Four Sevens Maelstrom MM-X Review
The nightstand test is really helpful in evaluating lights, but generally bigger, more tactical lights don't do well here. Even the G2X Pro, which starts on low, still puts out too much light. With these bigger lights and higher lumens outputs, even the lows at 1% are still pretty bright. But the MM-X did exceptionally well in the nightstand test. It did well as a work light. It did well in checking on stuff around the house. It did well lighting up a scene down the street from me. Frankly, the MM-X did well everywhere and in every way. This is a really powerful, really refined light that has no major flaws and very few minor ones.
I received my MM-X from Trevor at Four Sevens. Before the rebranding the light was known as the X-7 and may still be listed as such in various places. There is a cheaper version of this light that looks identical, the MM-S. The difference comes in the emitter. The MM-X runs the XML emitter while its lesser twin runs the older XPG emitter. The difference between the two emitters in single cell lights is pretty minimal, but in lights of this class, the difference is large. The MM-X hits 480 lumens on high while the MM-S hits "only" 380. It will be part of an upcoming 2-cell shootout along with the G2X Pro and the M7R (which technically only has one cell...). Here is MM-X product page. Here is a review of the MM-X and not just any review, but a Selfbuilt review. You can purchase the MM-X through Blade HQ and the proceeds benefit the site's giveaways:
Blade HQ
Finally, here is the review sample:
Design: 2
Built from the ground up by Four Sevens as a more tactical light than the Quark line offered. I can't speak to its tactical nature, but I can speak to how it worked as a rugged larger sized EDC light. Its funny going from the standard single cell, no throw EDC lights that I prefer to these throwers. It is truly amazing the kind of performance you can get in these lights and of these lights, the MM-X is quite good. I like the retention ring at the rear and the stainless steel bezel. I like the size of the light, even if the head is quite bulky. I really liked the simple UI, though one small touch would make it amazing. Overall, this is a very solid two-cell like and much cheaper, on a per lumens basis than its Surefire competitors. And make no mistake, this like it aimed squarely at Surefire, Fenix, and the other more established brands. It is a performance-based wake up call to all those that thought 200 lumens were plenty in this product class.
Lumens:weight is (480/6.32 ounces) 75.95, while lumens:runtime is (480/60 minutes) is 8. Both are excellent, giving you a lot of light for the weight and a lot of lumens for a while.
Fit and Finish: 2
The threads are well-cut and the heat sinks are even and beefy. The light itself has a surprisingly solid and hefty feel, especially when you compare it to the almost paper thin walls of other Four Sevens lights like those in the Mini series lights. I guess this light's more tactical design necessitates the difference. Only one small drawback and I am not even sure if it is that. When the light is all put together there is a very slight amount of side to side play in the body from head to tailcap. If you take it in both hands and try to bend it, especially when the light is on low, there will be a minute amount of flex. When you tighten the light to a higher setting this goes away. It is not a big deal by any means but is something I have never seen before and therefore is noteworthy.
Grip: 2
This is the first light I have had with the grip ring on it and I have to admit, this thing rocks. I have always thought they looked interesting, like here on the Arc Mania Maxlite (I am unsure of which model this is, but you get the idea):
The MM-X's grip ring is a separate piece of aluminum and screws on to the body itself, meaning, of course, you can remove it if you don't like it. Here is the MM-X's grip ring:
Nothing like pinpoint control over almost 500 lumens of light with a throw that seems to be about a mile long. GREAT grip and control.
Carry: 1
Even for two cell lights, this is a pretty big body. It is significantly taller than both the M7R and the G2X Pro. Additionally, that ridiculous throw requires a positively massive head and that is what you get here. The pocket clip does what it can, but this thing is just really big. More of a backpack light than a pocket light.
Output: 2
THUMP. That is the noise of billions of photons colliding with whatever you want to look at and doing it all at once. With an output of 480 lumens, the MM-X competes quite nicely against a bevy of competitors. Surefire puts out a 500 lumen light, the Fury, but they run you AT LEAST $50 more than the MM-X. There are some Chinese-origin lights that do well in terms of high end, dollars per lumens, but nothing on the market has a low like the MM-X. This is the very best feature of the light and makes it not just a light for running and gunning (of which I did and will do none) but also a good around the house or backpack light. I'd give it a 3 if I could for the spectacular high and the impressive low.
Runtime: 2
The low is best measured in days, but is close to being measure in weeks (144 hours is 6 days). Can you imagine that? A day and age when our flashlights can run for weeks and produce useful light all the while being small enough to fit in your pocket (with a lot of lumps here). The runtime on the G2X Pro, even on low, is nothing like what you get here. There are lots of modes in between with long runtimes as well. The high hits an hour and half, though as with all lights this size and that brightness, I think that is a theoretical time because in all likelihood you'd have a puddle of molten aluminum by that time. Still, all of these numbers are impressive, well above par.
