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Thread: X50 or V1

  1. #1

    Default X50 or V1

    Firstly, i am novice when it comes to radar/laser detectors.
    I have done all the online research and checked out the videos on youtube. I am planning to buy my first detector, it would either be a 8500 X50 or a Valentine 1.

    I have few things to ask before i go and buy something. there is a 100$ price difference between two. is it worth to spend more money just for the arrows? as far as i understood, people commented that V1 has more false alarms than X50 but when i see the videos, most of the times the V1 alerts couple of seconds prior to X50 but is that difference really worth spending 100$? and one more thing, is V1 more stealth than X50 to RDD.

    i would really appreciate if experts can help me decide.

    thanx

  2. #2
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    Yea, there are a dozen or so V1 vs X50 videos. Here's one,

    YouTube - Valentine One vs. Escort X50 8500 1

    And here's a very good set of data showing a recent RD test,

    http://www.guysoflidar.com/august-20...ctor-test.html

    So yea, in my opinion, the V1 is better than X50. Why else would VR charge more. Or better yet, why would Escort charge so little (compared to both the V1 and their own 9500i)?

    But if you want to stay in the $300 - $400 bracket, then your main concern is X50 vs RX65. If you step into the $400 - $500 bracket, then you should ask yourself, V1 or 9500i. Lots of people disagree with me on this, but I like to keep the two sets of RD's separate, the RX65 and X50, then the V1 and 9500i, with the STi on it's own due to its monopoly.

    Again, I make the analogy. Would you like your Honda Civic as an LX or EX? Or would you like your Mitsubishi Eclipse a GS or GT? Obviously the Eclipse is stronger than the Civic, but it's up to you if you want to spend that extra money.

    If you don't want to spend the extra $100, that is fine. Both the x50 and RX65 are great RD's. They will do the job very well, but they are priced accordingly. Put it this way, it's not like you're spending $200 on a Cobra and essentially wasting your money. When you buy a X50 or RX65, you're definitely not wasting your money.

    LOL, to rock the boat a bit, I would suggest the RX65 over the X50. This is due to test results and features.

  3. #3
    Yoda of Radar
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    Both are easily detected by RDDs.

  4. #4
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    Default Re: X50 or V1

    I guess I didn't answer your question. It's hard to say if the difference between the X50 and V1 is worth $100... It's actually a rather hard question to answer. To spend more money to go from the X50/RX65 bracket into the 9500i/V1/STi bracket. Maybe someone here will be able to answer that question.

    Quote Originally Posted by khanlov1
    I have few things to ask before i go and buy something. there is a 100$ price difference between two. is it worth to spend more money just for the arrows?

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by djrams80
    Both are easily detected by RDDs.
    Actually, the V1 is harder to detect, when compared to the 8500 X50.

    Here are some references to this statement.

    http://www.radarbusters.com/2006spec...ingarticle.cfm
    http://www.radarbusters.com/2005spec...ingarticle.cfm
    http://www.radarbusters.com/lidarspe...ingarticle.cfm
    http://www.guysoflidar.com/march-200...ctor-test.html

    Etc, etc, etc...

  6. #6
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    They're both top-notch detectors. I used my X50 for almost three years, and in less than a week with the V1, I think I can officially be termed a "zombie." Basically, here's what you get with each detector:

    X50:
    -Lower price
    -Less falsing (but less range on Ka as well, take that with a grain of salt)
    -Ability to track multiple bogeys on multiple bands
    -Spec display which shows you the frequency of the radar you're picking up
    -Easier programming

    V1:
    -THE ARROWS! (yes, they are worth it--they've saved me already)
    -Better range on Ka band
    -Able to track multiple bogeys, with the arrows aiming at the strongest one
    -Superior laser detection (better at picking up scatter, but a laser detection is generally a ticket notification without other countermeasures)
    -"Stealthier" platform (black box and direct wire are easier to conceal than a gray box with a coiled wire)
    -More customization options in the programming mode--it's a little more complicated, but Mike's got a guide on his website which makes it laughably easy for anyone to customize the V1 to their liking

    Keep in mind that if you're in an area where detectors are illegal, neither one will work for you. STi is the only way to go. I can't recommend one over the other because, frankly, I love both designs. You really can't go wrong--you just need to evaluate the features of each type and decide which features are most important to you, and which one meets those needs best.

  7. #7

    Default

    thanx guyz....

    i got the answer, but one of the link i checked, the stats say that both 'V1 and X50' are not stealth and are detectable. and surprisingly, both claim to be undetectable to RDD. thats strange. actually, i can spend 100$ extra and buy a V1 but came here to get some advise from pros to see if it would be a good decision.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by khanlov1
    thanx guyz....

    i got the answer, but one of the link i checked, the stats say that both 'V1 and X50' are not stealth and are detectable. and surprisingly, both claim to be undetectable to RDD. thats strange. actually, i can spend 100$ extra and buy a V1 but came here to get some advise from pros to see if it would be a good decision.
    There are two groups when it comes to RDD's. The VG-2/4 and Spectre. The VG's cannot detect either X50 nor V1 (Along with many others, such as RX65 and 9500i). But the Spectre can detect ALL RD's except the STi. But when it comes to which (X50 or V1) is easier to detect by a Spectre, you should take note the distance at which each is seen by the Spectre.

    In other words, the cop car containing the Spectre will need to be closer to you to detect the V1. Whereas if you had a X50, the cop doesn't have to be as close. So if you're in VA driving with a V1, you have a better chance spotting the cop and turning off your RD as appose to using a X50.

    Side note, according to the test results, we are only talking a difference of about 300 to 900 feet between the two detectors being detected by a Spectre.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by khanlov1
    thanx guyz....

    i got the answer, but one of the link i checked, the stats say that both 'V1 and X50' are not stealth and are detectable. and surprisingly, both claim to be undetectable to RDD. thats strange. actually, i can spend 100$ extra and buy a V1 but came here to get some advise from pros to see if it would be a good decision.
    Another thing to think about when deciding between the X50 and V1 is if you prefer to hear a lot of beeping in your car or not. Some people hate the noise and would prefer to have a more quite ride. Whereas other people love gadgets the beep and brap and like to spend some energy giving their RD's some attention while they false to better learn them. Because I don't mind the noise at all, I went with the V1 as appose to the 9500i.

    But after owning the V1 for almost a month, I caught myself not taking the V1 seriously due to falsing and almost got caught speeding with a I/O Ka hitting me after I got about three warnings. So there's a learning curve with these things.

  10. #10
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    IMHO, the X50 is nice but when you move up to the big boys league you go v1

    There are many reasons why V1>x50

    Arrows

    better sensitivity

    two antennas

    Superior k band muting abilities that Belscort automute can't match

    better tones (in my opinion since the x50 tones sounds very much like
    something you'd hear on Mario Brothers

    simple proven design

    Winner of most GOL testing categories

    King of laser

    ....

    The one drawback is the V1 is very chatty because of its extreme sensitivity. If your main priority is not missing an alert then go V1.
    Try it out and watch your addiction develop

 

 

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