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Looking at buying one of these and have read the majority of the testing does anyone have an opinion on which one is better can't find a review with a direct comparison they are all against the valentine (a link would be great). Is the STI as quite as the 9500 the difference in range seems min.. Is the main deference that the STI can’t be detected and the 9500 has GPS. Or is most of this all not worth the $ and might as well go with an escort 8500 or bel rx65. Thanks
Get a Valentine One and forget about the other websites full of lies and all of the Belscort gimmicks.
http://www.guysoflidar.com/march-200...ctor-test.html
I had an original 8500 (not x50) and it served me well I also sent it in to get upgraded for my other car, loved the unit. If price is a concern the x50 is best but if not V1, STI or 9500i are all great choices.
In April decided to upgrade to the 9500i,
I love it. No false alerts and when it goes off I know to slow down on the 1st beep. It has saved me many, many times times... I find it to be a really quiet detector, and not "too quiet." I have gotten enough alerts for me to put my trust in it. The cool factor on this RD is a 10.
If you want the quietest detector with plenty of cool features that will only warn you if there is a threat get the 9500i (9500i is a very personal detector because of all the features you have to own it to understand it)
If you want all-around great striate forward performance as well as stealth the STI is one to get.
In ether case get them both and try them out, then decide.
If you want a noise maker go with didu's suggestion. :lol:
Thats the main reason I haven't got one yet I know 2 people with the V1 1 out of 1000 beeps is a cop.
If you want to get a ticket because your detector blocked out police frequencies because you don't like noises, get the 9500i. If you want a detector that can't be upgraded, get the 9500i. If you want an expensive detector with less range than the V1, get the 9500i. If you want a detector with a useless USB port that does nothing, get the 9500i.Quote:
Originally Posted by CJR238
If you get the 9500i, you and CJR238 can ride around and listen to silence together until you see the red and blue lights pulling you over because you like "quiet" time in your car.
Did your wife buy it for you as a present so she didnt have to listen to you yap.
Here we go again, someone who has no idea what they are talking about. Another v1 zombie. For the 50th time it doesn’t block out all radar!!! And the small segment it does block (only X & K) your still going to pick it up before you get to the blocked out area…Quote:
Originally Posted by didu_missme
Try them both first than decide.
STI all the way
Didu, you really amuse me with your "points" against the 9500i.
It's quiet, meaning that it doesn't just give readings off every single time it gets a radar signal. It also uses your speed as a gauge of how much it should warn you, as if you are going 25 mph I doubt you need something beeping at you incessantly.
I also find it funny how you use the TrueLock feature against the RD when it's a totally optional. You don't have to use that feature. It's had mixed results on this forum, seemingly better with the later models, but in the end it is 100% optional.
Personally, I have yet to really need a use for TrueLock yet. I don't know if my RD is broken or just smart, but it seems the latter from my sightings of LEOs when it goes off but I rarely get much of a signal in front of Walgreens or other places with automatic doors. I think maybe I get 1-2 bars at the most, if that; sometimes nothing at all.
I really like the 9500i's GPS feature for numerous reasons -- namely speed trap marking and the speed display (especially on alerts). While yes, you could argue that my car (hopefully) already has a speedometer but in my opinion the GPS one is not only more accurate but easier to eye than an analog display. Not only that, but when a speed alert goes off, instinctively I'm going to eye my RD and see what speed I'm going so I can take action.
It's built on the X50 platform, meaning that you know at the very minimum you're going to get performance pretty much exactly like the X50, which is tried and true at this point as being one of the top RDs out there. GPS for another 150$ more isn't that expensive when you take into account all it can do with the RD itself.
The last feature is expansion. The 9500i has alot of potential with the GPS hardware. Future databases, upgrades, and whatever else via mini-USB could prove really nice for the extra 150$. Either way, I'm 110% satisfied with my RD and that's the most important factor.
I own both, and for raw performance the STi wins hands down. It doesn't seem to matter where I take it, it's always a solid performer. It has excellent false alert filtering, and it's built like a tank.
The 9500i is a good unit, while in Texas it was outstanding. Now that I've been using it in Maryland it's not performed well at all. While in Kentucky it did good but again not great.
It has many great features but for everything I love about it, it just doesn't seem to be doing that great where it matters the most performance.
I'd say give the STi & Valentine a shot. Both have 30 day money back guarantees. Send the one back you don't like :)