LEDVANCE SYLVANIA LED Flood BR30 Light Bulb, 65W Equivalent Efficient 9W, 10 Year, 650 Lumens, Dimmable, 2700K, Soft White - 2 pack

Why I tried the Sylvania BR30 LED

A burned-out can light in my laundry room pushed me to revisit my go-to for recessed fixtures: a warm, efficient BR30 LED. I picked up the Sylvania BR30 LED (2‑pack) to see if a modern 9W LED could truly stand in for the 65W incandescent floods I used to love for their cozy tone. I installed one in the laundry room and a few more in the kitchen and living room to get a good feel for color, brightness, and dimming behavior across different spaces.

Design and specs that matter

• Form factor: BR30 flood, standard E26 base
• Output: 650 lumens
• Power: 9W (65W incandescent equivalent)
• Color temperature: 2700K (soft white)
• Dimmable: yes, down to roughly 10% depending on dimmer
• Rated life: up to 11,000 hours
• Instant on: full brightness with no warm-up
• Safety: mercury- and lead-free, no UV/IR

This is a straightforward, no-frills bulb aimed at everyday recessed downlighting. The housing is slim and easy to grip, threads cleanly, and seats well in standard cans. It runs noticeably cooler than halogens or incandescent floods, which helps in small recessed housings.

Installation and first impressions

Swapping these into 6-inch recessed housings took seconds. No odd neck length, no awkward lens protrusion—the profile sits flush like a typical BR30. On first switch-on, the bulbs came to full brightness immediately with no visible ramp-up, buzzing, or hesitation. That “instant on” trait is particularly helpful in spaces where lights are triggered by occupancy sensors.

Light quality: warm, even, and consistent

If you prefer the inviting tone of classic incandescent floods, the 2700K color hits the mark. It’s warm without going orange, and it matches well with other 2700K sources in the same room. In my spaces, whites looked neutral (not muddy), and wood tones and textiles kept their warmth. I didn’t notice visible color inconsistency between bulbs in the same pack.

As a BR30, the beam is a wide, even flood—exactly what you want for general-area lighting from recessed cans. I didn’t get hard-edged rings or hot spots; the diffusion is smooth, which helps when you have multiple cans in a row and want uniform coverage across countertops or seating areas.

If you prefer a crisper, cooler look for task-heavy spaces like kitchens or workshops, consider a 3000K–3500K alternative. But for living areas, bedrooms, hallways, and laundry rooms where a softer vibe works best, this color temperature feels right.

Brightness and coverage

At 650 lumens, each bulb provides the approximate brightness of the old 65W floods. One bulb comfortably illuminated my laundry room on its own. In the kitchen, four cans with these bulbs delivered a cozy, not clinical, level of brightness. If you have high ceilings, very large rooms, or you prefer a brighter, whiter look, you may want either more fixtures, a higher-lumen BR30, or a BR40 where appropriate. For standard 8–9 foot ceilings with typical can spacing, these sit in the sweet spot for general illumination.

Dimming performance

I tested the bulbs with an LED-rated wall dimmer and an occupancy sensor/dimmer. The range felt smooth from about 100% down to roughly 10–15% before the dimming curve flattened. There was no shimmer or audible buzz, and no step changes as I turned the knob—just an even fade. As with any LED retrofit, your experience will hinge on the dimmer itself. Old, non-LED dimmers can cause flicker or limit the range. If you’re upgrading from incandescent, pair these with an LED-compatible dimmer and you should be fine.

Quick tip: if you do see a hint of flicker on a multi-bulb circuit, try leaving one bulb at full power on a different switch or increase the minimum dimmer setting if your control supports it. LED loads are light, and some dimmers need a bit more to stabilize.

Efficiency and heat

Dropping from 65W to 9W per bulb is a tangible win. In a four-can kitchen setup used a few hours a day, you’re cutting more than 200 watts of load at full brightness, which adds up on your bill over a year. Heat output is very low relative to halogens, which not only helps fixtures and trims last longer but also keeps rooms a touch cooler under long use. After an evening on at full brightness, the lens was warm to the touch, not hot.

Noise, flicker, and camera behavior

No audible hum in any of my fixtures, even at low dim settings. To the eye, the light is steady with no visible strobing. I also checked for banding on smartphone video at common frame rates and didn’t see obvious artifacts. For casual shooting under these lights, they’re perfectly fine.

Longevity and build

I can’t fast-forward years, but I ran a pair of bulbs for long evening sessions over several weeks and saw no brightness drift, tint shift, or early hiccups. The rated life is 11,000 hours, which in real terms is many years of typical residential use. As with any LED bulb, heat, dimmer compatibility, and power quality will influence lifespan. The build feels solid for the class—nothing rattly or flimsy—and the lens cleans easily without smudging.

Where this bulb fits best

• Recessed cans in living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, and laundry rooms
• Areas where you want warm, comfortable light rather than a crisp daylight look
• Dimmer-controlled circuits using modern, LED-rated dimmers
• Occupancy-sensor setups that benefit from instant-on performance

Where I’d choose differently:
- High ceilings or very bright task areas where a higher-lumen BR30 or cooler color temperature would help
- Spaces where color-critical tasks are common (look for bulbs with a specified high CRI if you need precise rendering)
- Jurisdictions with stricter sales restrictions; note that this model isn’t shipped to California

Small usability notes

• The wide, soft beam avoids glare in typical trim styles, which makes it easy on the eyes for evening use.
• The bulb’s profile works with most standard trims; I didn’t encounter compatibility issues with baffle, reflector, or adjustable trims in my fixtures.
• If you’re mixing these with other LED bulbs, keep color temperature consistent across the room to avoid patchwork tones.

Value

The two-pack is priced competitively for a reputable brand and a dimmable BR30. Given the efficiency and expected lifespan, the cost per year of operation is low, and it’s a straightforward, low-risk upgrade from incandescents or older CFL floods. You won’t find app control, tunable white, or color-changing features here—just dependable, warm light at a sensible cost.

The bottom line

The Sylvania BR30 LED nails the fundamentals: comfortable 2700K color, true instant-on, smooth dimming (with an appropriate dimmer), and a wide, even beam that flatters most rooms. At 9W and 650 lumens, it’s squarely in the replacement range for 65W incandescent floods, without the heat and with a fraction of the power draw. For most recessed lighting scenarios in living spaces, it’s a reliable, easy recommendation.

Recommendation: I recommend this bulb for anyone outfitting standard recessed cans in living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, or similar spaces where a warm, inviting tone is preferred. It’s energy efficient, quiet, and consistent, with solid dimming behavior when paired with an LED-rated control. If you need a cooler color temperature or more output for high ceilings, choose a brighter or higher-Kelvin variant; otherwise, this is a dependable everyday pick.