 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > J.W. Speaker vs. Nolden LED headlamp test |
 
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| ericvv Member Since: 02 Jun 2011 Location: Near the Jet d'Eau Posts: 5816   
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Recently my friend kitoper of the forum has installed the new Nolden LED headlamps on his magnificent new Defender "Hunter" edition, so we thought it would be good to do a first comparative eyeball test of those vs. the J.W. Speaker 8700EVO on my SVX.
Until today there have been statements that one or the other are better, but have not seen anyone who compared them side by side in the same conditions. Also there still is no clear common denominator of lumen output for those two, as Nolden lumen are expressed as "Calculated" and "Measured", and Speaker expresses lumen as "Raw" and "Effective". The Nolden numbers are higher than those given by Speaker, but without common denominator that does not mean much to us. So we put both the Hunter and the SVX side by side in our underground office parking in front of a white wall, and did the eyeball test. We found that: 1. The light color of the Nolden is a more icy white than the Speakers. Icy meaning a touch more blue-ish, and we both agreed that the Speaker white looks more natural white light and more pleasant. 2. The Speaker low beam output looks actually higher/better than the Nolden, and the light spread and coverage of the floor area (road) is noticeably better with the Speakers. 3. The Nolden have a bit of a hot spot in the center of the light beam, even if their spread overall is fine. The Speaker spread just is more evenly. 4. The Nolden high beam is better than the Speaker, but the difference is because the Nolden at high beam use low and high simultaneously. So this especially has as result that the Nolden high beam covers the road in the near front of the vehicle better than the Speakers. This may be an advantage for Defenders with single headlamps, but in case of the SVX set up with its additional aux high beam lamps that is not an issue of course. 5. The Speaker lamps have a bit more visible prism effect (multi colored lines like a rainbow effect) than the Noldens, but not to the point it becomes disturbing, some will not even notice that. 6. We both agreed that the Speaker overall are the better/winner, but Nolden remain a close #2. As to the looks of the two, well they both look great, the Nolden a bit more classic, the Speaker with its two vertical lamps at the sides a bit more tech. But both would look good on any Defender. Each to his own here of course 
Here are some pictures we took this morning. Nolden low beam  Click image to enlarge Speaker low beam Click image to enlarge Nolden low beam Click image to enlarge Speaker low beam Click image to enlarge Nolden high beam Click image to enlarge Speaker high beam (Speaker only, so with the aux lamps blanked off) Click image to enlarge You never actually own a Defender. You merely look after it for the next generation. http://youtu.be/yVRlSsJwD0o https://youtu.be/vmPr3oTHndg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GtzTT9Pdl0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABqKPz28e6A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLZ49Jce_n0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAsz_ilQYU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8tMHiX9lSw https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dxwjPuHIV7I https://vimeo.com/201482507 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSixqL0iyHw |
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5th Jul 2013 1:29pm |
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| adafish Member Since: 30 Mar 2009 Location: atherstone Posts: 1376  
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thats good to know....We sell lots of LED lights sets when at the show's and when we get the chance to have a walk around we see some of the competitors in others motors. I have a full set of the LED in Derek ( used on the stand at shows ), the 8700 EVO chrome edition and the 70mm coloured lenses, can't fault them. I never really use Hi-beam , low is all i need to be honest, like you say it gives a crisper/white spread pattern on the road ahead. Tim has now had the 110 headlights modified ( if you came to the Bath and West show you would have seen ), whilst i'm fitting some LED spots to Derek , one off's , especially for Billing in a couple of weeks........BPMAN, we waited for you at last show......Ada Putting Dreams on Drives at JLR Solihull..
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5th Jul 2013 2:20pm |
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| Lishlandy Member Since: 26 Oct 2011 Location: High Wycombe Posts: 941  
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Fantastic write up,
Thank you for taking the time to share what many of us 'Speaker's' have been wondering due to some of the big statements coming from the 'Nolden's'. 
