Valentine One VS Escort Max 2

07th Feb,2022

The Valentine 1 vs Escort Max 2 comparison pits two of the leading radar detector brands against each other. One is sticking to its roots and isn’t swayed by the supposedly unnecessary stuff on radar detectors, the other building on the foundation left by its predecessors and constantly innovating.

Does classic stand a chance against the modern?

The aim of this article is to find out which does the better job. First, let’s discover their advantages.

Features of Both Radar Detectors

Here are some features of the Valentine One and Escort Max 2 radar detectors and how they compare. 

Long Range Detection

The Max 2 was once heralded as Escort’s radar detector flagship. It is able to clearly identify the major frequencies used by law enforcement radar equipment and that includes the Ka, K and X band. 

That being said, it falls short compared to Escort’s other devices. While the Max 2 is better able to show the intensity of a signal once discovered, the beeping decreases after a couple of seconds. 

The Valentine One is able to detect X, K, Ka as well as Ku bands. It comes with a rear antenna which makes it easy to recognize police antennas within the vicinity. With two antennas working in tandem, one at the front and the other at the back, this radar detector is very useful in identifying police radars around the vehicle. 

Where other radar detectors seem to struggle with laser guns due to the fact that they use a very different signal, the Valentine One is uniquely designed to spot these signals efficiently. 

When it comes to which device is the better long range detector, look no further than the Max 2.

Directional Arrow Alert

The Valentine One comes with a feature that sets it apart from the Max 2, and that is the arrow directional detection. With this feature, the driver is able to know the exact location of a radar speed gun [1]. 

The Max 2 does not come with this feature and that puts it at a disadvantage in this Max 2 v Valentine One head to head encounter. 

With the Valentine One, a driver is able to clearly assess where a threat is coming from thanks to the two arrows. The alert is extremely accurate and that means you can quickly adjust your speed to avoid getting caught. 

GPS

Most people understand that the Valentine One does not come with GPS capability, not because it is not possible, but simply because the company strongly argues that radar detectors should not have GPS. The Valentine One is a purist’s radar detector. 

The thinking behind this is the fact that a radar detector is not supposed to miss a threat, however, GPS can alter that creating blind spots which actual threats can hide. 

That said, there is a whole lot more to GPS than just muting false positive. For example, other exceptional radar detectors use it to measure the speed of the vehicle, so that when an alert is received, the driver need not look in two places to find the information of the alert and how fast they are going. 

Escort is not the sort of company that believes the philosophy as Valentine as they have numerous radar detectors with GPS capabilities. This is clearly evident with the Escort Max 2 having inbuilt GPS feature. 

When you combine this with Escort’s patented alert community called Escort Live, you get a radar detector that is ahead than those without GPS in them.

Performance

The Escort Passport Max 2 is able to quickly register radar signals. It can also be seamlessly connected to Escort Live with no confusing menu standing in the way.

That said, it does falter as it is unable to match the time it takes other radar detectors such as the Uniden R3 or the Escort Max 360 to register pop-on and laser guns. Its filtering system is no match for newer BSM systems on vehicles as well. 

All that aside, the Max 2 is still able to deliver its main function, which is to detect radar signals, even though there are newer radar detectors that can perform much better than it.

It can be said that the Valentine One is sensitive, however, that could be because its filtering system is not as effective as it should be. 

The menu can be a bit convoluted, so trying to turn off the X band in a bid to improve sensitivity and reduce false alerts can be a hassle while simultaneously trying to get off the highway. 

Also, the Valentine One is an extreme range radar detector, beaten by the R1’s longer range. This might not be a problem. However, the lack of effective filtering leaves a lot to be desired.

Conclusion: Valentine One or Escort Max 2

Both detectors are excellent in their performance ratings. 

The Valentine One has gained fans over the years for its extreme range. It is a great radar detector for those that want to harken to the days of the early radar detectors.

However, appearance is not an attraction. The dated design evident through the controls and displays may put off new buyers. 

The Escort Max 2 is a great radar detector that has built on the features of its predecessor, the Escort Passport Max.

If you are searching for a radar detector that is not only powerful but modern enough to include GPS as part of its features then you have to look no further. You also don’t have to get bogged down by incessant false alerts that the Valentine One is just unable to handle.

Escort recently released a new radar detector that follows in the steps of the Max 2.

Check out one of Escort’s newest releases that combines the best features of its top models: the Redline 360C providing protection from all directions!

William Johnson

William Johnson is the owner and founder of RatedRadarDetector.org. He writes about car accessories, with his passion stemming from a deep enthusiasm for all things automotive. His website, RRD, focuses on in-depth reviews of car accessories to help people find the best and latest products in the market.