TCosbyJr
Forum Supporter
I thought I'd ask for some actual experiences and advice on which detector to save up funds for as a upgrade. Money wise the $700-$900 max range for the ultimate detector for me (at least with the current models and price). Sure a XP Deus or Minelab CTX 3030 is amazing, but will always be out of my price range.
My needs/use
I am looking for of course some great depth for old finds, but with awesome target separation/recovery being a larger concern and likely frequency for "hunted out" spots. I'm not brand loyal so that isn't a issue. I tend to be a digger, anything that comes up as pull tab or better I dig. I am a coinshooter, but relics are great too. I search parks, schools, fields, private yards and property, and tot lots. The soil in my area is very low mineralization (hoovering a bit under 0.025% Fe3O4) and ground balances as mild clay (Fisher detector GB in the 50 range and it lists clay in the 40-75 range (A 0-95 scale, wet salt is 0 and black iron a 95).
I am 6' 2" barefoot so it seems some detectors would have length issues, such as needing a longer shaft for the Simplex+ I've discovered. I've never had a problem with detectors shaft length previously. I consider myself average height though due to how much taller my cousins, uncle, and others in my family are (and even others in my area). I guess it is good they are not in the detecting hobby.
Coil size in my area/use a 9" size DD works best, and the 9.5" x 5.5" NEL Sharpshooter DD footprint is ideal. I've tried larger coils that get lost in trash signals and the smaller 4-6" coils that add loads more swing/coverage time. I have not made a find yet with a larger/smaller coil that a 9" coil would not have found too. I've swapped coils checking targets at parks/yards to see it first-hand multiple times. After experiencing the same results on several detectors throughout the years I'm very dubious at least for my area/use on needing multiple coils or overly large ones.
After about a month of searching models I am lost on a upgrade. The more I look at videos/reviews/tests/etc it seems everything is equal at best or even worse than what I have now. I also found much of the information is one-sided either due to ignorance of the detectors and settings, brand shills, or unknown advantages - with comments on videos/posts/articles pointing it out at times by viewers. Or it simply does not help in determining it's potential short of buying to try it myself and loosing money reselling as it was not a upgrade as has typically happened in the past.
The last local detector store in my area actually has a very well aged test garden (40+ years I think it was) but the problem is any demo machines they have are the budget friendly Garrett Ace or similar models. Even if they do carry some of the higher end models I am sure they would not allow them to be tested/demo, which itself would only help with the more basic detector selection anyway.
What I found
From the current offerings from all the brands I thought the Minelab Equinox 800 was the one to get, with a Nox 600 a close 2nd. The multiple simultaneously frequencies had me sold that it would be a major advantage. Further searching of that model though showed search coil tab/ear problems (with people 3D printing fixes), shaft issues and fatigue or recommendations to replace the entire shaft. Even multiple negative reviews of the Nox 800 about short battery life, nothing special over any other past/cheaper detectors, charging problems, and EMI issues.
Other alternatives like a MXT or M6 from White's is not really an option due to support/repair. Same for Tesoro. I already had their Cibola and Outlaw but for me neither did better than anything I had previously. A Fisher F75 LTD, G2+, or similar models seem to suffer bad EMI anywhere, and appear they are easily out paced by the Nox 800. If anything I was originally leaning towards a Garrett AT Pro or AT Max, but many honest reviews stopped that. Hopefully though a new AT Pro Apex or such is in the final manufacturing stages and would make the upgrade decision easy. The Garrett Apex seems to be the budget Ace product line, and no stock till August before non-Garrett staff/testers get one for a honest review to see where it matches up, so is off my list. The Nokta Makro products Impact, Multi Kruzer (and here), and Anfibio Multi may have multiple frequencies but only work one at a time, not simultaneously like the Equinox detectors do. Same for the X-Terra 705 I found used locally, single frequency based on the coil. So that is a bummer for sure. They also seem to suffer similar shaft issues, EMI problems, and other issues of detectors in recent years.
I have to admit I am not a fan of internal battery powered models - which about all use now. If I forget to charge it or it dies mid-use I am out of luck and can't change batteries as I often do as I tend to detect anywhere from 4-10 hours at a time. I know some allow a USB power pack to keep going, or external battery hook-ups. The real problem is all batteries have a shelf-life like some of my families old iPhones and other things now show - which for the detector company has to be a great money maker after warranties expire. Unless of course someone does like Sven1 in this post to do their own, or can even add a bigger external one too.
At one point I thought of Simplex+ for now due to the price, until I could decide what to upgrade to; however, there is no advantage doing so. I was going to if nothing else gift it to my dad to get him back in the hobby for a detector buddy, but he wants nothing to do with detecting anymore. My current setup in discriminate does a bit better than Simplex+ modes Park/Park 1, and in all metal with VDI still a bit better than the Simplex+ Field mode - in depth from various videos I've seen of it in use at parks/fields/etc, garden test beds, and the air tests (illegitimate or not). In gold jewelry my setup well outperforms the Simplex+ which is not a surprise due to the higher 19 kHz frequency.
Final Thoughts
I know there is no perfect detector out there, or one that will discover awesome finds if they are not in the ground. After all if there was it would be the only detector for sale. With all the recent changes in machines and companies since I was in the hobby last it seems like it has all changed drastically.
I have no doubt most companies warranties will resolve any potential problem, and relieve my worries - Garrett was awesome at that recently.
The main problem I want to avoid is another detector upgrade that isn't. Buyers remorse like the factory fresh machines of White's Coinmaster Pro and Tesoro Outlaw were for me, and I lost 30% (or more in trade/sell price average of my past detectors) when I could have gotten something else I'd been happy with. I am in no hurry to buy and couldn't right now anyway. My current detector and coil is the best I've ever had in the hobby for depth/separation, but the thought of what is a true upgrade has set in.
