GTR Lighting Ultra Series 2 LED Review
An older premium reflector-focused LED with strong measured output, clean 5450K color, confirmed long-runtime bench results, and lifetime warranty coverage—but more modest projector performance and discontinued status.
- Reflector performance
- 4.8BulbFacts score · 5.0 baseline
- Projector performance
- 4.0BulbFacts score · 5.0 baseline
- Measured output
- 4,575 lmper bulb · 9,150 lm per kit
- Color temperature
- 5,450 Kmeasured
Our verdict
The GTR Lighting Ultra Series 2 suits a reflector-headlight owner who wants strong measured output, clean white color, proven long-runtime performance, and lifetime warranty coverage. It produced a useful reflector result in our reference housing, but its projector result was much less compelling and the product is no longer listed as current, so housing type and replacement availability matter.
What we liked
- Strong reflector output: 1,073 lux on low beam and 1,702 lux on high beam.
- Clean 5450K color, 4,575 measured lumens per bulb, and only a 4.5% output drop from two to 30 minutes.
- More than 5,000 hours of recorded runtime above 75% output, plus listed lifetime warranty coverage.
What to consider
- Projector performance was more modest, especially the 501-lux high-beam result.
- The Ultra 2 is discontinued in the current chart, and its last recorded estimated price was roughly $250 per set.
- The 38.2-watt-per-bulb draw, rear fan, and external driver require clearance and electrical checks; exact-vehicle fitment is unconfirmed.
Build quality
The Ultra Series 2 arrived with a lot of attention around it, and after some backorder delays, we finally got a set on the bench. We were initially skeptical after seeing mixed outside impressions, but our own lab results were much stronger than expected.
Its output and lumen count were reminiscent of DDM Tuning's SaberPro 50W, but the Ultra 2 paired that performance with a sleeker design, premium construction, and lifetime warranty coverage. The adjustable collar, flat diode boards, finned fan housing, and external driver all feel purpose-built rather than generic.
Those details support confidence in the hardware, but the measured reflector and projector results below—not the finish, packaging, or brand—determine where this older kit still makes sense.
Reflector headlight performance
The Ultra Series 2 is at its best in reflector-style headlights, where it delivered strong output, a focused beam, and a large low-beam improvement over the recorded halogen baseline.
About these tests: The reflector and projector measurements below come from BulbFacts reference housings so products can be compared consistently. They are not exact-vehicle tests; bulb seating, housing optics, lens condition, and aim can change output, glare, and beam shape. The selected-vehicle panel above remains the source for any known applicability evidence.
Gray dots show every scored kit. Named markers are current BulbFacts recommendations. The 5.0 reference is a baseline, not a maximum.
Reflector performance score 4.8 compared with 54 scored LED kits and the 5.0 reference baseline.
- Low-beam hotspot
- 1,073 luxper bulb
Reflector low-beam output of 1,073 lux compared with 54 scored products.
- High-beam output
- 1,702 luxper bulb
Reflector high-beam output of 1,702 lux compared with 54 scored products.
- Glare measurement
- 275 luxreference housing
Reflector glare measurement of 275 lux compared with 22 products with recorded glare data. Lower is better.
- Beam pattern
- 3 / 5separate pattern rating
Reflector beam-pattern rating of 3 out of 5 compared with 22 products with recorded ratings. Higher is better.
Low beam measured 1,073 lux per bulb. The original review recorded that as roughly a 188% improvement over the standard-halogen baseline, which made the Ultra 2 a strong reflector performer in this housing.
The hotspot stayed focused, and the emitter placement and adjustable collar produced less random scatter than many aftermarket LEDs. Reflector glare measured 275 lux, while the separate beam-pattern rating was 3/5. That glare result was not the lowest in the chart, so housing choice and aim remain important.
High beam measured 1,702 lux per bulb. The result backs up the kit's reflector-first recommendation, but reference-housing measurements do not guarantee the same output or glare behavior in a selected vehicle.
Projector headlight performance
The Ultra Series 2 improved projector low beam over the recorded halogen baseline, but it did not dominate this housing the way it did the reflector test.
Gray dots show every scored kit. Named markers are current BulbFacts recommendations. The 5.0 reference is a baseline, not a maximum.
Projector performance score 4.0 compared with 54 scored LED kits and the 5.0 reference baseline.
