Wharfedale & Focal: Best Floorstanding Speakers Below £1,000 (Part 2)
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- Опубликовано: 27 июл 2024
- I continue my discussion and the best floorstanding speakers below £1,000 with Ian White, Ecoustics Editor-in-Chief.
Link to manufacturers webpages:
Wharfedale Diamond 12.3
www.wharfedale.co.uk/diamond-...
Focal Chora 816
www.focal.com/uk/high-fidelit...
Q Acoustics 3050i
www.qacoustics.co.uk/q3000i-r...
Magnepan LRS
magnepan-europe.com/products/lrs
Link to my Patreon
/ abritishaudiophile
Related reviews:
Best Floostanders below £1k (Pt. 1)
• Q Acoustics & Magnepan...
Best amps below £1k
• Our favourite amplifie...
Best bookshelf speakers below £1k
• Our favourite bookshel...
eCoustics Homepage:
www.ecoustics.com
Magnepan LRS & Q Acoustics 3050i:
www.ecoustics.com/articles/au...
Time stamps:
0:00 Wharfedale Diamond 12.3
6:25 Focal Chora 816
13:29 Conclusion
Ex owner of the Diamond 12.2 and 12.4, Polk R200 and R700 and current owner of the Chora and Aria 806, 826, 906 and 948. Here is my take on all these speakers :
The Diamond 12s are an allround speaker with a very pleasant midrange. It is a midcentric speaker, so to speak. Objectively they measure flat besides a baked in BBC Dip, that is what makes them sound so pleasant. Best cabinet out of the 3 brands. Bass is also the most balanced, doesnt stick out but goes deep when called for. The 12.4 is a major step above the 12.2 (duuuuh), go 12.4 if you have the space.
The Polk R200 and especially the R700 have the deepest and punchiest bass of the lot. If you like bass and run no subs, this is speaker to go for. Midrange isnt as sweet as the Diamonds and while the RR tweeter is nice and extended, it drops off real fast off axis. Starts dropping like a rock at ~5khz at 20 - 30 degrees off axis. Objectively, its a really neutral measuring speaker on axis, but PIR shows its a bright speaker around the 2khz - 5khz region (relative to 1khz). I noticed this from the first day I set them up.
The Chora 806 and 826 are the airiest speakers of the lot and anything non-focal below 5k usd. You heard that right. Detail retrieval, transparency, sparkle and airiness is on another planet compared to the other 2. Vocals pop the most on the Focals but I wouldnt call it a midcentric speaker because the star of the show is treble region, however good the midrange is. Vocals really step forward right in front of you while the rest are just behind the speakers. Bass is the most textured, quickest and detailed of the lot, but it doesnt go down as deep as the other 2. Running dual subs so that isnt an issue for me. Soundstage is also the widest and swallows you in a cocoon of sound, it is not as deep as the 12.2 though (most probably the artifacts of the BBC Dip). Objectively, the Choras measure pretty linear on axis with a slight (think 1db - 1.5db) but wide dip from 1khz to 10khz, but this is countered by the ultra wide dispersion of the inverted tweeter to produce an almost perfect PIR. Do not overtreat room for the Focals, they rely heavily on inevitable room reflections for a truly balanced sound. Absorb first reflection points and a very thick carpet would be perfect. Tried absorbing 2nd reflection points, front and back wall and the Focals start losing their magic. At this point they start to sound like something in between the 12.2 and R200. The 12.2 sounds like garbage in an overtreated room, the R200 surprisingly sounded ok.
The Aria 906 and 948 are like the Choras but look way better with a more solid cabinet. I cant compare the 948 to the 826 for obvious reasons but the flax drivers on the Arias are generally warmer sounding than the slatefibre ones on the Chora. Some may like that, I prefer the less warm Choras in this regard. The 948 is power hungry AF, impedence drops down to mid 2s with an EPDR of 1 ohm. Make sure your amp is capable of handling a 2 ohm load, has lots of wattage and current and preferably a high damping factor to optimize what the dual 8s can actually do.
Hope this helps people that are considering these speakers. I personally found the type of sound I was looking for in the Focals. They sound like a 4k screen compared to a 480p one next to the Polk and Wharfedale.
Thanks for the feedback, especially the off axis issue with the Polk.
