(Clockwise, from lower left) Whistler Pro 78SE, Cobra XRS 9955, XRS 9945, Whistler XTR-690SE, Cobra XRS 9645, Whistler XTR-695SE, Cobra XRS 9745: Which is the best radar detector under $175?.
[Last updated 9/8/2010]
Beginning in the mid-nineties and as recently as few years ago, I was lamenting in print that except for some high-end BEL (Beltronics) and
Escort models, and the Valentine One, nobody was offering solid protection against Ka-band radar.
This poses a special challenge for radar detectors. U.S.-spec radar guns operate on three narrow slices inside this phenomenally
wide radar band. The hard-working radar detector must scan the entire spectrum in search of signals. This takes time, reducing sensitivity (radar-detection range) and occasionally it leads to missed signals.
The situation is further complicated by a radar's RF Hold feature, popularly called Instant On by civilians which, along with POP-mode radar, is designed to outwit radar detectors. This it can do with consummate ease although it's far from being the doomsday threat that some newsgroups and blogs would seem to suggest. (Read more...)
Fortunately for the driving public, radar detectors appear to benefit from a type of Moore's Law: As component costs have fallen, performance
against Ka-band radar has gone up. After tests this year it's clear that acceptable Ka-band sensitivity has finally reached the mass market. Acceptable for detecting conventional traffic radar anyway. If we're talking photo radar, lamentably few detectors in a recent test proved up to the challenge. (Read more...)
If you're looking for the best value in a radar detector priced between $120 and $170 (street price), now there's a choice. Whistler offers the
Pro 78SE ($160), the XTR-690SE ($160) and XTR-695SE ($170). New Cobra models include the XRS 9955 ($170), XRS 9945 ($150),
XRS 9845 ($140), XRS 9745 ($130) and XRS 9645 ($120).
Here's a look at how the newcomers performed, field test results followed by reviews of each model. (The BEL (Beltronics) Vector 955 was tested but as it's a carryover model, it wasn't reviewed again. For details, see the BEL Vector 955's most recent review.)
Interpreting the Straightaway Test Scores
A radar detector's job is easy when it's looking down the throat of a radar gun. Under favorable conditions -- level terrain and no obstructions between the two -- I've seen four miles of range or more from a number of detectors. (The worst radar detector I've ever tested eked out 1.3 miles of range in a no-brainer confrontation like this.) And I've tested hypersensitive models like the Escort Passport RedLine that can spot most radar guns at a distance of over 14 miles under similar conditions.
But budget-priced radar detectors can't be expected to approach the performance of a $499 Escort Passport RedLine. Lower expectations are in order.
Our Straightaway Test site, despite its title, is composed of three straight sections of county highway interrupted by plunging S-curves where it crosses dry stream beds. It's not truly straight; the three straight sections actually run parallel to one another, increasingly offset by about one half-mile increments.
At this site, radar detection range in excess of five miles (26,400 feet) is excellent performance for an under-$170 model. That's on X and K bands; Ka band is much tougher.
Look closely at a detector's two Ka-band scores. These frequencies are used by 95 percent of the nation's Ka-band radar guns. The higher of the two frequencies is unusually tough to detect and most radar detectors lag on 35.5 GHz. This makes the newcomers' Ka-band performances doubly impressive.
Interpreting the Hill/Curve Test Scores
Whoa, a minute ago we were talking about 26,400 feet of range. Now we're looking at just 10 percent of that. What gives?
Radar detection range shrinks dramatically when some curves and hills enter the equation. |
In a word: conditions. Real-world radar encounters rarely occur on straight, level,
obstruction-free roads. We developed this test to simulate a worst-case situation, one that I've used myself many times when working traffic with radar.
Radar waves are line-of-sight, like a rifle shot. And if they're aimed even slightly off-axis, a detector struggles to catch a whiff of the significantly weakened signal. This means that detection range tumbles precipitously in the presence of curves and hills.
This test incorporates both. Our radar vehicle is hunkered down in mid-curve and halfway to the bottom, invisible to oncoming traffic until they're within 750 feet. The radar displays a target speed a few microseconds after a vehicle comes into view. Any driver relying on eyesight alone is out of luck.
But if he's packing a sensitive radar detector, there's time to react. Here, 2,000 feet of range is plenty, at least for an attentive driver prepared to respond instantly.
Cobra XRS 9955
$170
We have a slightly more detailed review of the new Cobra XRS 9955 elsewhere on the site. If you need additional information, this model is identical to the Cobra XRS 9950, the subject of an extensive test and review last year.
One very useful feature on the XRS 9955 is Ka-band signal identification. An alert in reaction to police radar is depicted numerically by either 33.8, 34.7 or 35.5. Off-frequency Ka-band signals from non-police sources are displayed generically as "Ka band", along with their signal strength.
Okay, so why is Ka frequency ID a big deal? Simple: it tells at a glance if you're in the presence of a radar gun, an automatic door opener or another radar detector. (Drivers with no interest in this distinction should properly consider themselves to be future prey.)
| Ratings |
| Maximum Possible |
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| Features |
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| Ka
Radar Sensitivity |
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| K Radar Sensitivity
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| False
alarms |
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| Overall Value
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Cobra XRS 9945
$150
This Cobra differs from the pricier Cobra XRS 9955 primarily by its smaller OLED display. That's not necessarily a drawback in my opinion,
just less of a visual distraction. Otherwise, the list of features is similar. Like its sibling, the XRS 9945 accepts the Cobra GPSL module
($129). With that addition the Cobra becomes a red light camera detector as well.
