Escort MAX 360c MkII Review & Escort MAX 360c MkII Review Summaries
The Escort Max 360c MkII provides full 360 degree protection with colored directional arrows along with the advanced ability to filter out most of the false radar alerts caused by the anti-collision radar sensors installed on new cars today.
The Mk II is an improved version of the previous Max 360 series of radar detectors with even greater performance and better filtering.
The Escort Max 360c MkII and Escort Max 360 MkII offer equal performance but the Max 360 MkII comes without WIFI connectivity (which we regard as not an essential feature anyway) at $100 less.
It is also a GPS enabled detector and rated as being both a city and highway detector like most GPS based radar detectors.
Unfortunately, like the Escort Redline 360c, their detection performance to K-band radar is erratic and not confidence inspiring and can not be relied upon, in our opinion.
If and when Escort addresses this serious issue, we would rank these detectors higher.
Pros
- Dual antenna and directional arrows
- Recent firmware updates significantly increased performance & filtering
- All-digital signal processing (DSP) for extreme long range radar detection performance
- Exceptional at detecting instant-on police radar
- Best anti-collision sensor rejection filtering in the industry
- Escort Live! ready
- GPS enabled
- Builtin Bluetooth for wireless pairing to your smartphone
- WIFI capable to directly communicate with the Internet (Max 360c MkII)
- Bi-Lingual Voice Alerts - English & Spanish
- Firmware and Photo Enforcement database are both user upgradeable
Cons
- Erratic and slow responsiveness to initial constant-on, instant-on, and quick trigger radar
- No directional information provided to police laser, MultaRadar and Gatso
- Small OLED display can be hard to read during daylight hours
- Sticky cup mount can lose adhesion to windshield
Best Suited for: Highway and City Use
Why it made out list: The Escort MAX 360 MkII & Escort MAX 360c MkII are, by far, Escort's best iterations of the Escort MAX line of dual-antenna radar detectors.
Price: $599.95/$549.95
(Max 360c MkII) (Max 360 MkII)
Best Radar Detector under $400 (tied): Escort MAX 4
Escort MAX 4 Review Summary
The recently introduced Escort MAX 4 replaces the Escort MAX 3 which was getting long in the tooth and is designed to take the Uniden R4 head on in terms of radar detection performance.
Escort is marketing this as an "entry level" radar detector and while we would agree it is quite reasonably priced for what you get, we would not consider this an entry level detector as its performance, filtering capability, and customization make it a value prived high-end radar detector.
Instead we would consider the Cobra RAD 700i the entry level radar detector in this review.
The Escort MAX 4 incorporates dual LNA (low noise amplifiers), a first for an Escort conventional single antenna radar detector, which contributes to its extreme radar detection range and a noticeable improvement over Escort MAX 3 radar detectors.
Like the Uniden R4 can alert to MRCD/MRCT photo radar although Gatso detection is not supported.
The Escort MAX 4 is refreshingly quiet and resistent to falses, but this may come at the expense of reactivity to brief detections of instant-on police radar.
The Uniden R4 is quicker, but it falses at a somewhay higher rate. So choosing one over the other comes down to your personal priorities.
If you prefer a super quiet false-resistant radar detector, we would suggest you consider the Escort MAX 4.
Pros
- Radar detection performance essentially equal to the Uniden R4
- Dual LNAs for even more extreme radar detection performance
- Advanced Digital Signal Processing (DSP) for extreme range performance and improved filtering
- Exceptional at detecting instant-on police radar
- Excellent Traffic Safety Rejection (TSR) filtering
- Detection of MRCD/MRCT and Gatso RT3/RT4 speed radars
- K narrow and Ka narrow sweeps for improved performance with less falsing
- GPS enabled with auto-lockouts
- Full multi-color OLED display
- Small size
- Comes with two windshield-mounts, one conventional dual suction cup mount and one large "sticky-cup" mount
- Comes with USB smartcord with push-button muting
- Firmware and Photo Enforcement database are both user upgradeable
- Better value than Escort's top-of-the-line detectors
- Nearly undetectable by SPECTRE RDD
Cons
- Would like to see a magnesium case instead of plastic
- Laser detection capabilities not up to the same level of performance of police radar detection
Best Suited for: Highway and City Use
Why it made out list: The Escort MAX 4 is Escort's best single antenna detector and represents a serious upgrade over the previous MAX 3 model.
Retail Price:
$399.95
Best Radar Detector under $400 (tied): Uniden R4w –
Top Seller!
Uniden R4w Review Summary
The Uniden R4 provides the
greatest range
of any single antenna
radar detector by taking the already extreme performance of the
Uniden R3 and adding two LNAs for a 3-4dB improvement in sensitivity and the R4 is currently Uniden's best radar detector with a single antenna.
The
Uniden R4 is nearly undetectable by the Spectre RDD and provides excellent K-band
rejection from today's collision avoidance systems.
Like the Uniden R8, the
Uniden R4 can reliably alert to MRCD/MRCT and is quite good at alerting to Gatso, as
well. Currently, no other manufacturer can consistently do this..
At only $379, this detector
offers an exceptional value, making it one of the very best values available today. Uniden
comes with a 1 year manufacturers' warranty.
