Lumibright XT1 LED Headlight Kit Review

August 31, 2019

PLEASE NOTE: Results and recommendations on this page are based on our version 1.0 test bench. For the latest results, please see our test chart and recommendations pages which are results from our version 2.0 testing.

RECOMMENDED FOR: All Headlight and Fog Light Styles, best for Halogen Projectors
RANK*: #2 in Reflector Headlights, #1 (tie) in Projector Headlights, #1 (tie) in Reflector Fog Lights
*as of this review, for the latest facts check our recommendations here

The Lumibright XT1s are a new product, and we jumped at the oppourtunity to get them into our lab and through our tests based on good feedback we have seen. They are nearly the #1 product in all categories, coming in a very close 2^nd for reflector style headlights, but came out on top in projector headlight applications. Lumibright only sent us a sample to test, nothing more. This review is completely unbiased and true, as always.

REFLECTOR STYLE HEADLIGHT TEST RESULTS

We really didn’t know what to expect from the XT1s when we first set them up for testing. They are a smaller product, with a similar design to most others.

Reflector Beam Pattern @ 12'

To our surprise, the output was truly astonishing at 5950 lux in a low-beam reflector headlight, compared to 1610 lux for a standard halogen bulb, and 2240 lux for the top tier tested halogen bulb (OSRAM NBU). An upgrade of 3.7X brighter than stock halogen. This brings them into the #2 spot (as of this review) in the reflector test category, with an overall reflector score of 5.3 (yes more than 5.0). The best part to the XT1s is the beam pattern. We rated them at a perfect 5.0, as they have no additional glare, unlike most other products which normally produce additional glare, you shouldn’t have any problem with the XT1s.

If you are looking to install into your high beams, normally we would recommend sticking with the strong halogen bulb (typically they are higher wattage), however in this case, the XT1s meet a new standard for a high-beam upgrade. They tested at 7110 total lux, which translates to exactly 100% more light, or 2X brighter in a high-beam reflector, compared to 3550 lux from a standard halogen bulb. As always, you won’t see an incredible upgrade in your high-beams moving to LED, but a few benefits are a much whiter color, instant maximum brightness on startup with no delay like a halogen bulb, and a near perfect concentrated beam pattern bringing them to a maximum distance. Pair those features with up to 2X more light output, and they can truly be a great upgrade.

PROJECTOR STYLE HEADLIGHT TEST RESULTS

Projector Beam Pattern @ 12'

Looking for the #1 top rated LED product for your weak halogen projectors? Look no further than the XT1s. For most people, you will be installing them into your single low-beam halogen projector bowl, and the XT1s will net you nearly 3.8X more output, at 3320 tested lux, compared to 876 lux for a halogen bulb in our test projector. They did tie with the popular Hikari Ultras, which tested at 3030 lux, but we enjoyed the whiter color temperature (more on this below).

If you happen to have a dedicated high-beam projector, or a bi-halogen setup, you’ll see about 1.5X or so more light output from this kit. There are better options for a high-beam halogen projector, but these did well still at exactly 5000 lux, compared to 3200 lux from a halogen bulb. 

REFLECTOR STYLE FOG LIGHT TEST RESULTS

Fog Light Refl. Beam Pattern @ 12'

We just started testing in fog-specific applications, and without a doubt we expected the XT1s to perform equally well compared to headlights, and they did. We tested the fog-light beam at 3-points; center, left and right (both 40” from the center, 12’ away), and the performance was simply amazing. 133% (2.3X) more light output. While the beam pattern was spot on compared to the original halogen beam, they did exhibit more glare than we liked (78lux 2” above the cut-off, 12’ away, compared to 18.5lux in a halogen configuration). Typically, not an issue for fog lights like headlights, but still worth noting. Just be careful of the additional glare, but in most vehicles, it shouldn’t be a problem.

KELVIN/COLOR TEMPERATURE

The color temperature tested right at 5950k, which is on-par with most other LED products. Nothing special here, just a nice pure white color with a hint of blue in the beam. Very spot on to the claimed 6000k, which is great to see.

