Hope this link works, it shows some comparisons of various H1 bulbs. Philips Premium came out on top for best light pattern and output, Philips Vision Plus was not tested or listed.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/michael...t_carcare.php3
H1 Bulbs
The pace of development in headlight bulb technology has never been faster, with more and more effective lights hitting our roads with big claims of improved performance. But do they make a real difference? Nearly two years ago, we put twin-filament dip-and-beam H4 bulbs through their paces. Our results showed that the manufacturers' claims were justified - if you read the small print.
The Test
Our assessments were carried out independently using specialised testing equipment at Philips Automotive Lighting in Aachen, Germany, and under the watchful eye of AA Technical Information Centre engineer Rory Stockbridge. Before we could begin, we illuminated the bulbs for an hour to settle light output. After that, the illumination was measured in a photometric sphere, which also calculated the power draw.
1 Philips Premium
2 Ring Xenon Plus
3 Halfords Brilliance
4 Osram (Sylvania) Super
GE MegaLight
Rating:
Price: £17.90
Output: 1,632
Power: 67.3W
Geometry: OK
75m: 17.6 50m kerb: 35.8 50m centre: 21.4
Overall beam: 92.3
A disappointing performance from this OE supplier. Despite boasting 30 per cent extra and delivering a good light output this did not translate in to a good result on the road. The beam lagged behind that of its standard rivals.
Ring Xenon Plus
Rating:
Price: £16.99
Output : 1,656
Power: 62.9W
Geometry: OK
75m: 23.4 50m kerb: 44.7 50m centre: 29.2
Overall beam: 120.8
Walk into a car accessory shop and the chances are it will sell Ring bulbs, so it is just as well that its premium lamp is a good one. Supplied by Narva, the Xenon Plus did well in the light tunnel, scoring highly at 75m. Top stuff.
Philips Premium
Rating:
Price: £15
Output: 1,667
Power: 61.2W
Geometry: OK
75m: 26.1 50m kerb: 46.6 50m centre: 32
Overall beam: 130.7
It was not even close at the top with the Philips Premium a clear winner, topping every beam measurement. Even better, Philips has dropped its non-uprated bulb and is selling the Premium at the standard price. Look no further.
Halfords All Weather
Rating:
Price: £19.98
Output: 1,337
Power: 60.1W
Geometry: 4 fails
75m: 15.9 50m kerb: 23.3 50m centre: 18.6
Overall beam: 73.6
A woeful example. The cut-off was very soft and there were dark patches across the road. Four geometry failures and the lowest light output combined to make this among the worst tested. Dreadful. Not rated
Lucas Premium Xenon
Rating:
Price: £19.98
Output: 1,663
Power: 66.2W
Geometry: 5 fails
75m: 15.6 50m kerb: 30.1 50m centre: 14.4
Overall beam: 75.6
Another contender for last place. Five geometry failures took their toll in the tunnel, where the poorly made bulb base was difficult to fit to the car. Glossy packaging boasts high performance, but none was evident. Not rated
Hella
Rating:
Price: £4.37
Output: 1,580
Power: 63.1w
Geometry: 4 fails
75m: 15.2 50m kerb: 32.3 50m centre: 16.2
Overall beam: 78.9
Top brand Hella will not be pleased with this result, which puts it right at the bottom. Even for a standard bulb it lacks punch. If you think matching a Hella bulb to a Hella lamp would give the best result, you'll be disappointed. Not rated
GE SuperBlue
Rating:
Price: £19
Output: 1,682
Power: 69.2W Fail
Geometry: 2 fails
75m: 21.2 50m kerb: 31.5 50m centre: 35.5
Overall beam: 109.4
We didn't expect to see an OE supplier among the failures, so this was a shock. Admittedly this is not the sort of bulb a car maker would buy, but the big power draw and poor build are not something GE will be happy with. Not rated
Osram (Sylvania) Cool Blue
Rating:
Price: £15
Output: 1,425
Power: 67.6W
Geometry: OK
75m: 17.5 50m kerb: 32.8 50m centre: 25.3
Overall beam: 93
That 'ultra cool' coating took its toll, causing it to lag behind more effective, if less trendy, rivals. Despite the coating we had expected to see this OE supplier higher the rankings. More work needed.
Halfords HBU448
Rating:
Price: £9.98
Output: 1,453
Power: 65.4W
Geometry: OK
75m: 19.2 50m kerb: 29 50m centre: 29.4
Overall beam: 96.8
For a standard bulb this is a decent effort. A reasonable performance at 75m was spoiled by a lack of light closer to the car. But it was well controlled with a sharp cut-off.