As for the crisp blue light from the Nolden's, i like that a lot, gives that spaceage look. =================================== Steve 90 xs sw in Stonoway Grey - Sold 110 USW X-TECH |
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5th Jul 2013 2:26pm |
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| Likeomg Member Since: 29 Jun 2012 Location: Lake District / Newcastle Posts: 2626 
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thanks for that, after recently purhcasing speakers was unsure if i made the right choice but thanks for that.
p.s. i prefer the speaker look  |
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5th Jul 2013 3:16pm |
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| dgardel Member Since: 30 Nov 2008 Location: Veneto (Heart & Head) Posts: 3586 
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http://fred95-defender.blogspot.de/2013/06...-denn.html Discovery 5 td6 HSE Stornoway Gray Outback Engineering Limited Edition
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5th Jul 2013 3:20pm |
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| ericvv Member Since: 02 Jun 2011 Location: Near the Jet d'Eau Posts: 5816
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Daniele, those pictures confirm what we found when making the comparison. The Nolden have a bit more of a hotspot than the BMW Xenons, but the Nolden are at least as bright, if not brighter, than those Xenons. Otherwise that link is a bit an apples and pears comparison, LEDs vs. Xenons. You never actually own a Defender. You merely look after it for the next generation. http://youtu.be/yVRlSsJwD0o https://youtu.be/vmPr3oTHndg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GtzTT9Pdl0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABqKPz28e6A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLZ49Jce_n0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAsz_ilQYU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8tMHiX9lSw https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dxwjPuHIV7I https://vimeo.com/201482507 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSixqL0iyHw |
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5th Jul 2013 6:44pm |
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| Kitoper Member Since: 07 Dec 2012 Location: Geneva Posts: 204
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As Eric has so rightfully and poetically written up our Nolden and Speaker comparison, I cannot add much
I can only confirm that the Speakers looked much cleaner and had no sign of a hot spot as compared to the Noldens which may, due to their power give a hot and icy look on the wall.
Luckily, I am comparing my current night driving experience to my halogens which I swapped out and there really is no comparison here. The Noldens are fine when not being compared to the Speakers 
Now the question that remains, if given the chance, would I change? This question is not that simple, as my choice for the Noldens were also driven by their simple looks. Afterall beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I must admit that when I look at the picture below, Eric's Speakers are right for his vehicle and the Noldens are right for mine. When I look at both vehicles parked side by side, I am reminded of the story of Beauty and the Beast. You can decide which is which
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8th Jul 2013 11:11am |
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| ericvv Member Since: 02 Jun 2011 Location: Near the Jet d'Eau Posts: 5816
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For good order sake, and before somebody asks, what you see on top of my car is not part of my ICE.
 You never actually own a Defender. You merely look after it for the next generation.
http://youtu.be/yVRlSsJwD0o https://youtu.be/vmPr3oTHndg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GtzTT9Pdl0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABqKPz28e6A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLZ49Jce_n0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAsz_ilQYU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8tMHiX9lSw https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dxwjPuHIV7I https://vimeo.com/201482507 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSixqL0iyHw |
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8th Jul 2013 12:00pm |
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| ericvv Member Since: 02 Jun 2011 Location: Near the Jet d'Eau Posts: 5816
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Kitoper and I took some more pictures of the Nolden and Speaker LED lamps. Main reason was to show some frontal looks, and matter of fact one of the below is the very first picture that we have seen of how the Nolden look with their high beam turned on. Here we go...
Nolden low beam Click image to enlarge Speaker low beam Click image to enlarge Nolden high beam This confirms that the Nolden high beam is a combination of simultaneous low beam + additional high beam LEDs Click image to enlarge Speaker high beam + SVX aux halogen high beam This shows that the Speaker high beam works separately from its main low beam LED which at high beam cuts out. Click image to enlarge Nolden left - Speaker right, side by side low beam For those who can distinguish different whites, this picture confirms our earlier statement that the Nolden are a bit more blue-ish white than the Speaker white Click image to enlarge Again, Nolden left - Speaker right Click image to enlarge And to end, full frontal view Click image to enlarge You never actually own a Defender. You merely look after it for the next generation. http://youtu.be/yVRlSsJwD0o https://youtu.be/vmPr3oTHndg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GtzTT9Pdl0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABqKPz28e6A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLZ49Jce_n0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAsz_ilQYU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8tMHiX9lSw https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dxwjPuHIV7I https://vimeo.com/201482507 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSixqL0iyHw |
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14th Jul 2013 2:24pm |
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| dgardel Member Since: 30 Nov 2008 Location: Veneto (Heart & Head) Posts: 3586
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Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated  Discovery 5 td6 HSE Stornoway Gray Outback Engineering Limited Edition
IID Pro MV License |
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14th Jul 2013 3:41pm |
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| ericvv Member Since: 02 Jun 2011 Location: Near the Jet d'Eau Posts: 5816
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Daniele, what does this mean? You first had the Speakers on your 90 I know, but now I see two pictures of your very same 90 with the Noldens.
