MB Sub X1-VB (3C) On test by Mark Chase

[mbsub]

Mark Chase has asked me to publish his test here on Scubaboard.

MB-SUB X1-VB 3C Back up / Primary Torch
About a year ago I started out testing a wide range of back up torches
ranging in price from £30 to £300. The list included Rat, MiniQ40, Halcyon
Scout, Barbolite, Tektite Photon Torpedo, Heser, Ionobeem and Solus.

The principle aim was to look at the usability and function of the lights
in real diving conditions over a period of 50-100dives.
By the end of the test period one of my favorite torches The ”Ionobeam”
had failed due to corrosion in the magnetic on off switch. I was then to
discover that manufacturer support was zero. Sadly another cracking little
torch from Solus also fell off the list because the company ceased to trade
and the Heiser fell apart during a dive so is no more.
Having carried out the tests I felt the back up torches fell into two
distinct categories.
FULL ILLUMINATION UNITS
These would provide a good quality of dive even if your primary failed or
they could be used as a stand alone primary torch. The clear class leaders
in this category were the Barbolite U9 and the Tektite, with the Tektite
being the runaway winner in the value for money stakes. A full report on he
Tectite is to follow.
EMERGENCY OR SIGNALING LIGHTS
The second class of torch were primarily pencil beams used for back up
signaling lights in the cave diving community. The lights on offer ranged in
performance but all of them offered only emergency lighting which would’t
make them suitable for use as a primary. Whilst the light may have been
adequate for following a line out of a cave I doubt you would want to use them
to do a wreck dive with.
In this group it was much harder to pick a winner, The Heser, Halcyon
Scout and the Photon Torpedo 3 cell LED torches were all similarly priced and
has similar performance. The Heiser was taken off the list due to falling
apart mid dive in the hands of Howard and whilst the Photon torpedo slightly
out performed the Halcyon, it too suffered mechanical issues which were
irritating in that it kept switching its self on mid dive and in the end
needed some modification to stop this happening.
So based on the fact that after the best part of a year the Halcyon was
faultless and very close to the top in class for performance I was going to
select the Halcyon Scout LED as the winner in class. Again a full report
on the 3Cell Halcyon is to follow.
I had completed my testing and planned to write up my findings over
Christmas 09 but then in December I was sent a new torch to test which threw away
the rule book.
The MB-Sub X1 - VB (3C)

DESIGN AND BUILD QUALITY
At first glance I didn’t find the MB-Sub sexy. The Barbolite with its
anodized aluminum body looks expensive and gives you that feel good factor of
ownership. The Photon Torpedo is a good looking bit of kit but again that “H”
on the Halcyon is a bit like the badge on a BMW which makes it instantly
feel better than a Skoda even if its not.
The slightly too long light head and annoying protruding on off switch
were the prime culprits for its lack of good looks. Also it was only 20mm
longer than my other back ups but it looked a bit too long. At the rear of the
handle it has the standard mounting point for a P clip
Build quality from MB-Sub is a given. Just like the BMW every aspect of
the machining and fit was first class and whilst I have always preferred the
knurled handles on the Photon and Tectite the ribbed handle offered
surprisingly good feel and grip.
The on off switch works without piercing the housing by using a proximity
magnet. The magnet is located in the detachable body of the switch and is
located by means of a spring loaded ball. Whilst I really didn’t like the
protruding knob it can’t be denied it made switching the torch on and off
very easy even with one hand. The big plus in my book is this torch doesn't
suffer that most annoying feature of accidentally turning on at depth as do
the units with screw down contact switches. Unfortunately I rig my back up
torches in bungee on my harness and the knob would repeatedly catch on the
bungee when trying to deploy and re-stow the torch.

I experimented by using the torch upside down and just switching it on and
off by the pressure of my thumb on the edge of the switch and I found it
was easy to operate in this way, again using one hand.
I’d like to filing off the knob because it’s an annoyance but this would
cause a problem as the spring for the locating ball bearing is situated in
it. More thaught is required but I’d really like the switch to be knurled
or ridged surface and tapered at the leading and trailing edge to make
deployment and re-stowing much slicker.
Taking the torch apart I was pleased to find the battery spring to be
screwed in position at the base of the torch. It’s a small thing but on other
torches I have owned the spring has fallen out and disappeared into the
furthest corner of my garage.

The head is sealed with two barrel O rings and the LED unit is also held
in place by a screw so there’s no chance of it falling to the floor and
being damaged as it can with the Heiser, Photon or Halcyon units. Surprisingly
the Halcyon only has a single barrel 0 ring for protection of the head.
Even more surprising when you consider the head is a screw down on / off
switch so the O ring takes some abuse during use. However, I have never suffered
a flood on a hand held and it's not a complaint I read or hear about often
if ever, so possibly one is enough.

Weight without batteries is 330grams. Not that heavy but still 30% heavier
than the 220g Halcyon. Let’s face it, when packing for travel every little
helps so this may be a consideration. The good news was it was slightly
lighter than he Barbolite.
FOCUSABLE HEAD
The next design feature was unique on any of the back up torches I have
owned or tested. At the front of the light head is a ring that moves a very
clever focusable lens back and forth approximately 8mm on a helical cam. The
cam has no start and stop point so the ring can be rotated continually
clockwise (with the torch head facing away from you) which ensures you don’t
accidentally unscrew the light head. The action on my torch was quite stiff
and whilst easily achieved with bare hands it is a little bit more effort
in 5mm winter semi dry gloves. Again id prefer a knurled finish for better
grip but despite my preferences I dint find any situation where I couldn’t
adjust the beam under water.