Auto Lamps Cobalt
Rating:
Price: £13.90
Output: Fail
Power: 60.8W
Geometry: 2 fail
75m: 14.3 50m kerb: 23.5 50m centre: 14.9
Overall beam: 67
We beg to differ with the pack's 'quality vehicle bulbs' claim. The light output was illegally low - and badly angled. We are staggered that the bulb wears an E mark, denoting it as legal in the EC. Not rated
Lucas Standard
Rating:
Price: £6.60 Output: fail Power: 62.3W Geometry: fail 75m: 12.3 50m kerb: 29.6 50m centre: 22.9 Overall beam: 77.2
Here's one brand which needs to change its supplier. This was well below standard. The geometry was so far out, it was impossible to measure and produced dangerous levels of glare in the light tunnel. Avoid! Not rated
GE Euroblue
Rating:
Price: £19
Output: fail
Power: 65.8W
Geometry: 2 fails
75m: 18 50m kerb: 30.3 50m centre: 22.3
Overall beam: 88.6
Another appalling blue bulb result for General Electric. The relatively thin coating robbed so much light it was outside the regs. Coupled to poor build, what there is blinds oncoming drivers. Steer clear. Not rated
Auto Lamps
Rating:
Price: £6.50
Output: 1,456
Power: 60W
Geometry: 3 fails
75m: 14.7 50m kerb: 36.2 50m centre: 24.9
Overall beam: 90.4
Like its stablemate, the Cobalt (see left), this one didn't live up to what it says on the box. Glare for oncoming drivers was excessive - one of the highest on test. Auto Lamps needs a new supplier - now. Not rated
Halfords Laser Blue
Rating:
Price: £19.98
Output: 1,701
Power: 69.4W fail
Geometry: 3 fails
75m: 25.6 50m kerb: 48.7 50m centre: 30.6
Overall beam: 130.4
Another failure for Halfords, and this time the oncoming road users would suffer. Light for the drivers was the best tested but it drew excessive power and blinded other traffic. We expected better from Halfords. Not rated
Halfords All Weather
Rating:
Price: £39.98
Output: 1,418
Power: 56.8W
Geometry: OK
75m: 26.7 50m kerb: 46.1 50m centre: 21.7
Overall beam: 121.2
Output is average, but the result on the road just lacks punch and the 75m result is particularly poor. Mind you, where Halfords would get something better is hard to suggest: Philips supplied this poor effort.
Osram All season Super
Rating:
Price: £13.50
Output: 1,700
Power: 62.2W
Geometry: OK
75m: 16.8 50m kerb: 39.6 50m centre: 26.5
Overall beam: 99.7
The poor-weather bulb certainly packs a punch but, as with Osram's Blue, this didn't work well on the road. The beam was very yellow, but there was too much illumination close to the car.
Ring Auto Bulb
Rating:
Price: £6.50
Output: 1,498
Power: 61.3W
Geometry: OK
75m: 20 50m kerb: 35.7 50m centre: 25.9
Overall beam: 101.7
No frills with this standard bulb, which can claim to be the best of the old school with a good cut-off and a fair spread of light. A good example of this traditional bulb which we got at a cracking price - but there are better options around.
Bosch Xenon
Rating:
Price: £19
Output: 1,644
Power: 61.5W
Geometry: OK
75m: 19.4 50m kerb: 41.6 50m centre: 28.3
Overall beam: 108.6
A decent performance from Bosch - as we'd expect from its supplier, OE maker Osram. It looked good in the light tunnel, even if it lacked real punch at the all-important 75m mark. A bulb that upholds the Bosch name.
Osram Super
Rating:
Price: £18.50
Output: 1,700
Power: 62.1W
Geometry: OK
75m: 20.8 50m kerb: 44.4
50m centre: 30.8
Overall beam: 116.7
Nothing to be ashamed of with this '30 per cent extra' bulb. But, as with the Bosch Xenon it lacks punch at the 75m mark. Again, top light output was not matched in the light tunnel. A good bulb, but we'd expected to see it higher in the rankings.
Philips BlueVision
Rating:
Price: £20
Output: 1,455
Power: 63.4W
Geometry: OK
75m: 23.6 50m kerb: 40
50m centre: 30.
Overall beam: 117.5
A Surprising result as the filter to cut out all but the blue and white usually cut light output as well. The beam colour was good but not dramatically different. If you must have a blue bulb, this is the one to buy.
Halfords Brilliance
Rating:
Price: £19.98
Output: 1,673
Power: 63.3W
Geometry: OK
75m: 21.7 50m kerb: 44.7 50m centre: 29.9
Overall beam: 117.9
A Cracking performance from this Narva-built bulb more than justifies its '30 per cent extra' claims. It impressed with a sharp cut-off and only the 75m reading let it down a little. Our choice from Halfords' range.
Hella Xenon
Rating:
Pr
