# A Couple of Mods I Put on King Kong

**Source:** Cary Hardy  
**Type:** video  
**Published:** 2025-06-03  
**Duration:** 3m 48s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVPvu1BtgN4

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## Analysis

Carrie Hardy demonstrates two aftermarket modifications for King Kong pinball: Pin Lights LED strips (with metal rail upgrade option) and Speaker Light Kits True Diffusers. Both products are praised for ease of installation/removal, with Hardy providing practical installation tips and noting variable fit issues across individual machines.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Pin Lights metal rails eliminate risk of damaging arc blades when installed via glass channel slit — _Direct product demonstration with installation explanation_
- [HIGH] Glass channel fit varies from game to game, sometimes too loose to grip metal rails properly — _Carrie Hardy's observation during King Kong installation; notes own unit has insufficient snugness_
- [HIGH] Speaker Light Kits True Diffusers smooth out LED appearance from Stern's built-in speaker lights — _Side-by-side visual comparison demonstration in video_
- [HIGH] True Diffusers work on both Stern speaker lights (4-inch or 5.25-inch) and Pinball Live Spike 2 Speaker Light Rings (5.25-inch) — _Product specifications stated directly_
- [HIGH] Pin Lights previously installed on Carrie Hardy's Foo Fighters machine — _Hardy explicitly states units pulled from own machine, not sent for review_

### Notable Quotes

> "One of the main reasons I'm installing pin lights is due to how easy they are to install and especially remove."
> — **Carrie Hardy**, Early in video
> _Establishes key product advantage over competitors_

> "My King Kong channel is honestly not snug enough to the cabinet. I might be able to remove the side rails and press the channel down to close that gap, but I'm merely just trying to give you guys a visual example of what the product can do."
> — **Carrie Hardy**, Mid-video installation
> _Demonstrates transparency about fit variability issue; frames demonstration as illustrative despite mechanical limitation_

> "I didn't get these sent to me for free or anything."
> — **Carrie Hardy**, Early disclosure
> _Establishes credibility by clarifying no free product provided; reviewer purchased own units_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Carrie Hardy | person | Pinball content creator and reviewer demonstrating mods |
| Pin Lights | product | Aftermarket LED sidelighting system with metal rail installation option |
| Speaker Light Kits | company | Manufacturer of True Diffusers product for Stern speaker light smoothing |
| True Diffusers | product | Aftermarket diffuser panels for Stern and Pinball Live speaker lights |
| King Kong | game | Stern Pinball machine being modified in video |
| Foo Fighters | game | Stern Pinball machine from which Pin Lights were previously installed and removed |
| Stern Pinball | company | Manufacturer of King Kong and Foo Fighters machines; maker of standard speaker lights |
| Pinball Live | company | Manufacturer of Spike 2 Speaker Light Rings compatible with True Diffusers |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Aftermarket LED modifications, Speaker light upgrades, Installation ease and compatibility
- **Secondary:** King Kong machine review, Mod product quality assessment

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.82) — Carrie Hardy presents both products favorably, emphasizing ease of use and visual improvements. Transparent about fit variability issue but frames it as manageable. Promo codes indicate sponsorship relationship but transparency about product sourcing maintains credibility.

### Signals

- **[product_strategy]** Pin Lights and True Diffusers positioned as easy-to-install visual enhancements for Stern machines (confidence: high) — Video demonstrates both products with before/after comparisons and installation methodology
- **[technology_signal]** Aftermarket modular lighting solutions becoming standard upgrades for home/collector machines (confidence: medium) — Two separate LED/lighting companies offering compatible products; Stern hardware (speaker lights) paired with third-party diffusers

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## Transcript

 Now let's see what it looks like. Good God almighty. It wasn't my plan to install mods on King Kong, but I'm going to show you guys the before and after of a couple of products. The first product is pin lights, and I even have a promo code for you. And the second modification is from Speaker Light Kids. One of the main reasons I'm installing pin lights is due to how easy they are to install and especially remove. When you order your set, spend the extra cash for the metal rails. This gives you the ability to install using the slit under your glass channel and there's no longer a worry about damaging your arc blades. and just an FYI I pulled these from my Foo Fighters. I didn't get these sent to me for free or anything. Something else to note I have discovered there may be a variable from game to game. Sometimes the glass channel will not be as snug to the cabinet as needed to give these rails a good grip. That is also why there is an option to utilize the sticky tape that has an easy peel off cover. My King Kong channel is honestly not snug enough to the cabinet. I might be able to remove the side rails and press the channel down to close that gap, but I'm merely just trying to give you guys a visual example of what the product can do. Thank you Oh big surprise Kong is in the way of my second ball to lock All right, let's see what a multiball show looks like. Most of the time, the best visual for the UV is by utilizing the connector with the package to connect to your shaker motor. And looks pretty sweet. The next product is from Speaker Light Kits. They are called True Diffusers. And this does what the name states. It diffuses the light, allowing the LEDs that Stern provides you to look smoother and here is a comparison. You should be able to tell which looks better. Left side has the diffusers the right side does not. This product is also easy to install and these will work on both Stern speaker lights for use with the four inch or the five and a quarter inch speakers and they will also work on the Pinball Live Spike 2 Speaker Light Rings for use with the 5.25 speakers. And there you have two mods I have installed on King Kong. Easy to install and easy to remove. I have links in the video description if you would like to get your own. The promo code for Pin Lights is good until the end of July to save you 10% off of your order. And Speaker Light Kits has their true diffusers marked down 20% until the end of July as well. Until next time guys, peace out.

_(Acquisition: youtube_groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 0b4944c9-ff33-4416-b94f-1b202576dd9d*