[tytara]

Hey everyone, I'm getting a new grow setup going and I'm really struggling to choose a light. There's so much info out there and it feels like everyone has a different opinion. I've narrowed it down to a few brands based on what I've been reading, but I'd love to get some real-world feedback from people who have used them.

Flexstar PRO 720W

Matrix Vega Dyna 1000w

ThinkGrow Model 1

Gavita

Fluence


I'm particularly interested in hearing from anyone who has experience with the Matrix. I've seen some impressive specs, but I want to know how they perform in a real-world setup. Any thoughts on these or suggestions for a different light would be awesome.

 

[KG1]

Why does a matrix vega dyna at a 1000w only equal a 1000w HPS DE?

Most grow lights look similar after a certain price, tough market to stand out in.

 

[Fiz420]

I am in the same rabbit whole with LED lights for the past few weeks and I feel like I am in a time loop back to 2015 where I somehow got sold on a KIND K5 xl1000 (still mad about that buy) I went to HLG quantum boards in 2018 and still running them and now it is time to upgrade.

A decade ago the rave was spectrum control, UV, sunrise - sunset power timing, far red/IR and using 10+ some even 15+ different colors of LEDs and today seven years later its the same shit with a different form factor. I see some science is proving some things we knew to be correct and UV a-b-c all have uses and being able to control them independently is key. I think all lights should have 5 channels R-G-B, IR and UV but that is just me.

I do think lumines are for humans and most these big box shops just do what ever they can to hit numbers vs adjusting the spectrum for better growing and most are just in a marketing game. I love my HLG lights but they are not pushing anything new.. I see they are doing fixed spectrum lighting now but it looks like a money grab to me.

I have only found two shops that I think are truly working to push the bar and making the best lights today GrandMaster LED and Mammoth LED.

Grand Master LEDs

Efficiency, Uniformity, Diversity

grandmasterleds.com

Commercial LED Grow Lights | Full Spectrum Grow Lights – Mammoth Light

Discover Mammoth Lighting’s full-spectrum LED grow lights engineered for commercial and home cultivation. Increase yields, improve terpene expression, and maximize energy efficiency with advanced spectrum technology trusted by growers worldwide.

mammothlighting.com

I do not want to write a book about this but I am looking to buy new lights soon and I am not 100% sold on what I want. Please let me know of anything you find.

 

[MercDod]

Im also looking for a light. Thinking about either the MarsHydro FC 8000-EVO 800 watt or the MarsHydro FC 10000-EVO 10000 watt for a 4x4. They are also at a good price right now.

They both have the samsung evo chips which are supposed to be the most efficient horticulture led as far as I know with my limited knowledge. Both of these lights are more than what I need but I was thinking that running at a lower setting will make the light last longer since it will be running cooler, what do you think? Im not interested in spectrum tuning only full spectrum. I wish there was a website that had a side by side spec comparison that listed how many of each brand of led diode, brand of driver(i like those meanwells), driver part number, spectrum.

 

[KG1]

Should last long enough till you upgrade the led. Many out out a three year warranty on diodes.

Not sure it's ever been much of an issue the lifespan of LEDs

 

[NairnM16]

Lumatek zues series 600w pro 2.9/3.1
Or 1000w co2

One of the best lights I’ve ever seen

 

[MercDod]

Lumatek zues series 600w pro 2.9/3.1
Or 1000w co2

One of the best lights I’ve ever seen

Looks nice, the specs I saw said 220 volt, typo?

 

[Person]

Why does a matrix vega dyna at a 1000w only equal a 1000w HPS DE?

Most grow lights look similar after a certain price, tough market to stand out in.

You n your fuckin hps! tbh, I do miss em.

 

[KG1]

You n your fuckin hps! tbh, I do miss em.

Kind of thought it would be more what with led efficiency ratings, they aren't advertising them well or made an error in some basic maths or marketing

 

[KG1]

Lumatek zues series 600w pro 2.9/3.1
Or 1000w co2

One of the best lights I’ve ever seen

Get same efficiency from most brands and the generic bar style and sizes.

