4300K HID color temp expecation vs. reality

[Millerrh]

I did a fair amount of research on here prior to ordering HIDs and chose the Xenon Depot Philips 4300K set. Based on what I read here and other places, OEM manufacturers typically choose HIDs with a color temp of 4300K and it offers a nice bright white output but will seem warmer when compared to LEDs. I didn't want to go up in color temp due to the fact that I did not want to have lights that looked too blue, I was really after a neutral white light output. I've owned Acuras and Audis in the past, so I know what that light output looks like and is very neutral.

These HIDs have a much warmer color and even have a greenish tint to them. I did not expect this. This is especially the case along the cutoff line.


Here is a view of mine on the right and what I assume to be OEM HIDs on the left. You can see the much warmer tone to mine.


Were my expectations not in line with reality? Should the light output from these be as warm/green as it is? Is this more of an effect of the projector design and not the bulb? If not 4300K, what color temp would get you an actual white output more in line with OEM HIDs?

 

[mcarey86]

If you ordered the Phillips bulbs, they state you need to wait about 100hrs for a slight color shift.

 

[kevinmai712]

agree with the color shift for 100hrs, and also the headlight housing is different from OEM HID projector housing... If you notice cars with OEM HID projector the lens it self is clear glass, while on the t4r is somewhat not super clear. And to get the closest to OEM HID would be 5000k

 

[xpress]

I have had the XD 4300K for 9 months now, well past 100 hours at this point. I think the color shift is very subtle in my opinion. The light is still definitely on the warmer side - I also have DDM Saber LED 6000k in high beams so the difference is very apparent. The low beams are very bright though so even though I would have preferred a more neutral white, I can live with it. I don't know if I would have preferred the 5000K bulb. Prior to installing the XD I had tried a cheaper xenon kit from Amazon at 5000k and even the light was whiter, it was as not as intense. Of course it could have been due to not as good quality ballast, bulb etc.

 

[4runnin4mylife]

I have the 4300k Philips and in my opinion I would stick with them and just wait for the slight color shift... Usually ends up being around 4700 or 4800k after the shift. Of course the higher you go the less usable light. Not really an issue until you get a little higher kelvin than you are talking about though.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

 

[e60ral]

4300k is "yellow-white", it is supposed to be a little bit warm, they match OEM not aftermarket really cool lights. 5000k is more comparable to LED.

also, you will get some yellow and green (really a full spectrum) right at the cutoff even with whiter lights, its chromatic dispersion caused by diffraction from the cutoff. If you look in your photo you can actually see the full ROYGBIV


mine are definitely whiter than 4300k after lots of use, I read they are supposed to shift to ~4700k and I can believe that for mine

 

[Millerrh]

So the amount of orange/warmth in my cutoff line looks normal to you guys? I have seen other HID projectors and the cutoff line looks bluer. Maybe that's just due to the design of the 4Runner's halogen projectors though.

I think it's the coloring in my cutoff area that's throwing me off because below that it's pretty white (although warm). The cutoff area is very warm and greenish to the point that I am noticing how warm the light is and the color shift as oppose to just having a bright white light in front of me.

 

[e60ral]

Mine looked like that when I had them aimed too low and the cutoff was too harsh. I tweaked them up just a bit where they are still properly aimed and not in anyone's eyes and they don't have that much chromatic dispersion anymore.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[Millerrh]

Mine looked like that when I had them aimed too low and the cutoff was too harsh. I tweaked them up just a bit where they are still properly aimed and not in anyone's eyes and they don't have that much chromatic dispersion anymore.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

That could be part of the problem. I lowered them quite a bit because I was lighting up the back of people's heads in compacts and got a middle finger directed my way. Although I can't recall seeing a shift in color along the cutoff when doing the adjustment. Worth a try to raise it up a bit though.

 

[e60ral]

That could be part of the problem. I lowered them quite a bit because I was lighting up the back of people's heads in compacts and got a middle finger directed my way. Although I can't recall seeing a shift in color along the cutoff when doing the adjustment. Worth a try to raise it up a bit though.

the reason all those colors are so visible is because you are projecting onto something very close. The diffracted light isn't as intense so it will fade away if you just backup a little but