My needs/use
I am looking for of course some great depth for old finds, but with awesome target separation/recovery being a larger concern and likely frequency for "hunted out" spots. I'm not brand loyal so that isn't a issue. I tend to be a digger, anything that comes up as pull tab or better I dig. I am a coinshooter, but relics are great too. I search parks, schools, fields, private yards and property, and tot lots. The soil in my area is very low mineralization (hoovering a bit under 0.025% Fe3O4) and ground balances as mild clay (Fisher detector GB in the 50 range and it lists clay in the 40-75 range (A 0-95 scale, wet salt is 0 and black iron a 95).
I am 6' 2" barefoot so it seems some detectors would have length issues, such as needing a longer shaft for the Simplex+ I've discovered. I've never had a problem with detectors shaft length previously. I consider myself average height though due to how much taller my cousins, uncle, and others in my family are (and even others in my area). I guess it is good they are not in the detecting hobby.
Coil size in my area/use a 9" size DD works best, and the 9.5" x 5.5" NEL Sharpshooter DD footprint is ideal. I've tried larger coils that get lost in trash signals and the smaller 4-6" coils that add loads more swing/coverage time. I have not made a find yet with a larger/smaller coil that a 9" coil would not have found too. I've swapped coils checking targets at parks/yards to see it first-hand multiple times. After experiencing the same results on several detectors throughout the years I'm very dubious at least for my area/use on needing multiple coils or overly large ones.
After about a month of searching models I am lost on a upgrade. The more I look at videos/reviews/tests/etc it seems everything is equal at best or even worse than what I have now. I also found much of the information is one-sided either due to ignorance of the detectors and settings, brand shills, or unknown advantages - with comments on videos/posts/articles pointing it out at times by viewers. Or it simply does not help in determining it's potential short of buying to try it myself and loosing money reselling as it was not a upgrade as has typically happened in the past.
The last local detector store in my area actually has a very well aged test garden (40+ years I think it was) but the problem is any demo machines they have are the budget friendly Garrett Ace or similar models. Even if they do carry some of the higher end models I am sure they would not allow them to be tested/demo, which itself would only help with the more basic detector selection anyway.
What I found
From the current offerings from all the brands I thought the Minelab Equinox 800 was the one to get, with a Nox 600 a close 2nd. The multiple simultaneously frequencies had me sold that it would be a major advantage. Further searching of that model though showed search coil tab/ear problems (with people 3D printing fixes), shaft issues and fatigue or recommendations to replace the entire shaft. Even multiple negative reviews of the Nox 800 about short battery life, nothing special over any other past/cheaper detectors, charging problems, and EMI issues.
Other alternatives like a MXT or M6 from White's is not really an option due to support/repair. Same for Tesoro. I already had their Cibola and Outlaw but for me neither did better than anything I had previously. A Fisher F75 LTD, G2+, or similar models seem to suffer bad EMI anywhere, and appear they are easily out paced by the Nox 800. If anything I was originally leaning towards a Garrett AT Pro or AT Max, but many honest reviews stopped that. Hopefully though a new AT Pro Apex or such is in the final manufacturing stages and would make the upgrade decision easy. The Garrett Apex seems to be the budget Ace product line, and no stock till August before non-Garrett staff/testers get one for a honest review to see where it matches up, so is off my list. The Nokta Makro products Impact, Multi Kruzer (and here), and Anfibio Multi may have multiple frequencies but only work one at a time, not simultaneously like the Equinox detectors do. Same for the X-Terra 705 I found used locally, single frequency based on the coil. So that is a bummer for sure. They also seem to suffer similar shaft issues, EMI problems, and other issues of detectors in recent years.
I have to admit I am not a fan of internal battery powered models - which about all use now. If I forget to charge it or it dies mid-use I am out of luck and can't change batteries as I often do as I tend to detect anywhere from 4-10 hours at a time. I know some allow a USB power pack to keep going, or external battery hook-ups. The real problem is all batteries have a shelf-life like some of my families old iPhones and other things now show - which for the detector company has to be a great money maker after warranties expire. Unless of course someone does like Sven1 in this post to do their own, or can even add a bigger external one too.
At one point I thought of Simplex+ for now due to the price, until I could decide what to upgrade to; however, there is no advantage doing so. I was going to if nothing else gift it to my dad to get him back in the hobby for a detector buddy, but he wants nothing to do with detecting anymore. My current setup in discriminate does a bit better than Simplex+ modes Park/Park 1, and in all metal with VDI still a bit better than the Simplex+ Field mode - in depth from various videos I've seen of it in use at parks/fields/etc, garden test beds, and the air tests (illegitimate or not). In gold jewelry my setup well outperforms the Simplex+ which is not a surprise due to the higher 19 kHz frequency.
Final Thoughts
I know there is no perfect detector out there, or one that will discover awesome finds if they are not in the ground. After all if there was it would be the only detector for sale. With all the recent changes in machines and companies since I was in the hobby last it seems like it has all changed drastically.
I have no doubt most companies warranties will resolve any potential problem, and relieve my worries - Garrett was awesome at that recently.
The main problem I want to avoid is another detector upgrade that isn't. Buyers remorse like the factory fresh machines of White's Coinmaster Pro and Tesoro Outlaw were for me, and I lost 30% (or more in trade/sell price average of my past detectors) when I could have gotten something else I'd been happy with. I am in no hurry to buy and couldn't right now anyway. My current detector and coil is the best I've ever had in the hobby for depth/separation, but the thought of what is a true upgrade has set in.
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