Subispeed V2 Sequential LED Tail Lights on the WRX: V1 vs V2 and Install
John compares Subispeed Spec-D V2 sequential full-LED tails (matte black, smoked lens, white bar) to his V1s on a 2015–2021 WRX/STI: no raw LED glare, matte vs gloss, plug-and-play install without the V1 fuse tap, and on-car sequential demos.
Full video (11 min): Subispeed V2 Tail lights | Comparison VS V1 | Install · John's YouTube channel
Get the parts
- Search Amazon for 2015-2021 WRX sequential LED tail lightsSearch on Amazon ↗
- Clip and trim removal tool set: Generic pickGeneric pickBuy ↗
- Socket set with 10mm: Generic pickGeneric pickBuy ↗
- Find Subispeed / Spec-D WRX sequential tails on eBaySearch on Amazon ↗
- Dasaita head units on eBay (link from the description)Search on Amazon ↗
- Subispeed Spec-D sequential LED tails 2015–2021 WRX/STI (link from the description)Buy ↗
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links are affiliate links.
John compares Subispeed Spec-D V2 sequential full-LED tails (matte black, smoked lens, white bar) to his V1s on a 2015–2021 WRX/STI: no raw LED glare, matte vs gloss, plug-and-play install without the V1 fuse tap, and on-car sequential demos. This 11 min guide covers the Subispeed Spec-D sequential full-LED tails, matte black housing, smoked lens, white bar — 2015–2021 WRX/STI.
Overview
John unboxes Subispeed's V2 sequential LED tails and compares them to the V1s already on his WRX. Packaging is thick foam and pro box art. The big V2 win is aesthetics: no exposed raw LED dots (the main V1 gripe), a matte black housing vs the V1 gloss, brighter red sections, and a cleaner smoked look with a white bar. Install is straightforward — pull the trunk side liner, remove the stock tails, and plug the V2s in. V1 needed a fuse tap; V2 is closer to true plug-and-play. On the car he demos sequential turn signals and side-by-side diffusion: V1 looks more aggressive/raw, V2 is more diffused and refined depending on angle. Subispeed customer service gets a shout-out. Buy link from the description is below.
Vehicle & fitment
- Product
- Subispeed Spec-D V2 sequential full-LED tail lights for the 2015–2021 WRX/STI
- Shown on
- Subaru WRX / STI 2015–2021 (Subispeed Spec-D sequential LED tails listed for those years)
- Subispeed Spec-D sequential full-LED tails, matte black housing, smoked lens, white bar — 2015–2021 WRX/STI (link in the description)
- V2 is more plug-and-play than V1 (V1 needed a fuse run)
- Install: peel the trunk side liner, remove the stock tail fasteners, unplug, and swap
Always confirm fitment for your exact year and trim with the seller before buying.
Tools & parts
Tools
- Plastic trim tool for the trunk liner
- Socket/screwdriver for the stock tail fasteners
Parts
- Subispeed Spec-D V2 sequential LED tail light pair
- Factory plugs (reuse)
Step by step
- 1
V2s in the house▶ 0:19
Unbox the Subispeed V2 sequential tails — different aesthetics from V1 right away.
- 2
Packaging▶ 0:38
Thick foam, pro presentation. Subispeed nails the unboxing.
- 3
No more raw LEDs▶ 1:08
V1 showed individual raw LED dots; V2 conceals them for a cleaner look.
- 4
Plug-and-play vs V1 fuse▶ 1:43
V1 needed a fuse run; V2 should be closer to true plug-and-play.
- 5
Matte vs gloss▶ 2:05
V2 matte black housing and brighter red vs V1 gloss; black material quality similar.
- 6
Install▶ 3:24
Pull the trunk side liner, remove the stock tails, unplug, and swap in the V2s.
- 7
Sequential demo▶ 4:21
Turn signals sequence across the light — the party trick of these tails.
- 8
Diffusion side-by-side▶ 6:13
V2 looks more diffused; V1 sharper/raw. Gloss vs matte also changes how bright they read.