- Low-beam hotspot
- 452 luxper bulb
Projector low-beam output of 452 lux compared with 54 scored products.
- High-beam output
- 501 luxper bulb
Projector high-beam output of 501 lux compared with 54 scored products.
- Beam pattern
- 3 / 5separate pattern rating
Projector beam-pattern rating of 3 out of 5 compared with 47 products with recorded ratings. Higher is better.
Projector low beam measured 452 lux per bulb, which nearly doubled the recorded halogen baseline in the original review context. It was a meaningful improvement, but not a chart-leading projector result.
High beam measured 501 lux per bulb, and the separate projector beam-pattern rating was 3/5. Projector glare was not recorded, so the review does not assign a glare result to this housing.
The LED emitter layout can struggle to reach the high-beam portion of some projector bowls as effectively as a halogen filament. Buyers prioritizing projector output should compare newer products; the Ultra 2 makes a stronger case in reflector housings.
Output, color, and stability
The Ultra Series 2 pairs strong measured lumen output with a clean 5450K color and a small output change after the initial warm-up period.
GTR Lighting Ultra Series 2 Kelvin
GTR Lighting Ultra Series 2 lumens
We always appreciate finding an LED product that tests under 5500K. The Ultra Series 2 measured 5450K, which gives it a cleaner, more neutral white look than many cooler blue-leaning LED kits.
The beam has a very slight cool tint, but it is close to pure white and remains easy on the eyes. It also sits near the color of many OEM DRL systems, which can matter if you are trying to keep the front lighting visually consistent.
Measured output was 9150 lumens per kit, or about 4575 lumens per bulb. The original review noted that this was far beyond standard halogen output, and while lumens are not the full story, the Ultra 2's measured output backs up its premium positioning.
After warming up, power drop was relatively low at about 4.5% from the 2-minute to 30-minute measurement, earning an A rating for output stability.
Installation and cooling
The Ultra 2's adjustable collar and external driver support precise installation, but its 38.2-watt draw, rear fan, and separate electronics require physical-clearance and vehicle-compatibility checks.
Per-bulb draw
The Ultra Series 2's 38.2-watt-per-bulb result is compared with 54 LED kits recorded from 11.9 to 95.6 watts per bulb and the 53-watt halogen reference.
30-min temp
The Ultra Series 2's 119-degree result is compared with 54 LED kits recorded from 80 to 166 degrees Fahrenheit. The visual scale extends to the 525-degree halogen reference.
Fan noise
The Ultra Series 2's 61-decibel result is compared with 54 LED kits, including fanless products and fan measurements up to 71 decibels. The halogen reference has no cooling fan.
Physical size and fit
The bulb measures 35 mm at its widest point, 35 mm from the base to the rear, and 44 mm across the diode-handle dimension. The external driver measures 47 × 33 × 16 mm. The H7 collar is listed as rotatable in 1-degree increments.
The chart lists multiple available bulb sizes, but matching a nominal size does not confirm fitment. Check bulb type, seating, rear clearance, external-driver placement, dust-cover space, and vehicle electronics before ordering.
Power draw and cooling
We measured 38.2 watts per bulb on the test bench. The 76.4-watt pair total is derived from that per-bulb measurement. That is below the recorded 53-watt-per-bulb halogen reference but higher than many lower-output LED kits.
After 30 minutes, running temperature measured 119°F / 48°C. The active rear fan manages that heat; this short bench temperature is separate from the long-runtime output test.
Noise and electronics
Fan noise measured 61 dB on the bench, where it was audible when listening for it. We did not record cabin noise after installation, so in-vehicle sound remains unknown.
The current chart labels the kit CANBUS-friendly, but sensitive vehicles can still require decoders. Recorded dimming support is limited to a 4V minimum on non-PWM systems; PWM DRL behavior and radio-frequency interference remain unconfirmed.
Warranty and long-term testing
Coverage
The product is listed with a lifetime warranty. That is manufacturer or seller coverage, not the reason for the lifespan finding; confirm current terms, exclusions, availability, and the claim process because the product is discontinued.
Unlike reviews with unfinished durability testing, the Ultra 2 has a recorded long-runtime result. It maintained more than 75% output beyond 5,000 hours, earning an S / Superior lifespan rating, and the original review recorded about 70% output after 7,500 hours.