I had hoped they would lessen the hotspot and boost the outer edges with led placement a little.

But market seems stagnant, most even work via an app these days. Max efficiency max spectrum it's all a little boring on the light front probably for a long time developers seem quiet

 

[Person]

Kind of thought it would be more what with led efficiency ratings, they aren't advertising them well or made an error in some basic maths or marketing

I’ve often wondered why they label leds as being, for example, “1000w” but they actually don’t use that much? My most powerful light is a “300w” but it only uses 80.

 

[KG1]

I’ve often wondered why they label leds as being, for example, “1000w” but they actually don’t use that much? My most powerful light is a “300w” but it only uses 80.

I thought it was a true 1000w light, full spectrum with UV on top

 

[Person]

I thought it was a true 1000w light, full spectrum with UV on top

It’s about time they sorted it I suppose.

 

[amneziaHaze]

My lumatek is 300w but pulls 337

 

[GreenNotYellow]

I'm using a 400w light from vivosun and it's all good and made very well. I remember someone from herbies customer service recommended this to me lol... Good I took the advice

 

[JIMKSI64]

I'm using a 400w light from vivosun and it's all good and made very well. I remember someone from herbies customer service recommended this to me lol... Good I took the advice

I have the bat wing with fans 400 watt blower.

It's a light .............

Mine also is a bit of an over achiever at 426 watts at the plug.

 

[vueleaf]

You're asking the right question by focusing on quality rather than just wattage or hype. Once you're comparing HLG, Mammoth and similar higher end fixtures, the real separation comes from efficiency, spectrum and support rather than raw power numbers.

From my work monitoring cannabis forums, a few patterns stand out. Growers are happiest over several runs when their fixtures deliver solid efficiency in the modern range, use reliable drivers and come with a warranty that actually gets honored. Spectrum matters for how even the canopy develops. Newer designs lean toward a fuller white spectrum with a bit of extra deep red instead of the old strong blue or purple balance. When something fails mid flower, the brand's speed and attitude on replacements suddenly matters more than any marketing graphic.

Your feeling that some older HLG layouts are a little behind the newest designs isn't unique. At the same time, Mammoth and the boutique style brands are still building their long term track records, so you trade pedigree for newer engineering. Community discussions show a lot of people landing on a practical question rather than a brand question: how many photons you need over your exact footprint and how quickly you could get a repair or replacement if one bar or driver dies.

 

[amneziaHaze]

You would want 2 lamps then.one dominant in blue for veg soo you get tiny plants and one dominant in red for late flower to get the most photosyntesis.you can do uv it makes plant produce something but sience says you dont get any more thc than not using it.it will make the plant more red if your interested in that

 

[lenhug]

@Fiz420

I did similar about a year or two back and went through them all as well. Had Grand Master on the final few list but went with Mammoth in the end. Couldn't be happier and agree they seem to be pushing things forward if you read and believe their blurb (have no reason not to as they back it up).

I went with their 8-Bar 880W Mint White Series and has been fantastic. I'm even considering another for an additional tent, looking at the 2026 Nova Sun Series.

 

[Fiz420]

@Fiz420

I did similar about a year or two back and went through them all as well. Had Grand Master on the final few list but went with Mammoth in the end. Couldn't be happier and agree they seem to be pushing things forward if you read and believe their blurb (have no reason not to as they back it up).

I went with their 8-Bar 880W Mint White Series and has been fantastic. I'm even considering another for an additional tent, looking at the 2026 Nova Sun Series.

I am with you on the nova sun series. I am hoping I can drop three of my lights and just run the Mammoth Nova with Micro 310 UVB :) I am still dialing in spectral shift and the Emerson effect with my five lights (1200w total in a 3x3) lol. I really wish every nm of chip on the board had its own channel the amount of modding I have done to break single channel lights into 2-3 channels make me want to just order parts and have the led boards built for me.