Key takeaways
- The Gavita Pro 1700e LED and the Luxx 645 LED Pro are close on paper: both cover a 5' x 5' flowering footprint on roughly 630 to 645 watts.
- Gavita holds a slight edge in efficiency and total PPF, while Luxx needs no controller adapter and dims from a knob on the fixture.
- Growers running either fixture well report around 3 lb per light, roughly 2.1 grams per watt.
- Neither fixture is sold new anymore: Hawthorne stopped selling Luxx on December 31, 2022, and Gavita's current lineup no longer lists the 1700e.
- Today's 630 to 690 W LED top lights reach up to 2,130 µmol/s and 3.0 µmol/J, and the table at the end lists every one we carry.
As part of an extensive internal project to test and benchmark all of the LED grow lights we carry, we are comparing two heavy hitters in professional indoor cultivation: the Gavita Pro 1700e LED and the Luxx 645 LED. These fixtures are designed for serious, high-value crop production and are reshaping how modern hydroponic facilities approach lighting, especially in states where total electrical usage per facility is limited and efficiency is critical.
As LED technology has become more efficient and less expensive, it has quickly become the preferred option for maximizing yield per watt in professional grow rooms. Both the Gavita Pro 1700e LED and Luxx 645 LED are built to push grams per watt to levels that were extremely difficult to reach with traditional HPS and other legacy fixtures.
Both fixtures are now discontinued. The comparison below still stands for growers running them, and the last section explains what happened to each and lists the LED fixtures in the same class that we carry today.
Overview of the Gavita Pro 1700e LED and Luxx 645 LED
Gavita released the Pro 1700e LED and immediately disrupted the industry. In independent testing at Light Laboratory, this fixture came in at an impressive 2.76 µmol/J in the 380–780 nm range, making it one of the most efficient fixtures we have tested.
Shortly after, Luxx answered with the 645 LED, targeting the same professional segment and aiming to compete directly with the most efficient LED grow lights on the market. From a grower’s perspective, this comparison is essentially the Ferrari vs. Lamborghini of LED grow light performance—top-tier fixtures where small differences in design and features can matter depending on your hydroponic setup.
LED Grow Light Specifications: Gavita Pro 1700e vs Luxx 645
Below is a technical comparison of the two fixtures. Both are rated to cover up to a 5' x 5' flowering footprint and deliver high-intensity, full-spectrum lighting suitable for advanced hydroponic systems.
| LED Specifications | Gavita Pro 1700e LED | Luxx 645 LED |
|---|---|---|
| Wattage (Input Power) | 630 W | 645 W |
| Voltage Options | 120–277 V | 120–277 V |
| Efficiency (µmol/J) [400–700 nm] | 2.7 | 2.67 |
| Total PPF Intensity [400–700 nm] | 1,764 µmol/s | 1,727 µmol/s |
| Amps | 5.4 A @ 120 V | 2.7 A @ 240 V | 2.3 A @ 277 V | 5.4 A @ 120 V | 2.7 A @ 240 V | 2.3 A @ 277 V |
| Recommended Mounting Height | 8"–24" from canopy | 8"–18" from canopy |
| Coverage Footprint (Veg) | 7' x 7' | 7' x 7' |
| Coverage Footprint (Flower) | 5' x 5' | 5' x 5' |
| Length | 44.1" (112 cm) | 49" (125 cm) |
| Width | 43.7" (111 cm) | 43.4" (110 cm) |
| Height | 2.3" (5.8 cm) | 2.6" (6.5 cm) |
| Weight | 28.4 lb (12.9 kg) | 31 lb (14 kg) |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years |
| Controllability | Yes, with Gavita EL1 or EL2 | Yes, with Luxx Controller and onboard dimming knob |
| DLC Listed for Energy Rebates | Yes | Yes |
| UV and/or IR Spectra | Optional UV add-on (UVR) | No UV/IR add-on |
| LED Bars | 8 | 6 |
| Dimming Range | 50–100% with the E-Series LED Adapter and a Gavita controller | 40, 50, 60, 80 or 100% on the knob, or EXT for an external controller |
In practice, the Gavita Pro 1700e LED offers a slight edge in raw efficiency and total PPF at a slightly lower wattage. The Luxx 645 LED is very close in performance, with a marginally higher power draw and a slightly more compact recommended mounting height range over the canopy.