Pros
- Currently the most sensitive single antenna detector currently available on
the market
- Dual LNAs for even more extreme radar detection performance
- Advanced Digital Signal Processing (DSP) for extreme range
performance
- R/TACH integration
Excellent Traffic Safety Rejection (TSR) filtering- Detection of MRCD/MRCT and Gatso RT3/RT4 speed radars
- K narrow and Ka narrow sweeps for improved performance with less
falsing
- GPS enabled with auto-lockouts
- Full multi-color OLED display
- Small size
- Comes with two windshield-mounts, one conventional dual suction cup mount
and one large "sticky-cup" mount
- Comes with USB smartcord with push-button muting
- Firmware and Photo Enforcement database are both user upgradeable
- Better value than Escort's top-of-the-line detectors
- Nearly undetectable by SPECTRE RDD
Cons
- Would like to see a magnesium case instead of plastic
- Laser detection capabilities not up to the same level of performance of police radar
Best Suited for: Highway and City UseWhy it made out list: The Uniden R4w provides all of the capabilities of the fabulous R4 but adds WIFI connectivity for OTA updates.
Retail Price:
$389.99 (often on sale)
Best Radar Detector Under $350: Uniden R3 – Top Seller!
Uniden R3 Review Summary
The Uniden R3 was Uniden's first GPS radar detector that reset the expections of what a radar detector was capable of and even though it's nearly seven years old, it remains a great choice for someone on a budget.
Even though its sensitivity to police radar has been eclipsed by newer radar detectors, the Uniden R3 still provides exceptional police radar detection range
and includes GPS capability coupled with a photo enforcement database.
The Uniden R3
is nearly undetectable by the Spectre RDD (radar detector detectors used in Viginia) and provides very good K-band radar rejection from
today's collision avoidance systems.
At a newly reduced price, the Uniden R3
detector offers an exceptional value and remains one of the best values in radar detectors available today.
Uniden's detectors come with a 1 year manufacturers'
warranty.
Pros
- Remains one of the most sensitive single antenna radar detectors available on the
market
- Advanced Digital Signal Processing (DSP) for extreme radar detection range
- Exceptional at detecting instant-on police radar
- Excellent radar-based traffic safety rejection (TSR) filtering
- K narrow radar and Ka narrow radar sweeps for improved performance with less
falsing
- GPS enabled
- Full Color OLED display
- Small size
- Comes with two windshield-mounts, one conventional dual suction cup mount
and one large "sticky-cup" mount
- Comes with USB smartcord with push-button muting
- Firmware and Photo Enforcement database are both user upgradeable
- Nearly undetectable by SPECTRE RDD
Cons
- Laser detection capabilities not up to the same level of performance of police radar
- Better filtering can be found on the Uniden R4 & Escort MAX 4
- Does not detect Gatso photo radar like the Uniden R4 does
Best Suited for: Highway and City Use
Why it made out list: The Uniden R3 remains an extremely capable single-antenna detector now at a budget price.
Retail Price:
$329.99 (often on sale)
Best Radar Detector for the Money: Cobra RAD 700i – Top Seller!
Cobra RAD 700i Review Summary
The newly Cobra RAD 700i is Cobra's best radar detector ever produced as well as its greatest value priced detector.
We were simply amazed at how well the Cobra RAD 700i performed in its detection of police radar and police laser.
The radar sensitivity of the Cobra RAD 700i is right up there with the best radar detectors and its filtering capabilities don't disappoint either.
Pros
- Cobra's best radar detector
- Most sensitive radar detectors at this price point
- Speed based varying sensitivity
- High performance digital signal processing (DSP) for extreme long range radar detection performance
- Detects MultaRadar and Redflex photo radar
- Exceptional anti-collision sensor rejection filtering
- GPS enabled
- Firmware and photo enforcement database are both user upgradable
- Autolearn false lockouts
- Integrates with Escort DriveSmarter app
- Quick-release magnetic mount
Cons
- Display is difficult to read in most lighting conditions
- Would prefer different alert tones
Best Suited for: Highway and City Use
Why it made out list: The Cobra RAD 700i is a fabulous detector offering performance similar to detectors costing three times or more
Retail Price: $259.95
Best Motorcycle Radar Detector: Adaptiv TPX Pro
Adaptiv TPX Pro Review Summary
The Adaptiv TPX Pro is rated as having 4 times the capture distance of a police radar gun
and is specifically designed for motorcycle use however it can be accessorized as a
windshield mounted detector.
The TPX Pro is designed to be exposed to the outside elements, sports very large buttons for riders who use gloves, and mounts nicely on most bikes.
If you ride a motorcycle, the TPX Pro is our top pick for
you.
Pros
- Very good range
- Good false alert filtering
- Designed specifically for motorcycle use
- Integrates with Adaptiv's H.A.R.D. in-helmet alerting system
- GPS photo enforcement database
Cons
- Push button cord only available as option
- Performance not as high as detectors built for in-car use
Best Suited for: Motorcycle Use
Price: $399.95
FAQ
What's the best radar detector for me?
All of these radar detectors would be well suited to be mounted in your vehicle.
If you are seeking the very best detectors and cost isn't an overriding concern, the
Uniden R8w,
Escort Redline 360c, and
Escort MAXcam 360c are the natural choices.
On the otherhand, if you are on a budget or are new to radar detector ownership, then the
Cobra RAD 700i would certainly fit the bill.
If you still aren't sure which detector here is best for your particular needs, we have created a
guide on how to choose your next radar detector.
Unique to our review website, RadarBusters was founded by Radar Roy, a retired cop and certified traffic radar instructor with over 40 years of experience. Luxury Automotive was so impressed with Roy’s high standards and qualifications that they dubbed him the “General Schwarzkopf" of the countermeasure industry.