value, choose only bulbs with clear glass.
Daniel Stern Lighting (Daniel J. Stern, Proprietor)
=======================
If anyone else has any positive thing to say, or any other bulbs that have produced positive output, please post a reply!
I have been wanting to upgrade my stock bulbs (9005 / 9006)in my 2001 GMC Sierra for a while.
I bought some Sylvania SilverStar 9005 / 9006 bulbs, and I replaced all 4 of my stock bulbs with these bulbs.
They were expensive (just under 80 bucks for 4), but I am pleased with the results.
To my eyes, these bulbs seemed to be both whiter and brighter than my stock bulbs (standard sylvania) bulbs.
I very much dislike those cheap "blue bulbs" that you can find at most auto stores, they "seem" brighter, but they actually reduce total light output.
I just learned that Daniel Stern Automotive Lighting does not esp like the SilverStar lights from reading THIS ARTICLE ON SAFE BLUE BULBS.
I missed this article before buying the lights.
I might have had second thoughts about buying the SilverStar lights if I were to have read this article prior to buying the SilverStars, but I am still happy with my purchase.
This article on BAD BLUE bulbs is very informative.
Just FYI, I did not buy these to "look cool", I bought them for two reasons:
Better night time visibility
To BE SEEN more effectively by other drivers.
Daniel Stern seems to think that the Silverstar bulbs, produced OUTSIDE OF NORTH AMERICA are the best replacement bulbs:
=======================
It Sounds As If You Don't Think These Are The Best Choice For Maximizing My Headlamps' Performance. What Is?
For those who want the best possible performance from their headlamps and are more concerned with their ability to see rather than the appearance of their headlamps, the major bulb companies offer optimized bulbs WITHOUT the light-stealing blue coloration. Sylvania Xtravision (in the pink-and-black package), Osram Super and SilverStar(outside North America only!); Philips High Visibility (North America), Premium and Vision Plus (outside North America); Narva RangePower are the ones to look for.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why do you specify "Outside North America only" on the SilverStar bulbs?
Osram, the well-established German lampmaker, sells a line of automotive bulbs they call "SilverStar". These are Osram's top-of-the-range headlamp bulbs, equivalent to Philips VisionPlus and Tungsram Megalight Premium. They produce the maximum legal amount of light while staying within legal power consumption limits. They have clear glass.
Osram bought the well-established American lampmaker Sylvania in the early 1990s, so Osram is now Sylvania's parent company. Sylvania also sells a line of automotive bulbs they call "SilverStar", but it's not the same product at all. These bulbs have a blue coating on them. Light output is of legal levels, but as with all blue-filtered bulbs, you do not get more light from them. The Sylvania SilverStar bulbs have a very short lifetime, because the filament is selected so as to be overdriven. This is necessary because the blue filtration coating "steals" so much light that only an overdriven filament can push enough light through the filter to be legal. The Sylvania SilverStar bulbs are also priced quite high. This is not because they cost a lot to make, and not because they're based on some exotic new technology. It's because the goal with this product is to take market share away from other overpriced bulbs like the PIAA line.
For best headlamp performance and best value, choose only bulbs with clear glass.
Daniel Stern Lighting (Daniel J. Stern, Proprietor)
=======================
If anyone else has any positive thing to say, or any other bulbs that have produced positive output, please post a reply!