LUMENS

Lumens are the total light output of the bulb, and while subjective, are still important as a secondary way of measurement. You will see a lot of Amazon and eBay products boasting very high numbers, and most if not almost all are simply dramatically inflated to get people to buy. LED bulbs from premium brands like Lumibright tests their product in an integrating sphere (presumably) on a very conservative level. This means in reality, the total lumens will be much more accurate to real life. The XT1s claim 2850lm per bulb, where we tested 3030lm per bulb (2 minutes stable, passive cooling). You can see how close the number is, and our integrating sphere runs a tad high (5-10% typically). An Amazon kit may claim 12,000 lumens, but in fact only be 4000 lumens (per kit). You can typically trust the premium brands with a realistic number, and always be cautious of the cheaper Amazon/eBay products. We don’t (yet) factor in the lumens to the overall score, as the lux is most important, but for people who need more ‘overall light’, lumens are something to consider as well.

LED CHIPS, POWER, TEMPERATURE, & NOISE

Lumibright doesn’t advertise the LED brand, but we did reach out to them and they stated a top tier Philips diode is utilized in the design, which we don’t doubt due to the extremely concentrated beam and high-output.

In terms of power consumption, they run at 25.1W, which is about half of most halogens (main beam).

They feature active cooling, which on an LED product is always meant to keep the diode as cool as possible, as heat directly effects the chip’s brightness. 93°F was the steady temperature of the heat sink. Compare this to a halogen bulb which heats up to around 160°F. Worried about capping the headlight with the fan? Don’t be concerned, as again the fan is solely for keeping the chips cool for maximum light output.

Installed into the front of your car, you won’t hear any noise. If they are powered on with your vehicle off, like all LEDs, you may hear some vibration. Noise output shouldn’t be an issue though, as they clocked in at 65db, about average with most other products featuring active fan cooling. 

DIMMABILITY & DRL

The XT1s may or may not dim correctly on your DRL; on a standard line, they cut out at 7.0v or less, so on some vehicles they may not dim on a high beam DRL, but on a low beam DRL should give you no issues.

CANBUS

Most vehicles nowadays feature a bulb-out check system, such as the popular CANBUS module. Popular brands are VW/Audi, Ford, BMW, Jeep, Dodge, and some others, depending on the model. Luckily for you, we test on a few CANBUS systems, and the XT1s passed the test! No additional ‘anti-flicker’ or ‘decoder’ module should be needed. 

CLOCKING/ROTATABILITY & SIZE

Normally, you’ll want to install and position them in the 9-3 position, so the diodes are facing left to right. In some cases, though, you’ll need to clock and adjust them so they line up with the original beam from your halogens. The XT1's allow you to adjust at 10 degree increments, a better ability than many other products. It’s very important to ensure they are rotated at the right angle in order to avoid glaring other drivers on the road. High-beams can be turned off quickly, but your low-beams are always on (presumably at night), and thus always need the right beam emitted from the vehicle. When in doubt, install your halogen bulb, check the cut-off against a wall (at least 10’ away, preferably 25’) and mark with a piece of masking tape, re-install the LED bulb, and both clock the LED bulb as well as re-aim your headlights if necessary.

WARRANTY

Most people don’t consider the warranty, mostly due to the excitement of buying a new product. However, LED technology is still very new and unpredictable, so it’s great to have a warranty past the standard one year. The XT1s include a 3-year warranty, among the best in the industry next to a lifetime warranty offered by some (DeAuto, GTR Lighting). We expect the XT1 LEDs to last longer though due to the premium quality and construction, but it’s nice to have a longer warranty still. 

CONCLUSION & COST

While the XT1s are a newer product, they have proven to be one of the, if not the, brightest products available today. We have nearly 75 of the most popular LED products tested as of this review, and landing in the #1 and #2 spot depending on application, is something to shine the light directly on. Highly recommended!

As always, our tests are unbiased and true. We are not like other sites with paid reviews or fake information. We always DECLINE paid or sponsored reviews and offers. Our goal is to provide you with our lab test details and let you decide what product may work best for your application. We simply ask that if you are going to buy a product we have reviewed, please use our affiliate link, as it allows us to further enhance our tests and of course test new products! -Blaise @ BulbFacts Team