Cobra ESD-9110CS: Sexy Looks... Depressing Performance...

Author's Rating:

Pros: Looks

Cons: Performance

The Bottom Line: 
Look elsewhere.

Author's Review
Today, Cobra makes some of the most popular radar detectors on the market. I wonder, how do they do it? Well, these line of Cobras have a very nice curvy style, very sexy... Indeed. The Cobra ESD-9110CS is the base model, and retails with a $105 MSRP. However, it can be bought well below $100 on the internet. For such a price, it definitely looks better than a Uniden... And wow, it looks much better than most detectors in general. So, how does it perform?

-Price-
*The Cobra ESD-9110CS can be purchased around $70ish. However, that money can be much better spent. I think it's more wise to buy a Cobra than a Uniden, but I'd rather have no detector than the Cobra ESD-9110CS. Regarding performance vs. price, the Cobra ESD-9110CS performs better as a door-stop than a radar detector, or at least when it comes to Ka-band. Sure, there are some nice things about it such as its nice looks and easy to read display, but performance is horrendous. I know numerous people that bought Cobra detectors such as these (Others in the series too) and have gotten pulled over quite constantly. The X and K-band performance are OK, as long as you're not a stupid driver, the Cobra ESD-9110CS can suffice, but if you're in an area that uses Ka-band mostly, your money is better spent by giving it to a bum on the street, it's a better way to spend the money.

-Performance-
*"Don't judge a book by its cover." The Cobra ESD-9110CS and its brothers and sisters make this quote oh so very true. It's a sexy looking detector, but performance is lacking. I decided to compare it to the Valentine One. The K-band warnings went off long after the V1 started beeping. If there was no V1, I'd give myself maybe a couple of seconds or so to slow down. The biggest surprise came in Riverwoods, Illinois, which uses Ka-band radar. I was going for over a couple minutes already with the Valentine One blaring on Ka. The Cobra was silent. Then I received a visual on the cop, and a couple seconds later the Cobra ESD-9110CS began to beep, pretty much at point blank range. That definitely wouldn't have been enough time to stop. If I were speeding with the Cobra, I would've been clocked. The Cobra ESD-9110CS falses a bit, but nothing compared to the Valentine One. But, at least the Valentine One actually picks up radar! If you're looking for a radar detector that can pick up K and especially Ka, then the Cobra ESD-9110CS isn't something you'd like to be riding with.

-Features And Ease Of Use-
*The Cobra ESD-9110CS isn't a difficult detector to use. I borrowed one from a Cobra-using friend, which isn't hard to find at all (LOL?). The Cobra ESD-9110CS has everything you'd like such as a mute button, and quite possibly some other things. It does have those safety warning thing-a-ma-bobbers, but what you really need is X, K, and Ka-band sensitivity. Oh yeah, it has laser protection too, it's not really bare-bones, even for the price.

-The Verdict-
*The Cobra ESD-9110CS is OK if you're using it in K-band territory, and you're pretty damn good at slowing down in a very brief period of time. If you're in an area that uses Ka-band, look elsewhere. Overall, I can't recommend the Cobra ESD-9110CS, it offers poor performance, only trying to compensate with good looks.