Am looking pretty hard at possibly getting a Nokta Legend.
The price is pretty good from what I am seeing.
Are there other machines that would be "better" or a step up from the Legend?
I know there are many that go way above but was just curious if there is something out there that for not a lot more money could be much better in performance?
Maybe the XP Deus original?
Probably a really big open question I am asking I get it. Just trying to get the best machine for the money I can buy.
here is the bottom Line you basically have three choices in detector choice even though there are many many other detectors but they do not fit into the criteria you have set
first choice is a equinox 600 second choice a Equinox 800 and third choice is Legend, the Legend is the Cheapest of all three and the newest of all three, of the three I have mentioned the Legend and the Nox 800 is the closest to each other in capabilities and modes to each other the Nox 600 does not have all the modes that the Nox 800 and the Legend do the Nox 600 also runs two less frequencies then the Nox 800 and Legend,
so with that being said here is the scoop, the Legend is still being updated by Nokta/Macro via firmware updates, the nox 800 and 600 will most likely never receive a new update that can be good or bad depending on how you look at it personally I do not feel its good and feel its a great thing that Nokta/Macro is still putting out updates for the Legend am I saying the Legend is the best thing since sliced bread absolutely not there is no best detector for all detecting scenarios (this is my opinion) and some will dis agree with my opinion LOL
getting back to the topic The Nox Line 600 and 800 has had many many build quality issues like shaft issues, coil ear breakage issues, water intrusion issues (drowning) a supposedly water proof detector when submerged in water these are not my opinion they are documented facts
the Legend has no reports so far of any of those issues this all boils down to build quality the Legend is on a different planet when it comes to build quality as compared to the nox 600 and 800, yes you can make the nox build quality better but you are talking added $$ spent to do so there is no way to make the nox water proof with out completely building a new control pod housing
Capability wise when my friends and I detect together me using the Legend and them swinging the Equinox 800 we see vary vary little difference between the nox 800 and the legend capabilities they are so close none of us can make a determination as to which is the more capable detector
The difference in price between the Nox 800 and the Legend the Nox is a few hundred more in cost compared to the Legend until you factor in the added cost to replace the shaft because of sloppy build quality then the cost is not a few hundred dollars but more like $400-$500 and that is not even factoring in the coil ears breaking on the nox if you are lucky the coil ears will break while the Nox is still under warranty, all my friends that own a nox be it a 600 or a 800 has had every issue I have described to you with there Noxes and have had to replace shafts, and coils because of coil ears breaking for no apparent reason, two of those friends had to have the control pod replaced dew to water intrusion not once but twice, for me personally I could not get past the build quality issues so I went with the Legend and have absolutely no regrets in my decision going with the Legend
a Deus 2 lite is $899 the standard Deus 2 is $1600
any way I hope this helps in your decision