New JW Speaker 8700 Evolution 2 LED head lights looks very nice
- Thread starter Omar Brannstrom
- Start date
The original does the same thing KNOT (I don't know your name!). I compared the 8700 to the truck lite side by side and the high beam in the 8700 is pitiful compared to the power of the truck lite. Now, the "so called" experts will argue this fact, but its true observation. meters and guages not needed. Its like the Led is on a motor and just moves from one projector to another. Unlike my truck lites or your KC's that have 2 seperate LEDs. I read from bill that the 8700 is a multi led array, I sure as hell dont see that. I see one led running on low beam, then a movement of the led to a high beam position that causes a shift in beam pattern.
either that or the low beam turns off when the high beam is activated. Either way, they are not as good as "they" say. See the diffrence in the "meter maids" here are they play with their lights where as I use mine to drive in the night. I could care less what they meter, how many lux they put out etc, If they light the road better than another light, I am using them!
either that or the low beam turns off when the high beam is activated. Either way, they are not as good as "they" say. See the diffrence in the "meter maids" here are they play with their lights where as I use mine to drive in the night. I could care less what they meter, how many lux they put out etc, If they light the road better than another light, I am using them!
I have no idea how they work but will agree that the highs on the first version left a lot to be desired which is why I went with the KC's. The overall light pattern on low I liked better but I need a good high beam. I'm hoping this is the best of both once the delay is worked out.
I called SMS to ask about they're harness and if it will fix this and there is a completely new one available that is not yet on their website. The long winded but highly knowledgeable fellow I spoke with says their harness should fix this as it'll be running off battery voltage instead of the pulse width system. It eliminates the need for capacitors IIRC and will do away with the delay. There went another $105....
I called SMS to ask about they're harness and if it will fix this and there is a completely new one available that is not yet on their website. The long winded but highly knowledgeable fellow I spoke with says their harness should fix this as it'll be running off battery voltage instead of the pulse width system. It eliminates the need for capacitors IIRC and will do away with the delay. There went another $105....
Thats crazy expensive for defective equipment. My TL's only flicker every now and then in DRL mode. Like once every 15 mins and you will catch it... Once the lights are full on, there is no flicker, or loss of power, everything is bright and tight. High beams rock, low beams rock, all is good. for less than 500 bucks with TL's anti flicker harness. There is no delay in high/low beam activation or anything like that.
So, my first impression is that I don't really care for them. They're not as bright overall as I had hoped, there's a dark spot 30' dead center that makes asphalt look purple and they are too bright where they first hit the road drawing my eye to it. The cutoff is awesome and the side spread is also. The high beams? Because of my 5 second delay I could only use them for about 5 seconds, just long enough to push the switch forward and immediately pull it back. Didn't seem as bright as the KC's but I'll have to play with it late at night when the roads are empty. Here's a crappy iPhone pic or two.
JWS.
KC's
I'll wait on the SMS harness and try it with it but so far I don't see them being worth hundreds more than the others out there. In fact, I like the KC/Petersons better
JWS.
KC's
I'll wait on the SMS harness and try it with it but so far I don't see them being worth hundreds more than the others out there. In fact, I like the KC/Petersons better
Same exact issues I had with the first set of 8700s. Like I said before meters and tests don't mean a roll of beans, the real world is what matters. and I am guessing your eyes see the same as mine when it comes to light. And im willing to bet that Most peoples do the same. Your eyes "DONT LIE" when it comes to seeing. The peterson/KC as well as the Truck Lite put out a more even, wide, spread of light without hot/cold spots, weird beam patterns and colors as well as just overall brighter!.
Beamer pilot
Explorer
Keep testing guys...thanks
I'm lapping it all up...but still not convinced that the admission price is worth it.
Now if I could mount a couple of B 737 landing lights on the bumper...
I'm lapping it all up...but still not convinced that the admission price is worth it.
Now if I could mount a couple of B 737 landing lights on the bumper...
I went for another drive with much less traffic on the roads and then came home and hopped in my sons LJ which is where my KC's are now. I'm pretty confident in saying that the JWS is a better light in terms of evenness and reduced glare from road signs. They may even be slightly brighter than I had initially thought but the dingy yellow color compared to the KC's whiter light is taking time to get used to. The whiter color makes it appear brighter but I'm not sure if it really is. Now the high beams I think could use improvement. They're ok but without the low beams leds also on, it is not as bright in close as I'd like. I'd like to see if there's a way to make them stay on also with the high beams then they'd be really good.
Worth the price tag? I'm not sure sure yet, I'll have to see how they are with the SMS harness and working as they should and letting my eyes/brain get used to a lower color temp than what they're accustomed to. For nearly 1/2 the price though, I'd recommend the KC/Petersons over these to anyone who wanted my opinion... I can't say on the truck lites, have no real experience with them other than in a parking lot.
Worth the price tag? I'm not sure sure yet, I'll have to see how they are with the SMS harness and working as they should and letting my eyes/brain get used to a lower color temp than what they're accustomed to. For nearly 1/2 the price though, I'd recommend the KC/Petersons over these to anyone who wanted my opinion... I can't say on the truck lites, have no real experience with them other than in a parking lot.
I installed my truck lites and took a drive, around town at first it seems they were not as hot as I hoped, until I started noticeing things that I would have missed before. This was in town with cadmium street lights, fast forward to dark highway with no lighting and WOW. the beam spread on the truck lite is awesome. Even on low beam I see much more around the front of the jeep and well off to the sides of the road. Crank up high beams and its dramatically brighter. the so called x pattern is only visable whan close up to objects.
moabian
Active member
Ok, ok. We get it already. Your Trucklites are the best lights on planet earth and you have nothing but unbridled disdain for anyone who thinks or tries to prove otherwise. Personally, I'll stick with the JW Speakers...which are supposedly the subject of this thread.
I'll have the V2s and SMS harness tomorrow...but it may be a week before I get a chance to install them.
DallasJKU
Adventurer
When I had my TL's I noticed the same thing. Around town with street lights I would rather have stock headlights. On dark roads, I would rather have TL's. I never drive on dark roads and I have D2's and 10" lightbar so I would rather have those than TL's. I sold the TL's mainly because of the "X" pattern.
Hope you have better experiences than knot knormal did. Just stating the obvious that there are better options for less money. That being said, the self called lighting experts will say differently. But some here know better. i am not saying mine are the best, Just better than the JWs. The peterson/KC as well as the new Anzo LED lights are better than JWs.