Escort Solo S2 Radar Detector

I have previously written a review on the Escort Solo S2 and it got moved to a different category, plus I was less experienced then so found my review to be very unsatisfactory. Times have changed, and I've decided to try this incredibly popular and expensive radar detector again. The Escort Solo S2 is the most recent newcomer in the cordless market from Escort. They claim that it's much better than the Escort Solo. Well, here's what I found.

-Price-
*The Escort Solo S2 is far away from any competition. This is currently the only cordless detector that goes for over $200. Well, it's actually just around $300. I've seen it for as little as $280, and for as much as $330 (MSRP). The $50 decrease from the MSRP still keeps it at a very high price though. However, there is a wide gap in performance in comparison to cheaper sub-$200 models. Unlike Rocky Mountain, Escort doesn't put crap into the radar market, well except for the older Solo which was recently replaced. For around $300, you can go for an Escort Passport 8500 which is corded and will offer significantly better performance. But afterall, the Escort Solo S2 is a cordless detector, and comparing a cordless to a corded is like comparing apples and oranges. The Escort Solo S2 runs off of two AA alkaline batteries, much like the rest of the competition. The Escort Solo S2 is however larger in size and has a very cool display. For the amount you pay with the Escort Solo S2, I'd much rather get an Escort Passport 8500 since it's an extremely fine detector, but it's corded. If you absolutely need a cordless, the Escort Solo S2 deems itself worthy. Very worthy, indeed.

-Performance-
*The Escort Solo S2 is supposedly significantly improved compared to the older Escort Solo which sold for $199. This detector like many others detects X, K, Ka, and laser bands. I was very curious about the X-Band performance, so I took it on a stretch of road where there is a strong X-Band transmitter. The Escort Solo S2 performed well on X-Band providing a pretty good warning time. When it came to K-Band on a straight road, the Escort Solo S2 gave ample warning to slow down. It does give more warning time compared to a cheaper PNI or Beltronics cordless, but not by too much. However, it's a far cry from the previous Solo. But for the price you pay, you can get significantly better protection from a corded detector. When it came to Ka-Band on a straight, the Escort Solo S2 actually picked it up! Not only did it pick it up, but it gave a few seconds of time to slow down before the cop was in visual sight. This is better than the Ka-Band performance you'd expect from a cheaper cordless. This is also surprising considering a cordless detector needs to shut itself on and off about 85% of the time to conserve energy. It's a far cry from a corded detector such as an Escort Passport 8500, Bel Vector 985, or Valentine One, but it's pretty damn good for a cordless!

-Ease of Use & Features-
*The Escort Solo S2 runs on two AA alkaline batteries. It can also run off of the 12V SmartCord which allows you to mute the detector from the cigarette lighter. This can be useful if you don't want to reach all the way up to your detector to mute it. The Escort Solo S2 has memory retention so that your settings which you choose from the driver-selectable settings will stay in place even when you replace the batteries. This device is Shift Link compatible so it can be hooked up to the Escort ZR3 so you can get excellent laser jamming abilities. The Escort Solo S2 also picks up Safety Warning System (SWS) messages so that you can see if their are any hazards ahead of you on the road. Compared to any other cordless display, the Escort Solo S2 offers by far the nicest display. It's a backlit LED which gives you a clear view of the radar threat alongside a signal strength bar. Much better than the icon display you'd find otherwise. Other than the mute button on top of the detector, all of the other functions are on the front panel. On the front panel, you have the power button, the volume buttons, and the program button which you can change the detector modes. It's a little more complex than the older Escort Solo or other cordless detectors, but it's not difficult to learn to use it.

-The Verdict-
*The Escort Solo S2 is an extremely expensive cordless. It does offer more than the other cordless detectors on the market. It also has overall better sensitivity. However, some may find that paying around $300 for a cordless might be too much. You can also have adequate protection with other cordless detectors. But overall, the Escort Solo S2 deserves most of the acclaims that it receives since it makes most use of the AA battery power supply.

Curious about other cordless models?

Bel Express 946

PNI Sensoro Traveller II

Escort Solo (Original)