Thank you Mark for the detailed run through. Great to learn about your experiences 😊👍
I concur with your impressions of the R200's and the Chora 806/826's. I would add that the Audiolab 6000a tightens up the R200's and let's them shine but does not sound pleasing with the Focals. I think the Focals benefit from a warmer sounding amp and I have enjoyed them (tremendously) on a Marantz 7015 and a Rotel A11 Tribute. The Chora's do very well with both music and movies. I love the atmosphere they create. Everything from dripping caves to gunshots sound amazing on them.
@@bearclaw5115 I have tried the 6000A with the Choras and Arias and they sound absolutely great. My guess is how well the room is treated, that will make all the difference.
I also love the Wharfedale 12 series for the Money. They make some great makes sound ordinary.
Love your work guys...
Real reviews for real people
Thank you buddy 👍
Great work as always Tarun (and Ian). I used to have the Diamond 3 and loved them. Lasted me for years and loved them. My first real speakers!
Thank you Paul 👍
Thanks for giving the Chora floorstanders some love, Tarun & Ian! 💘 (Most reviewers only seem to talk about the stand mounts.) I got a great deal on a pair of the 826s and can confirm they offer great all around performance. Most impressive to me are the sense of depth, the overall clarity, and the wide, wraparound soundstage you can get with the right tracks. Haven't heard the 816s but I think the main difference is the amount of bass. Oh and yes they pair well with my Cambridge Audio integrated. 😄
Thank you for sharing your experiences 👍
Useful video. Thanks. I've got a pair of Acoustice Energy AE109s from the 90s and I think they sound great. Solidly built, not too imposing (height-wise) and good punchy sound.
Thank you 😊
Love these reviews very honest great
Thank you buddy 👍
great discussion. looking forward to see how the AE109 fits in with this selection.
Thank you Amit 👍
Thank you
Enlightening discussion
Thank you 👍
So good to hear when Ian says "made overseas" rather than Chinese made. Frankly, those of us from Asia have been buying British, European or US made hi-fi for decades. You don't see us Asians saying they're not made locally so we don't buy.. like we see frequently in the comments section.
If those of us in Asia made our purchasing decisions based on nationality origin, the Western made hi-fi would lose big time, as the hi-fi sales revenue are majority coming from Asia for most big brands, given the population in Asia.
So let's keep nationalism out of hi-fi!
Thank you. There are many U.K. brands that rely on their Asian market sales to survive. Well said 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Welcome Tarun. And I think it's worth to point out that most of us in Asia want to continue buying Danish (DALI), British (Proac, Falcon, Rega), German (Elac) etc hi-fi because we want the choice to hear the different tuning, technologies, craftsmanship. Just as we also want to hear Chinese made products like Denafrips, Kinki, Line Magnetic, Cayin, SMSL etc.
We don't want to stop buying because of nationalism as it deprives us of choice and the variety it brings to this hobby.
Thank you for this video, very helpful.
Thank you for watching 👍
I am not in the market for speakers…but this have been very informative to be aware of what is out there…
…so many great speakers! 🎉
Thank you Bob 👍
Great follow up Tarun
Thank you Ajay 👍
Love this guys.
Thank you 😊👍
I have Focal 806 and never understood the rap they received. They are awesome in a small room. Detailed but not shrill. Paired with a Rel T5X. Great sounding to me.
Thank you for sharing Mike 😊
I have the Chora 806s in a small budget system w/a REL Txi sub.
To your point I got these with stands for $600 which was a steal IMO. I actually do prefer the tweeter in these above the very high end FOCAL speakers.
These speakers do disappear with the right set-up and it’s pretty nice at the price.
Budget gear to me is far more rewarding when you know you’ve optimized its potential.
Thank you for sharing your experiences 😊
Excellent value 👍
The Wharlfdale 12 series are some great sounding speakers.
Cool 😎
🤗 HERE TARUN TO SUPPORT YOUR CHANNEL …part 2 😁💚💚💚
That is greatly appreciated buddy 👍
Tarun- It is obvious you guys love what you do. As I was listening I thought it would be awesome to see and hear a series on speakers from all over the world. I was speaking to a guy who spends $30 to 50K for an amplifier and a line stage without batting an eye, and he told me great speakers come from Taiwan. How about a A/B with Chifi and Taiwan, or Canada and the US?
