Today we are taking a close look at the brand new JW Speaker 8700 Evolution 2, the third generation of this American made company’s famous 7-inch round LED headlight. The 8700 has taken the world by storm over the last year for Harley-Davidson enthusiasts, Jeep Wrangler drivers, and owners of classic muscle cars that use the standard 7-inch round style headlight. It started with the original 8700, moved to the 8700 Evolution, and now we have the 8700 Evolution 2 (often called the 8700 Evo 2). We tested it, we compared it side by side with the discontinued version, and we projected both beam patterns against the wall so you can see exactly what changed.
A Quick History of the JW Speaker 8700 Family
The 8700 Evolution in black has been the most popular 7-inch round LED headlight on the market for a long time. That was part number 054 7331, and it has now been replaced by the new 8700 Evolution 2 in black, part number 054 9701. Right next to the black ones, we have the chrome versions. The older chrome was part number 054 7891, and it has been replaced by the upgraded 054 9711.
At a glance, these headlights look very similar and they clearly come from the same family. But once we started digging in, we found they are extremely different. JW Speaker did a great job upgrading the optics, the lighting, and the power of these lights. What impressed us most is that they managed to do all of this while making the light cheaper for the consumer, which is a rare win. If you are shopping around for a 7 inch round LED headlight, this is one to keep at the top of your list.
Updated Packaging and Model Details
Starting with the packaging, the new box for the 8700 Evo 2 advertises what appears to be an acrylic halo up top. That is actually going to be released with the Euro code (ECE) version for European driving. It functions as what they call a position light, which is required in other countries. That version likely will not be available in the USA, so we are not counting it as a feature for the domestic light.
The box shows two of the D-shaped projectors on the sides, whereas the original only showed one. It is clearly labeled as the 8700 Evolution 2, and it confirms the light is DOT approved, comes in black or chrome, and is still proudly made in the USA. Flip the box around and you get much of the same information, but with an updated beam pattern picture and updated specs.
Front Optics: Four D-Shaped Projectors
When you look at the front of the headlights, they are obviously from the same family, but the differences add up quickly. The JW Speaker logo used to be on the top and is now on the bottom, and the DOT/LED/HL information moved from the bottom up to the top. The biggest change is in the projector layout. The previous 8700 Evolution used only two D-shaped projectors for the low beam to create the major left to right beam pattern. The new 8700 Evolution 2 uses four D-shaped projectors on the sides, with a lower projector and an upper projector working together to create that wide left to right spread.
Two other front changes stand out. The low beam projector is now much larger, almost the same size as the high beam projector. The rounded bezel that runs down the center and holds the projectors in place is now bigger and flatter, giving the whole face a more modern look than the discontinued 8700 Evolution. If you want to browse the full lineup, you can find every current JW Speaker LED headlight in one place.
Rear Housing and Heat Sink Improvements
On the back of the headlights, it almost looks like JW Speaker reused the same heat sink mold, but there are meaningful differences. The 8700 Evolution had a lot of large fins closer to the front of the light. On the 8700 Evolution 2, they smoothed all of that out with fewer fins up front, which should make it easier to fit into tighter housing applications.
You still get the two yellow moisture vents on top and two on the bottom, the same production notes and stickers indicating when the light was made and who signed for it, and the clear warranty sticker on the heat sink. The big improvement here is that they recessed the area where the wires exit the housing. That makes a lot of sense, because if the light is in a tight spot and the wires are getting pinched against the back, that could become a failure point. By recessing the wire exit inside the heat sink, they have effectively eliminated that failure point. They use the same connectors, though the three wires coming out the back are now a little bit smaller.
Lumen and Power Specifications Compared
This is where the upgrade really shows on paper. The old 8700 Evolution produced 1,350 lumens of low beam output and 1,770 lumens of high beam output. It operated on 11.4 to 24 volts of DC input and drew 2.5 amps at 12 volts DC.
The new 8700 Evolution 2 produces 1,770 lumens of low beam output and 2,610 lumens of high beam output. It operates on 12 to 24 volts of DC input and draws 2 amps at 12 volts DC on low beam and 2.8 amps at 12 volts DC on high beam. So you get more light out of low beam and a big jump on high beam, while low beam power draw actually went down. The 8700 Evolution 2 remains DOT compliant, includes a lifetime warranty, is made in the USA, is available in black or chrome, and is built with a hard-coated polycarbonate lens and a diecast aluminum housing.