Should you buy it?
The Ultra Series 2 remains a useful reference for reflector-headlight owners who value strong measured output, clean white color, proven long-runtime performance, and lifetime warranty coverage. Its 1,073-lux low beam, 1,702-lux high beam, and 5,450K color explain why it earned a strong reputation.
The tradeoffs are equally clear: projector performance was more modest, the kit uses an external driver and active fan, exact-vehicle compatibility is not guaranteed, and the product is no longer listed as current. The last recorded estimated price was about $250.
Because the Ultra 2 is discontinued, current shoppers should compare the newer Ultra Series 3 and the rest of the LED chart. Existing Ultra 2 owners have more reassuring evidence than most: this product stayed above 75% output beyond 5,000 bench hours and still recorded about 70% output after 7,500 hours.
Use the complete chart to compare the Ultra 2's recorded results with products that are currently available.
Full measurements and specifications
Open this reference for every recorded measurement, specification, unknown, and test-method detail. The main reflector and projector findings remain visible above.
Show all recorded measurements and specificationsFive groups · version 2.0 bench record
Measured output
- Reflector performance score
- 4.8; 5.0 reference baseline
- Reflector low-beam hotspot
- 1,073 lux per bulb
- Reflector low-beam improvement
- 188% over the recorded halogen baseline
- Reflector high-beam output
- 1,702 lux per bulb
- Reflector high-beam improvement
- Not separately recorded in this review
- Projector performance score
- 4.0; 5.0 reference baseline
- Projector low-beam hotspot
- 452 lux per bulb
- Projector low-beam improvement
- Described as nearly double the recorded halogen baseline
- Projector high-beam output
- 501 lux per bulb
- Projector high-beam improvement
- Not separately recorded in this review
- Measured lumens
- 4,575 lm per bulb; 9,150 lm per kit
- Lumen improvement
- Not separately recorded in this review
Beam quality
- Reflector beam-pattern rating
- 3 / 5 in current test record
- Projector beam-pattern rating
- 3 / 5
- Reflector glare measurement
- 275 lux in the reference housing
- Projector glare measurement
- Not recorded in this review
Power, color, and thermal behavior
- Measured color temperature
- 5,450 K
- Measured electrical draw
- 38.2 watts per bulb
- Derived pair draw
- 76.4 watts per pair
- 30-minute running temperature
- 119°F / 48°C
- Cold-start to 30-minute output drop
- Not recorded in this review
- 2-minute to 30-minute output drop
- 4.5%
- Fan noise
- 61 dB on the bench
- Cooling method
- Fan; rear active-cooling design
Dimensions, features, and recorded compatibility
- Maximum bulb width
- 35 mm
- Base-to-rear dimension
- 35 mm
- Diode-handle dimension
- 44 mm
- Rotatable H7 collar
- Yes; 1° increments
- LED diodes
- Elec-Tech; diode model not separately recorded
- Emitter layout
- 6 each; 12 total per bulb; flat direction
- Driver configuration
- External, non-removable; 47 × 33 × 16 mm (W × L × D)
- Recorded product sizes
- H4, H7, H8, H9, H11, H13, 9003, 9004, 9005, 9006, 9007, 9012, 5202, PSX24W
- CANBUS behavior
- CANBUS-friendly in the current chart; not a universal compatibility guarantee
- Exact-vehicle fitment
- Unconfirmed; verify bulb type, seating, rear clearance, driver placement, and dust-cover space
- Housing context
- Stronger reflector result and more modest projector result in reference housings; not an exact-vehicle test
Warranty and test status
- Estimated price
- $250 per set in the current chart record
- Recorded warranty
- Lifetime listed coverage
- Long-term lifespan
- S / Superior; above 75% output beyond 5,000 hours and about 70% after 7,500 hours
- DRL / high-beam dimming
- Yes; 4V minimum on non-PWM systems
- Radio-frequency interference
- N/A; unconfirmed
- High-beam test photographs
- Available for both reference housings
- Publication date
- March 11, 2023
- Last updated
- May 31, 2026
- Test version
- Version 2.0 bench record; original article used 25 ft distance testing
Facts listed above are based on BulbFacts testing processes at the time of this review. See how we test for current procedures. The original version 2.0 article used a 25 ft distance test bench.