Myers Depot Metal Detectors

My thoughts on the Minelab Manticore after 50 hours and beyond!

Great work DeWayne, can't wait to see what else you add to this thread as we get further into the 2023 detecting season.
 
Rattlehead said:
It would be for me. You get a very similar pattern type discrimination, and even though it doesn't give you the FE #, you still see where it plots on the screen, just like FBS. Its lighter, faster, deeper and more versatile than the CTX. One major thing you won't get from the Manticore though, is those flutey tones that FBS is so well known for. The tones on the Manticore are more akin to the sounds of the Equinox.
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D seeing you response on tones leads me to a question. On the Equinox in 5 tone you are able to set bin 5 up with the hightone pitch, not quite the Etrac silver squeal but still a pretty nice high tone. Are you able, do you get the same high tone pitch in 5 tone on the Manticore? If so is it just in certain modes ? Or across the board. I know there are more descriptive audio options but I have been hunting 5 tone for 5 years now and have become quite comfortable with it. Thanks Mark
 
Great review! I think the info you provided in your reviews is very helpful. I appreciate the positive/negative things you point out as your opinion. I also appreciate you showing capabilities and not bashing. Like, here is what this machine can do, you decide if it works for you. I read your review on the D2 as well and watched some of your videos, all good.

It seems like there isn't much of a performance gap between the new generation of MF machines. Looks like depth/separation are really close among the competitors. I think what's really important, now more than ever, is folks learning the machine and getting a good understanding of each and every setting, and exactly how these setting are affecting performance. These newer machines can be fine-tuned for most situations, but if not done correctly can have you missing good targets. I learned the hard way several years ago when I got the original Deus, went out to an iron infested site and had the reactivity set a zero! Duh! Since I didn't take the time to really understand it, I thought the reactivity only affected depth. Once I got my head out of my butt and took the time to understand it, the Deus absolutely killed it in the iron.

From what I am seeing with the info available, I don't see how anyone could really go wrong with any of the new generation MF machines (still a lot of good yesteryear machines too!). What fits someone's budget, hunting style, audio/visual preference could weigh heavily on a decision when upgrading or getting into the hobby. A lot of great options out there.

Thanks for the time and effort putting this together.
 
As someone myself who has been around a while and has the ability to compare detectors, I REALLY appreciate your approach to comparing detectors. Even though I am a dedicated beach hunter. The comparing of live untouched targets between two detectors is a must.
Like you I cannot stand off-set coils. It is exasperated even more for water hunting. So much, it may even stop me from purchasing the Manticore. I hate the D2 off-set.
Keep providing good info.
 
markinswpa said:
D seeing you response on tones leads me to a question. On the Equinox in 5 tone you are able to set bin 5 up with the hightone pitch, not quite the Etrac silver squeal but still a pretty nice high tone. Are you able, do you get the same high tone pitch in 5 tone on the Manticore? If so is it just in certain modes ? Or across the board. I know there are more descriptive audio options but I have been hunting 5 tone for 5 years now and have become quite comfortable with it. Thanks Mark
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Hey Mark, yeah the Manticore can be set up like the Nox with that same high pitch on the last bin. I probably should’ve used a different word to describe it because they all have that nice flutey Minelab sound. The word I should’ve used is the “warble” sound that FBS detectors are known for. I like the audio on the Nox and Manticore too, but it’s just different than FBS.
Saker said:
Great review! I think the info you provided in your reviews is very helpful. I appreciate the positive/negative things you point out as your opinion. I also appreciate you showing capabilities and not bashing. Like, here is what this machine can do, you decide if it works for you. I read your review on the D2 as well and watched some of your videos, all good.

It seems like there isn't much of a performance gap between the new generation of MF machines. Looks like depth/separation are really close among the competitors. I think what's really important, now more than ever, is folks learning the machine and getting a good understanding of each and every setting, and exactly how these setting are affecting performance. These newer machines can be fine-tuned for most situations, but if not done correctly can have you missing good targets. I learned the hard way several years ago when I got the original Deus, went out to an iron infested site and had the reactivity set a zero! Duh! Since I didn't take the time to really understand it, I thought the reactivity only affected depth. Once I got my head out of my butt and took the time to understand it, the Deus absolutely killed it in the iron.

From what I am seeing with the info available, I don't see how anyone could really go wrong with any of the new generation MF machines (still a lot of good yesteryear machines too!). What fits someone's budget, hunting style, audio/visual preference could weigh heavily on a decision when upgrading or getting into the hobby. A lot of great options out there.

Thanks for the time and effort putting this together.
Click to expand...
Thanks Saker. When I first got my original Deus several years ago, I made the same type of mistake but in the opposite direction. I had the reactivity cranked up as high as it would go. Needless to say, it killed my depth. lol.
Yep, I agree. Can’t really go wrong with any of these latest detectors from the big manufacturers, as long as we take the time to learn how to use them.
Beachhunt1 said:
As someone myself who has been around a while and has the ability to compare detectors, I REALLY appreciate your approach to comparing detectors. Even though I am a dedicated beach hunter. The comparing of live untouched targets between two detectors is a must.
Like you I cannot stand off-set coils. It is exasperated even more for water hunting. So much, it may even stop me from purchasing the Manticore. I hate the D2 off-set.
Keep providing good info.
Click to expand...
Thanks Beachhunt1. Glad I’m not the only one who is aggravated with the offset coil. I can imagine how it would be even more annoying in the water. The offset on the Manticore isn’t as bad as the Deus, but any offset at all just doesn’t make sense to me.
 