How the Beam Actually Works
Operation of the new light is very similar to its predecessor. You still get three wires coming out the back for the H4 setup: a ground, a positive low beam, and a positive high beam. On low beam, the upper projector (now larger than the original) lights up along with the larger D-shaped side projector to create that wide left to right spread on the road. When you switch to high beam, the top projector turns off, the bottom projector turns on, and both D-shaped side projectors illuminate together. If you like the brand and want to compare across retailers, you can also find JW Speaker options elsewhere.
Beam Pattern Wall Test: Old vs New
We set up 25 feet away from a white wall to demonstrate the difference. First, we ran the discontinued 8700 Evolution as a reference. On low beam you see the familiar color band running from red to purple, top to bottom, with the up and to the right slope at the top designed for DOT approved American road driving. Switching to high beam only changes the top middle section. On the wall that looks modest, but it is deceiving, because on the road that high beam reaches far down range.
Then we fired up the third generation 8700 Evo 2. The first thing we noticed is how huge the beam pattern is. It is taller than the 8700 Evolution and it is much wider. The top center section that has the up and to the right cutoff (so it does not blind oncoming drivers) is also a lot brighter than the old version. You still get the familiar red to yellow to white to blue color spectrum running up and down the pattern. We did notice a couple of triangular shaped anomalies in the center section, along with some extra light and unusual shapes above and below the main pattern. On the wall those stand out, but when you are actually driving, all of that fades away because you only focus on the bright main beam.
The High Beam Blew Us Away
When we switched the 8700 Evolution 2 to high beam, it was wild. We try not to play favorites since we review all kinds of lighting products, but this has got to be one of the best high beams we have ever tested. It does not just add a little extra light in the top center. It adds a ton of light above the beam pattern, creating an upward arc that fills in the sky while also producing a really bright down range hot spot right in the center that will carry a long way in front of your vehicle.
To really show the size difference, we moved the headlights closer to the wall and compared the two side by side. The 8700 Evo 2 beam pattern is about one and a half times as big as the 8700 Evolution. We could literally fit the entire old beam pattern inside the new one. On the center section, the original had just the up and to the right cutoff, while the Evo 2 has that same cutoff shape plus an added hot spot that throws far more light down the road.
Who Should Buy It and Final Thoughts
If you drive a Jeep Wrangler, ride a Harley-Davidson, or own a classic muscle car that uses the standard 7-inch round headlight, this is an easy recommendation. We already thought the 8700 Evolution was impressive, and the Evo 2 blows it out of the water while costing less. If you currently own the 8700 Evolution, it is honestly worth considering selling them and upgrading, because the improvement in output and beam size is that significant. You can grab the new 8700 Evolution 2 headlight in black (054 9701) or chrome (054 9711).
The 8700 Evolution 2 is proudly made in Wisconsin, remains DOT compliant, carries a lifetime warranty, and uses a hard-coated polycarbonate lens over a diecast aluminum housing. Between the four D-shaped projectors, the larger low beam projector, the smoothed heat sink, the recessed wiring, the higher lumen output, and the lower low beam power draw, this is a clear generational leap forward. This is an incredible demonstration of how good American made LED headlights can be.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the JW Speaker 8700 Evolution 2?
It is the third generation of JW Speaker’s popular 7-inch round LED headlight, replacing the 8700 Evolution with upgraded optics, more light output, and a lower price.
How much brighter is the 8700 Evolution 2 compared to the original 8700 Evolution?
Low beam output increased from 1,350 lumens to 1,770 lumens, and high beam output increased from 1,770 lumens to 2,610 lumens.
What voltage and amperage does the 8700 Evolution 2 use?
It operates on 12 to 24 volts DC, drawing 2 amps at 12V for low beam and 2.8 amps at 12V for high beam.
What colors and part numbers are available?
It comes in Black, part number 054 9701, and Chrome, part number 054 9711, replacing the discontinued 8700 Evolution part numbers 054 7331 (black) and 054 7891 (chrome).
Is the JW Speaker 8700 Evolution 2 DOT approved and where is it made?
Yes, it is DOT compliant, includes a lifetime warranty, and is proudly made in the USA in Wisconsin.
Meet the Experts Behind Headlight Revolution
Chris Nelson – Founder
Before founding Headlight Revolution in 2011, Chris worked as an automotive install technician specializing in lighting, sound systems, and engine performance parts. He has personally tested thousands of lighting products and works directly with lighting engineers to evaluate the technical performance behind every recommendation.
Josh Beberg – Content Production Manager
Josh leads hands-on testing and content production at Headlight Revolution. From beam pattern comparisons to real-world installations, he works directly with lighting engineers to ensure every review is grounded in measured results, not marketing specs.
