Upgrading from the BlackVue DR590X to the
BlackVue DR770X Dash Cam - Is it worth it?

Upon opening the box of the Escort Max 360c MKII, the first thing we noticed was the darker faceplate on the top and front of the radar detector. This makes the unit look more stealthy, and less reflective when attached on our car’s windshield.

For its measurement, it is quite similar with the previous 360c model, sized around 5.2′′ long, 3.25′′ broad, and 1.4′′ thick. On top, a rear laser lens is located on the left, with an EZ Mag Mount connecting space in the center rear. Looking at its buttons, there are Sensitivity, Power, Mark Location, Brightness, Volume Down, Mute, and Volume Up which are situated on the front of the detector.

You will also see an LCD display with four arrow-shaped LEDs that will light up when threats are present around your vehicle. Additionally, there is a miniUSB port that you’ll only need for updates if you don’t plan on connecting the device to your home or vehicle’s Wi-Fi network. A modular jack also connects to the SmartCord to power the device, followed by a rubber plug that covers a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Additionally, if you prefer a neat installation that doesn’t require a coiled power cable running down the right side of your infotainment system, we recommend you to purchase a direct wire available for separate purchase.

Since this is the second generation of Escort's Max 360c, the brand claims that the most important enhancement is a 50% increase in range over the previous models. The M13 platform with dual antennas improves detection range and sensitivity in double.

The MKII's heart is a combination of two antennas: one for the front and the other for its rear. Both are set to take up radio frequencies in the radar bands, and a computer in the middle that sorts it all out and displays what it sees on its LCD display. When we compared it to the Max 360c, the MKII was capable of picking up police radar from larger distances and processing what it saw faster, with less lag in its response.

Apart from the cops, some models accidentally detect other vehicles’ blind-spot monitors and radar detectors which can trigger false alarms. Fortunately, with the Escort Max 360c MKII, you get these false alarms filtered out. And by any chance it detects one, its GPS lockout feature automatically registers and remembers where faulty alerts originate from, so it never happens again.

Technically, the signal processor is what distinguishes a $300 detector from a $700 detector. A detector with a higher price tag, like the Escort Max 360c MKII for example, has greater processing power to analyze various signals coming from the front and back and assess any actual dangers.

And thanks to its new processor, the Escort Max 360c MKII makes an even precise radar detector that gives plenty of warning before detecting police or roadside radar systems. Through this, you also get what Escort says “a dramatically quieter ride.” This helps in improving your overall situational awareness with the outstanding false alert filtering that reduces CAS (Collision Avoidance System) and BSM (Blind Spot Monitoring) along with other false radar signals. And by any chance you encounter stationary cameras which use MRCD/C1 and MRCT technology, the Escort Max 360c MKII’s Defender Database will alert you too!

The Escort Max 360c MKII also offers IVT filtering to eliminate spurious signals from other vehicles, WiFi updates, Bluetooth connectivity, GPS auto-learning - faster than ever. And even enhancing its Wi-Fi connectivity features, Escort added 5GHz connections to the standard 2.4GHz.

This also makes connecting to the dedicated Drive Smarter app easier, particularly for receiving and managing more information and insight into your drive. With the MKII, you can use the companion app or Wi-Fi to get community-based warnings for speed traps, police-spotted locations, and more.