FWIW, you might want to look at the Uniden DFR9 as well. I haven't seen a head-to-head competition between the two Uniden detectors, but I suspect the only difference will be the directional arrows on the R7 and the additional cost. Costco sells the Uniden DFR9 for $259. And if you don't like it, you can return it, no questions asked.
I've been using the DFR9 for about 4 months now. K-band alerts come through frequently in town. The initial warning tells you that it is K-band, then the alert volume goes down markedly. If you know that it is a store's automatic doors, you can "mark" it with the built-in GPS. If not, ignore the warning or mute it.
KA-band has an entirely different sound. It gets your attention.

I've picked up warnings a couple miles away on this one. Those warnings have been around bends and up hill as well. If it goes off, there's an LEO around. The DFR9 doesn't have directional arrows. I'm not sure they matter that much though. The warnings I've received in some cases were on the road we were traveling, just quite a ways away. And since they were not only ahead, but around several bends, the arrows might've made me complacent thinking it was an LEO on a side road.
As for the Laser warning...I've only encountered that once. Again though, the warning is different and gets your attention. Although with Laser, as a state patrolman told me, a detector lets you be the second person to know you're getting a ticket. Think about that for a second... He had a big ear to ear grin on his face as he said that.
If you come across a review that actually measures the distances one can detect versus another, I'd be very interested in that. In the meantime, the DFR9 seems to be blocking unwanted false alerts very well and warning me of actual radar traps in plenty of time to not be tagged. It's very easy for me to live with.
BTW, I picked up a very small BT transmitter that plugs into the headphone jack and puts the alerts into your helmet so you can hear them immediately.
Chris