You get what you pay for and then some!
I know two people that have had fires from Odyssea/Jebo fixtures. On top of that, I know many other people that have had failures in the units, ie ballast burnouts, leaky filters, short lifespan.
This (my) post is entirely my thoughts and opinion on the lights I have had experience with based on my experience and use of these items.
OK, here's the skinny on a good deal. You buy some power-compacts from aquatraders.com for dirt cheep compared to the lights they look like.... I've been running
Odyssea lights for years ... no problems yet that I would consider anything dangerous from MY experiences.... but I take care of my fish and notice things before they get out of hand.
Here's where the hobbyists' common sense and responsibility comes into play.. regardless what brand lights you get be vigilant, UL listed / registered or not, YOU have to keep an eye on your aquarium lights. If they get hot enough to burn your hands then something is wrong... check your fans.. are they running? If they are not either replace the fans or get a new light.. Common sense.. for the cost you can't honestly beat them.
Now here's my experience with these lights..
I had the lights running on my tanks, all had the same heat issues, and the fans shipped loud.. I opened the end up and fixed the vibration noise.. easy fix if you are capable of finding a screw driver and the screws to open the unit. The reflectors were actually causing the noise from the vibrations of the fans. Super easy fix.. that lasted for a year, then the fans in both lights stopped working within a few months of each other.. Here's what I did..
I went to radio shack bought some fans.. and fixed the problem. I have the coralife lights as well after being scared into avoiding the lights everyone says causes fires... The coralife lights are getting really hot as well and have the same fan / noise issues, I will have to do the same re-work to those as well
... save your money ...
both lights only have 2 fans and they are both on the same side, although there are fan vents on both sides of the lights. I suppose if someone wanted to they could install fans on both sides, and that would keep the lights very much cooler.
bottom line:
I have both the lights from odyssea and coralife, they look very similar, and have the same issues over time with heat from my experience and opinion. They both seem to come with cheep fans. Replace the fans as needed, keep an eye on your lights..
If you test your water and feed your fish and clean your tank like you are supposed to then you will certainly notice when something isn't right. Anything and everything has the potential for failure. Just and example: If the shoes you have been wearing comfortably on your feet for years suddenly appear to have one more stripe than you'd have expected adidas to have and you can't find a label anywhere stating those shoes are adidas would you suddenly toss them in the trash just because they aren't real adidas? or would you buy another pair that's still half the price and been just as good for you? I have just bought my next odyssea light and am eagerly awaiting its' arrival.
If the two lights have the same behavior, and one is significantly cheaper and both from my experience have needed the same maint. / rework then I'm definately going to go with the cheeper of the two.
I've been keeping fish tanks for almost 25 years.
My lights sit inside of pine canopies on all my tanks, because I don't like the look of a bare fixture sitting on top of my tanks. Sooo, If I can keep them cool and not causing fires I'd think if they were sitting on top not in a canopy someone would have an even easier time of keeping them cooler...
You get what you pay for, and then some? .........
Again my post is all my opinion and thoughts from experience in the hobby.