Trying to decide between X50 and RX65.

I am trying to decide which radar detector to buy. And I got my choices down to two.
1) Escort 8500 X50 (Red Display) $299
2) Bel RX65 Pro (Red Display) $329
I spent hours researching but I can't find any solid proof on which one is better. Guys at www.guysoflidar.com had a review from 2006 which has RX65 beating X50, but in 2007 review the two are almost the same. Then other reviewers say that X50 and RX65 are the same and there wont be any difference in their performance. So I guess radardetector.net will be my last stop before I finally go out and buy myself one of them.

PS: I live in Upstate New York and kind of in suburb area, but only 15mi from Albany, NY which is Capital of NY so its more like a city. Daily I spend about 30% driving on suburb roads (til I get out to a High-Way), and 70% on either highly traffic four lane roads or High-Ways. We do not have many Laser equipped police cars in the area so Laser performance doesn't matter to me. 95% of the time police uses Ka band and the other 5% are by laser and K band.

Thank you...

i have an 8500 x50 now and i have no complaints with it. it definitely does what it is supposed to do. it alerts to all the types of radar and since having it i've only had it register "laser" once and that was from a state trooper actually shooting laser. i mean obviously i am a bit partial to the x50 since i have it and it's saved me countless times, esp on local roads, not really on highways since i tend to stay with traffic on highways.

as a site note i am upgrading to the 9500i because of the many falses in my area, i would like the GPS function to be able to lock those falses out.

For the most part, the two have very similar performance, although from what I've seen the RX-65 can sometimes edge-out the X50 on Ka if the RX-65 is run in "USA Mode".

If I was given the choice, I would choose the X50. My two main reasons: The gradient audio alerts are far superior to the RX-65's audio alerts in my opinion, and I also like the "thumbwheel" volume control instead of buttons. However, someone wanting the ability to adjust volume via the smartcord might not see things like I do...

I have had both. I prefer the 8500 x50 over the RX65 because it's a little cheaper for the red display and the ramp up us soooo much better. I also think the range is a little better too with the x50.
Using V1 now.....Just my 2 cents

Last time my Cobra alerted me with laser happened about 6 month ago. I was going on the High-Way there was a hill and a slight right turn. My Ka band started to go off so I slowed down started to go up the hill. When I reached the top my laser went off and I saw a State Trooper on the left side of the road sitting there with this Laser Gun. I just looked at him and smiled.

People from my local car forum telling me to either get V1 or not get anything.

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Originally Posted by Niskyspy

People from my local car forum telling me to either get V1 or not get anything.

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I have RX-65 and when I got V1,I was amazed.V1 works MUCH ,MUCH better and it has some very unique features,like the Arrows,to tell you where the Radar is,it has rear antenna-no other RD has that,audio ramp up is one of the best in the industry.Look at the tests by GOL or sensitivity(-dB/cm2) test (you'll find it in V1 section,it's a Sticky) and you will see that V1 is the most sensitive RD on the market.If you have the money(399$),get V1.You won't regret it.

As Jimbonzzz said,RX-65 may have the edge over X50,because you can limit Ka-band sweep to 3 main US freq.That is the only advantage over X50.I would get X50,because it has perfect linear ramp-up(unlike RX-65 which has horrible ramp-up),better options(Expert meter is much better than Bel's Threat display) and it's 30$ cheaper.

I think I'll get V1. I mean if I spend that $300 why not just add $100 and get the top of the line, right!
Just waiting for my credit card bill to clear and I'll prolly have it in my car by Wed :) Can't wait :)[/code]

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Originally Posted by Niskyspy

I think I'll get V1. I mean if I spend that $300 why not just add $100 and get the top of the line, right!
Just waiting for my credit card bill to clear and I'll prolly have it in my car by Wed :) Can't wait :)[/code]

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That's a wise choice :wink:
Welcome to the ValentineOne club.

I've never used the RX65, but I've had the X50 for years and love it. Low falses, many saves, and I've never gotten a ticket while using it.

I used a V1 for 7 or 8 months and got 2. Not that it was the V1's fault ... completely.

-Obsidian-

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Originally Posted by Niskyspy

I think I'll get V1.

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Very smart man! :wink:

i had both rx65 and x50 i was very happy wit them cant go wrong wit them at all

The RX65 has better off axis than the X50 with 35.5 and better with quick trigger pulls.

My vote is for the X50 over the Bel R65.
The alert on the X50 blends into a solid tone which gives you a better indication of proimity to radar source whereas R65 does not. The only drawback on the X50 is the rotary volume/on/off swith can eventuall fail. I just sent mine in for this problem after owning for 3 years.

Both are great detectors.

I've had both the RX65 and the 8500 X50. I think both of them are excellent detectors and I honestly could not tell the difference as far as performance. The RX65 does have KU band which we'll probably never need. You can also adjust the volume from the smart cord with the RX65. I like the fact that the RX65 talks when there is a threat and it has the SWS (safety warning system). I also like the tones from the RX65 better than I like them from the X50. These are features that the X50 does not have. However, they are not really necessary. I think you wont go wrong with either because they both do what they're supposed to do. For all you V1 users, I'm not a hater because I had one too. I just don't like the amounts of false alarms that it gives. Also, the arrows are a great feature but not really necessary, neither is the bogey counter. Those are all just convenience features because the reality is, no matter where the radar is coming from, you're going to slow down to the PSL until the alert is gone. You don't REALLY have to know WHERE the radar is coming from.