- 9
Which style?▶ 7:33
V1 more aggressive; V2 more refined. Pick the look you want.
- 10
Wrap▶ 10:42
Fresh install day — John will report if any issues show up later.
Wiring notes
- V2 aims for plug-and-play on the factory tail connectors. V1 needed an extra fuse tap — confirm your kit instructions before buttoning the liner up.
Get the parts
- Search Amazon for 2015-2021 WRX sequential LED tail lightsSearch on Amazon ↗
- Clip and trim removal tool set: Generic pickGeneric pickBuy ↗
- Socket set with 10mm: Generic pickGeneric pickBuy ↗
- Find Subispeed / Spec-D WRX sequential tails on eBaySearch on Amazon ↗
- Dasaita head units on eBay (link from the description)Search on Amazon ↗
- Subispeed Spec-D sequential LED tails 2015–2021 WRX/STI (link from the description)Buy ↗
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links are affiliate links.
FAQ
What vehicle does this install fit?
It is shown for the Subispeed Spec-D sequential full-LED tails, matte black housing, smoked lens, white bar — 2015–2021 WRX/STI (link in the description). V2 is more plug-and-play than V1 (V1 needed a fuse run) Always confirm your exact year, trim and factory audio with the seller.
How long does the install take?
John's full video is 11 min. Plan on that much time for a careful DIY install, plus extra if you are new to dash work.
What tools do I need?
Tools called out in the guide: Plastic trim tool for the trunk liner; Socket/screwdriver for the stock tail fasteners.
Where do I get the parts?
Use the buy links on this page for the unit and any harnesses John used. Some links are affiliate links.
Is this beginner-friendly?
The guide breaks the job into 10 steps with timestamps into the video. If you can remove trim panels carefully, you can follow along.
John's Subaru WRX
More photos →Photos from @ngooyen on Instagram. Follow for more.
Full transcript
Show the full transcript (153 lines) +
0:19[Music] all right so I got the new CB speed V
0:22all right so I got the new CB speed V twos in the house and those are the ones
0:27twos in the house and those are the ones you can tell by the just the design
0:30you can tell by the just the design alone but the v2s are definitely
0:32alone but the v2s are definitely different when it comes to aesthetics so
0:35different when it comes to aesthetics so let's go in nice box art so whoever did
0:38let's go in nice box art so whoever did that
0:39that sube speed is always on top of their
0:42sube speed is always on top of their presentation I actually opened this box
0:45presentation I actually opened this box upside down but yes you'll see the back
0:49upside down but yes you'll see the back side check it out very well packaged
0:54side check it out very well packaged thick foaming around these v2 s nice
0:57thick foaming around these v2 s nice kind of black you know everything looks
1:00kind of black you know everything looks very professional of course this is a
1:02very professional of course this is a nice top company I already opened this
1:05nice top company I already opened this one earlier check that out
1:08one earlier check that out bang now in person it's a big difference
1:13bang now in person it's a big difference right off the bat you don't see any raw
1:17right off the bat you don't see any raw LEDs that was probably the biggest gripe
1:20LEDs that was probably the biggest gripe with the other design if you have the
1:22with the other design if you have the raw LEDs so there you go
1:26raw LEDs so there you go a lot of raw LEDs reflecting let's do a
1:30a lot of raw LEDs reflecting let's do a little side-by-side if my hands long
1:33little side-by-side if my hands long enough there you go big difference right
1:39enough there you go big difference right big difference so we're gonna have these
1:43big difference so we're gonna have these installed and it should be plug-and-play
1:46installed and it should be plug-and-play like these were plug-and-play to extent
1:49like these were plug-and-play to extent you had to run a fuse for the version
1:50you had to run a fuse for the version ones but these are gonna change the game
1:54ones but these are gonna change the game so let's get to it all right I'm gonna
1:58so let's get to it all right I'm gonna give you another angle of how these
2:00give you another angle of how these taillights look subdued my dudes so here
2:05taillights look subdued my dudes so here you go the second sign the red on this
2:09you go the second sign the red on this is definitely brighter this has a nice
2:12is definitely brighter this has a nice matte finish versus this one which is a
2:14matte finish versus this one which is a gloss again see the material for the
2:18gloss again see the material for the black housing is about the same now the
