Beltronics RX 65

The Beltronics RX 65 radar detector is the best value among mid-priced radar detectors, according to reviews. It does a good job detecting all kinds of radar in tests, and experts say it alerts drivers in plenty of time to slow down -- not as quickly as the top-rated Escort Passport 9500ix (*Est. $525), but faster than the budget-priced Beltronics Vector 955 (*Est. $175). Although the Beltronics RX 65's "city mode" cuts down on false alarms from motion sensors and the like, reviewers say it still allows more false alerts than the Escort Passport 9500ix. The RX 65 also lacks GPS, so it can't warn you when a speed or red-light camera looms ahead, as the Escort Passport 9500ix can. Other mid-priced models offer similar performance but fewer features than the Beltronics RX 65. The Escort Passport 8500 X50 (*Est. $300) lacks voice alerts and Ku-band detection for European use, and the Beltronics Vector 995 (*Est. $225) lacks the RX 65's multiple-threat alarm, which tells you when more than one type of radar gun is detected.

RadarTest.com and RadarBusters.com test and compare the Beltronics RX 65 to detectors from other brands. CNET has a comprehensive review of the RX 65, but it doesn't rank the unit against other radar detectors. LaserVeil.com ranks the RX 65 among the best radar detectors, but with only a couple of sentences explaining why. The RX 65 has accumulated more than 30 user reviews at Epinions.com, and the various opinions posted there give a good picture of how the unit performs in real life.