Customer Reviews

Cobra XRS-9700 11-Band Radar/Laser Detector with Intellishield and Voice Alert

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

For the top of the line Cobra Model, I was definitely disappointed with the 9700. It's Compass comes in handy and the intellimute works well to kill off unwanted beeps and voice alerts from garage openers and car keys. However, as a radar detector, it is only mediocre at best. Unlike other reviews, my experience with this device has been somewhat positive. It DOES pick up signals but perhaps too late. POP (instant on radar) alerts are picked up only when your car gets hit by one, and by that time your speed has already been clocked so what's the point? Normal, always on radar such as K and X bands get picked up AT MOST 1/2 mile away. Most of the time though it ends up being 1/4 mile maybe less. It has saved me a couple times but I wouldn't buy this device again if i had the chance.

Please dont buy it. I bought this one around a year ago. I live in upstate NY and unlike the metro cities cops and state trooper are rampant in my area. Now, this thing is suppose to detect cops earlier,right? wrong! it would beep 'occassionaly' and only when i can practically see the state trooper myself! so whats the point? actually there is no point (of buying it). Funny thing is now i drive at the speed limit (with the radar detector on). I am looking for a new radar detector now.

Purchased this item for my husband and I must tell you, very good investment for the money. Product easy to install, easy to program as it has direction on it (N, S, W, E). Very easy to understand, clear voice alerts and special alerts for different kinds of bands.

I was not impressed with the Cobra. But yes it could save you some bucks, a court session, a lost licence, higher insurance. But don't rely on it and get silly thinking it will warn you. It can give you a few extra seconds. Best is to look at som eof the websites the test them like http://www.radarbusters.com/.

Or maybe ... drive a bit slower?

Item works well, it does not go off "all the time" as stated in other reviews. So far it has performed as well as expected. It is a piece of electronic equipment trying to detect other electronics, both moving at rapid rates of speed so it is not infallible.

I bought this radar detector about 2 weeks ago, and I haven't gotten any help from it other than the fact it'll tell me what direction I'm driving. I bought the Cobra b/c my friend has one and he said that it has really helped him, but I don't have the same experience with the 9700. Last night I drove past FOUR cops and it never once made a sound around them, but after I drove off and was in the middle of nowhere, it decided to start alerting me about nothing. I've found that the detector hasn't gone off once when I've driven by a cop doing radar, but it'll just go off when there is nothing there. It does consistently alert me about the stationary radar devices on the side of the interstate, but it doesn't decide to go off until it is already in my visible line of sight, and sometimes even after that. The device is terrible when it comes to producing false alarms, and weak when it comes to detecting actual radar.

In its defense, it has saved me once, which makes it worth the investment, but I would recommend getting something better.

The more you spend on a radar detector the longer the range. To me that is common knowledge. If you want a radar detector to pick up sooner you need to spend more money on one. When I bought this one I knew the range would be shorter than a detector I spent $500 for, but I am only a woman. So guys should definitely know what they are buying. This radar detector does what it is supposed to do. It is not a $300 radar detector. If you want it to pick up a radar 2 miles down the road spend twice the money on a radar detector. Overall it: it does what you money pays for it to do.

Let me start by saying I've had this radar detector for almost 7 YEARS (purchased in October 2004) and it's still going strong. In this time it has paid for itself MANY times over. I've had to replace the suction cups twice, but these are very cheap and easy to find. I highly recommend to disble the X-Band beeping (City X, Beep Off) to cut down on false alarms. I have only recieved one ticket since having this product becuase I got caught with laser. I did get the "laser" alert but it was too late. Overall I'm very pleased with this product.

Most reviewers have covered the shortcomings of this radar detector. To cut to the chase, I was fairly certain the 9700 had ineffective range when I'd drive by cops and the detector would not go off. There were also countless other times that I saw the cops and then I'd slow down and AFTER I slowed down b/c I saw the cops, then the detector would go off. It finally caught up to me and I was ticketed b/c the Pop didn't go off until the cop was already waving me off to the side of the road. To top it off, the on/off button malfunctioned all of the time until it finally won't even come on anymore. I bought this unit b/c I thought I was getting good value and and it was supposed to be Cobra's top of the line unit. I am about go for quality over value and go with the Escort 8500.

I bought my unit in Feb. 04 and it has performed perfectly since. It recognizes all bands (including Spectre 1) and has saved me mucho dinero. My car is parked outside in the blazing Florida sun and the unit has no apparent ill-effects from the heat. If a police vehicle has its detection equipment activated the Cobra 9700 WILL detect it, at least mine always does. I highly recommend this unit.