Something better

**The Chariot** · 10-14-2009, 07:04 PM

I purchased the XTR-690 last year based on a lot of positive reviews on many sites, GOL tests on the Pro-78 (same as the XTR-690, different color screen), and it was in the price point I needed at the time.

I'm looking to upgrade now, don't want a V1. I have a friend with one, and it's constantly going off at every source around town that's not LEO, and since 90% of my driving is local non-highway it would drive me nuts (would be great on road trips). I need reliable, intelligent filtering with good performance to boot and I don't want to constantly have to look up at signal counter whenever I pass a store.

There seems to be many new detectors out this year which do the job, but I see too many posts about drawbacks and reliability, while it appears Whistler has done some tremendous improvements with the rev C+ models. The filtering is good, the frequency displays helps to determine multiple source and they've really improved range as well.

So, the question is, are the rev C+ models really as good as they say they are, or are there better alternatives for more money that are going to be reliable? I do not want to deal with a manufacturer's service department no matter how they are. I have LIDAR jammers on the truck, if that makes any difference in the discussion.

**crazyVOLVOrob** · 10-14-2009, 07:10 PM

Since you require "intelligent filtering" Go with the Escort 9500xi

Personally I have found out in my experience that I know a false and I know real threat no matter what even through all the falses I get in the city V1 with 30second k-band automute enabled in city modes with it unmuting at 4 leds is a great set-up that works for me but some people are different

Try out the V1 for 30days with some settings changed like POP-off and K-band automute on, and then if its too much return the V1 and get the Escort 9500xi

**The Chariot** · 10-14-2009, 07:13 PM

Maybe the thing to do is buy both and return the one I like the least!

**Stealth Stalker** · 10-14-2009, 07:16 PM

Originally Posted by The Chariot

Maybe the thing to do is buy both and return the one I like the least!

Good plan. But for what you seem to be looking for, the 9500 series seems to be the only intelligent choice. Yes, there are significant performance sacrifices that come with silence, but hey, I understand that we don't all live on West Texas desert highways.

**The Chariot** · 10-14-2009, 07:48 PM

How does it stack up against the Redline? Looks like a good unit, but worried the Redline may not be ready for prime time, reliability wise. The GPS... nice but I'd hate to think I end up filtering out a spot and LEO decides he want to target from there!

**crazyVOLVOrob** · 10-14-2009, 09:07 PM

Originally Posted by The Chariot

How does it stack up against the Redline? Looks like a good unit, but worried the Redline may not be ready for prime time, reliability wise. The GPS... nice but I'd hate to think I end up filtering out a spot and LEO decides he want to target from there!

The Redline will not offer the intelligent filtering you desire. Its ment to be a senitive detector so it will false alot and the filtering isn't the best when compared to the V1

**Stealth Stalker** · 10-14-2009, 09:34 PM

It seems that you're looking for what we're all really looking for, which is the ultimate combination of performance and quietness. Even the most rabid V1 zombie would like that. Right now, it involves compromise on one or the other. There's just no way currently to quiet a detector down with 100 percent safety.

The 9500s are definitely the most successful at quieting the detector, through a combination of methods. Turning off the GPS increases responsiveness notably, but only increases falses slightly. The "intelligent filtering" you refer to controls the rest. But both cause a lag time in responsiveness.

The Whistlers don't seem to be particularly known for their quietness. In fact, we seem to hear a lot of complaints about them falsing to signals that cannot even be identified to a source. While the Whistlers have a lot going for them, and are getting better all the time, I wouldn't call quietness one of their strong suits.

What some of us have found to be the best compromise is to mate our detector with a Cheetah GPS device, like the GPS Mirror or C100. It allows you more mute programming options than the stock RD, including the so-called "intellimute", which mutes all alerts when you are travelling at a speed lower than a threshold you preset. That means, when you're cruising city streets too slow (or stopped) to worry about getting a ticket, you don't have to listen to any alerts. That serves do eliminate the greatest majority of door opener falses that bug us most, without presenting an unacceptable (to me) risk of missing the real thing. It's a more expensive option than an all-in-one solution like the 9500, but something you might consider.

**Divewjason** · 10-15-2009, 08:50 AM

I'd go with either a SE model, 9500ix, or a V1 with a Cheetah Mirror as suggested. How quiet the SE will be depends on your area, if you are in a town with heavy traffic, don't go with the SE and go with one of the other options. The 9500ix would be a cheap alternative to the V1 and the Cheetah Mirror. If you really want to go all the way the 9500ci would probably be the overall best for what you are looking for.

**The Chariot** · 10-15-2009, 03:09 PM

Well, looking at the GOL tests, it looks like the 9500ix isn't impressive with instant on and that's what I have to deal with around here. With close range even the Pro78SE kicks its ass, long range both are about the same (ie, not great). I was literally just a few secs from hitting submit on the Escort site... going to wait now and do a little more research. CI is way out of my price range.

**takeshi** · 10-15-2009, 04:13 PM

Yup -- every choice is a compromise. Doesn't matter what product you're talking about. you can't have the best in every single aspect.

Definitely try some out to see which you prefer.