I acknowledge the Valentine as the premier detector, but let me vouch for Beltronics. I've been nothing but impressed with my Bel980 for 2yrs. I had another Bel before that, but I left it in the dash of a Black/Black car in longterm parking, and the heat got to it. Features I love the most about the Bel is that they are LOUD (a must), sleek design, great range, and for $270, you cannot get much better. When personally compared with the Valentine, the only advantage is that the V1 tells you where the bogie is at in relation to you. I spend most of my speeding-time on the highway, and if my detector beeps, they must be ahead of me somewhere... As far as range, my buddy and I both hit the brakes at the same time, I had the Bel, he had the V1...
It has paid for itself countless times.