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Has anyone purchased the new Quadratec LED headlights?

344K views 2K replies 389 participants last post by  05Sport 
#1 ·
Poking for a good review of the Quadretec LED headlights
 
#19 ·
I also saw this in the catalog and it definitely got my interest going. The OEM headlights are substandard and I am being kind.

How about these, anyone have anything good to say about them?

Sears.com
Not all that good; pass.
Delta has the capability of doing better. Let's see what they come up with next.


I would gladly pay $275 for for the GE then $400 for Quadratec or TruckLights. GE has been around for over 100 years and have been making headlights for many of them, so why not save some money at the same time.

GE are rebadged Trucklites. The sylvania LED and KC's are rebadged PETERSON LED headlights. ...
This.
They're both pretty good. I'd go for the best deal.
The Petersons probably would be my pick side-by-side though.
 
#10 ·
There is always great hopes for new headlamps but LEDs with faceted reflectors will highly likely produce beam artifacts like the Trucklites. It is just the nature of LED and HID lamps. So it comes down to the owner's tolerance for artifacts or the manufacturer's willingness to cut price. It you want the best beam pattern you will need some quality projectors.
 
#12 ·
may be getting the KC Highlight LEDs this weekend.. looks very similar to Quadrtecs version
 
#20 ·
I never understood the price of LED lights, the price seems way high I guess the great light output with the added shelf life has the advantages. I think waiting for price drop would be best for me. I just wish the manufacturers wouldn't advertise on the front of the lights.
 
#26 ·
Been researching lights since .... I can't remember. Seems as though there is no Great Obvious choice. I've read bad reviews and complaints about every option out there. Granted, if you look hard enough you can find a criticism of anything but, there is a lot of bad press about just about every 7" round choice.
Seems like somebody could make a Great all-around performer for our rigs.
The'd sell a bunch.
 
#30 ·
JW Speaker uses projectors for their LEDs.
Hella does too but it is EXPENSIVE.

The best bang for the buck 7" retrofit is a Cibie H4 reflector with Phillips Xtreme Vision bulbs and a simple H13 to H4 adapter. Works great, legal, easy to source bulbs, etc.

You want LED?
Trucklite and Peterson get you in the game. But they have quirky light distribution and you need an adapter with a capacitor and resistor to smooth out the pwm and keep them from flickering.
Low power draw, very very long life, good spread of light, don't weigh much.

Better LED?
JW Speaker. Better all around but cost more. Need a fancy adapter too.

HID?
The only one worth mentioning is the Hella 90mm kit from rallylights.com --- legal, works GREAT, costs a bunch.

I'll stick with my JWS lights.


 
#29 ·
Judging from Qtec's posted Pics the one thing I do notice that is critically important where I live is a total lack of side spill coverage.
With Deer and Bear a constant threat - I need side illumination spill at least (if not more) than throw.
 
#34 ·
I sent an email to Daniel Stern Lighting..... figure go right to the horse.
I just want better lighting .
My Bernese Mountain Dog (mostly Black) took off the other night. I live on top of a mountain in the Woods. I really noticed how bad these headlights are when my HDS EDC flashlight was my primary source of light to try and see him.
 
#36 ·
Just my 2 cents...

Most electronics are sourced to Asia..even though these are "Built" in the USA the components are probably coming from the same suppliers in China/Tiawan....that's why they all look the same.

Give it 2 years and we'll be buying $199 /pair from Walmart
 
#42 ·
Possibly a Great catch BullD.... I'm no headlight expert, I know I have "read" that one of the shortcomings of our lights is the reflector design which is why upgrading the halogen buld has little or no effect not sure how/if that would come into play which gets one into the reflector upgrade additional cost as well.
Dunno.
 
#43 ·
I think I am leaning toward a complete kit, probably the new Truck Lites or Quadretec brand. I know they are DOT approved and seems to be a dependable modification , I was going to by the upgraded Slyvania bulbs but had the same concerns about the headlight reflector
 
#49 ·
Sylvania recently lost a lawsuit and has to pay millions for making false claims about their "upgraded" headlight bulbs.
If anybody does want better H13 bulbs, stick with Philips Xtreme Vision or Xtreme Power. They're much better than stock.

And the stock reflector is not all that great.
If you put an LED thrower or rebased HID capsule in the stock H13 reflector it will not work right and is illegal. Those light sources don't match the photometric properties of the design of the parabola and can't put light where it is needed.
Much of what is regulated about headlights is where the light should NOT shine as well as where it should.
 
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