In the realm of social media, Baja Designs has been making quite a buzz with their LP9 lights. So, we decided to take it upon ourselves to put these lights to the test. We ventured into the wilderness, the perfect setting to test the light outputs of these much-talked-about lights. The question on everyone's mind is, how do they perform in real-world conditions? We decided to pit them against one of the reigning champions in the field, the Diode Dynamics SS5, but we opted for the sport version.
Why the Sport Version?
The sport version of the Diode Dynamics is cheaper than the Pro. However, in our tests, we found that the sport version was brighter than the Pro. So, we were curious to see which one would outshine the other. We also decided to compare it to the LP6, the LP9's younger sibling, and the Morimoto Big Banger HXB.
The Test Begins
As we powered up the Baja Designs LP9 Pro with the combo beam pattern, the first thing that caught our attention was the ambient light surrounding the hotspot. The hotspot was incredibly intense, but the ambient light was truly impressive. This kind of light is extremely useful when you're driving down trails or roads at night.
Next, we tested the Morimoto Big Banger. The hotspot was incredibly intense, almost blinding. However, all of this light was focused into the hotspot, leaving us wondering if the LP6 could do better.
Enter the LP6
The LP6, the younger sibling of the LP9, had a very wide beam pattern. The ambient light around the hotspot was expansive, and the hotspot itself was very bright. However, we were told that the LP9 outshines the LP6. We were about to find out if that was true.
The LP9 Shines
The Baja Designs LP9 with the combo driving beam pattern had an impressive amount of ambient light on both sides of the hotspot. This is a very good beam pattern and is extremely bright. This light would be a great addition to any vehicle if you're looking for a combo beam pattern.
The Morimoto Big Banger Combo
The Morimoto Big Banger combo beam pattern was wide and filled the entire tree line. This light provides much more fill than their spot version and is a great option if you're looking for a wide beam of light.
The Candela Test
After seeing how these lights performed in the real world, we wanted to see how they stacked up against the competition in terms of brightness or Candela. We measured the Candela of each light about 10 meters from a wall. The LP9 Pro spot came in at an impressive 514,300 Candela. However, the Diode Dynamics SS5 sport spot came in at 400,100 Candela. The LP6 spot came in at 276,000 Candela. The Morimoto HXB spot beam pattern measured 564,000 Candela, making it the most intense of all the lights we tested.
The Combo Driving Beam Patterns
The LP6 combo came in at 203,100 Candela, while the LP9 combo measured 440,100 Candela. The Diode Dynamics SS5 Sport Combo measured 84,200 Candela, and the Morimoto HXB combo came in at 210,000 Candela.
Final Thoughts
So, is the Baja Designs LP9 the brightest light in the world? When it comes to the spot beam pattern, the answer is no. The Morimoto HXB spot beam pattern was more intense and brighter at the hotspot. However, the LP9 did have more ambient light. If that's what you're looking for, the LP9 is the way to go. When it comes to the combo beam pattern, the LP9 is the clear winner. Baja Designs really hit it out of the park with the LP9.
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