Philips CoralCare LED - Let the Testing Begin!

[Crustaceon]

Is that out of line with the pricing of other premium LEDs?

I say this because it’s perfectly in line with what people in this hobby expect to pay for premium leds, lol.

 

[Silver14SS]

I say this because it’s perfectly in line with what people in this hobby expect to pay for premium leds, lol.

Oh, I interpreted it as a price complaint. Does that mean you think it's a reasonable price or not? Hard to tell :)

 

[User1]

Is that out of line with the pricing of other premium LEDs?

That is what I was going to say. You are looking at an easy $450 for 90 Watt range and North of that if you are looking at 200 Watt. Any of these off the shelf systems are going to demand a premium. The question comes down to the hobbyist current system and if it integrates seamlessly or if we are looking at more dongles and other propriety closed systems and of course PAR & coverage.

 

[Crustaceon]

Given manufacturing costs, it’s amazing ANY of these premium leds are priced the way they are. As I’ve said before, they’re probably priced this way because of “perceived value”. I could see this or a G5 etc. being a $450 fixture from a component/labor-perspective. But at $750, I’d like to see a component price break-down and know if we’re paying $200 for leds and then an additional $400-600 for $100 worth of basic electronics and a nice looking $100-$150 chassis. Listen, buy whatever you want though. Whatever floats your boat and whatever you’re comfortable spending your money on. I personally won’t though because I’m just not seeing the value in these lights at the price point yet. Before you place your monocle in your eye and rage over the audacity at questioning the value of high-end reefing products, just know this is only my opinion. Again, do what you want with your money.

 

[Dana Riddle]

This is how I spent my morning. That lab jack made things much easier.

 

[Bpb]

Given manufacturing costs, it’s amazing ANY of these premium leds are priced the way they are. As I’ve said before, they’re probably priced this way because of “perceived value”. I could see this or a G5 etc. being a $450 fixture from a component/labor-perspective. But at $750, I’d like to see a component price break-down and know if we’re paying $200 for leds and then an additional $400-600 for $100 worth of basic electronics and a nice looking $100-$150 chassis. Listen, buy whatever you want though. Whatever floats your boat and whatever you’re comfortable spending your money on. I personally won’t though because I’m just not seeing the value in these lights at the price point yet. Before you place your monocle in your eye and rage over the audacity at questioning the value of high-end reefing products, just know this is only my opinion. Again, do what you want with your money.

Not knocking a manufacturer or getting into a price gripe personally here, and I just don’t care because I’m happy with my lighting and not even in the market....but I wonder what Philips charges for the high bay tooled units the coral care lights are built from. Anyone in the commercial lighting business have any insight? I know they use these exact panels in schools, shopping centers, and other public places just without the rainbow of individual colors. I wonder if they’re charging anywhere close to $750 per unit for commercial general lighting use. Can’t find any local suppliers. But it appears to be the Gentle space Gen3 fixture they’re built from

Philips GentleSpace Gen3 | BY480 | Signify

GentleSpace gen3 provides a smart combination of versatile offer with high efficiency, connectivity options and reliability. It provides a wide variety of options in terms of optics, beam angles (from very narrow to wide) and lumen packages, each delivering on best-in-class quality of light for...

www.lighting.philips.com

 

[ESH]

This is how I spent my morning. That lab jack made things much easier.

Lab jack? What is this Car and Driver?

How heavy are they?

 

[Dana Riddle]

Lab jack? What is this Car and Driver?

How heavy are they?

No, more like Limnology and Oceanography. LOL. A lab jack is an essential piece of equipment to any lab. But to answer your question, the CoralCare lamp has passive cooling meaning there are no fans to fail. Hence, the light is heavy and, being in the lab by myself, the lab jack made my life much easier.

 

[Snof]

I researched the gen3 version a bit. But they are around the same price. Looking forward to the review

 

[Silver14SS]

I wonder if they’re charging anywhere close to $750 per unit for commercial general lighting use. Can’t find any local suppliers. But it appears to be the Gentle space Gen3 fixture they’re built from

Philips GentleSpace Gen3 | BY480 | Signify

GentleSpace gen3 provides a smart combination of versatile offer with high efficiency, connectivity options and reliability. It provides a wide variety of options in terms of optics, beam angles (from very narrow to wide) and lumen packages, each delivering on best-in-class quality of light for...

www.lighting.philips.com

Google shopping lists the Gentlespace Gen3 around $450-$525.

 

[Terence]

Given manufacturing costs, it’s amazing ANY of these premium leds are priced the way they are. As I’ve said before, they’re probably priced this way because of “perceived value”. I could see this or a G5 etc. being a $450 fixture from a component/labor-perspective. But at $750, I’d like to see a component price break-down and know if we’re paying $200 for leds and then an additional $400-600 for $100 worth of basic electronics and a nice looking $100-$150 chassis. Listen, buy whatever you want though. Whatever floats your boat and whatever you’re comfortable spending your money on. I personally won’t though because I’m just not seeing the value in these lights at the price point yet. Before you place your monocle in your eye and rage over the audacity at questioning the value of high-end reefing products, just know this is only my opinion. Again, do what you want with your money.

I think what often gets lost in these price discussions is that this is not joe-user going down and buying components and doing a DIY. In the case of some of these lights there are 50-100 individual, top-bin LED, a quality 200w power supply, supporting electronics, optics, enclosure, power cord, packaging, R&D, certification, manufacturing losses, support, warranty, and on and on. Oh, and slice off 30-50% right off the top for the cost of channel sales and marketing by CoralVue, BRS, Marine Depot, The LFS, etc. etc. So, out of the gate, this $750 light might actually mean $400 to Philips. Now, take all of the above out of that $400 and there has to be something left called profit. And if that last thing doesn't happen, no one innovates and brings new things to market. A very, very small market BTW in the big picture of things.

