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, Heiser, 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 Heiser, 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.
Ill be filing off the knob because it’s an unnecessary annoyance. 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.
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)
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’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.
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’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 be grinding off the on off knob and tapering the switch so it stows easily on my harness but I will definitly be using this torch from now on. It’s not a pretty as my Barbolite and 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