My Equinox 800 Take (Tests and Commentary)

Picked up an equinox today. I took it to a site that I have used to test my previous machines and coils. I was finding targets right away that had been missed before by a whole slew of machines. I never would of dreamed there would be GOLD hiding amongst the iron debris, but thirty minutes into the hunt I got a small gold pendant.


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Nice!!
 
My best detecting day ever, not because of specifically what I found (some folks may classify as junk) but the circumstances surrounding these nonferrous found.

These items found in my detector proving grounds site.

Hard busted by some good detectors. Folks here probably know of one model and various I coils I have hunted before with due to my previous posting.

Folks, I didn't even really get out of my own shadow and was digging these.

v8pzxk.jpg

You see the buttons, item on left is a smashed thimbal. Couple bigger brass pieces. A few bullets, even musket ball.
I intentionally wanted to try field mode 2 in this area just to satisfy my own curiosity.
So this is exactly what I did.

If I would have had about 10 shovels to place around the perimeter of this area I found these today, would be very eye opening and would also support highly there is no way in the world I could have missed this many nonferrous finds this close together.

Running factory field 2, 0 iron bias and used both speed levels 6 and 7.
Sens at 23
Auto GB with 54 in the window.
50 tones

Every single one of these finds gave very good signal but one using multi frequency.
After locating the first 5 suspect targets I checked with park 2 mode.
I could hear all, but volume of tone was louder and tone not as pure sounding. A couple of these when sweeping using park 2, the signals were trying to chop on the edge somewhat.
On these first 5 suspect targets I checked in field 2 detect mode using single freqs of 15, 20, and 40 kHz. At no time did any of these 5 suspect targets give me anything to dig tonally period. Full rotations around suspect area sweeping.

So I kept hunting, except I quit comparing using park 2, but did check all suspect targets before digging using 15, 20, and 40khz.
Only one additional target gave a signal in both 20 and 40 kHz.
The rest of the targets recovered, I got no tone period telling me dig when checking with 15, 20 and 40 kHz.

No target was deeper than 7" deep.

Equinox purred like a kitten.

Folks most if not all these nonferrous objects have been swept likely at least 200 times by myself personally using other models detectors.
No head to head done on any of them.
Equinox the only detector I had with me.

All I can do here is report truthfully what happened.
Folks can draw their own conclusions.
My Equinox will be under my pillow tonite while I'm sleeping.

I love the daylights out of it, especially after today.
 
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My best detecting day ever, not because of specifically what I found (some folks may classify as junk) but the circumstances surrounding these nonferrous found.

These items found in my detector proving grounds site.

Hard busted by some good detectors. Folks here probably know of one model and various I coils I have hunted before with due to my previous posting.

Folks, I didn't even really get out of my own shadow and was digging these.

v8pzxk.jpg

You see the buttons, item on left is a smashed thimbal. Couple bigger brass pieces. A few bullets, even musket ball.
I intentionally wanted to try field mode 2 in this area just to satisfy my own curiosity.
So this is exactly what I did.

If I would have had about 10 shovels to place around the perimeter of this area I found these today, would be very eye opening and would also support highly there is no way in the world I could have missed this many nonferrous finds this close together.

Running factory field 2, 0 iron bias and used both speed levels 6 and 7.
Sens at 23
Auto GB with 54 in the window.
50 tones

Every single one of these finds gave very good signal but one using multi frequency.
After locating the first 5 suspect targets I checked with park 2 mode.
I could hear all, but volume of tone was louder and tone not as pure sounding. A couple of these when sweeping using park 2, the signals were trying to chop on the edge somewhat.
On these first 5 suspect targets I checked in field 2 detect mode using single freqs of 15, 20, and 40 kHz. At no time did any of these 5 suspect targets give me anything to dig tonally period. Full rotations around suspect area sweeping.

So I kept hunting, except I quit comparing using park 2, but did check all suspect targets before digging using 15, 20, and 40khz.
Only one additional target gave a signal in both 20 and 40 kHz.
The rest of the targets recovered, I got no tone period telling me dig when checking with 15, 20 and 40 kHz.

No target was deeper than 7" deep.

Equinox purred like a kitten.

