[NooneAtAll3]

what's the alternative metric to look for as a consumer?

[RedPanda250]

It is not reported often by the manufacturer, but SSI and TLCI numbers can be a better metric if available. They are used by the Broadcast/Photography community to match the spectrum's similarity to Sunlight.

[fmajid]

Few bulb manufacturers even bother to report CRI, unless it is decent (CRI > 90). If CRI is not reported, you can be sure it's bad, 80 or less.

Unfortunately, there isn't really a way for a consumer to know short of buying a spectrometer like my Sekonic C-800 Spectromaster.

For illustration, I have uploaded a few readings here, mostly flashlights, not LED bulbs: https://majid.info/images/reddit/spectro/

If you look at the Zebralight SC64c LE, for instance, it has an excellent Ra of 92, but only 75 for R9:

https://majid.info/images/reddit/spectro/ZL_SC64cLE/SC64cLE_...

[wlonkly]

"C-800 Spectromaster" is exactly how specialized devices like that should be named.

[fmajid]

It does sound a bit like the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III my uncle worked on...

[wlonkly]

Only 17? This one's 783 better!

[orbital-decay]

TM-30 for general illumination, since it's based on human perception, not on what's best for a sensor like TLCI. Particularly the overall Rf and the h1 bin (skin tones) will tell you the most. Also color temperature accuracy if you want to match it with natural lighting and other lights.