Phantom Black vs. Brillant Black

ohyababe · 01-23-2010, 05:24 PM

Can some one please explain to me what the difference between the two blacks are?
Thanks!

NPuter · 01-23-2010, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ohyababe

Can some one please explain to me what the difference between the two blacks are?
Thanks!

Phantom Black is metallic and Brilliant Black is not...
Phantom Black is said to look kinda gray in sunlight because of its metallic properties... Brilliant Black is like piano black...

I have Brilliant Black and am quite happy with it... It is just REALLY hard to keep clean...

ohyababe · 01-23-2010, 05:57 PM

Thanks! Im placing an order for one this week and im torn on what color to get. thanks again!

Facin · 01-23-2010, 08:24 PM

I have Brilliant Black and couldn't be happier.

tgdA4 · 01-24-2010, 12:23 AM

I'm biased, but brilliant black looks the best to me. And yes, it's very hard to keep clean.

NPuter · 01-24-2010, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgdA4

I'm biased, but brilliant black looks the best to me. And yes, it's very hard to keep clean.

Agreed - IMO black should be black - from what I hear, Phantom changes a lot based on ambient light...

Spacecadet_CC · 01-24-2010, 05:01 AM

I've had both, currently with Phantom Black, and I would say that I think that i prefer the Brilliant Black. The Phantom looks very nice, but I think that I want the metallic flake to be more dramatic. You only really notice the metallic look if you are right next to the car, with the sun shining on it and clean. Even when spotless and in sunlight, the parts of the car that do not catch direct sunlight look black. You don't really get that deep, deep sheen that you might see on a silver.

The Brilliant Black is so nice and deep when clean, though. And it is a little bit more mirror-like than the Phantom, although both do a good job of that.

However, both are equally as brutal to keep clean. Maybe the Phantom hides ambient dust a day longer. But you have to really like keeping your car clean for either of these blacks. I try to hand-wash my car once a week, so I can say my car looks clean more than 50 times a year! 8-)

Cabal_san · 01-24-2010, 09:42 AM

Yep, the weekly hand wash is getting old. I got lazy and used a drive thru during the cold winter and starting to see small scratches,so back to hand washing.

I had silver before this one and I could go like 2 to 3 weeks before it really looked bad enough that it needed a wash. With this BB, its 3 days, max.

BB looks great cleaned and the dealer had mine sparkling when I bought it, so my emotions got the better of me. Nothing beats a clean black paint job, IMO. Next car, going back to silver!

tgdA4 · 01-24-2010, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cabal_san

Yep, the weekly hand wash is getting old. I got lazy and used a drive thru during the cold winter and starting to see small scratches,so back to hand washing.

I had silver before this one and I could go like 2 to 3 weeks before it really looked bad enough that it needed a wash. With this BB, its 3 days, max.

BB looks great cleaned and the dealer had mine sparkling when I bought it, so my emotions got the better of me. Nothing beats a clean black paint job, IMO. Next car, going back to silver!

I've been lazy as well, and using a touchless laser car wash. I could swear it's leaving fine scratches though, is that even possible?

I had a silver A4 before this...and am also going back to it for my next car.

MrStuff · 01-25-2010, 06:36 AM

To the scratches: even dust \ sand @ highway speeds leave mini swirls in the paint.

I have phantom, I like the deep colour look vs the really shiny of the brilliant. It's only really obvious in sunlight... however if you are next to a black car you can really notice the phantom. I'm not going to go as far to say it looks gray, i'll say it's not a "pure" black. Might have an ever so slight grayish tint when the sun hits it, but again just enough to say it's not pure black.

I had the same issue while ordering. I looked at Meteor Grey (too green\blue in light), Deep Sea (too "grandpa\old" blue), Brilliant (just black), Phantom (cool black effect I was looking for, but had a little "imperfect not quite black" look and Lava Grey (feel in love with this paint, custom ordered, I would of gotten this but it was 3500 more, not worth it at this time... maybe on my future RS6\4 :P)

Phantom Black, in my opinion is not "grayish" but more of a "not pure black". It's black at night\dusk\dawn. IT does not look "dirty" in the sun. Has LOADS of blue\purple and green flecks. All an all i'm happy with my choice. However I started out that I didn't want "just black".

01-23-2010, 08:24 PM	#4
Facin Audiworld Junior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Greenville, SC / St. Louis, MO Posts: 23	I have Brilliant Black and couldn't be happier. __________________ "Hey, hey, careful man! There's a beverage here!" 2010 A4 Prem+ Quattro

01-24-2010, 05:01 AM	#7
Spacecadet_CC AudiWorld Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada Posts: 1,043	I've had both, currently with Phantom Black, and I would say that I think that i prefer the Brilliant Black. The Phantom looks very nice, but I think that I want the metallic flake to be more dramatic. You only really notice the metallic look if you are right next to the car, with the sun shining on it and clean. Even when spotless and in sunlight, the parts of the car that do not catch direct sunlight look black. You don't really get that deep, deep sheen that you might see on a silver. The Brilliant Black is so nice and deep when clean, though. And it is a little bit more mirror-like than the Phantom, although both do a good job of that. However, both are equally as brutal to keep clean. Maybe the Phantom hides ambient dust a day longer. But you have to really like keeping your car clean for either of these blacks. I try to hand-wash my car once a week, so I can say my car looks clean more than 50 times a year! 8-) __________________ --------------------------------------- 2009 A4 2.0T Sport, 6spd, Phant Black/Black, tinted and debadged, saving for more... --------------------------------------- PAST: 2004 S4, 6spd, Silver/Black •• 2005 A4 1.8T Ultrasport/Premium, 6spd, Black/Black

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01-23-2010, 05:57 PM	#3
ohyababe Audiworld Junior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 11	Thanks! Im placing an order for one this week and im torn on what color to get. thanks again!

01-24-2010, 12:23 AM	#5
tgdA4 AudiWorld Senior Member 2012 Audi S4 My Garage Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,035	I'm biased, but brilliant black looks the best to me. And yes, it's very hard to keep clean.

01-24-2010, 09:42 AM	#8
Cabal_san AudiWorld Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 257	Yep, the weekly hand wash is getting old. I got lazy and used a drive thru during the cold winter and starting to see small scratches,so back to hand washing. I had silver before this one and I could go like 2 to 3 weeks before it really looked bad enough that it needed a wash. With this BB, its 3 days, max. BB looks great cleaned and the dealer had mine sparkling when I bought it, so my emotions got the better of me. Nothing beats a clean black paint job, IMO. Next car, going back to silver!

01-25-2010, 06:36 AM	#10
MrStuff AudiWorld Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 276	To the scratches: even dust \ sand @ highway speeds leave mini swirls in the paint. I have phantom, I like the deep colour look vs the really shiny of the brilliant. It's only really obvious in sunlight... however if you are next to a black car you can really notice the phantom. I'm not going to go as far to say it looks gray, i'll say it's not a "pure" black. Might have an ever so slight grayish tint when the sun hits it, but again just enough to say it's not pure black. I had the same issue while ordering. I looked at Meteor Grey (too green\blue in light), Deep Sea (too "grandpa\old" blue), Brilliant (just black), Phantom (cool black effect I was looking for, but had a little "imperfect not quite black" look and Lava Grey (feel in love with this paint, custom ordered, I would of gotten this but it was 3500 more, not worth it at this time... maybe on my future RS6\4 :P) Phantom Black, in my opinion is not "grayish" but more of a "not pure black". It's black at night\dusk\dawn. IT does not look "dirty" in the sun. Has LOADS of blue\purple and green flecks. All an all i'm happy with my choice. However I started out that I didn't want "just black".