Beam Type: 2
Where does that photon THUMP come from? Right here:
No bones about it or messing around here, this a pure throw beam. Note the absolutely fat X-ML diode, that happens to be perfectly centered in a deep, smooth reflector. It took some getting used to, because even though Surefires have a notoriously tight beam pattern (this is a trick behind their deceptive lumens count), it is nothing like this. For the type of light this is I am plenty satisfied, but it is an adjustment over the floodier beams I get out of light of my preferred size. If you are aware of the difference and prepared to accept the trade offs, this is an excellent throw beam.
Beam Quality: 2
A gloriously neutral output with a steady, even beam. It is also a nice perfect circle. Lovely in every way and perfect for the throwy beam type. Throwers with rings and holes really are a problem as the rings and holes get bigger the further away the target is. Fortunately we have nothing but buttery smoothness here.
UI: 2
Oh my, so close. Let me get this out of the way--this is a great UI, but the thing is, it could have been a revelation. The clicky turns the light on and off. Twisting the head from tight to loose changes the output from high to low. You can set the output and then turn on the light, a masterstroke as it gets you the output level directly, no messing around with accidentally turning the light on in the wrong mode, no cycling through modes, just the desired output--bam. But here is the thing, without playing around with the light or having an insanely good memory you have no idea what the light's setting is. A few quick markings on the side of the light could tell you what the setting is and avoid the entire problem. It was so close, so very close to perfection in a clicky. Still, it is very, very good.
Hands Free: 1
The light can't tailstand, but it has no chance of rolling away, what with the grip ring and the clip. It is also too big to really put in your teeth. I also don't buy the argument that tactical lights can't tailstand. Remember the gorgeous design of the TorchLAB Moddoolar's Triad tailcap. Plenty of sure fingered access and still able to tailstand.
Overall Score: 18 out of 20
This is a really excellent light for those looking for more than a single cell torch can offer. It is not terribly expensive and compares well in many ways to the other lights in its class. I also love the grip ring and the UI. There is not much I'd change about the light at all. It is another impressive entry in the Four Sevens product line up and a real shot across Surefire's bow. It also has something that many other more tactically design lights miss--a true low. By now Four Sevens and others have proven their point--moonlight low should be on every light with multiple outputs. Every single one. That one addition takes it from the realm of a pure tactical light to make it an all-star, something that works well at home, in your pack, or on your nightstand. It also makes me hanker a little more for an Arc Mania MaxLight, if I could ever find one.
I received my MM-X from Trevor at Four Sevens. Before the rebranding the light was known as the X-7 and may still be listed as such in various places. There is a cheaper version of this light that looks identical, the MM-S. The difference comes in the emitter. The MM-X runs the XML emitter while its lesser twin runs the older XPG emitter. The difference between the two emitters in single cell lights is pretty minimal, but in lights of this class, the difference is large. The MM-X hits 480 lumens on high while the MM-S hits "only" 380. It will be part of an upcoming 2-cell shootout along with the G2X Pro and the M7R (which technically only has one cell...). Here is MM-X product page. Here is a review of the MM-X and not just any review, but a Selfbuilt review. You can purchase the MM-X through Blade HQ and the proceeds benefit the site's giveaways:
Blade HQ
Finally, here is the review sample:
Design: 2
Built from the ground up by Four Sevens as a more tactical light than the Quark line offered. I can't speak to its tactical nature, but I can speak to how it worked as a rugged larger sized EDC light. Its funny going from the standard single cell, no throw EDC lights that I prefer to these throwers. It is truly amazing the kind of performance you can get in these lights and of these lights, the MM-X is quite good. I like the retention ring at the rear and the stainless steel bezel. I like the size of the light, even if the head is quite bulky. I really liked the simple UI, though one small touch would make it amazing. Overall, this is a very solid two-cell like and much cheaper, on a per lumens basis than its Surefire competitors. And make no mistake, this like it aimed squarely at Surefire, Fenix, and the other more established brands. It is a performance-based wake up call to all those that thought 200 lumens were plenty in this product class.
Lumens:weight is (480/6.32 ounces) 75.95, while lumens:runtime is (480/60 minutes) is 8. Both are excellent, giving you a lot of light for the weight and a lot of lumens for a while.