I appreciate the suggestion Charles 😊
I currently own the Focal Chora 816's with the center channel, Ian is absolutely correct about the vocals! Vocal are clear & clean and better than any speakers I have heard, in my option dialogue gets drowned out by most speakers especially in movies/ TV or it becomes muddy/muffled listing to some sound tracks where you really want to hear all the details. I do feel that the tweeter can get a little bright/harsh when pushed hard with my Onkyo RZ50 but other than that they are fantastic speakers at a sub $1000 dollar price tag. I will say that I have a pair of old (20+ year old) Polk RTI-55 large bookshelf speaker as well, and I love them because they are a much warmer, softer and less fatiguing sounding speaker not as detailed as the Focal's but just easier to listen to for long periods of time and at higher volumes when listing to music The Polk's are just not vary good used in a home theater, where the Focal's are good a both and can be adjusted to your liking IMO.
Thx for sharing 😊
It's funny because the US market is generally a difficult one to crack for the Europeans. Americans love buying American. Obviously there are some absolute endgame European components but they seem to come across resistance in the US market.
In Australia where I'm from we have pretty much a level playing field. We understand good is good we're not concerned about where it comes from anywhere near as much as the US market seems to be.
Some interesting choice is there Tarun, I haven't heard the LRS but my interest is piqued.
It's certainly a jam-packed segment of the market with I imagine a heap of competition.
Enjoyed this one as I do all of them.🎧🙂👍
Thank you Shane. Great to have your perspective 😊👍
Funnily I am watching this vid with 816.
I fully agreed with the tweeter part, for some reasons I also like these tweeters more than the expensive ones those made of more exotic materials. The details are there but not too much/sharp/bright.
My only wish is that the bass would have been tighter. There is plenty, but kind of "quantity" > "quality"
But oh well, at this price point, best buy in my hifi journey.
Thank you for sharing your experiences 😊
I’ve got a pair of focal 826 and they can now be picked up for under £1000 I run them with my Naim pre and power amps
Cool 😎 thank you Barry 👍
I have MA RX6 + Creek 50A and i have listen to the Focal Chora 826 + NAIT XS 2 and i was really impressed with the sound stage and detail from the 826. I dont know if main reason was from the speakers or the amp but both produced a very amazing sound. I'm considering upgrading my MA RX6 and soon I'll have the opportunity to try out Proac Response DT8 speakers which according to the seller are above MA and Focal. As well as the price...
Thank you João. The DT8 are a very good speaker 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Yes they are but do you think they justify the price difference (1000€)?!... I listen the Proac DT8 agaisnt Focal 826 and found the a little bit more detail from the Proac but i think i prefer the more wide stage of the Focals. I just think that i have to be careful setting up the Focals because sound could a little to bright.
@@MrJMHP that is all down to personal preference 😊
Yes I have the Naim XLS2 with Focal Floorstanders.
You would get more detail with higher series in their range 👍
the choras 816 are impresive for the price, i have them paired with a AXR 100 CAMBRIDGE 100X2 AMPLIFIER
I am considering buying the Focal
Cool 😎
I've owned the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 bookshelf speakers for a number of years. I have them in my kitchen system hooked up to a JVC UX-D150 hybrid amp. They sounds amazing and for just under a 100quid for a pair they are exceptional value!
Thank you Chris 👍
Nice video.I think Wharfedale has change their house sound.Reviewers and owners of 12.1-12.2 and 12.4 are complaining about the tweeter being harsh sounding.Also 12.2s bass is quick but not deep like the wrfs 225s.Maybe because of reduced woofer size from 165mm to 150mm. So i bought a month ago Q Acoustics 3030i for my second system (very DEEP/strong bass sweet/warm mids and airy non offencive highs).No sub needed for home cinema!!I think Q Accoustics is the new Wharfedale for us who like pleasing sounding speakers for long listening sessions.
Thank you. Interesting stuff 😊
Wharfedale are the best selling speakers, what are you on about.
@@ENGBriseBYou must have wax in your ears.If you know the house sound.......
@@ENGBriseB Iam a big fan of wharfedale but iam not deaf!! I have wrfs 225s and i know the house sound. Do you??
