Whistler Pro 78SE (left), Cobra XRS 9955, BEL (Beltronics) Vector 955. Which is the best new under-$179 radar detector? |
In the radar detector industry, a 20 percent improvement in sensitivity (radar detection range) will generate a major buzz around the office water cooler. When
a carryover model delivers twice the range it has shown in one of our previous tests, that's page one news.
Last year Cobra's range-topping XRS 9950 dash-mount model was inexplicably struck blind by three of the four radars we tested against.
Yet its electronic twin, the XRS 9940, turned in a stellar performance in the same test. A mechanical mishap, no question, but that's the luck of the draw. [In a later test, a second Cobra XRS 9950 performed admirably. -Ed.]
One year later the Cobra XRS 9950's successor, the XRS 9955 -- same platform, nearly identical features -- turned in outstanding scores. In fact, the Cobra
and two competing carryover models recently reviewed each registered gains in excess of 100 percent against one or more of our radars.
That's a significant achievement for Cobra and Whistler. Not to be left out, the BEL (Beltronics) Vector 955, which of late has dominated this segment in
performance, showed evidence of further refinement against the sole radar frequency where it wasn't already the front runner.
The trend is clear: After perennially trailing high-end models like the BEL
(Beltronics) RX 65 and Vector 995; the Escort Passport 8500 X50 and Escort Passport 9500ix, mass-marketers Cobra and Whistler continue to whittle
away at the performance gap. Along with two BEL (Beltronics) Vector models, each manufacturer now has one or more models consistently showing 80 to
85 percent -- at least when conditions are favorable -- of the range of the big dogs, and this at attractively lower prices.
In particular, the Cobra XRS 9955 and the Whistler Pro 78SE demonstrated significantly amped-up performance compared to their predecessors, the Cobra
XRS 9950 and Whistler Pro 78. Bargain shoppers can rejoice in the fact that since each detector shares a platform with companion models (differing only in
features and price), the enhanced performance comes in a variety of packages. Here's a look at these new models and their test scores.
BEL (Beltronics) Vector 955
($165 typical street price)
Other than improved Ka-band performance, there are no changes to the BEL Vector 955 this year, not that much improvement was required. In the Curve/Hill
Test it led the pack against three of the four radars and effectively tied with the Whistler Pro 78SE for first place honors against the remaining radar
frequency.
At the Straightaway Test it detected all four radar frequencies at 5.7 miles, the maximum distance. The BEL (Beltronics) Vector 955 again displayed
class-leading performance against all of the common radar threats.
Cobra XRS 9955
($170)
The Cobra XRS 9955 and XRS 9960 ($290 street price) are the same unit; the latter comes with a GPS antenna that plugs in to a USB port on the left side of
the housing. This created some head-scratching when I unpacked the box, as both bear the same XRS 9955 label. The presence of the GPS module inside
is the difference.
The Cobra XRS 9955 scored within a few hundred feet of the leaders in every test save for X-band, for which it showed less enthusiasm in detecting. But for
those unconcerned about X band, admittedly a fast-fading threat in most states, the XRS 9955 has performance to spare.
Whistler Pro 78SE
($165)
I've tested two other Whistler models sharing this platform, the Whistler XTR-690 SE $179) and the Whistler XTR-695 ($219) and they perform similarly. Most of the differences are
cosmetic.
The Whistler XTR-695 has a blue-backlit LCD display while the Whistler Pro 78SE's LED display is blue and the Whistler XTR-690's is red.
Most notable about the Whistler Pro 78SE's performance is its consistency on Ka band. At the fiendishly difficult Curve/Hill Test site it's the first to equal the
BEL (Beltronics) Vector 955 in range on 34.7 GHz Ka-band. It scored nearly as well on 35.5 GHz Ka-band. At the maximum-range Straightaway Site the two
were dead equal save for on city-mode X band.
For those who expect to encounter that oldest of radar frequencies, the Whistler Pro 78SE had the
best all-around X-band detection range of the group.
Typical radar target-capture range (that means you)= 650 feet.
Typical radar target-capture range at the Straightaway site is 2,200 feet. (And no, that doesn't reflect how radar is used in the real world.)
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