Folks most if not all these nonferrous objects have been swept likely at least 200 times by myself personally using other models detectors.
No head to head done on any of them.
Equinox the only detector I had with me.

All I can do here is report truthfully what happened.
Folks can draw their own conclusions.
My Equinox will be under my pillow tonite while I'm sleeping.

I love the daylights out of it, especially after today.
Ok now you just need to stop. Lol you are driving those in waiting nuts! JK buddy I am just getting cabin fever here waiting for my turn with the Nox. Nice work on those finds!

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TNSS, that last post says a lot about Multi-IQ! Sounds like it really is something special. Really looking forward to using this machine.


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:grin:
TNSS, that last post says a lot about Multi-IQ! Sounds like it really is something special. Really looking forward to using this machine.


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Secret sauce multi IQ is for real. Don't question it. And don't underestimate the 11" DD coil thinking it's too big.
Relic hunters are going to have a ball with this detector.
Most of what I found today, any one of them could have been a gold coin lurking.

Been walking on top of these for 7 years. lol
I should say here, this area (circular area) I hunted today, I noticed this spot seemed to have a higher concentration of nonferrous, due romuse of elliptical and round HF Deus coils. I hunted this circle the first time and dug around 10 finds. Hunted again using both coils found 3. Hunted again using both HF coils and found 1. Hunted this circle again around 4 times using both HF coils - Notta.
Now I had hunted this area previously loads using LF coils on Deus. CTX, Etrac.
Just outside the perimeter of this circle I dug a 1 bit Spanish bit around 10" using CTX around 4 years ago.

This site is part of old town site. Town was moved in 1817.
Site likely dates back to circa 1740. Old for these parts, near the river.
 
That is Amazing! I cant wait to get my hands on one! I love my F75 but this seems to be in a new league!!! One thing I have noticed though watching endless youtube videos is, in your opinion, does the more compressed number scale vs say 0-100 scale make it harder to determine between targets such as a nickle vs can slaw or what not. For instance on my F75, nickles hit around 28 while can slaw is lower around 18-24. Ive noticed alot of people with the nox hit 13 and it be a nickle or can slaw.
 
Equinox located targets checked with xp Deus multiple coils.

Alright I have been back to site.
Have done head to head on targets found by Minelab Equinox and cross check XP Deus and muliple coils.
My hunch was right.
Give me some time to put together.
I may post in thread here, but will have to keep adding for fear of losing data.
Here I am at the site.
2s92fys.jpg


Alright before I start adding data here I need to say a few things.
It rained last night and this morning probably around an inch since my visit to this same site as yesterday,

I sure don't wan to mislead folks and I indeed may have. I stated I had hunted this site previously using Deus with LF coils and HF coils, but I need to clarify. Hunting in this site (with HF coils) was limited using the highest bands frequency wise using both of the HF coils. This site was predominantly hunted using the middle frequency band of 28.8khz previously.

Every target today was located using Equinox and 11" DD coil using field 2 detect mode, factory mode disc, sens at 24, iron bias at 0. Targets today were located using speed levels 6 and 7.

There were never 2 detectors turned on at the same time. When one detector was being used all others were OFF. My side by side and all other detectors not being used at the time were around 50 ft from actual spots were targets were located using Equinox.

The comparison test done, not done to make any one detector inferior or demean.

Xp Deus when LF coils were used (both 9" and 11") the highest frequency band only was used (17.xxxkhz)
When HF coils (9" round and 5x10" elliptical) were used, I compared using 28.8 kHz and each coils respective highest band freq wise-there was one exception and I will mention it later.

All detectors used today were ground balanced to actual ground.
Winds were light when I was in the site. Back phones wore with Deus with audio response 5 setting and a volume level 6 in the headphones. Wireless headphones used with Equinox.

All the detectors used today bought personally by me, I have no connection currently with Xp or Minelab other than the fact I own equipment they manufacture. And have had no formal or semi formal connection with either in the past period.

Next comes the pics of each nonferrous targets found and compared. One ferrous target was located and dug using Equinox.
A clad dime will be placed in each pic with each nonferrous object to give the object scale.
I should remind folks yesterday when at the site I did dig nonferrous smaller, about the same size and a little big than a clad dime.
After I post what I am about to post,, I encourage all to go back re read want I posted yesterday as far as what I saw and heard using Equinox in this very same site.

