What is the difference,if any, in the Cree and the SSC?

[whippoorwill]

I see different mods and new lights coming out with first the Cree and now the SSC. Is there really any difference in the two?

 

[LukeA]

The Cree has a narrow (75˚) viewing angle compared to the Seoul. This gives it good spill when used with a reflector.

The Seoul (SSC) has a wide (180˚) viewing angle and is almost a direct swap for older Luxeon emitters, requiring only a .030 spacer underneath.

Both have high efficiency.

 

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

Pretty much what he said.

In an approriate reflector a Cree is good! But in any good LUX reflector the SSc can be made to work well.

 

[FlashKat]

Cree usually have better color and more of a flood beam.
SSC has a blueish tint and less sidespill.
Cree also can tolerate heat and voltage issues better.

 

[Lighthouse one]

I've noticed that my SSC lights have a larger spot that blends into the spill better. My strongest Cree light is slightly better than my strongest SSC light, but unless you compare them at the same time- they are both great. I like the DX MTE SSC light for close light....not as overpowering as the flashback from a cree..(minilights) http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1995

 

[TMorita]

The Cree has a narrow (75˚) viewing angle compared to the Seoul. This gives it good spill when used with a reflector.

The Seoul (SSC) has a wide (180˚) viewing angle and is almost a direct swap for older Luxeon emitters, requiring only a .030 spacer underneath.

Both have high efficiency.

I guess it depends on what you mean by "good spill".

I think of a reflector as a device which steals the outer edges of the beam and converts it into a hotspot. The spill is actually the part of the LED beam which isn't bounced off the reflector.

With a Cree XR-E, the light is already concentrated into a narrowish (75 degree) natural beam. So, since the output of an XR-E is naturally rather concentrated, the spill of the beam tends to be fairly bright. A reflector needs to be fairly deep in order to steal the outside edge of the beam. This leaves a fairly narrow spill. Also, the XR-Es don't have a very consistent light output at the edges of their beam (I suspect this is due to the raised metal ring of the packaging) so the generated hotspot tends to be ringy.

So, in summary, the Cree XR-E lights tend to have narrower, brighter spills on the hotspot. The hotspot will be smooth only if the reflector is textured.

The SSC P4, by contrast, has a wider natural beam. Because the natural beam is so wide, the spill isn't as bright as a Cree XR-E. However, this also means the reflector doesn't need to be as deep to create a good hotspot. Also, the P4 has a much more consistent light output at the edges. Also, as mentioned before, the XR-E packaging seems to have better heat dissipation capability than the P4.

So, in summary, the SSC P4 lights tend to have wider, dimmer spills on the hotspot. If a smooth reflector is used on both types of lights, the P4 light will have a smoother hotspot than the XR-E light.

Another factor is (as mentioned by others) the XR-E packaging has better thermal transfer capability than the P4, so the XR-E is slightly better for high power applications than the P4.

I think it's a matter of personal preference which one you prefer. If you prefer lights with wide spills, then the P4 SSC is a better choice. If you prefer more focused lights with less spill, than the Cree is a better choice.

Personally, I prefer the SSC P4 for headlamp mods, because the wider spill is nicer for close-up work and also for better peripheral vision. For flashlights, either the SSC P4 or Cree are fine with me, depending on my mood.

Toshi

 

[cave dave]

The Cree flux bins are tighter around +/- 5%, while the SSC bins are +/-13%

 

[easilyled]

TMorita, I found your post very well written and explained. :thumbsup:

 

[Fallingwater]

Since we're talking about Crees: what's the beam look like on them without a reflector?

 

[IHA]

Hello,

Check those posts:

Seoul info, http://www.molalla.net/~leeper/seoulmy.htm
CREE info, http://www.molalla.net/~leeper/creexre.htm

Antonio

 

[yellow]

so if someone wants throw, its best to use a SSC with a reflector made for the Cree?
That should mean more light going into the reflectored focused beam.

gotta try that, just got some SSCs here. Unfortunatley dont have a 19mm ready and the 17mm are way worse (even with a Cree)

 

[TMorita]

so if someone wants throw, its best to use a SSC with a reflector made for the Cree?
That should mean more light going into the reflectored focused beam.

gotta try that, just got some SSCs here. Unfortunatley dont have a 19mm ready and the 17mm are way worse (even with a Cree)

Well, you should get more light going into the reflector. It may not improve throw a lot, because if the reflector has a wide focus, all that light won't be concentrated efficiently.

Toshi

 

[TorchBoy]

Toshi, it seems strange you didn't mention optics. Can the SSC use anything designed for Luxeon? Can the Cree also?

 

[dom]

I can answer that Ian -
SSC works pretty well with LUX optics
SSC will work with Cree optics -not very efficiently and with a tiny hotspot.

You will see the die of the Cree if you use it on LUX or SSC optics
Cheers
Dom

 

[TMorita]

Toshi, it seems strange you didn't mention optics. Can the SSC use anything designed for Luxeon? Can the Cree also?

The die in the SSC sits 0.030" lower than the Lux, so the same optics won't perfectly.

The Cree won't even fit a Lux optic. There's a metal ring around the base of the Cree dome.

All this info is findable using the search function.

Toshi

 

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

The only SSc light I have is the MTE 1AA with a fairly tiny and medium deep SMO reflector. The spot is not perfectly defined until the light is about 4 inches away from target. At longer distances it softens off into spill nicely.

The only Cree lights I have that have GOOD beams are the DX Cree drop ins. They have a pretty deep OP reflector with a small shelf around the LED. The same general type of beam results, though the Cree is WAY brighter and at least one is WAY more white!