I’m really not satisfied with the color rendering from my Hue White Ambience bulbs, and I’d love something better. Ideally, I’d want a Zigbee bulb that has color temp tuning and a high CRI. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find one like this. It looks like most of the options with color temp tuning, high CRI, and flicker-free dimming (20kHz+ would be ideal to avoid any audible noise) are aimed at video/film/photography setups.
What I’m looking for:
CRI of 95+, with R9>50 as a baseline. I know that video lights can go up to CRI 99 with R9>80.
No detectable flicker, including for high-speed cameras like the Canon R5, Logitech Brio, and various smartphones. I may not need the full 25kHz some recommend for high frame-rate filming.
Color tuning in the 2700k-6500k range is fine, though a broader range wouldn’t hurt.
Home Assistant control, ideally through Zigbee or Matter. I’d consider Z-Wave if it’s a great product but prefer to avoid Wi-Fi as it tends to be unreliable.
I’m also exploring building custom fixtures with LED strips and adding a Zigbee controller. There are a lot of LED strips on the market, which could work well for long ceiling-mounted lights. The challenge is finding the right dimmer. Flicker-free options tend to take DMX input, which isn’t ideal. I could try adapting it to Zigbee with a microcontroller, but a product that already supports Zigbee would be best.
I’d love advice on the following:
Are there any A19 bulbs with these characteristics, or should I consider other fixture types?
What dimmers with integrated controllers work well?
How do middle-frequency options (like 3kHz) perform in terms of flicker and noise?
If I build several linear fixtures, where should they be mounted in the room – around the edges? How far from the wall?
You’re probably about a year away from these types of products becoming more available. Ketra is the top choice if you’re willing to invest, but it’s pricey, and most people find it hard to justify.
Ren said:
You’re probably about a year away from these types of products becoming more available. Ketra is the top choice if you’re willing to invest, but it’s pricey, and most people find it hard to justify.
Yeah, this list of requirements is so specific that if a solution existed, it’d be famous by now!
DMX is pretty awesome and can be integrated, but it does require wired connections rather than wireless.
@Sam
I’ve worked with DMX in theater settings, but I’m not sure I want to bring it home. It adds complexity, plus I’d need to run more wires. My office is right under the attic, so it’s easier there, but it would be tricky in areas like the kitchen.
Ren said:
You’re probably about a year away from these types of products becoming more available. Ketra is the top choice if you’re willing to invest, but it’s pricey, and most people find it hard to justify.
Thanks for the suggestion! It looks like Ketra’s only available through dealers, none of which post prices. Do you have any idea of the costs, like per fixture or controller? Obviously, bringing in a consultant would add to that cost. I’ll keep it in mind for a future kitchen remodel, though I’m hesitant about committing to a proprietary system, even with Lutron’s strong track record.
@Daire
For an average-sized kitchen, Ketra can run between $10-15k, at roughly $1k per fixture. It requires professional programming by a licensed installer. They’re releasing a smaller aperture system soon, as the current sizes are 4-6 inches, while the trend is moving toward 1-2 inches or smaller.
Ketra is definitely a niche product for those wanting top-notch quality. For me, high-quality warm dimming is sufficient and has been evolving quickly. While CCT tuning can be nice, properly layered lighting often reduces the need for it. I’ve also been working with manufacturers to find better CCT solutions, but previous products with these features didn’t sell enough, so they were discontinued. They’re reluctant to bring them back as they compete with their own market.
For layering, I’ve always understood it as ambient, accent, and task lighting. Task lighting is usually cooler. My main challenge is I want warm light in the evening and cool during the day, especially on cloudy days or in winter when natural light is lacking. Maybe I’m overthinking it.
@Daire
Exactly why I collaborated with Elco on a warm-dim recessed light, ranging from 4000K down to 2000K. It’s $80-100 and uses a standard dimmer. This way, you get a cozy ambiance at night and bright, clear light on cloudy days. Model elk11HC by Elco Lighting if you want to check it out. I’m also working with other brands on similar products.
@Ren
Sounds intriguing. Do you have any graphs of how dimming affects color temp? I’d love something where, say, the first 25% dimming shifts to warmer temps, then the remaining 75% dims the light down further. That way, I could do the color tuning at the switch.
@Daire
They use an LTF chipset (QLUXCOBi151294027WD) in the HC model. It’s around 4000K down to about 60% dimming, then transitions nicely to warmer temps. It’s rated at 1100 lumens, and I find 4000K at night a bit too bright for relaxation. We aimed for something that’s retrofit-friendly. I’m also working on a driver that’s programmable with a time clock for tuneable fixtures, but it’s not there yet. Elco received feedback on the CCT change rate, but you can’t make everyone happy, and my standards are high!
Ren said:
You’re probably about a year away from these types of products becoming more available. Ketra is the top choice if you’re willing to invest, but it’s pricey, and most people find it hard to justify.
Do you have a sense of what kinds of products might be available in a year? I have other home projects, so I could wait on some things.
@Daire
Demand is growing for CCT tuneable with time clock systems, so that’s on the horizon. But unless it’s a product I’m directly involved with, I can’t give specifics. And if it doesn’t meet my standards, I usually advise against it .
Ren said:
You’re probably about a year away from these types of products becoming more available. Ketra is the top choice if you’re willing to invest, but it’s pricey, and most people find it hard to justify.
I’ve always heard that it’s nearly impossible to get a 95+ CRI across a tuneable white spectrum, especially at lower temps. That’s why most tunable lighting stays around 90+; it’s hard to hit 95+ at, say, 1800K. Anyone know more?
@Justice
I think you’re right – achieving 95+ CRI across the full range needs at least RGBWW, and these bulbs usually report CRI at either end, not in the middle.
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