The Escort is not smaller than the Valentine One.

Size (from smallest to largest):

Valentine One -> 16.20 cu. in.
Bel RX65 Pro -> 16.33 cu. in.
Bel STi -> 16.33 cu. in.
Escort 8500 X50 -> 18.95 cu. in.
Escort 9500i -> 21.72 cu. in.

Weight (from lightest to heaviest):

Valentine One -> 181.5g (6.40 ounces)
Beltronics RX65 Pro -> 236.6g (8.35 ounces)
Escort 8500 X50 -> 253.7g (8.95 ounces)
Escort 9500i -> 269.2g (9.49 ounces)
Beltronics STi Driver -> 291.6g (10.29 ounces)

The 9500i is the largest in size and the Bel STi Driver is the heaviest. The Valentine One is the smallest and lightest radar detector of the Top 5 radar detectors made today.

 

8500 or 8500 X50? The first gen X50's were very good. The new ones aren't very good in comparison of the top detectors. If you want the least amount of false alarms possible with excellent sensitivity, the 9500i is your best choice. If you live in VA, DC or any are where Detectors are illegal, the Bel STi is your best choice. If you want the absolute best detection and want to know exactly where the officer is, the V1 would be your best choice. Keep in mind the V1 falses alot from automatic doors. You can program it to alert after 4 leds or 30 seconds, whichever comes first. You can also turn off the rear antenna in the city. This will quiet it down alot. If you want great detection, but don't want to spend a ton of money, the Whistler Pro 78 Rev. C or any of the Bel Vector series are the best choice. The Bel Vector series all have roughly the same detectors. The differences are in options. For example if you want to be able to turn off a particular radar band, you would have to purchase one of the higher priced Vectors.

 

Arent the V1's complicated to understand? Where would I need to look for a writeup on how all the features work?

Ive always used a cheap cobra RD and it works most of the time but not all the time but id like to upgrade to a V1. Ive heard alot of great things about it.

One suggestion about the people who hard mount it to the windshield. The thing that pisses police officers off the most is seeing a radar detector hanging from the windshield. Thats automatically asking for a ticket. My best friend is a trooper in my state and he'll let alot of people he pulls over go but if he sees a radar detector, he'll never let that driver get away with a warning. So my suggestion would be, if you see blue lights, hide your detector.

People with the V1, do you guys ever get pulled over for speeding?

 

radardetector.net and guysoflidar.com will give you all the info you'll ever need about RD's. Cobras are consistantly the worst detectors. They do not give you any warning time to slow down. The V1's programming graph looks hard, but honestly it's easy as hell even for the inexperienced. You basically use the arrows like a dipswitch. Up means on, down means off. It's super simple. Just because you have the a detector that's capable of 11+ miles detection range does not mean you won't get nailed for speeding. It's a tool and you need to understand how to use it. If you are the only car on the highway, don't speed. If an officer runs instant on, your going to get a ticket. Always stay behind a lead car. The V1 is the only detector that MAY give you a chance against laser. It's laser detection is fantastic. I've been lucky twice when officers were targeting the car next to me. They were pulled over.

 

Don't you love when people lie. You can always tell when someone doesn't really own a V1 because they comment on how big it is when it's the smallest and lightest of all the premium detectors.

 

And on top of the Valentine One being the smallest and lightest radar detector, it beats the others in radar and laser detection. Also don't forget that the Valentine One is $100 cheaper than the Bel STi and $50-$100 cheaper than the Escort 9500i depending on if you want red or blue leds.

http://guysoflidar.com/august-2007/r...ctor-test.html

http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detector-performance/

http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...adar-detector/

http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...ice-laser-gun/

http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...adar-detector/

http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...ice-laser-gun/

 

http://valentine1.com/




http://valentine1.com/lab/MikesLabRpt3.asp

 

"Lie"...? That's a little harsh...

I can understand the mistake, I've also owned both and the 8500 looks smaller than the V1 because it's narrower, and the front curves in (so the front looks smaller).

The V1 looks bigger because it's so wide, but it's short (depth).

 

Which one blocks more view? V1

 

I do understand what you mean by this. The V1's face curves slightly towards the driver so the width is larger. When I first got my STi and put it next to my V1 and an X50, I was astonished at how small the V1 actually was. I never would have thought it. The mount on the V1 is great. It allows me to put the V1 up very high on the windshield with virtually no visible gap. My STi has a small gap. I can't put it any higher because of the bubble strip at the top of the windshield.

 

Guys of lidar have given us the opportunity to see all of these detectors in action, with easy to interpret results.
I have a V1, and have owned an 8500 x50. I like the idea of not having false alarms.
However, I don't think I could go back to a unit with 1 antennae. The arrows have helped me too much to switch to something else. I love 'em.

The off axis and peripheral detection of the V1 is not something to be ignored. No other unit comes close, same for the Laser detection. It is second to None.

I will say this though, I really despise the "J" or Junk out feature that the V1 has. I wish they never put that on.

If you're buying a radar detector for looks, just buy a Rocky Mountain Radar Unit. I could care less about looks. I want performance!!

 

I finally gave my 8500 x50 to my son and got the V1.

I have to say, that I should have done this long ago! It took me a couple of weeks to get used to the V1, but I don't think I could ever go back. It doesn't really false that much more than the x50, say about 10%, but the display with the Bogey counters and arrows gives a lot more information to read whether the radar is police or just a door opener once you adapt to the learning curve. The arrows have already saved my butt just last week when I passed 2 radar locations in a row! My x50 would have just given me an incomprehensible "beep".

A few more falses on K, but less on Ka, so it's a trade-off.

I like the idea of up-gradeability in the future as I'm tired of just throwing the old one in the garbage (though my son likes my gift of the x50).

The only thing I would like it to have is different colors for band indication, but I've seen modded remote displays on Ebay. Does anyone know how hard it is to do your own ? (LED specs, etc.)

All in all, I'm pleased with the Valentine and like it better than the 8500 x50.

BTW, this seems to be a good thread. Could one of the mods move it over to the general Electronics section as it's good for not only the '07 ppl.

 

It may have one available some day. The 9500 has a USB port for software upgrades & possible database info. in the future.

I understand that the V1 is a favorite here, and others have mentioned it's so great because it tells you which direction the threat is coming from, which is cool, but does it TRULY matter "where" the threat is coming from? I mean, don't you want to slow down anyways? Just curious.

I'm researching RD's right now, and am leaning towards the 9500i....I read in reviews that if false alarms are a nuisance, then the V1 isn't for you. I can't stand false alarms...because the more there are, the less I actually listen to the detector (meaning I say "F it", that's not a cop) and keep on motoring....

Thoughts or feedback on this topic are welcome please!

 

Rebinc sells these on radardetector.net. I think he had a group by recently. This is one thing Valentine should incorporate as at night you cannot visually tell the band. The good thing is the tones are very identifiable and distinct from each other.

 

What is Spectre proof?