Yea, take it from me, the "best" for the cheapest, isn't a very congruent statement. There is cheap, then there is "acceptable" cheap,
and SF highly fits into that category.
I think that's what the OP here need's to come to terms with. You can surf the web, and look for LM30? whatever diodes, and they maybe could have put them into there and they work, but... There are verified distributers in this area, and there's the "rest" of everyone.
That said:
Mars hydro, the newest ones are probably "acceptable" also.
The real key with lighting is the engineering spec, and getting the lighting intensity, photon flux, spectrum and ratio's correct. SF has proven track record.
Some hack sitting over in China who's copying the "other" light, isn't necessarily going to be "cutting edge" by the time you get it. The SF panels, and especially the SE series lights represent the closest thing to a
Gavita Pro series light, for a fraction of the cost. ie. Not only excellent diodes,
but the spectrums are dialed in efficiently.
This guy
actually listens and looks at feedback. LED technology has made quantum leaps in efficiency in the last year maybe year and half.
Lights are the one thing you want to get from a reputable source. Does anyone in here actually know what a LM301H diode looks like? or able to discriminate the real ones, from fakes?