Sadly being winter I haven’t had a chance to go beyond 50m with the torch
but down at 50m I didn’t find any discernible difference to the turning
action so I am not expecting it to be an issue at greater depth.
One point to stress is that operating the head in the anti clockwise
direction can and does undo the light head. It needs a seconds thought before
operation to insure you don’t do this and eventually risk flooding the torch.
That said it would take multiple turns to undo the head just as it would a
head switch operated torch.
In operation the focus can be adjusted from a wide 25 degree flood down to
an incredibly tight 3 degrees.

 

[mbsub]

PERFORMANCE
The blurb on the torch claimed it was the brightest torch in the world in
its class. It was by some considerable margin the brightest torch in my
test group in 3 degree beam mode.
With all the LED torches I have tested in the past the main issue that
people felt made the HID alternatives the better choice was the long range
penetration and signaling power of the beam.
In 3 degree mode the MB-SubVB just blows away the competition and is right
up there with the HIDs.
Seen here is a Halcyon 3 cell Scout with the latest LED head. Distance to
the fence is apx 9m (32ft)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/MarkChase/Mexico%20Cave%20trip/M
B%20Sub%20test/Hscoutfence.jpg
MB-Sub VB in 3 degree mode beside the Halcyon

Here we have opened up the MB Sub to give a similar light spread to the
halcyon across the 9m range. The MB-Sub is slightly more yellow in wide mode

The testing of lights in air can give some odd results. Usually in air I
find much more noticeable light spillage around the center hot spot. In
water the light spillage is reduced revealing a
The photos below are taken at a depth of 1m in a 4m long pond with fresh
water.
Seen from the side the Halcyon offers a much tighter beam than in air but
the MB-Sub is able to penetrate twice as far and keep a tighter spot.

To get a better impression of the depth of penetration a head on shot
shows the difference in performance of the two units.

In wide mode the power of penetration is reduced but the light maintains
an incredibly tight beam with very little light spillage.
This picture doesn't do it justice as the beam looks short but in fact it
lit up the gravel bottom of the 2m deep pond at a range of about 3m Because
I had to hold the torch and take the picture I couldn’t get the depth
perspective I wanted.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/MarkChase/Mexico%20Cave%20trip
/MB%20Sub%20test/IMG_3046.jpg

OPTIONS AND COST
The range of options are:
X1-FF 3AA Fixed focus 3degree spot beam 4.5hour burn with 3 AA Batteries
Euro 156.30+vat
XI-VB 3AA as above with variable focus 3 degrees to 25 degrees Euro 183.00
+vat
X1-FF 3C Fixed focus with 3degree spot 15hours burn time using 3 C Cells
Euro 175.60+vat
X1-VB 3C Variable focus 3degree to 25 degree 3 C Cells 15hours burn Euro
192.40+vat

CONCLUSIONS
After finding myself inside the hull of the Justicia with a failed primary
torch and only a pathetic Halogen version of the Photon Torpedo for light
I swore id get a quality back up torch that would save the dive.
To this end I spent £285 on a Barbolite U9 three LED three C cell unit
which is a stunning torch and more than adequate for use as a primary.
However its large head makes stowing and deploying a little tricky and its wide
beam doesn't make it a good signaling torch.
Power wise it’s the only thing I tested than came close to the performance
of the MB-Sub but as soon as the Sub pulled its party trick and goes to
tight focus the torch that cost 30% less than my Barbolite became the clear
winner.
With VAT the MB Sub is going to come in at around £200 its about £50 more
expensive than the Halcyon LED 3cell Scout (£165) but it really has no
rivals that I am aware of so its hard to compare like for like.
If you want a torch that only needs to offer wide illumination with a high
level of brightness then the Tektite at around £100 is well worth
considering. I own one and its been reliable down to 80m and provides more than
adequate light when my primary fails.
If you want a great signaling torch as an emergency “get me home only”
light the Halcyon Scout has the build quality and strong performance.
However if you want incredible long range signaling power to rival primary
HIDs and still have the option to switch to a wide beam for general diving
then the MB-Sub is the only logical choice.
I will definitely be using this torch from now on. It’s not a pretty as my
Barbolite and maybe it hasn’t got the kudos of a Halcyon Scout, but the
only response I get when I demonstrate it performance to people is… WOW!!
ATB
Mark Chase
NOTES: I don’t work for MB Sub nor am I connected to them in any way. My
present back up torches include Photon Torpedo LED upgrade, Solus, Barbolite
U9, Tektite LS4. MB-Sub X1-VB

 

[lucca brassi]

Wau , Fresnel lens , nice option (low weight , better translucency )

It is possible to get closer picture to the white wall ( for example 1m distance ) with almost closed photo shutter. Just wondering if can take picture without seeing circles.

What I don't like it pearshae head . I think (might be wrong) that if I clip it on chest D ring and
store it with elastic bungee on harness might disturb arms. ( maybe picture? )
But understand that SST50 requires wide enough lens or aspherics or mirror because of it's radiation angle.

 

[mbsub]

Hi,

with an optic with smaller diameter its impossible to catch enough light!
BTW, in this light is no SST-50, but a Cree XR-E

Michael