Wisky's Full Review: Valentine One V1 Radar Detector
The one thing that scares many people away from the Valentine 1 Radar Laser Detector is the hefty $400 price tag. And although $400 is a lot of money for a radar detector unit, the V1 is well worth it. In my experience with the Valentine 1 (2 years), it has saved me more than triple it’s price, it is one of the things in my car that I feel I will keep for the rest of my life. And thanks to the Valentine’s ungradable interface, I could keep the software current by sending my unit in for an update in the future.
The Valentine One is a very simple, solid unit that functions extremely well and precisely. The range on this unit surpasses most other radar detectors although the Escort Passport X50 does have it beat in some range categories. But even with the slightly better signal detection the X50 might have, it still lacks the directional arrows that the V1 exclusively features, something I feel that makes the Valentine 1 worth the extra $100 over Escort’s unit.
Interface: The Valentine one is very simple to operate and set-up. There are 3 modes that are preset towards most road conditions. “All Bogey” shown as an “A” on the LCD is the most sensitive mode the V1 offers; it does not filter out even the smallest X band setting and alerts you to every signal it detects. Although the V1 is excellent at detecting police radar, it also does a great job of detecting other things like automatic door openers, bank security systems, etc. etc. “All Bogey” mode gets annoying real fast unless you’re on an open deserted highway. “Logic” (displayed as a lowercase l) is not as sensitive as “All Bogey”, it filters out some weaker X band signals, and allows you to only be alert when it actually receives a strong signal. “Super Logic” which is displayed as a capital L, is the mode I personally use all of the time. It is the least sensitive mode towards X band, while still being extremely accurate with police radar, I feel that with my experiences, “Super Logic” gives the least false alerts. To toggle between these modes you hold down the one rotary dial/button on the unit. Because this is the only dial/button on the unit, it makes it very easy and simple to operate. There is even separate volume controls for the initial alert and the reminder alert. The unit has the ability to be rather loud, which helps for people with hearing disorders, loud stereos, or loud cars. The multi-function display the unit has is simple and very well thought out. The number displayed on the display is the number of signals it is detecting, next to it is the type of signal (X, K, Ka, Laser), and below is the strength of the signal. After a few days of owning the V1, you don’t need to look at the display and you can tell the differences between the sounds. The one thing that does slightly bother me about the V1 is the fact that since it is so sensitive, it will throw you a Laser alert for things like neon signs, the 3rd brake light of the Envoy/Trailblazer. The frequent chirps and beeps are something one would need to get used to, as they can get annoying sometimes. The annoyance of the false alerts and constant beeping at times is a small price to pay for piece of mind.
Durability: The build quality of the V1 is great. It is not enclosed in a plastic case like all other units, it is actually a Magnesium case, which looks and feels solid. I keep my unit in my car regardless of weather and the LCD shows up perfect and never flawed, whether its -5F outside or 125F inside my car. Even the small things like the power cord does not look or feel cheap. I have never had a problem with my unit.
There are people who argue that the Valentine One is overpriced and is not worth the extra $100 over the comparable Escort 8500/X50. I do not have much experience with this unit, so I can not truly compare, however, given what I know about the Escort, it does not feel and look as solid as the Valentine 1, nor does it have the directional arrows. If you’re on a smaller budget, the Escort would probably be a better choice, but to me, the Valentine is not overpriced. That said, I recommend it to anyone looking for a high-end radar detector and I must add that any radar detector is not fool-proof against getting caught speeding. The combination of being a smart fast driver and the Valentine 1 drastically lowers your chances of getting a ticket due to police radar, but nothings flawless, instant-on can catch you before you get the chance to react to the signal. Good luck on you purchase and drive safe!
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