The nonferrous targets located today, what I was really wanting was to find some targets that gave no dig me or tone when using single freq on Equinox (15khz. 20khz and 40khz).
I did find some, but some did sound off using some single freqs on Equinox. I will detail each nonferrous find as far as what exactly happened.
I wished I would have done comparisons yesterday on what I found using Equinox in this site. Would have been easier and less time consuming.

Here is pic of all targets. Rain moved in on me so this is what I got today.
A total of 7 nonferrous targets and one ferrous target.

14mrqlk.jpg


Here is pic of first nonferrous item located with Equinox.
w9bsz9.jpg


Seems to be made of lead.
Equinox using multi freqs gave good signal.
Looking at the target before digging, use of 20khz and 40khz mandatory for good signal using singe freq ops.

Deus wearing 11" LF coil could see this target 18"kHz hot program 3 reactivity. After I saw this I ceased any further testing using any other Deus /coil combo for comparing.

Next item found with Equinox- a small button.
25hic9k.jpg


This item gave very good signal using Equinox using multi freq, sweeping using single freqs of 15, 20 and 40 kHz yielded nothing to alert me to button.

Deus using both 9" and 11" LF coils using highest freq band no detection. Tried all reactivity settings 2-5. Silencer was at -1 at all times. Checked using full tones 0 disc, disc level. 2 and disc level 6. Even tried pitch tone disc 6.

Deus wearing round HF coil checking button using 28.8khz and 54kh using hot program with reactivity settings of between 2-5, no signal, silencer at -1 at all times. Sens varied between 86-92.

Deus wearing elliptical HF coil, sweeping button using 28.8khz with reactivity levels between 2-5, no signal.
Sweeping button using 74khz a signal was acquired with reactivity level 3 only.

Next time located with Equinox- a small round button
153qik1.jpg


This button gave very good signal on Equinox using multi freq. sweeping using 15kha, 20khz and 40khz yielded nothing tonally to alert me to button.
Using Deus both LF coils yielded nothing tonally alerting me to the button.
Used 18khz hot program reactivity levels 2-5. Silencer at -1 at all times. Even checked with TX power at level 1.

Deus wearing round HF coil.
The only detection I got was using 54khz reactivity levels 3 and 4.
Use of 28.8 kHz yielded nothing alerting me to button.

Deus wearing elliptical HF coil.
No signal,ever gotten using both 28.8 kHz or 74khz. Tried reactivity levels 2-5 silencer at both 0 and -1.

Next time found using Equinox- unsure of its composition.
309jvoh.jpg


This item gave good signal using Equinox, I could walk practically all the way around it sweeping getting a good signal-using multi freq.
Using single freq ops of 15khz, 20, and 40 kHz, use of 20 kh was borderline signal, use of 40khz a pretty good diggable signal.

I first swept this suspect area with Deus using 11" LF coil,
It did detect this object, but what was shocking was how narrow angular wise I could be around target and get a hit. Extremely narrow. Use of 9" LF coil did somewhat better than. 11" LF coil as far as a angular approach allowed to sweep and detect, but nowhere as good as the Equinox in Mulit freq.

I did check with round HF coil, a little better results (anguslr approach) vs 9" LF coil.
The elliptical coil HF I didn't use to check this target.

Here is pic of next item found with Equinox- round piece of lead.
zna06t.jpg


This item gave a good signal with Equinox using multi freq.
Single freq ops sweeping using 15,20 and 40 kHz yielded nothing alerted me to piece of lead.

Both Deus LF coils failed to detect- used hot program only multiple settings.
Round HF coil failed to detect- used hot program.only using multiple settings.
HF elliptical did detect, but highest freq band had to be employed.

Next object found using Equinox- one of the little studs like on a saddle, checked with magnet totally nonferrous.
2v17nlz.jpg


This object gave a good signal using Equinox and multi freq. use of single freq ops using 15, 20 and 40khz yielded nothing tonally alerting me to this target.

This object could never be detected using Deus any of the LF coils or any of the HF coils period. Hot program used, various settings and freqs tried.

