Alpha Rex vs Spec D Tuning Headlights

Looking at a pair of Alpha Rex Headlights, but have heard some bad reviews on them. Started looking into the Spec D Tuning headlights (I like the looks of both of them) but am looking for which is better from a lighting output, anyone have a preference before I buy?

 

Yes, Aplha Rex headlights are pretty bad. But the Spec D Tuning headlights are even worse - as if that's possible.

I'll ask the same question I ask everyone who comes here with your question: What's more important to you, performance or looks?

 

Definitely looking for performance and looks if possible. To be honest, my stock headlights are completely hazed at 60k miles and just looking for an upgrade, might as well get an upgrade on looks (if possible also).

 

That is the same question I ask on first dates!

 

The best performing 2nd gen headlights are OEM. Add in the Ultimate Headlight Upgrade and it just doesn't get any better. All of the aftermarket stuff is quite simply a performance downgrade. Now, if all you want are looks, carry on.

The ultimate headlight upgrade H4 (not LED or HID) | Tacoma World

 

Get the OE TRD Pro headlights. Factory quality and output is better than the inexpensive aftermarket options.

 

If you want more USABLE light, traditional halogen and yellower tinted bulbs is actually the way to go if you don't care about the comestic/aesthetic of not having icy white headlights.

Yellow light is more agreeable with human vision at night, especially when driving on blacktop or wet roads. It's also less fatiguing if you tend to do long night drives.

 

HID and halogen bulbs also offer yellow.

OP, headlight quality is determined by the quality of the light.
Not how cool it looks in a parking lot, price, instagram likes, or name stamped
which is why I don't get the whole AlphaRex and whatnot type thing

Cars don't use halogen, because they don't have room for halogen.
The tacoma headlight is big. Cars are small. Their headlights are small.
The little hole of room for a headlight they have, is literally small. It won't fit a big halogen. It's that simple.

Also, every projector is different. Every headlight is different.
Some very good projectors literally will not fit inside of certain car headlights.

HIDplanet forum is all about shoving projectors into housing, and they have a ranked list of which exact projectors are viewed as the best. Some people get sad because some of those projectors are big as shit, their car is small, and it doesn't fit so they can't use them.
And that's really not supposed to be expensive.

I had a car. I put projectors in it. They use the same projectors on Lambos. You know how much I paid for them? Like $60 used.
the setup was
-Bosch/AL gen2 or gen3 'E46'. Probably gen2 as it had the horizontal line on the lens, and not speckled dots like gen3
They use this projector on many vehicles. JGC, Fiat, R8, Lambo, Aston, Audi, and more.
-upgraded cutoff shield
-upgraded to clear lens
-upgraded bulbs to Osram CBI
they have more details than that. Like making sure not to pick the swivel one, or may need adapter to enable cutoff solenoid based on model

best light setup I ever had
it was also a PITA. Screwdriver scrape the housing grooves to remove butyl.
Took some safety wire to fully secure the better projector and very easily cut my hand bleeding into the headlight.
But the road was already paved. There was already a DIY to follow, other folks had already done it and confirmed parts fit.

It was also a fix for that car. Known problem OE projector bowl flat bottom closest to the bulb burns up, crippling output. Cayenne and Touareg I think had the same crap.



it was a pain to do. Not thinking about doing something like that to my truck,
as Depo housings, ceramic harness, and brighter bulbs was WAY easier of a job
No baking open housings in an oven, wiring ballasts, prep, cutting, painting

besides the above mentioned 2 companies, there's actually a 3rd I forget the name
that gives many options on projector, and ton of customizing. Like which LED shroud, color, backlight, etc.
and, not surprising, very expensive. Way more than above.

-halogen housing
-better harness
-better bulbs
is pretty good, cheap, and easy. There's a reason the thread of doing that is like 100 pages and running.
-now that I remember, prevent moisture: seal outside of headlight, maybe desiccant packs inside hidden
-anti UV protect lens
-Diode Dynamics sells LED bulb upgrades for side marker, etc.

Morimoto is a name brand. I hear theirs is good.
And expensive.

if that's all you have, I bet my setup is cheaper and better
-Amazon DEPO smoked
-ceramic harness
-80ish-100w bulbs