For reference, Gavita's own published rating for the Pro 1700e LED is 1,700 µmol/s from 645 W, or 2.6 µmol/J, and the Gavita manual allows input wattage to vary by 7% either way.
Real-World Feedback: Gavita Pro 1700e LED Grow Light Reviews
Hydroponic growers and licensed facilities running the Gavita Pro 1700e LED report strong yield and efficiency gains in real-world environments:
- “We’re a licensed facility and changed out one of our flower rooms from 24 of the Gavita 1000 W DE’s to 24 of these lights. … The first harvest wasn’t that great, but that’s because we overfed our plants! Watch out when you switch. We overwatered. When you don’t have as much heat, the plants don’t drink as much… We’re a licensed facility and charged electricity is down 30%, our HVAC is probably down another 20%, and our yield is 5% higher. We dropped the LEDs within 18 inches of the plants. They love it.” – Carl, 2/28/20
- “This thing beams!! My plants are lovin it. If you throw it in a tent, make sure you have a 5' x 5' or larger. This thing is pretty big, but it fills the whole tent with uniform light, which is what I was going for. …” – Norman G., 9/12/20
- “I finished my 1st grow with the lights about 2 months ago and got 3 lbs. and 5 oz per light in each 4 x 4 sq. ft area. They worked like a dream right out of the box and the grow went about perfectly. Now in my 2nd grow and 3 weeks away from finishing.” – thcfamer, 12/16/20
These reviews highlight several practical benefits for hydroponic growers: lower room temperatures, reduced HVAC load, significant reductions in electrical consumption, and yield increases when dialing in the environment correctly.
Real-World Feedback: Luxx 645 LED Grow Light Reviews
Luxx users report similarly strong results, especially with canopy uniformity despite the fixture using six bars instead of eight:
- “Love them! If I go with one brand I will be sticking with Luxx. I was worried about the 6 bars compared to the 8 on most but the PAR readings were actually really good throughout the canopy.” – Yellow Penguins, 6/17/20
The feedback suggests that even with a slightly different bar configuration, the Luxx 645 LED still delivers strong, even PAR distribution suitable for dense, high-performance hydroponic canopies.
Comparing Expected Yields from These LED Grow Lights
Both the Gavita Pro 1700e LED and Luxx 645 LED produce impressive efficiency and total output numbers. Under well-managed environmental conditions, growers frequently report yields around 3 lb (1,362 g) per fixture—equivalent to approximately 2.1 grams per watt.
Grams per watt is one of the most direct and meaningful metrics for evaluating a LED grow light. For perspective, achieving 1 gram per watt with a 1,000 W HPS fixture was considered excellent performance just a few years ago. Now, with these high-efficiency LED lights, growers are pushing beyond 2 grams per watt in well-tuned hydroponic systems.
Both fixtures offer a clear performance upgrade over older HPS, MH, CMH, and previous-generation LED lighting, especially when you factor in HVAC savings and compliance with power restrictions.
Spectrum Comparison: Gavita Pro 1700e LED vs Luxx 645 LED
The spectra of the Gavita and Luxx fixtures closely follow the curve of modern full-spectrum LED grow lights, with strong intensity in the blue, orange, and red regions. While the Luxx spectrum graph shows prominent peaks in specific wavelengths, both fixtures appear white to the human eye with small clusters of red diodes—nothing like the heavily red-and-blue fixtures of older generations.
From a practical grower standpoint, the spectral differences between the Gavita Pro 1700e LED and Luxx 645 LED are negligible. Both use up-to-date spectral design aimed at maximizing yield, quality, and overall plant performance in professional hydroponic operations.