2:21black housing is about the same now the raw LEDs do reflect really big so it's
2:25raw LEDs do reflect really big so it's nice to see everything concealed here as
2:28nice to see everything concealed here as far as the side
2:30far as the side see it but this one has the scoop right
2:33see it but this one has the scoop right here falls the body line this one could
2:35here falls the body line this one could talk a little bit earlier but it also
2:38talk a little bit earlier but it also has a different design on the the side
2:42has a different design on the the side marker which is kind of cool and yeah
2:47marker which is kind of cool and yeah there it is that's how it looks let's
2:51there it is that's how it looks let's see my impressions not on car they look
2:55see my impressions not on car they look very similar honestly very similar shape
2:58very similar honestly very similar shape wise let's say to the non you know
3:02wise let's say to the non you know average for the average person might see
3:04average for the average person might see it looks very similar but to me I wanna
3:09it looks very similar but to me I wanna say both home looks so good and have
3:11say both home looks so good and have their own taste so it's good to have
3:13their own taste so it's good to have both sides and it's cool at super speeds
3:15both sides and it's cool at super speeds providing a lot of options when it comes
3:18providing a lot of options when it comes to taillights in the United States so
3:20to taillights in the United States so here you go bang bang looking good so
3:24here you go bang bang looking good so installing it is very easy you just have
3:28installing it is very easy you just have to take off this back liner there's just
3:31to take off this back liner there's just some clips here that you can just use a
3:33some clips here that you can just use a flathead or use your fingers to pull out
4:01that's how it looks like with the dynamics turn signals double taps it
4:05dynamics turn signals double taps it doesn't really work here
4:21there you go you have the sequential x' one two three four it's about stop the
4:25one two three four it's about stop the smoothest animation it's like four four
4:27smoothest animation it's like four four zones so there you have it and then I
4:35zones so there you have it and then I will do the brake light and reverse
5:04when you have your downloa dynamics turn tap to turn when you click on it it goes
5:09tap to turn when you click on it it goes like that and then it turns on yeah see
5:11like that and then it turns on yeah see that that's why it looks so much
5:12that that's why it looks so much brighter so that's pretty cool but um
5:29brighter so that's pretty cool but um when it's not blinking let's see if I
5:32when it's not blinking let's see if I can turn it off
5:41so the brightness is actually the same guys so you have the the the new style
5:45guys so you have the the the new style on an old man I guess it could be
5:49on an old man I guess it could be because the the riders head is in the
5:50because the the riders head is in the air style it looks a lot more modern and
5:52air style it looks a lot more modern and clean I'm telling the the left side the
5:55clean I'm telling the the left side the LEDs it's kind of like insanely more
6:00LEDs it's kind of like insanely more ricey and I like rice rice but big
6:06ricey and I like rice rice but big difference here and the brightness is
6:11difference here and the brightness is definitely a lot different now I would
6:13definitely a lot different now I would say the left side is a lot more diffused
6:16say the left side is a lot more diffused when it comes to the sea light the right
6:18when it comes to the sea light the right side you can kind of see some texture
6:20side you can kind of see some texture some pop it does give it some it doesn't
6:24some pop it does give it some it doesn't look as well diffuse but because the
6:27look as well diffuse but because the shape of it is a lot more sharper it's a
6:32shape of it is a lot more sharper it's a much more aggressive more angular it
6:34much more aggressive more angular it kind of makes it look kind of cooler
6:36kind of makes it look kind of cooler again this is more diffuse and actually
6:40again this is more diffuse and actually I say this might be a little bit a
6:42I say this might be a little bit a little bit brighter but it could be the
6:44little bit brighter but it could be the gloss the glossy finish versus the matte
6:46gloss the glossy finish versus the matte finish and then you have your individual
6:48finish and then you have your individual LEDs I want to finish up the install but
