Anyone Compared The XTR695 to the Passport 8500 x50?

[JoeFriday77]

Has anyone compared these two? I have the 8500 x50 and will get the XTR695 today for our second car. I am looking forward to see how the two compare, but I wondered if anyone else has looked at how the two compare.

[steve f]

I had a Bel RX65, same M4 platform as the X50, and my XTR695 running at the same time driving north on I-185 in Alabama. The Bel alerted to KA band for about 4 or 5 seconds, then went silent, the 695 remained silent. About 10 seconds went by with both silent, then the RX65 started alerting to KA band again, and kept alerting. The 695 started about 5 or 6 seconds later, and a couple of seconds later a state trooper came around a bend about a 1/2 mile up the road. The RX65 had the advantage in that encounter.

I had something similar happen running the RX65 by itself down in Fla where it alerted well in advance of the trooper coming around a bend, so the incident on I-185 just confirmed the RX65 is pretty sensitive to KA.

The xtr695 did very well on a KA band speed trap coming down I-185 going to Fla, in fact on more than one speed trap on that highway. However, I think the RX65 is a little more sensitive, and I have a bit more confidence in it's ability to detect radar farther out.

[happya$$]

My 695 hangs with the X50 in the real world on KA. It lags behind on K and X band

[cooljay]

I had a Bel RX65, same M4 platform as the X50, and my XTR695 running at the same time driving north on I-185 in Alabama.

Running 2 RDs at the same time can cause one to alert late or not at all in situations so I really can't say that test confirms that the RX65 is "better" than the 695.

Now I'm not saying that the RX65 isn't better than the 695 but by running them both at the same time can cause interference and skew the results to "favor" one over the other.

[guit123]

Running 2 RDs at the same time can cause one to alert late or not at all in situations so I really can't say that test confirms that the RX65 is "better" than the 695.

Now I'm not saying that the RX65 isn't better than the 695 but by running them both at the same time can cause interference and skew the results to "favor" one over the other.

X2

[steve f]

Running 2 RDs at the same time can cause one to alert late or not at all in situations so I really can't say that test confirms that the RX65 is "better" than the 695.

Now I'm not saying that the RX65 isn't better than the 695 but by running them both at the same time can cause interference and skew the results to "favor" one over the other.

Yep, that is true, I realize that it wasn't any type of definitive test, the GOL guys need to get busy and arrange another test.

However, the XTR695 that I own doesn't seem quite as sensitive as the RX65 in really difficult situations. I've had some good around the curve type saves with the XTR695, it's no slouch, but the two incidences w/ the RX65 where I got KA warnings way in advance with no cop in view made an impression on me. As far as K-band, the RX65 gave me about an extra 1/10 or 2/10 of a mile warning when I tested them separately on a K-band speed sign. The XTR695 alerted about 1.3 miles away, and the RX65 about 1.4-1.5 miles away (this was a very long, flat, straight stretch of road).

Right now, based on my limited experiences, I'd have to say the RX65 is a little ahead of the xtr695 in picking up distant signals in around the curve, over the hill type situations.

BTW, as far as running the two together, the RX65 made the xtr695 alert on K-band when I both had them on at the same time and they were a 2 to 3 feet apart. It was a weak alert, nothing like full strength, but I had to turn off K-band on the 695.

[jdong]

My 695 hangs with the X50 in the real world on KA. It lags behind on K and X band

About the same as my observations. On Ka it's within 5% of each other. On K-band there's a noticeable lag, on X band there's a REALLY REALLY REALLY noticeable lag.

[JoeFriday77]

Having now laid hands on the 695, here are a couple of initial observations sans performance.

Display
695 color option is neat, but I can see how it would be hard to see in bright conditions.
8500x50 is much easier to read in any condition.

I really like the 8500x50 display option to have the mode letter along with the scrolling dot. After all, these things are mini computers, so some form of visual confirmation that all is well is nice. There is no equivalent on the 695.

Detailed Display
I don't have road time with the 695 yet, so I can't compare the two. I do like the band display on the 8500x50, so I am looking forward to see the equivalent on the 695.

Build
Obviously, the 8500x50 build quality feels and looks better. However, it is twice the cost. So, dollar for dollar I wouldn't knock the 695 for that.

Programming
I don't think either is overly difficult to run through the programming options as they are both pretty straightforward.

User Manual
While I realize that Whistler is trying to keep costs down, their user manual is a difficult fold-up sheet. Escort comes with a nice color booklet. The text on the Whistler manual is small and difficult to read. It would be worth a couple of extra bucks to have something that is easier to use/navigate.

Packaging
8500x50 comes with a nice box and storage case. 695 comes in a plastic clamshell. Again not a huge issue as one is twice the cost of the other.

Tone Options
The 695 has some options for different tones. I listened to the options and did not think they were better than the default tone. 8500x50 has no tone options.

Looking forward to getting some road time with the 695. I have the old Spectrum 2, so this is the first Whistler I have had since that one.

Side Note
Whistler does have a trade-in program. I did take a look at that since I have the Spectrum 2. Net/net was that it was cheaper and easier in total cost for me to purchase the 695 from Amazon than go through the return of the Spectrum 2 and filling out forms for the program. So, it sounded good in theory, but the reality was that it wasn't such a good deal.

[steve f]

Your point about the 695 manual being hard to read due to the small type is well taken. The menu option segment featured what I think is the smallest print I've seen in a user manual. I actually found it easier to go online and look at that section there. It's in PDF format and increasing the size was the only way to make it readable for me.

One other thing I like about with the 695 is the voice alert. I like knowing right away if I'm dealing with KA band without having to take my eyes off the road (especially helpful since the display is somewhat dim).

[JoeFriday77]

One other thing I like about with the 695 is the voice alert.

You may want to turn that off. Some other users reported that they did some testing and that slowed the RD performance. It makes sense in that the RD has to play a sound file rather than just beep. I turned that off as soon as I got it.