Valentine One V1 Radar Detector

Product Rating
5 of 5
2 reviews

Price Range
$445 - $445

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Product Description

Summary

After all my research I coughed up the 4 bills to buy this thing. Had an old passport that I needed to retire. I had no idea how important the arrows would be.
I also bought an Escort 8500 and ended up giving it to my Dad. Good unit but no comparison with the V1. If you want detection ability for the buck get the escort. (Ebay) If you want performace usability and piece of mind get the V1. Sure the sensity between the two are a toss up but the arrows make all the difference. Now I know where to look and when the threat has passed. Same with the boggy counter, I like to know How many, what kind, and where they are. Works as advertised in Both City and Highway radar encounters. You can really tell when a cop is hiding in an area that always sets off your detector. Or if there is more than one bugger running a trap on the highway just over the next hill or around the corner. I dont want to sound like a spokesman for the company but I dont know why every other manufacture hasn't put the counter & arrows on their units.
It really makes so much of a difference, I would never consider another detector, even with greater sensitivity, that didnt have em. Especially the arrows. I know that sounds crazy but if you drive with a V1 for a couple of weeks you'll feel the same. On /off/ mute/ volume /mute volume, are all very handy and well designed.

Strength

Features

Weakness

PRICE ! Ouch, 4 bills is alot for this. I really want one for all my cars but it just cost too much. So for now I deal with swapping it back and forth.

I agree with the other poster, it could use a face lift. It is a little bit big and clunky looking. I would not want the face lift to affect the usability or performance though.

I would also like to be able to use this on my motorcycle with an ear piece.

One thing I would like to see is a dark mode. It does dim at night nicely but at times I would like to kill all lights. It would render the arrows and counter useless but when a cops behind you, they can see that baby lit up like a x-mass tree. Why give them the extra motivation to pull you over.

Summary

Great detector. Direction indicator is invaluable. Senisitivity very high but no more sensitive than other high end units. Not sure if the novelety of arrows is worth extra $100

Strength

The V1 has historical been the King Ding of radar detector technology. Since it's advent in the early 90's Mike Valentine (inventor of the formidable Escort) has ruled the roost of electronic counter-measures against the "tax collectors"

The V1 is still the leader of long range detection and no one else offers the very effective direction indicator. I have been running RDs for 30+ years and the V1 bogey pointer is very handy. But I'm not sure if it is $100 extra handy. However the unit also has something no other RD does. Dual antennas. The rear sensitivity of the V1 is absolutely supreme and is very effective at keeping the tax collectors from slipping up from behind.

Weakness

I also own an Escort 8500 X%0 and a BEL RX65. Where the V1 falls behind a little is in the arena of "around the curve" and "Over the hill" Ka detection. It seems both the RX65 and the X50 have better straight on Ka detection when encoutnered across varied terrain.

And I know this from the fact I drive about 100,000 miles anually.

Also IMO the V1 needs a facelift. The design has not changed in 15 years and the thing is looking a little dated. Also I wished this unit had an earphone plug for my motorcycle. The RX65 and the X50 have one included. The V1 does not. You have to buy an auxillary device from Valentine to get sound to a headset.