Fit and Finish: 2
The threads are well-cut and the heat sinks are even and beefy. The light itself has a surprisingly solid and hefty feel, especially when you compare it to the almost paper thin walls of other Four Sevens lights like those in the Mini series lights. I guess this light's more tactical design necessitates the difference. Only one small drawback and I am not even sure if it is that. When the light is all put together there is a very slight amount of side to side play in the body from head to tailcap. If you take it in both hands and try to bend it, especially when the light is on low, there will be a minute amount of flex. When you tighten the light to a higher setting this goes away. It is not a big deal by any means but is something I have never seen before and therefore is noteworthy.
Grip: 2
This is the first light I have had with the grip ring on it and I have to admit, this thing rocks. I have always thought they looked interesting, like here on the Arc Mania Maxlite (I am unsure of which model this is, but you get the idea):
The MM-X's grip ring is a separate piece of aluminum and screws on to the body itself, meaning, of course, you can remove it if you don't like it. Here is the MM-X's grip ring:
Nothing like pinpoint control over almost 500 lumens of light with a throw that seems to be about a mile long. GREAT grip and control.
Carry: 1
Even for two cell lights, this is a pretty big body. It is significantly taller than both the M7R and the G2X Pro. Additionally, that ridiculous throw requires a positively massive head and that is what you get here. The pocket clip does what it can, but this thing is just really big. More of a backpack light than a pocket light.
Output: 2
THUMP. That is the noise of billions of photons colliding with whatever you want to look at and doing it all at once. With an output of 480 lumens, the MM-X competes quite nicely against a bevy of competitors. Surefire puts out a 500 lumen light, the Fury, but they run you AT LEAST $50 more than the MM-X. There are some Chinese-origin lights that do well in terms of high end, dollars per lumens, but nothing on the market has a low like the MM-X. This is the very best feature of the light and makes it not just a light for running and gunning (of which I did and will do none) but also a good around the house or backpack light. I'd give it a 3 if I could for the spectacular high and the impressive low.
Runtime: 2
The low is best measured in days, but is close to being measure in weeks (144 hours is 6 days). Can you imagine that? A day and age when our flashlights can run for weeks and produce useful light all the while being small enough to fit in your pocket (with a lot of lumps here). The runtime on the G2X Pro, even on low, is nothing like what you get here. There are lots of modes in between with long runtimes as well. The high hits an hour and half, though as with all lights this size and that brightness, I think that is a theoretical time because in all likelihood you'd have a puddle of molten aluminum by that time. Still, all of these numbers are impressive, well above par.
Beam Type: 2
Where does that photon THUMP come from? Right here:
No bones about it or messing around here, this a pure throw beam. Note the absolutely fat X-ML diode, that happens to be perfectly centered in a deep, smooth reflector. It took some getting used to, because even though Surefires have a notoriously tight beam pattern (this is a trick behind their deceptive lumens count), it is nothing like this. For the type of light this is I am plenty satisfied, but it is an adjustment over the floodier beams I get out of light of my preferred size. If you are aware of the difference and prepared to accept the trade offs, this is an excellent throw beam.
Beam Quality: 2
A gloriously neutral output with a steady, even beam. It is also a nice perfect circle. Lovely in every way and perfect for the throwy beam type. Throwers with rings and holes really are a problem as the rings and holes get bigger the further away the target is. Fortunately we have nothing but buttery smoothness here.
UI: 2
Oh my, so close. Let me get this out of the way--this is a great UI, but the thing is, it could have been a revelation. The clicky turns the light on and off. Twisting the head from tight to loose changes the output from high to low. You can set the output and then turn on the light, a masterstroke as it gets you the output level directly, no messing around with accidentally turning the light on in the wrong mode, no cycling through modes, just the desired output--bam. But here is the thing, without playing around with the light or having an insanely good memory you have no idea what the light's setting is. A few quick markings on the side of the light could tell you what the setting is and avoid the entire problem. It was so close, so very close to perfection in a clicky. Still, it is very, very good.
Hands Free: 1
The light can't tailstand, but it has no chance of rolling away, what with the grip ring and the clip. It is also too big to really put in your teeth. I also don't buy the argument that tactical lights can't tailstand. Remember the gorgeous design of the TorchLAB Moddoolar's Triad tailcap. Plenty of sure fingered access and still able to tailstand.
Overall Score: 18 out of 20
This is a really excellent light for those looking for more than a single cell torch can offer. It is not terribly expensive and compares well in many ways to the other lights in its class. I also love the grip ring and the UI. There is not much I'd change about the light at all. It is another impressive entry in the Four Sevens product line up and a real shot across Surefire's bow. It also has something that many other more tactically design lights miss--a true low. By now Four Sevens and others have proven their point--moonlight low should be on every light with multiple outputs. Every single one. That one addition takes it from the realm of a pure tactical light to make it an all-star, something that works well at home, in your pack, or on your nightstand. It also makes me hanker a little more for an Arc Mania MaxLight, if I could ever find one.