If there's a downside to this model it's the chrome trim adorning its upper housing and controls. This makes for a stylish product on the
display rack, but it reflects noticeably in sunlight and the resulting windshield glare can be a distraction. Performance, though, particularly on
K and Ka bands, is much improved over previous models and the best yet from Cobra at this price point.
| Ratings |
| Maximum Possible |
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| Features |
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| Ka
Radar Sensitivity |
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| K Radar Sensitivity
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| False
alarms |
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| Overall Value
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Cobra XRS 9845
$140
The Cobra XRS 9845 has most of the features found in the step-up model, the Cobra XRS 9945, and shares its case. (Be advised that the upper housing, an artful blend of contrasting hues and textures, employs far more brightwork than the Cobra XRS 9945, generating a dazzling mirror image of itself in the windshield glass.)
If you're at risk from red light cameras or speed cameras, this Cobra can also be fitted with the Cobra GPS module by plugging it into the USB port on its left side. And like several other XRS models, it has an audio output jack for an earphone or speaker, making it a good candidate for noisy cockpits.
| Ratings |
| Maximum Possible |
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| Features |
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| Ka
Radar Sensitivity |
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| K Radar Sensitivity
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| False
alarms |
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| Overall Value
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Cobra XRS 9745
$130
The Cobra XRS 9745 is one of two models in the current XRS-series lineup (the other is the XRS 9955) with a darker, less-reflective upper housing. That makes it less visually intrusive on sunny days and some may prefer the more muted appearance.
This Cobra text-display model began life as the 12-band XRS 9730 a few years ago. During the interim it has apparently gained an ability to detect three additional bands of radar and laser signals, now offering no fewer than 15. If you've no idea what all this means, you're not alone, unless maybe you're a radar detector salesman. After reading more about this somewhat puzzling claim, you may be inclined to focus on more important attributes, like Ka-band sensitivity, for instance.
On that score, the Cobra XRS 9745 does well, trailing some of its more expensive stablemates but still honorably acquitting itself.
| Ratings |
| Maximum Possible |
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| Features |
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| Ka
Radar Sensitivity |
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| K Radar Sensitivity
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| False
alarms |
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| Overall Value |
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Cobra XRS 9645
$120
This Cobra is an electronic twin of the XRS 9745, distinguishable by slightly different colors -- plus some chrome -- on the upper housing. On the road, the two behave nearly identically and their performance is very similar.
The alphanumeric text display can be dimmed at night and during daytime is usually readable except in direct sunlight.
Like all of the Cobra radar detectors in this group, the XRS 9645 sports an audio jack, a useful feature and unusual to find at this price point.
| Ratings |
| Maximum Possible |
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| Features |
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| Ka
Radar Sensitivity |
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| K Radar Sensitivity |
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| False
alarms |
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| Overall Value
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`
Three New Whistlers
Whistler Pro 78SE ($160) |
When it was tested last year, the Whistler Pro 78 turned in the best test scores I've seen from Whistler since the early nineties. Its successor, the Whistler Pro 78SE, is better still.
There's more information about the Whistler Pro 78SE in a new review elsewhere on this site. But the test scores alone illustrate the Whistler Pro 78SE's outstanding performance for this price class.
Equal performance is available in alternative packaging. The Whistler XTR-695SE and XTR-690SE both receive the same electronic upgrades.
Whistler XTR-695SE ($170) |
The Whistler XTR-695SE is the line-topping model and has an earphone jack plus a wider range of user-selectable menu options. This one uses an LCD text
display that's fashionably backlit by the user's choice of color. Except at night, none of the combinations seemed terribly readable, however, and intense sunlight exacts a heavy toll on legibility.
On Sale Now!
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Fortunately, the XTR-695SE is saved from potential banishment to a closet by virtue of its alert system. A pair of dazzling blue LEDs flashes during an alert, making it impossible to ignore. It's also possible to create a more contrasting display by careful manipulation of background and foreground colors.
On sunny days the Ka RSID (signal identification) display may not be readable enough for some, and drivers planning to use this feature may want to check out the XTR-690SE (red LED display) or the Whistler Pro 78SE (blue LED display) as alternatives.
Choosing between those two display colors is partly left up to one's fashion sense, although each color has its advantages. Many prefer a red display at night, citing aircraft cockpit instruments of that color as proof of superior legibility. Others feel that blue is more visible under a wider variety of lighting conditions. Regardless, the two radar detectors are comparable in price and perform identically.
Whistler XTR-690SE ($160) |
And performance isn't an issue. Like its two siblings, the Whistler XTR-690SE and the Pro 78SE, it turned in a commendably well-balanced showing at both test sites.
| Composite Ratings |
| Maximum Possible |
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| Features |
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| Ka
Radar Sensitivity |
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| K Radar Sensitivity
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| False
alarms |
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| Overall Value
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