PAR Grid Comparison and Canopy Uniformity
PAR grid charts give a more concrete picture of how these fixtures perform over real grow footprints. The Gavita data below comes from our own testing, while the Luxx data is factory-provided. Note that the measurements were taken under different conditions, so this is not a strict apples-to-apples comparison:
- Gavita Pro 1700e LED: 24" above a 5' x 5' coverage area
- Luxx 645 Pro LED: 12" above a 4' x 4' coverage area
Despite the different test heights and footprints, both fixtures demonstrate strong, even PAR distribution suitable for dense flower canopies. In larger hydroponic rooms, this kind of uniformity simplifies irrigation and nutrient strategies because plants across the canopy are receiving similar light intensities.
Cost Comparison: Gavita Pro 1700e LED vs Luxx 645 LED
Below is an approximate cost comparison between the two fixtures, including controller-related components and estimated monthly operating costs at a U.S. average power rate of $0.13 per kWh.
| Cost Item | Gavita Pro 1700e LED | Luxx 645 LED |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated Fixture Cost | $1,100–$1,300 | $1,000–$1,100 |
| Adapter for Controller | $100–$150 | N/A |
| Controller | $300–$400 | $300–$400 |
| Estimated Monthly Cost to Run @ $0.13/kWh | $29.48 @ 630 W | $30.19 @ 645 W |
The Luxx 645 LED generally comes in at a slightly lower fixture cost and does not require an additional adapter for controller integration, which can reduce upfront investment in large-scale deployments. Monthly operating costs between the two are very similar, with the Gavita drawing slightly less power and the Luxx drawing slightly more.
The monthly figures assume 12 hours of light a day for 30 days, the flowering schedule, and they hold today for any fixture drawing the same wattage.
Key Takeaways for Hydroponic Growers
For hydroponic growers deciding between the Gavita Pro 1700e LED and Luxx 645 LED, the data points to a few clear conclusions without changing the underlying results:
- Efficiency and Output: The Gavita Pro 1700e LED offers a very slight edge in µmol/J and total PPF at a lower wattage, but both fixtures deliver top-tier efficiency and intensity appropriate for commercial hydroponic flowering rooms.
- Yield Potential: Under optimized conditions, both fixtures are capable of helping growers reach around 3 lb per fixture (roughly 2.1 g/W), a major jump compared with many older HPS and legacy lighting setups.
- Spectrum: Spectral differences are negligible in real-world use. Both fixtures use modern full-spectrum design with strong blue, orange, and red output for vigorous vegetative growth and dense flowering.
- Environmental Control: Growers report reduced heat load, lower HVAC demand, and improved control over VPD and irrigation—critical advantages in tightly controlled hydroponic environments.
- Cost and Control: Luxx offers a modest advantage in fixture + control hardware cost (no adapter required), while Gavita brings slightly higher efficiency and the option for a dedicated UV add-on.
If you are running a hydroponic facility and looking to replace older HPS, CMH, or early-generation LED lighting, either of these fixtures represents a serious upgrade in grams per watt, environmental stability, and long-term operational efficiency. The final choice often comes down to budget, preferred control ecosystem, and small layout considerations in your grow room.
Are the Gavita Pro 1700e and Luxx 645 still available?
No. Both fixtures are discontinued. Hawthorne, which owned both brands, announced in November 2022 that it would stop selling Luxx Lighting on December 31, 2022. It also said it would keep servicing Luxx warranties. The Luxx manual sets that warranty at five years from the date the fixture was bought. Gavita's current retail lineup lists the RS 1900e, RS 2400e and CT 2000e LED fixtures and no longer lists the Pro 1700e.
We no longer carry either fixture. The comparison above still holds for growers who run them today or are weighing a used unit, and the table below covers the fixtures that replace them.
Running a Gavita 1700e or Luxx 645 you already own
Gavita's manual gives a hanging height of 23 inches (60 cm) above the canopy for the 1700e. To dim it or schedule it, each fixture needs the Gavita E-Series LED Adapter (part 906151 for 120–277 V). The adapter lets a Gavita controller run it from 50% to 100%. Without the adapter, the fixture runs at full power. The current Gavita Master Controller EL3 lists the 1700e among its compatible fixtures.
