Summary: I received my Cobra XRS-9700 3 days ago from an online retailer for $95 (including express shipping). Firstly, let me start by saying after recently receiving a speeding ticket for driving over 110 in a 70 mph zone in my all-too conspicuous BMW, and having to pay a $300 fine, I was compelled to invest in a good radar detector. Overall value and practicality were my primary considerations (i.e.- making a $300+ investment in a radar detector that I might have to upgrade in 2-4 years when new and improved speed-measuring devices become more readily available to LEO's and/or LIDAR(laser) becomes more widely used would not be practical for me).
I did extensive research on the major radar brands (Valentine, Bel, Whistler, Escort, and Cobra), including contacting the manufactures to get a list of specifications and a better understanding of how one model varies from the other in performance and features (for those models produced by the same company).
This is what I learned. ALL Cobra XRS 9700 series (9700, 9775, 9780, and XRS-777) are the SAME exact UNIT. The only difference in the pricing and the retailer selling it. Walmart -> XRS -777 , Radioshack-> RXS-9775, other general retailers-> XRS- 9700). The exception is the 9780, which is a 9700 with additional accessories (an aluminum carrying case, a hardwire kit, and a cigarette lighter splitter). So when shopping, find the best deal and go with it knowing you are not sacrificing performance or features for price.
I found the Cobra to be the best performing in respect to price. Realistically, there is nothing that will compare to a Valentine, Escort, or BEL (BTW, BEL or Beltronics makes much of the internal components of Escort units, which is why their performance is always so closely matched. Recently, BEL was acquired by Escort), but these units avg $279-400 and still cannot escape the reality affecting all radar/laser detectors->The rate of technology, their detection capabilities will likely be obsolete or grossly limited in 4-5 years.
This considered, I figured I would feel most comfortable spending up to $200 on a detector that I would likely have to replace in 4-5 years. From the information I gathered from user reviews, professional and published test results comparing and reviewing different radar detectors, from speaking directly with the manufactures, and from borrowing friends' radar detectors (including the Valentine One, Cobra 9775, Whistler Pro 73, and Escort 8500 X50) to conduct my own field test for a weeks each, I decided to go with the Cobra 9700.
My experiences & results:
All radar detectors get false reads. That's just the nature of what they "key-off" of-> radio waves within specific frequencies. If you doubt this, check the online .pdf manuals for each & review the specification regarding frequencies and sensitivities of each. Virtually all units respond to same frequencies & within + or - 0.050 to 0.125 GHZ (radar).
The difference is how you customize the radar for your particular area. Point in case, if you live in a rural area, you would want to maximize sensitivity and alerts because you are less likely to pick up false reads when nothing is around other than homes within a 10-mile radius. This is done with the 9700 models by selecting HIGHWAY mode, and on the rare occasion you would switch to the CITY mode, you can keep it to the default CITY X, which reduces the amount of alerts given on X Band until a predetermined signal strength is reached.
However, if you live in an urban area, or travel within an urban setting, you will have to MINIMIZE the sensitivity by selecting CITY MODE and I would recommend either CITY X or CITY X+K (works same as the CITY X, but includes K bands as well). This filters out the weaker signal strengths that are most likely false reads and virtually eliminates 80% to 90% percent of false leads. Also, the Cobra 9700 models allow programming these options andor toggling between the CITYHIGHWAY modes with the press on one button.
(More info on combating false reads with this unit at bottom of this review)
So, since installing the unit, and driving in both urban and rural areas with the recommended settings mentioned, I have already avoided 5 tickets with more than 1-min advanced warning on avg! No false reads yet! It's a matter of customizing thru programming for your location & understanding what the alerts mean.
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The X-band alarms are usually false and caused by the automatic doors in the stores close by, traffic lights that detect the position of cars using radar, etc. The amount of false alarms in X-band is very high in city driving, so you can use city/highway switch that lowers the sensitivity in X-band.
The K-band alert is more likely a police radar. Also, a stationary radar with a speed display (the one that shows you your speed) usually uses K-band.
The Ka-band or Laser alerts are always police devices and must be taken seriously.
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