( 2 reviews )
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( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Jan 26 2007
Chromalux is a great bulb for what it is--an incandescent light source (a brother of the common light bulb) that has much nicer, balanced color than most other E26 screw in light bulbs out there (including such nightmares such as GE's "Reveal"). It's a great white-ish light for reading, computer work, cooking, casual arts and crafts. It gives a very good illusion of a full specrum (white/daylight) light source, but it's important to realize that it is NOT a full spectrum light source. No incandescent bulb (with the expception of some specialized metal halide bulbs) can provide full spectrum light. If you're shopping for a full spectrum light for health (SAD symptoms), pets, plants, or color matching work, look to fluorescent bulbs; they are the only bulbs with current technology than can provide true full spectrum light. Screw in compact fluorescent tubes fit almost everywhere regular E26 bulbs do, and give true daylight results, both to the eye and in terms of emulating the sun's full light spectrum. With that said, Chromalux bulbs have much to offer the right circumstances--I use them in several dimming fixtures around the house (fluorescent tubes will rarely dim), and enjoy the nice white, color balanced light that they give--it's great for reading and a much needed change from the yellowish tinge inherent in most other light bulbs. As another reviewer mentioned, they are a little dimmer and run hotter than most other bulbs, and due to the Neodymium glass used, they are much more expensive. But they are, in my opinion, under casual circumstances, a wonderful product that is a much easier on the eyes alternative to regular incandescent light bulbs.
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( 6 of 6 found this review helpful ) Posted: Apr 16 2006
These bulbs give off a nice, relaxing light that is easy on the eyes. Some things to keep in mind with these bulbs: Chromalux bulbs are really a normal light bulb that has glass that absorbs certain colors to create a balanced, low glare, high contrast light. Great for reading. But since it is absorbing some of the light, they are not as bright. About 2/3 the light of a stamdard bulb of the same wattage. So a 100 watt Chromalux is about as bright as a 60 watt bulb. A 60 watt Chromalux is quite dim, like a 40 watt bulb, not really bright enough to light up a 10x10 room properly. Also, the absorbed light is given off as heat. Therefore, they do get noticably hotter than standard bulbs. Best to have a ceramic (not plastic) base, and nothing near the bulb that can burn or melt. Still, a great bulb anyplace you are going to be doing a lot of reading or detail work. For general lighting, especially for lights you leave on a lot, I would recommend full-spectrum compact fluorescents. Look for one with a color temperature in the general area of 5000-6000K, and a CRI (color rendition index) of >80. You get a lot of light with very little electricity, and the quality of light is quite good.