It’s the year of the floorstanders 😊. Please test the Peal Acoustics Sibelius Transmission line design which could be an interesting subject for everyone.
I hope to get to them in time 😊
I got chora 826. They are sweet with good bass considering the price. My eyes are set on Kanta II. Despite of having many speakers, JBL L100’s are in my chain most of the time.
Cool 😎
May I ask about,
1. What amplification are you using with the 826?
2. How big is your listening space.
I'm looking at these as there are some great prices right now.
@@hammalammadingdong6244 room 40msq. Watts 120 per channel
@@faludabutt8253 - Thanks!
wharfedale evo 4.3 or focal chora 816 which of the two is most balanced sound, normal bass sounds? Often the basses are very overly boomy or uncontrolled rolling sound. wants to combine it with a Primare i25 Prisma. which combination do you recommend?
Cheers guys,, I always enjoy your chin wagg.
Regards Antony Warrington..
Thank you Antony 👍
I have the Aria 926 and they are not bright at all with the proper set-up. Would love to hear the Kanta or above for comparison. A bit off topic, but any plans to review the Gustard R26 DAC? It's gotten a couple of good reviews and it would be interesting to learn how it compares with the Pontus II (at about the same price).
Thank you for the suggestion. It is on my radar but I don’t have a contact at Gustard so will have to look into it 😊
Nice chat guys. Can’t believe Naim are happy with a sister brand trashing their price. Naim dealers generally don’t see the need to offer any discount.
Thank you Mark. I agree, Naim have been able to establish a strong brand over the years 😊
hi BA, which of these speakers would u say has the best mid range (as in clearest, hardly any distortion)? good to see an in-depth discussion, tyvm!
The Focal will be cleaner sounding than the Wharfedale 😊
I guess I bought the last pair of focal 816 available in Canada. I have the Yamaha 801 integrated, and these two are a music bliss. I suggest anyone who can find these speakers, to go grab it before they are gone.
Thank you for sharing 😊
What do you think about pairing the Focal 816 with Cambridge Audio AXR100 instead of the CXA61? Still think it would be a great match? Thanks for the discussion by the way. It's super enlightening
I don’t know if Ian has tried that 🤔👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Mmm I see. I'm on a budget but the deal seems too good to pass on so I'm trying to find an Amp that could work well at a lower price than the CXA81. Thank you anyway and keep up the good work!
Excellent, thank you.
It would be neat to have the Cambridge CXA81 with the Acoustic Energys when you get them.👍 (I have the CXA81 w/ Wharfdale Lintons)
Thank you Sam 😊
Thanks! Another company which doesn't respond to emails is Technics.
Thank you. I haven’t tried Technics yet 🤔😊
Q acoustic has been knocking it out of the park lately. Not sure what their secret sauce is, but very sweet.
Cool 😎
So lets try one more time what floore standing speakers wold you recomend im running an clectrocobaniet ECI AND YEAH MY SPEAKERS DOSE NOT MIKE RHAT AMP
Very good presentation but I am kind of confused because the picture you presented is a 3 way speaker which looks rather like the 826. The 816 is a 2 and a half speaker. Please help me on this
That is my error. It was hard to find press shots I could use. Apologies 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 ok. Tks a lot
for example the Dali Spektor 6 has this problem of uncontrolled bass sounds. have muted behind ports and now it goes with the primare i25 prism. it's not an ideal combination. but with the high end Dali Fazon F5 it is a good combination. even the zensor 5 sounds better than the spector 6, in my opinion.
Do you know how the Focal Aria series is compared to the Chora series ?
I haven’t compared them 😊
how does this speaker compare to a Dali Rubicon or Epicon 6 or 8
Anybody have experience comparing the ae109 mk1 (2017 newer version) and the wharfedale 12.3?
Theyre similarly priced where im at and its q hard to choose
Ha! Ha! The twitters are one of the reasons I chose the Kantas2. I find them great. Everybody's différent!
The Beryllium tweeter is very resolving and fast. I the right system, they can sound fantastic 😊
I like the look, price of the Chora 826.......but the low end extension is 48hz -+3 db. That's anemic for a 50lb 3 way tower....any opinions or comments on this?