Did you replace the Speakers by Nolden, and if so, why? Or are you alternating between the two maybe? One day the Speakers, the other day the Noldens...  You never actually own a Defender. You merely look after it for the next generation.
http://youtu.be/yVRlSsJwD0o https://youtu.be/vmPr3oTHndg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GtzTT9Pdl0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABqKPz28e6A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLZ49Jce_n0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAsz_ilQYU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8tMHiX9lSw https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dxwjPuHIV7I https://vimeo.com/201482507 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSixqL0iyHw |
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14th Jul 2013 6:10pm |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8578
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We have three Defenders which are our daily use vehicles.
Red 110 fitted with standard LR headlights plus additional Light Force Lights Black 110 fitted with Speaker 8700 lights plus additional Lazer lights White 90 fitted with Nolden Bi LED lights All three Defenders will be on our stand at Billing so come along have a good look and ask us any questions you like and I will do my best to answer them It can be difficult to compare different manufacturers specification sheets but here are some major points Taken from the manufacturers web site Speaker 8700 Raw Lumen Output: 1,350 (Low Beam); 1,770 (High Beam) Effective Lumen Output: 650 (Low Beam); 760 (High Beam) 12-24V DC Input 11.4-32V DC Operating Voltage 2.500 Amps @ 12V DC Sealed to IP67 Nolden Bi LED Lumen/Lumens (LowBeam/HighBeam) 1880lm / 2400lm (calculated) ~1550lm/~1700lm (measured) Spannung/Voltage 9-32 Volt Leistung/Power (LowBeam/HighBeam) 32/39 Watts Stromaufnahme/Consumption 2.1/2.7A Schutzklasse/ IP Class 6K9K IP is an Ingress Protection Rating IP67 Means no ingress of dust and is protected against immersion up to 1 metre. Ingress of water in harmful quantity shall not be possible when the enclosure is immersed in water under defined conditions of pressure and time (up to 1 m of submersion). IP Class 6K9K German standard DIN 40050-9 extends the IEC 60529 rating system described above with an IP69K rating for high-pressure, high-temperature wash-down applications.[7] Such enclosures must not only be dust tight (IP6X), but also able to withstand high-pressure and steam cleaning. The test specifies a spray nozzle that is fed with 80°C water at 8–10 MPa (80–100 bar) and a flow rate of 14–16 L/min. The nozzle is held 10–15 cm from the tested device at angles of 0°, 30°, 60° and 90° for 30s each. The test device sits on a turntable that rotates once every 12s (5rpm). The IP69K test specification was initially developed for road vehicles, especially those that need regular intensive cleaning (dump trucks, cement mixers, etc.), but also finds use in other areas (e.g., food industry, car wash centres). As stated earlier all three of our Defenders will be on our stand at Billing so come along have a good look and ask us any questions you like and I will do my best to answer them in person. Brendan |
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14th Jul 2013 10:22pm |
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| adafish Member Since: 30 Mar 2009 Location: atherstone Posts: 1376
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OR.................................pop over and see Tim there too, with a BIGGER display of new stuff too.. Putting Dreams on Drives at JLR Solihull..
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15th Jul 2013 8:53am |
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| dgardel Member Since: 30 Nov 2008 Location: Veneto (Heart & Head) Posts: 3586
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 need more info..... Discovery 5 td6 HSE Stornoway Gray Outback Engineering Limited Edition
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15th Jul 2013 1:40pm |
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