The Emotiva gear isn't for me and I feel that owners of all the over lit components out there could probably conduct night landings for small aircraft....but if THEY like it - that's really all that matters.
If you don't care about family members or guests, then I guess that's really all that matters. I had the unfortunate "pleasure" to spend an evening in an all-Emotiva living room. The glare was irritating, uncomfortable and objectionable.
However, there is a reason that most manufactures are using blue illuminations. Although dim red lighting is great for night navigation, military, etc. blue IS easier on the eyes over extended periods in low lighted situations.
Studies for years, and documentaries on TV have shown that on average the color blue has the most relaxing effect on humans. Higher percentages of people tested with the color red indicated they were noticing opposite effects - increased stress. Red is continuously rated as the most stressful color for humans.
There is a big difference between reflected light off of a light blue or green hospital wall versus transmitted high intensity light from blue bulbs and LEDs. Some scientists have gone so far as to state that there are negative health effects from prolonged exposure to short wavelength blue light. I don't know about that, but I know that I personally find them irritating. The eye is so much more sensitive to the blue light spectrum, so care has to be taken to make them a lot dimmer than their red, amber or green counterparts.
A lot of manufacturers don't understand this and produce components with bright blue lighting. I tape over brighter blue LEDs and would pay extra to get the components in any LED color other than blue.
Steve
