Why are Yuji's mini LEDs so expensive in comparison to other high CRI LEDs? Why should I buy them?

I don't have any hard answers but my best guess is that Yuji were one of the first manufacturers to focus on really good and natural colour rendering in an era where there wasn't much recognition for it, so they have first mover advantage. From my experience they've tuned the output so well that it looks natural - some LEDs with a high CRI don't look as 'true to life' as you'd think, because CRI isn't a perfect measure. Some others can have a sort of red cast which is visible on skin tones, but Yuji seems to render them a touch warmer.

That said, even some of the cheap Chinese LEDs that feature high CRI are pretty good these days - I had a sample that uses a UV diode and results in a light output that matches a cloudy day on a spectrophotometer, which is really impressive.

So, in a nutshell - try the cheaper ones first, and if you like them they will probably do the job for you!

Yea that makes sense. I did compare the photometric reports and could not find huge differences but that was only by comparing the curves visually. I guess I will have to try it out. One more question: sometimes, because they are made up of several LEDs  COB LEDs break easier. Did you have any bad experience with the Yuji LEDs?

Thanks!

The first ever build I did with a Yuji LED was the Sunblaster 2.0 and that's still being used every single day as a studio light, 6 years later. So long as you cool them well, COB LEDs can last ages.

Posted by: @benmergelsberg

Hi Matt, great Videos you make, thank you so much. I am a light artist so I am kind of often working on things you describe so well in your videos. I have one specific question: in your Video on building an artificial sun you linked to Yuji collection of LEDS around 9 Watts. the ones with a CRI of 98 are quite expensive - 135 for 5 pieces. CREE offers LEDS witht the same CRI and Luminous Flux but at almost 10% of the price. here is an example:

https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/941-CMA1303C0Z0A30H

 

Why are Yuji's LEDs so much more expensive? Am  I missing some relevant aspect?

 

Thank you so much!

 

Ben

Hi Ben,

We think you can try to use our high CRI COB LED first, here is our DIY LED U-Home Brand store, https://www.diyledu-home.com/

We also support to do custom-made COB LED if you need bulk. DIY Perks also used our LED products to build some projects before.

Best regards,

Bruce

@diyperks could you specify the brand and model? I live in China and would like to buy a couple of good ones that aren't costly

I actually do recommend trying the LED's in Bruce's post. That's my go-to brand for cheaper LEDs with good CRI, and I've been using their LEDs for years alongside Yuji. I don't know if they have a China-facing store option though.

I used their strips in the studio lights project, and just like the Yuji Sunblaster they're still being used daily without issues (almost 4 years now).

Note: I'm not affiliated with them, though they have provided LEDs for previous projects on request in return for using screen grabs from the videos.

@tim you can contact us via QQ, 147940178, we have our own brand taobao store in China.

Dear Ben,

thank you for your topic, we greatly appreciate your comments on this; it would be an excellent case for us. 

We admit that we didn't explain well about our CRI 98+ LED on the online shop, actually, the expensive LED you mentioned is based on our VTC technology, which is an entirely different theory than a nominal high CRI LED. Our spectral engineering for the VTC technology is an innovative solution that there are rarely LED manufacturers that can use this technology, especially for mature commercialization. The spectrum of the VTC technology is based on the sun spectrum simulation - in the spectral power distribution level, while high CRI is just a result of this spectrum but not the reason we make it - the reason and value of the sun spectrum are so widely desired rather than general lighting, e.g. for horticulture lighting, for camera/detector sensor, for human-centric healthy lighting...anywhere you need the sun. 

In Matt's previous videos, we provided him the LEDs based on our standard high CRI technology, and he also mentioned it as an "artificial sun", here we should distinguish the different concepts:

• The "artificial sun" is a visual appearance, it looks like the sunlight feeling or sunlight shape;
• VTC technology is essentially the sunlight simulation at the "gene reproduce" level, we can say that VTC is the non-visual artificial sun effect, but is the real sun. 

Therefore, CRI cannot be a differentiated factor, actually they both have high CRI scores. 

To achieve the VTC technology, raw materials and production procedures are different and specific, these are the main reasons for the higher cost. We have been focused on high CRI LED lighting for many years and deeply understand the high color quality lighting is not just about the CRI score, many other details should be aware and controlled and these generate "invisible" costs behind. 

We would like to talk with you more regarding the advanced LED technology here, if you are interested. 

Hey guys, this is all very interesting. 
I have a question for ye: 

I find myself being affected by SAD each January and February and was considering buying one of those 

lights that they sell which are supposed to help mimic the natural light from the Sun.

@ Yujileds and Yuji Lighting are you saying that the light given off by your LEDs would be an effective 

substitute for natural sunlight in this instance? Do you follow my meaning? 

Thank in advance

Best

Conor

@cdon 

Dear Conor,

Your question and related doubts are well justified here. In fact, at a first glance, the similarities between some of the features of the SAD treatment lights and our SunWave Series lights could be misleading. But being the two lights intended for two completely different applications, the only similarities they have are the full solar spectrum and the UV-FREE, IR-FREE feature. Said so, although the FDA doesn’t regulate SAD lamps as prime source of solution against this disorder, it seems they may reduce symptoms and provide relief. But, taking as reference the National Center of Biotechnology Information, it’s important to remember that they should also feature 10,000lux if used for a standard treatment (30min) or 2,000lux if used for an alternative treatment (1-2 hours). Other than being angled in a specific position and not pointed directly to the eyes, of course.

Anyway, we suggest you consult your doctor before to start any kind of treatments. A medical specialist will certainly guide you in a better direction.

Greetings from Beijing,

Yujileds & Yuji Lighting support team

Posted by: @Anonymous

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Regarding the LEDs, Yuji's are pricier because they're known for top-notch color accuracy and consistency. While the CREE ones might seem like a cheaper alternative, it's essential to consider factors like longevity and overall performance.

If the CREE LEDs fit your needs and budget, they could be a good choice, but weigh all the factors before deciding!

Hope that helps! Let me know if you need more info!

Hey!

Thanks for the insight! It makes sense that Yuji's LEDs come at a premium due to their superior color accuracy and consistency. However, considering factors like longevity and overall performance is crucial before making a decision. While the CREE LEDs may offer a cheaper alternative, it's essential to weigh all these factors to ensure they meet your needs and budget.