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    Ushio 4w MR16 LED Spotlight

    One light many people didn’t see at MACNA was Ushio’s new Synergy MR16 LED spotlight. These tiny lamps pack 3 Seoul Semi Conductor LEDs into a tiny MR16 package that consumes just 4w. The Ushio Synergy MR16 LED light is aimed at the retail and architectual lighting industries, but the lighting gurus / Ushio reps [...]

    Ushio-Synergy-LED-MR16

    One light many people didn’t see at MACNA was Ushio’s new Synergy MR16 LED spotlight. These tiny lamps pack 3 Seoul Semi Conductor LEDs into a tiny MR16 package that consumes just 4w. The Ushio Synergy MR16 LED light is aimed at the retail and architectual lighting industries, but the lighting gurus / Ushio reps confirmed that they will be pitching to higher ups that these lights have a market for blue 460nm version just for us aquarium enthusiasts. Currently the lights are available in 4,500K or 6,500K.

    Ushio-MR16-LED

    Although these kelvin numbers may elicit a gag reflex–remember that 20Ks are not the only way to make corals pop. Check out this article showing how warm color temperature lamps like 6,500K  can be used to bring out vibrant reds, yellows and oranges.

    Ushio-LED-PAR

    At roughly 20″ these lights hit over 120 PAR… keep in mind they use only 4 watts! These ought to work well as a true spotlight for nano reef keepers looking to provide an area with higher light, perhaps for a showpiece Acroporid or Tridacnid. They are available in the following beam angles

    • 12 degree narrow spot
    • 24 degree narrow flood
    • 34 degree flood
    • 50 degree wide flood

    The Ushio MR16 LED was able to throw light across the show room floor and highlight the walls of the building. We can’t wait to see what they’ll do over an aquarium. Retail pricing varies from $50-$100 depending on vendor, kelvin and beam angle–keep in mind these lamps should last over 10 years with 10 hours of use each day!

    Related Posts

    1. NanoCustoms Working on MR16 LED Spotlights
    2. New Lighting Project – Ushio 14K & 20K Halides
    3. MACNA XXI : Ushio 14k G12 Metal Halide
    4. Hands on with Philips’ New Ambient LED Spotlight
    5. MACNA XXI : Nano Custom’s Japanese Style LED Spotlight

    Meta

    • http://www.ecotechmarine.com Tim @ EcoTech

      Regarding warm colored lamps: Seems like there isn’t anyone in the hobby anymore that remembers the days of 6500K Iwasaki’s and VHO actinics. This used to be THE combination for amazing colors and growth, and truthfully I still prefer the look of a well grown in tank under this light compared to 10k’s and especially 20k’s. The colors produced by the corals under the Iwasaki lamps was really astonishing and man did those lamps pack in some PAR. This was about ten years ago or so, when only Ushio and AB were making 10k lamps.

    • Nicholas Sadaka

      I don’t know if it’s because I don’t have an artistic bone in my body, therefore am not quite as adept or picky with colors, but I’ve always liked the lower kelvin lights. Admittedly I don’t think I’ve seen much 6500K bulbs used, but I have zero problem with a 10K bulb. I’ve always just wanted whatever would be healthiest for the coral…but that’s just my opinion which means very, very little.

    • http://www.rimlessreef.com Sonny (SunnyX)

      Any word on when and where these will go for sale?

    • Chris

      @sonny – I was able to find some online at Google’s shopping site. The range I saw was anywhere from $60 to $100.

    • Andrew

      Why is it that all these LED PAR values keep getting reported when they’re measured through the air? At 120 PAR this thing’s PAR is likely to be in the neighborhood of 60 at the surface and even less at 20″ IN THE WATRER making it pretty much good for one thing: color rendition (i.e. the PAR would maybe be sufficient for mushrooms).

    • http://MAAST.org Sean Hall

      Good point Andrew. I have planned to use 3-5 spotlights in my new reef, but they will be for purely supplemental and aesthetic purposes. The main light will come from a 250w halide in a lumenarc pendent. I think in the Japanese mindset in terms of lighting, a lot of emphasis is placed on a visually pleasing display and highlighting.
      In many ways, some of the Japanese lighting just does not make sense when compared to alternatives, but I think that is what makes it so great.

      I do totally agree with you, these open-air readings are completely irrelevant, but I’m sure a ton of people would ask for them regardless.

    • http://www.twitter/MLukaczyn Mike L

      I wonder how the 6,500k,12 degree narrow spot, with a red dichroic filter would look. Maye I have a new project for next week.

    • Jon ‘hahnmeister’

      Seoul Semi LED’s? Those must be Cree LED’s in there then, most likely XR-E’s.

    • http://glassbox-design.com eric michael

      @Jon, Per Ushio they are SSC. Based on the look and their output, most likely SSC P7s.

    • http://glassbox-design.com eric michael

      @Tim, Agreed. Iwasaki 6.5Ks and URI VHO’s were the lighting combination and what I used exclusively for my early SPS years. The tonal range under this set up is hard to beat–blues may not be what they are under 20Ks, but all colors are represented well.

      Have you tried the Ushio / BLV 14K lamp?

    • iggy

      I’ve gone back to 10k Hamitlon and Ushio and they are whiter than they used to be. Admitedly I think new 10K mH are better now. Too much actinic is not my taste either. I like just enough for fluorescence.

      Nice to see Ushio moving along.