There is a trade off between sensitivity and bass extension. The focal goes for higher sensitivity 😊
You need cabinets the size of the large ATC SCM ASL 3 ways active loudspeakers to get high real quality low frequencies that you can hear and distinguish what is going on in the lower frequencies with discernment.
@@ianjohnhorwood2605 I get your point and I agree to a certain extent but I've heard tower speakers up to the $10,000 range and I'm not saying they are full range down to 20 HZ but they at least dig down to 30 Hertz with an audible DB level that makes it discernible. I disagree that you need a monster 20-$30,000 pair of speakers to hear good bass extension and texture
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I'm not being sarcastic. Then how can my Canton Vento 890.2 DC's play down into the low 30's that is audible and textured......while being a 90db sensitive speaker? It goes against everything you just said. I'm sure there are also more Tower speakers that are 89 to 90 decibel sensitivity that get into the 30 Hertz region and make an audible impact.
@@ryanschipp8513 it is just how the physics works. For a given cabinet volume, you trade sensitivity for bass extension or visa versa. You can’t go off manufacturers’ specs, they are easily and often manipulated. They have to be independently verified to confirm the actual sensitivity, low frequency extension and impedance rating.
Have you heard the KLH Kendall's? They sound phenomenal for the price
I haven’t heard them. Not readily available in the U.K. 😊
Nice talk 🙂, as a French I'm a bit sad to see that France = Focal but I guess that's normal since the other brands are too small 🇫🇷
Thank you. Some of the smaller brands are not so easily available in overseas markets 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 yes and that's also what makes their charm 🙂 each country has secret brands
Triangle has a pretty good presence too
There are Focal Aria 926 (and other models) for really good price in one shop in France. With shipping etc I can have two Focal Aria 926 for less than 1400€. Is there any new alternatives for that price? Because now it feels like Focal's at that price are step above anything else I found. Let's say KEF R5 would be about 2000€, B&W 603 maybe 100€ more than Focals.
That is a good price for the Aria 926 😊
Any chance you'll someday review the Pure Audio Project Duet 15 Prelude speakers?
Thank you for the suggestion 😊
Hi...which speakers you recommend with Music fidelity m5si....whatdferdale,Dali, Bowers..?...I mostly listen to pop rocl..ty
I would need to get the amp home to find out 😊
Focal tend to be more fussy with amplification. Having heard these 816 with a Leema they lend themselves to a warmer amp. Exactly the same as the old JM Lab Focal Chorus 714 from the mid 2000s. Personally prefer Wharfedale, even though some of their models are either mediocre or fabulous.
That said, I would choose Q Acoustics over both of the above. I've yet to hear a below par model.
Thank you 😊
I dare ya to review those new Cerwin Vega speakers:) would love to hear how the brand that rocked me through the eighties and nineties sound today.
I appreciate the suggestion or dare 😂👍
hello what is better sound qulity focal 816 or qacoustice 3050i ???
tanks
I haven’t compared them 😊
I attended a Focal Event last night. That sound fills a room but to me is not pleasant for a longer period. Best thing about Focal is the sexy look. The SB Acoustics 2905 BE tweeter is much better than Focal BE in my book. Ian, usually the man is colorblind not the woman. Teal? How about baby blue.
i would like to have a pair of floorstanders but these days they all seem to be part of a tv cinema surround system and unsuitable for music..?
I have the Denon S750 H paired with Diamond 9.5s, SW150, Diamond 9 CS, Diamond 9.1s for surround. Could I get a better sounding if I replace Diamond 9.5s to Diamond 12.3s and the rest be the same speakers? I would appreciate anyone here giving me a suggestion. Thanks in anticipation.
Magnepan hoparlör benim için en iyisi.
Cool 😎
hello ..best amp for speaker q3050
marantz or denon or yamaha or camrigaudio or nad????
tanks..
It depends on many factors 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314
tanks...i am buy marantz pm6003...
LRS!
Conclusion says it all.
(Add 2 REL subs tho;-)
🎵🎶😊🎶🎵
Thank you for watching 😊
It seems that you forgot the Mission QX-3 MK II.
Greetings from Berlin, Germany
Didn’t forget but I haven’t heard them. Can’t speak for Ian 😉
Can l pair my Marantz pm6007 amp with the Focal Chora 816?