This next pic last nonferrous object located using Equinox. May be part of 22 cal rim fire bullet.
2nbc314.jpg


This object gave good signal using Equinox using Mulit freq. Using single freq ops of 15,20 and 40khz yielded nothing to alert me to this object.

All Deus coils I had with me today failed to detect this object. Hot program used on all. Multiple settings and freqs tried.

The only ferrous I located (by accident) lol, it sounded pretty good with 13 in the meter.
Nail,was around 8.5" deep.
2jg8dux.jpg

Checked using all Deus coils I have, none of them told me to dig this nail.

To conclude here.
If folks will notice there is a pattern. And remember yesterday all the nonferrous I dig out of this site, if I remember correctly, all signals had by Equinox yesterday using Multi freq all but 2 gave nothing tonally alerting me to the nonferrous targets when sweeping using 15, 20 and 40 kHz. So we will never know whixh Deus coil would have gotten signals on those when doing head to head. I can draw a conclusion and get close though I think based on what I Saw today.

Equinox is a very powerful detector (wide ranging) in its actual capabilities.
I hope folks enjoy this data and maybe it will help answer question for folks.
This here doing is work. Can be fun.
Nothing Inwant to do everyday though.
Cheers.
 
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Thanks for the report. This new Minelab detecting non-ferrous targets that even the mighty Deus can’t see sounds very promising!


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Love this thread. Keep this up and I’ll be able to get some cheap Deus stuff! All those trade ins are going to make prices plummet. Keep posting TNSS!


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Now here is something for the Nox 800 users to think about.
Scenario
You are hunting a park.
Use field 2 detect mode instead of park mode.
Wonder if you decided on targets giving 10 or less ID in the window.
Wonder if you checked these targets using 15khz, 20khz and 40 kHz, and don't get a signal.
What could this mean??
Could be a nonferrous target that has the possibility of never ever been detected before. Even not detected by Deus user running LF coils and other detectors too. Might be a find of a life time too.
Could indicate an older nonferrous masked.
Another way to discriminate.
Might be good in hot weather. When you don't want to dig many holes.
You can set your own parameters.

You see I failed to say, Nox using mult freq. or only did it find the targets it ID them correctly too, verified by airtest.
 
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could be a piece of foil or can slaw too! gotta love this hobby

Sure it could.
But it likely would be older lost. Vs newer.
Could a person tale Nox and go where no man or woman has gone with a metal detector- with stock coil??
Something to think about.

And we haven't even seen the smaller coil yet. Yikes.
 
got one will be here Thursday.... cant wait to see a detector hitting targets in iron that the deus cant see. You need to buy a go pro bad.. You know my soil what do suggest for relics over here?
 
got one will be here Thursday.... cant wait to see a detector hitting targets in iron that the deus cant see. You need to buy a go pro bad.. You know my soil what do suggest for relics over here?

Field 2 speed 6 and 7 in the real polluted stuff. Mulit freq. iron bias 0.

You can likely do what I did.
Find a target using multi freq, then check with single freq 15, 20 and 40 if no tone. Mark it. Check with Deus. I'll bet 28.8 kHz won't touch. Even the other higher freqs maybe won't touch- can't say for sure.

Both round and elliptical HF coils.

What is going to shock you is how clear the tone is even on challenged targets. Just listening you would 't know how bad masked.

Head straight for the worst place you know and practice.

If i had a go pro, folks would get tired of seeing and hearing me. My southern draw would scare them. They might think I am a dummy. Lol hill billy hick they might think.
 
thanks ,did you ground noise cancel every time you shifted freqs? have you tried the different tones on nox?

To check targets like .i suggested above you don't have to do noise cancel.
But before you hunt do a noise cancel. If you are hunting and someone else shows up with another detector. Let them turn theirs on then do another noise cancel.

What is happening could be caused by soil minerals, and or rust, and or iron, and or coil size and or Multi I.Q.
 
You are doing so much leg work and testing thanks!! You are doing everything but dig it up for me!! My 600 should ship out soon :)
 
You are doing so much leg work and testing thanks!! You are doing everything but dig it up for me!! My 600 should ship out soon :)

You will still need field time.
At least you can read here after using and relate to what you witnessed.
And ask questions if you like.

Other Nox users can jump in and help too.
 
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