 

[ingchr1]

Not knocking a manufacturer or getting into a price gripe personally here, and I just don’t care because I’m happy with my lighting and not even in the market....but I wonder what Philips charges for the high bay tooled units the coral care lights are built from. Anyone in the commercial lighting business have any insight? I know they use these exact panels in schools, shopping centers, and other public places just without the rainbow of individual colors. I wonder if they’re charging anywhere close to $750 per unit for commercial general lighting use. Can’t find any local suppliers. But it appears to be the Gentle space Gen3 fixture they’re built from

Philips GentleSpace Gen3 | BY480 | Signify

GentleSpace gen3 provides a smart combination of versatile offer with high efficiency, connectivity options and reliability. It provides a wide variety of options in terms of optics, beam angles (from very narrow to wide) and lumen packages, each delivering on best-in-class quality of light for...

www.lighting.philips.com

What they would charge you or I? Or what they charge a contractor, probably buying many at a time?

 

[MattDaReefer]

This stuff makes my LOVE my MHs. Been running 2-250w for 15yrs. and won't stop using.....

 

[ESH]

Not sure if google shopping has an accurate price on those because I don't see any listed for sale online. Ive found some local distributors but they dont have any thing posted online. Only thing I could find on the gentlespace gen3 was here, 820 euro's. there appears to be many versions so I dont even know if that is accurate. https://www.lichtbasis.com/en/philips-by481p-led250s/840-psd-mb-gc-si-br-phiaeg40750600

 

[Terence]

Not sure if google shopping has an accurate price on those because I don't see any listed for sale online. Ive found some local distributors but they dont have any thing posted online. Only thing I could find on the gentlespace gen3 was here, 820 euro's. there appears to be many versions so I dont even know if that is accurate. https://www.lichtbasis.com/en/philips-by481p-led250s/840-psd-mb-gc-si-br-phiaeg40750600

My guess would be that these are a certified-contractor only product. And, they likely go into big installs for people with big wallets so I doubt they are going to be lower than the $750 price as that channel also likely has 30-50% baked into it. If anything I bet they go for more than the CoralCare spinoffs.

 

[KenO]

Following

 

[Crustaceon]

I think what often gets lost in these price discussions is that this is not joe-user going down and buying components and doing a DIY. In the case of some of these lights there are 50-100 individual, top-bin LED, a quality 200w power supply, supporting electronics, optics, enclosure, power cord, packaging, R&D, certification, manufacturing losses, support, warranty, and on and on. Oh, and slice off 30-50% right off the top for the cost of channel sales and marketing by CoralVue, BRS, Marine Depot, The LFS, etc. etc. So, out of the gate, this $750 light might actually mean $400 to Philips. Now, take all of the above out of that $400 and there has to be something left called profit. And if that last thing doesn't happen, no one innovates and brings new things to market. A very, very small market BTW in the big picture of things.

I figure being a manufacturer, Philips would have lucrative deals for components that joy diy wouldn’t have access too. I wouldn’t be surprised whatsoever if the true manufacturing cost was only around $200. Let’s add in profit margin which could double that price. Now add in marketing costs and $750 comes up pretty quick. That being said, marketing is expensive, sometimes even moreso than the actual product per manufactured unit. That begs the question: Are we paying a premium for that marketing and how does that affect coral growth and shimmer?

 

[Terence]

I figure being a manufacturer, Philips would have lucrative deals for components that joy diy wouldn’t have access too. I wouldn’t be surprised whatsoever if the true manufacturing cost was only around $200. Let’s add in profit margin which could double that price. Now add in marketing costs and $750 comes up pretty quick. That being said, marketing is expensive, sometimes even moreso than the actual product per manufactured unit. That begs the question: Are we paying a premium for that marketing and how does that affect coral growth and shimmer?

$200 for the parts - ok. Maybe. Even if I gave you that, Did you forget all the other costs I listed? R&D, support, warranty, packaging and yes, marketing. Because if you don’t sell enough, no one gets the coral growth and shimmer. I only comment here because I used to think a lot like this until I had a much better view of all the moving parts - and how for technical products with real R&D needs, this market is incredibly small to support it. I applaud Philips and all the companies in our industry who keep pushing the technology forward. For those that can not afford the $750, $800, $900 tech, the beauty is that there are plenty of options up and down the “spectrum”.

 

[Doctorgori]

$200 for the parts - ok. Maybe. Even if I gave you that, Did you forget all the other costs I listed? R&D, support, warranty, packaging and yes, marketing. Because if you don’t sell enough, no one gets the coral growth and shimmer. I only comment here because I used to think a lot like this until I had a much better view of all the moving parts - and how for technical products with real R&D needs, this market is incredibly small to support it. I applaud Philips and all the companies in our industry who keep pushing the technology forward. For those that can not afford the $750, $800, $900 tech, the beauty is that there are plenty of options up and down the “spectrum”.

.....adding to the above: UL listings, packaging testing/cost, et ...it adds up fast ... my dad was an engineer for GE lighting for yrs; I recall asking him why 24” tubes cost more than 48” tubes...his answer was economy of scale...he said some of those machines crank out in thousands Of units per hour, anything less and profits drop fast. Yes, market size has a lot to do with cost.

 

[TexasTodd]

I just want to hear what the light does. Back and forth about it's price isn't going to change anything.