I haven’t tried that combo 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Sorry, my mistake I should have ask: Can l use a 55 watts amplifier with 40-200 watt speakers?
@@FistFullOfMovies by reputation some Focal speakers have a low impedance dip. The Marantz PM6007 may struggle to cope with that 🙂
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thanks for the heads up! I might go for the Focal Chora 606 bookshelfs instead
@@FistFullOfMovies Kef Q150s are said to go well with Marantz PM6007.
I have the earlier PM6006.
Upgraded from MA bronze to Mission QX2 Mk 2 last year which I personally like 👍
One way convo
greetings, to all. What does it mean? A Speaker is easy to drive. Thankyou.
It can be a number of things but it generally refers to the impedance of the speaker not dropping too low 😊
Drayton digistat 3rd
There's no excuse for the price gouging here in the US. Every European speaker costs a lot more here than the rest of the world, including Asia, so it's not because of shipping or other logistics. Focal is the worst, charging twice as much here as in Europe. Other bad offenders are B&W, Monitor Audio, Wharfedale, Q Acoustics, and many others. The exceptions are KEF, Elac, and Dali, which are only slightly higher here than over there. Looking at big online retailers in the UK, even Polk speakers cost less there than here. It's just greed. The exceptions on pricing are Japan and Australia, because everything costs a fortune there. As for Focal, the 906 is even nicer than the 806, but it costs $2200 here, and is only $1000 in Europe. For $2200, we can buy the KEF R3!
The Focal 906 costs $3250 here in Australia😢😢
@@andrewlucan9017 Like I said, you poor people, and Japan, pay a lot more for everything than everywhere else. When I see how much a $400 Squier Strat costs in Japan and down under I cry, but that's because the Australian distributor of Fender jacks up the prices so they can make a huge profit. The independent distributor of Monitor Audion in North America, a company called Kevro, does that too, but most of these speaker companies have their own distribution in the US, so they're just being greedy and price gouging us here
Interesting, I don’t know why it is the case but many U.K. manufacturers claim it is distributor margin in the USA 🤔
It is a small hifi world. Just wanted to pass on the word that Mr Glenn Croft has moved on from this life. Thought you and your audiences should know.
Thank you my friend. I did get an email about it. It is very sad. May he rest in peace 🙏
I am always saddened by the passing of an high end audio engineer, the closing of a audio store, and the ceasestation of a good high end brand even if I never owned a particular component from them. I love musicians, engineers and high end designers and companies.I think they bring much joy to life by making recorded music sound much better. Long live high end audio!!
May Glenn Croft, David Hafler, Saul Marantz, Paul Klipsch, Frank McIntosh, Rudy VanGelder, Avery Fisher, Gene Cerwinski,and too many other heroes who have passed on rest peacefully.
The Focal Chora line looks like being replaced by the new Vestia line.
Thanks Connor. I have a feeling they may be a replacement for the Aria range 😊
The Vestia line is slotted between the Chora and Aria lines.
@@marct9587 cool 😎
Of course. Chora new model. Replace chorus. Vestia replace aria.
Wharfedale 12.3 with Denon 600 ?
Worth trying out 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 haha anyways
Do you plan to do a £1k-£2k, £2k-£3k and a £3k-4K floorstander review?
I normally go £1-£3k but no plans as yet 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thanks Tarun.
any full range?
Not in this category 😉
@@abritishaudiophile7314 which full do you like? ruclips.net/video/IR5UkIkxsIc/видео.html
Bend but don't break back makes a pretty speaker. Wharfdale-sound nothing special. Ascend Audio Towers. Check next time.
A.I.G products China .. Steer clear. THATS A LOT OF X British brands. Customer service is shit.
Wharfedale is now a Chinese company and made in china along with other Chinese brands in same factory !
A lot of companies make their equipment in China.
@@ENGBriseBsir, I understand but I try to avoid Chinese companies not made in china. Although many companies are making in Vietnam, Malaysia and now also in India.
The Wharfedale Diamond 8.4 towers sounded worse than Zenith $20 bookshelf speakers so you have to prove it to me.
I am considering buying the Focal
Too bright and not great for anything. Headache.