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Originally Posted by rose1

You don't REALLY have to know WHERE the radar is coming from.

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But once you have the arrows to show you where it's coming from, it's damn hard to go back. I live in Va and chose to purchase the STi and bench my V1 because of Spectre. I look at my V1 every single day and I may go back to it and take my chances. While the STi has good detection range, I can never find where the source is coming from and that drives me crazy.

I've tried many detectors over the years and the V1 is definately the best.

The best detector I have ever owned was the X50... Granted that I am learning the V1 still. Other than that I have owned the follwing detectors... X50 (red and blue displays) Rx65, 9500i, and the V1 3.863. I like the V1 detection and all but I just can't stand going from that nice quiet drive with little falses to the noisy ride of the V1. You may loose a second on the X50 compared to the V1, but with that 1 second or so you get exceptional filtering. I think that it is well worth it if you live in an area with a lot of falses around. I make a lot a trips to the urban areas, and I find the V1 to be way too noisy and I just end up turning it down so it doesnt annoy me anymore, then what good is it?? It all depends in my opinion where you drive... Only you really know what detector is really right for you. I just want you to know that detection range between the 3 detectors (X50, Rx65, and V1) is so small IMO that it comes down to what you really want out of your detector.... Arrows to track threats, the nice expert mode of the X50 (which is my favorite btw...) or the nice smart cord volume control on the Rx65 and digital controls as a user already mentioned earlier. Which one do you really want buddy???? Eithier way they all kick major a$$!!!!

Very well said, I love my X50, sold my V1 which I regret. You cant beat the X50 for all around driving. If it beeps, slow down. For my type of driving its the best I ever had.
What Im working on now is both hardwired, X50 for town and the V for highway. I have read it all,, I still run X off in C, all on in H,, with scanning dots. You cant go wrong with this. I would say IMHO, wth its the only one I have.

if you want a cheaper V1, you can get a returned unit for $359....

Do you have a link for $359 returned V1?

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Originally Posted by Niskyspy

Do you have a link for $359 returned V1?

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I think the deal is that you call Valentine and get on their waiting list for a returned/refurbished V1.

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Originally Posted by MEM-TEK

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Originally Posted by Niskyspy

Do you have a link for $359 returned V1?

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I think the deal is that you call Valentine and get on their waiting list for a returned/refurbished V1.

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I'm pretty sure that's right. I know someone else on this forum is waiting for one, the list is probably long, and the number of returned units is probably small... :( Just get the extra $50 and go for it new.

eh, I'll get a new one...
How reliable are the V1's? In last 3 years my cobra was sent back 3 times and they always broke before 12 month warranty ran out.

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Originally Posted by Niskyspy

eh, I'll get a new one...
How reliable are the V1's? In last 3 years my cobra was sent back 3 times and they always broke before 12 month warranty ran out.

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The latest versions have proven to be very reliable with less "J" alerts. You can also send in your unit for an update every time a new software version comes out.

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Originally Posted by Niskyspy

eh, I'll get a new one...
How reliable are the V1's? In last 3 years my cobra was sent back 3 times and they always broke before 12 month warranty ran out.

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I've had mine just over 5 years and have only had to send it in to get retuned once. I kept mine on the windshield 24/7/365, hot and cold. It's very reliable.

I see everyone is mounting their V1 high on the windshield, but I have 92 Civic HB
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...CIMG0002-6.jpg
and the roof slopes down by the end. Should I mount it in the middle of the windshield or is it ok to have it all the way up.

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Originally Posted by Niskyspy

eh, I'll get a new one...
How reliable are the V1's? In last 3 years my cobra was sent back 3 times and they always broke before 12 month warranty ran out.

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The V1's internal build quality is superb. Just don't let a powered on V1 bake in the sun in a parked car during the summer. This can fry its military grade LNAs since the V1's black magnesium case can get very hot in the sun. The LNAs inherently get rather hot when they are powered up. The same applies for the LNAs used inside the Bel STi. For that matter, don't let any radar detector bake in the sun on a hot summer day. I also recommend either taking your RD inside your house on extremely cold nights or at least putting it inside a foam padded point-n-shoot camera case. The camera case's foam padding will insulate the RD and prevent it from getting nearly as cold as the interior of your car. A camera case also works well when you have to park your car in the blazing sun for several hours.

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Originally Posted by MEM-TEK

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Originally Posted by Niskyspy

eh, I'll get a new one...
How reliable are the V1's? In last 3 years my cobra was sent back 3 times and they always broke before 12 month warranty ran out.

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The V1's internal build quality is superb. Just don't let a powered on V1 bake in the sun in a parked car during the summer. This can fry its military grade LNAs since the V1's black magnesium case can get very hot in the sun. The LNAs inherently get rather hot when they are powered up. The same applies for the LNAs used inside the Bel STi. For that matter, don't let any radar detector bake in the sun on a hot summer day. I also recommend either taking your RD inside your house on extremely cold nights or at least putting it inside a foam padded point-n-shoot camera case. The camera case's foam padding will insulate the RD and prevent it from getting nearly as cold as the interior of your car. A camera case also works well when you have to park your car in the blazing sun for several hours.

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This isn't practical for me with the STi unfortunately. Since the release is located on the top and I have it mounted as high up as possible to prevent from being seen, when I attempt to take it off it's mount the mount and STi will both come off. The suction cups don't like to stick in the cold. The V1's mount is much, much better and will allow me to do this.

I have had both. X50 due to multiple same band displays and the RX65 has the most annoying tone for K band...... and it never goes to a solid tone.