IMO and experience, SE bulbs hold their color better than DE bulbs and they have better color. Meaning, if you have a SE 12K coralvue and a DE 12K coralvue, you will get better color out of the SE lamp every time!
I own 5 MH DE lamp fixture and am trying to figure out how I am going to replace this $1500 lamp with either HO T5's or a 3 X 250w T5 combo. I run XM 20K's now and my colors do not POP! I am on my 3rd set of bulbs and am not happy yet.
I have used 12k, 14k pheonix, and 20K. Still searching for a DE bulb to give that Radium look.