Home > Consumer Reviews > Cobra XRS 9340 High Performance 12 Band Radar/Laser Detector

Got this detector at the local Meijer a few months after getting a speeding ticket. I've got a Cobra hand held CB radio which works great, so I figured Cobra detectors must be good. I did my research looking at Cobra detectors and most people seemed to like them. First day out, it caught an undercover Charger running radar down a straightaway at 1/4 mile. For someone who's never had a detector, that was reassuring. Though I would do further research and find that a good radar gun can hit on a straight away a 1 mile kill zone (though they can't ticket you unless they're certain its your car at 1/2 mile). Driving further I managed to pick up a cop around a deep curve at 1/2 - 1/4 mile and sure enough there was one gassing up his unmarked Crown Vic at the gas station with his radar on. Sweet.

The eventual return:
Two days later I was leaving school early and saw a cop had pulled someone over in the high school driveway. I got in my car and turned on my detector. Nothing. As soon as I started to drive past him my detector went off. An 8 foot warning. Not exactly great. The dash mounted radar was on the whole time, not an instant on.

The next day I threw it in my buddy's Explorer to further test. Went through a lot of curves where radar's aren't at their peak performance (perfect for cops). We purposely drove past a radar hiding spot. Sure enough, there's a cop running radar. We caught the fender and light of the car with our eyes before this thing even went off. Even if it was an instant on, there were 3 cars in front of us, more targets for the radar gun to hit and more signal for the detector to pick up.

Later that day I went through another city that runs radar a lot. Sure enough, Crown Vic running radar. Couldn't have been more than 200 feet on a straight away. That was the final straw. Took it back to Meijer and got my $80 back.

Lesson for you the reader: Save your cash. While Cobra may be the cheapest detector, its the worst brand at radar range. It actually leaks K or Ka (one of them, used by most police departments). It leaks that band so bad it can set off other detectors. If you want to pick up speed signs really quick, this thing has no problem at all. It would shoot up to 9 without a problem (while cop cars only a 1-4). Save your money and buy a Whistler. I've read that a $100 Whistler can easily out beat a $300 Cobra detector.

This works well and was delivered as agreed. Only thing I don't like is the silver top reflects in the windshield. Better if it had a black top then no reflection or less. Otherwise nice.

I have always had detectors and found this one at a very good price. I have had it for a couple of months and it has done it's job four times. The Auto-Mute is a great feature, but I do agree that if you have your radio loud you will need to make sure to monitor your detector. Even the volume's highest setting is not that loud. Overall I am very satisfied with the radar detector.

This detector is the best one I have purchased. It gives me the security I need when I commute to work. It has warned me in plenty of time. I have also used it when driving to Las Vegas....warned me of 8 traps on the way. Saved me from spending money on a tix...more money to play with in the casinos. If you want a radar that works..for the price, you can't beat it.

BUY BUY BUY!!!!

This detector works very well and the automute is one of the nicest features that will take the volume down after several seconds when a signal was detected.
Unfortunately, the loudest settings is still a bit low in volume when you listen to some loud music in your car.