The Luxx 645 dims from a rotary knob on the fixture, with settings of 40, 50, 60, 80 and 100%, plus an EXT position that hands control to an external controller through its RJ9 ports. One caution for older units. In March 2022, Hawthorne told owners that the Luxx 645W LED Pro had been mistakenly labeled IP66. The fixture should not be exposed to condensing humidity, heavy mist, fog or direct spray.
Gavita 1700e and Luxx 645 alternatives we carry today
Every LED top light we list in the same 630 to 690 W input range is below, sorted by rated output. The figures come from each product page, not from our own testing. Most of them now match or beat the 1700e and the 645 on efficacy, and the best reach 3.0 µmol/J.
| Fixture | Input power | Rated PPF | Efficacy | Voltage | Dimming and control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HLG Scorpion Diablo 650W | 650 W | 2,130 µmol/s | 3.0 µmol/J (as listed) | 120 V | Included dimmable driver |
| Gavita CT 2000e LED | 650 W | 2,000 µmol/s | 3.0 µmol/J | 208–480 V | Gavita EL3 Master Controller |
| Growers Choice ROI-FF650 | 650 W | 1,950 µmol/s | 3.0 µmol/J | 120, 240, 277 or 480 V | 0–10V |
| Gavita RS 1900e LED | 650 W | 1,900 µmol/s | 3.0 µmol/J | 208–480 V | 10–100% with the Gavita EL3 |
| HLG Tomahawk 650 | Up to 650 W | 1,859 µmol/s | 2.8 µmol/J | 120–277 V | GrowFlux wireless |
| FloraFlex High Bay 680W | 100–680 W | 1,836 µmol/s | 2.7 µmol/J | 120–277 V | 0–10V, daisy-chain |
| Dutch Lighting Innovations Diode-Series 600 FS-DC | 630 W | 1,815 µmol/s | 2.9 µmol/J | 208–400 V | 0–10V |
| Iluminar iLogic8 630W UV + Far Red | 630 W | 1,800 µmol/s (ePAR) | 2.85 µmol/J (ePAR) | 100–277 V | 0–10V |
| Fluence SPYDR 2i 630W | 630 W | 1,700 µmol/s | 2.7 µmol/J | 100–277 V | 0–10V |
| MegaPhoton LMPB1 630W | 630 W | 1,700 µmol/s | 2.7 µmol/J | 100–277 V | 0–100% with the MP controller |
| Iluminar iLogic8 630W Full Spectrum | 630 W | 1,700 µmol/s | 2.7 µmol/J | 100–277 V | 0–10V |
| ThinkGrow Model-W 630W | 630 W | 1,700 µmol/s | 2.7 µmol/J | 100–277 V | Onboard dimming or TrolMaster; separate far-red channel |
| ThinkGrow Model-H 630W | 630 W | 1,700 µmol/s | 2.7 µmol/J | 100–277 V | TrolMaster; adjustable spectrum |
| Scynce LED Raging Kush II | 690 W | 1,677 µmol/s | 2.43 µmol/J | 120–277 V | Digital control of spectrum and schedules |
| Iluminar FLD 630W | 630 W | 1,650 µmol/s | 2.65 µmol/J | 100–277 V | 0–10V |
| Scynce LED Dragon Alpha II 650W | 650 W | 1,613 µmol/s | 2.47 µmol/J | 120–277 V | Theia app with the Echo Air hub, 4 channels |
Two notes on the table. The Gavita RS 1900e and CT 2000e run on 208–480 V only, so a room wired for 120 V needs one of the 100–277 V fixtures instead. Gavita's larger CT 1930e draws 780 W for 1,930 µmol/s and is built as a one-for-one replacement for a 1000 W DE HPS, which puts it outside this class.
To work out how many of these a room needs, our guide on how many LED grow lights you need runs the watts-per-square-foot and PPFD math for any canopy size.