I like the Viparspectra boxes for ease of seeing the exact power % for each channel, built in timers, and that the blue channel is twice as powerful as the white. I verified this with a watts-up meter. I still run my blues at 100% and whites at only a couple percent. For me, that means a black box that puts 50% of it's power into the white channel is just wasted space as I keep them more turned down. Also seems to have a slightly more desirable spectrum (with whites) than my mars aqua one.
The coral don't know how much you paid for your lights. All they can tell is spectrum and intensity. You can achieve that with black box, or radions. Radions are likely just easier to use, and of course look better. If price was no object, I'd have radions, but I'm also content with my BB lights. I could turn them up high enough to burn any coral in my tank if I wanted. Each individual can decide what a brand name light is worth to them and compare the cost to what else is available, including the much more affordable black box lights. If spending $800/light is feasible and worth it to you, than by all means go for it! I don't think many people would argue that they are a great light loaded with features for control-ability. If you want to save almost 90% and don't mind too much that the light isn't as controllable and not as nice looking, than the BB lights are an option. There's no arguing that either will adequately grow any coral, so as with anything else it comes down to the cost vs quality. I think this is a tough one because the difference in cost is just so substantial.