6:52LEDs I want to finish up the install but that's kinda like a side-by-side
6:53that's kinda like a side-by-side comparison
7:04nice this is how the car sits right now and I'm saying it looks really good
7:08and I'm saying it looks really good pretty happy with the results pretty
7:13pretty happy with the results pretty happy nothing to complain about the
7:16happy nothing to complain about the taillights look actually a lot more less
7:20taillights look actually a lot more less aggressive than the previous set you can
7:23aggressive than the previous set you can definitely tell that it doesn't look as
7:26definitely tell that it doesn't look as hardcore and what I say that's actually
7:29hardcore and what I say that's actually a good thing for for me at least because
7:33a good thing for for me at least because the v1 definitely looked more aggressive
7:36the v1 definitely looked more aggressive look more raw and the reason why I say
7:39look more raw and the reason why I say that is because you can see the shaped
7:42that is because you can see the shaped more angular and more sharp and it also
7:45more angular and more sharp and it also has those raw LEDs exposing now what
7:48has those raw LEDs exposing now what this kind of take right here it's a lot
7:51this kind of take right here it's a lot more subtle a lot cleaner but a little
7:55more subtle a lot cleaner but a little more OAM and less aggressive so let me
7:59more OAM and less aggressive so let me show you some little close-up of it and
8:04show you some little close-up of it and because it's a little bit more bubbly
8:05because it's a little bit more bubbly around the back because it doesn't have
8:07around the back because it doesn't have that line it looks a little bit more you
8:12that line it looks a little bit more you know elegant some people might say more
8:15know elegant some people might say more OEM like Mercedes file but I think it
8:20OEM like Mercedes file but I think it still has that really nice Subaru DNA to
8:22still has that really nice Subaru DNA to it I like the way it looks looks clean
8:28it I like the way it looks looks clean now another thing and to talk about is
8:31now another thing and to talk about is the apparently these ones have better
8:35the apparently these ones have better ventilation so when it comes to
8:38ventilation so when it comes to condensation all that these ones will
8:41condensation all that these ones will have less of that issue now it just
8:43have less of that issue now it just installed today so I'll have any issues
8:45installed today so I'll have any issues yet but hopefully I won't have any
8:48yet but hopefully I won't have any issues with this set of taillights and
8:51issues with this set of taillights and when they pop man when they're off they
8:54when they pop man when they're off they look really stunning something different
8:57look really stunning something different to be had - now I'm so used to looking
9:00to be had - now I'm so used to looking at the other ones and the way that one
9:02at the other ones and the way that one was shaped so still getting used to it
9:07was shaped so still getting used to it but man that's a completely different
9:11but man that's a completely different look it's crazy how some type arrow
9:14look it's crazy how some type arrow taillights can change the way it looks
9:16taillights can change the way it looks now let me slowly turn on the parking
9:20now let me slowly turn on the parking for you guys
9:49so we had the side marker light right there and the bend goes all the way back
9:55there and the bend goes all the way back which is kind of cool let me see if I
10:01which is kind of cool let me see if I can get it more true to my eye
10:10so right now it kind of looks like this I would say this is more true that my I
10:22yeah that kind concludes it definitely it's an interesting shape you can see
10:27it's an interesting shape you can see the individual LEDs but they are still
10:30the individual LEDs but they are still diffused pretty fairly well depending on
10:34diffused pretty fairly well depending on the angle you look at it it has I can
10:35the angle you look at it it has I can pick a texture to it so it's not fully
10:39pick a texture to it so it's not fully diffused as well as the other one but
10:42diffused as well as the other one but yeah that's it guys hopefully this was
10:46yeah that's it guys hopefully this was helpful thank you guys for watching
10:48helpful thank you guys for watching peace out
Machine-transcribed from the full-length video and lightly cleaned (product names fixed). Watch the video for exact wording.
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