I’ve seen more than a few people say they aren’t able to run the sensitivity past 24 or 25. I know it depends on location but that hasn’t been the case for me. I’ve been able to run it as high as 28-29 at several locations now, all in the city. Took it to a city park today and ran it at 29, no problem. It handles EMI very well. Didn’t find much, but I did get one super deep wheat. Had to be at least 11”.
 
Cupajo said:
Tomorrow my Dear Wife/Bookkeeper, will enter this info and I'm looking forward to the response!

Once again, many thanks and I'll let you know how things work out,

CJ
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I now have a 70+ page manual on my computer screen, with very little understanding of the many circuits, adjustments and hunting options I'm exposed to.

Many thanks,

CJ
Cupajo said:
You provided more info about the Manticore than I have been able to find elsewhere! Left a message at Minelab about getting a user's manual after my search on-line found nothing!
Many thanks for your info.

CJ
Click to expand...
 
Cupajo said:
I now have a 70+ page manual on my computer screen, with very little understanding of the many circuits, adjustments and hunting options I'm exposed to.

Many thanks,

CJ
Click to expand...
If you have any questions about settings or options, post them here and maybe we can help.
 
longbow62 said:
I don't know of any headphones that are wireless and waterproof that come with a detector. Now some maybe more waterproof than others. As far as I know the 105 wireless Minelab phones are the only wireless that work with it at the moment. You can go wired and have many waterproof options though.
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FWIW i got a set of XP waterproof wireless phones. Speakers were terrible. Disassembled them and installed some audiosears speakers. Will say when i took the headphones apart i would never call them waterproof. Maybe not even water resistant?
 
Got out for a couple of hours at the old ball field yesterday. This site has been beat up pretty good, but still managed to squeak out a 3 more silvers bringing my total to 10 with the Manticore. Target Trace was useful on some of the more iffy signals. The more I use the "Depth" audio theme, the more I like it. Not as nuanced as the D2, but still very good.

IMG_E5310.jpg



Video of this hunt:
 
I haven't had time to watch the video so can you comment on swing speed? Assuming you have used an E-Trac, do you have to swing slow like that are can you swing faster. Have you noticed if it really matters? I imagine it depends on the trash density like most machines, but in the normal hunted out ballfield, how are you feeling about swing speed there?
 
Excellent review. The cable being on the outside doesn’t both me too much yet, but I have absolutely noticed the issue you pointed out about it getting caught on the cam locks every time I open or close the machine. I did come up with a very hacky solution to shaft alignment. I took a white sharpie and drew a ~2in line along the length of the shaft on each section at the joints. It doesn’t hold it, but at least I have a quick visual reference and don’t need to treat it like a winding stick.

I am surprised to hear that you like the headphones. Do they feel like the ear cups mold to your head properly? Maybe I’m just weird, but they feel to me like they’re at an odd angle and won’t actually seal no matter what I do. Plus the waterproofing is an issue.
 
Rattlehead said:
Got out for a couple of hours at the old ball field yesterday. This site has been beat up pretty good, but still managed to squeak out a 3 more silvers bringing my total to 10 with the Manticore. Target Trace was useful on some of the more iffy signals. The more I use the "Depth" audio theme, the more I like it. Not as nuanced as the D2, but still very good.

View attachment 574494


Video of this hunt:
Click to expand...

Loved the video. Now that is more how I hoped the 2D TT would work. Now Most of what I'd seen & heard, so far, was that after a certain depth, the 2D TT becomes unreliable. I do have to say most of what I saw you recover was at the minimum depth the coins in our city park would be.

I've taken the D2 to the city park twice now for a total of maybe 4 hours of hunting, and nothing yet. My buddy takes his E-Trac down as well and he found nothing either, so I'm not discouraged.

On a brighter note the drone & GoPro are working out good for when I do find a keeper LOL

 
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Coin-Saver said:
I saw your video. Nice job showing what the Manticore can do in a hunted site like that. I wish more people would cut to the chase and make videos like that.
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Thanks Coin-Saver!
randy said:
I haven't had time to watch the video so can you comment on swing speed? Assuming you have used an E-Trac, do you have to swing slow like that are can you swing faster. Have you noticed if it really matters? I imagine it depends on the trash density like most machines, but in the normal hunted out ballfield, how are you feeling about swing speed there?
Click to expand...
Hey Randy, the Manticore can be swept a lot faster than FBS machines. Even on the lower recovery speed settings, its still pretty dang fast. I do tend to slow my swing speed in some areas but that's mostly just habit on my part from running a CTX for so many years, not a limitation of the machine itself. At this ball field, I can swing at a normal pace (1.5 to 2 seconds from one side to the other) without much worry of missing anything.
ThatGuyAgain said:
Excellent review. The cable being on the outside doesn’t both me too much yet, but I have absolutely noticed the issue you pointed out about it getting caught on the cam locks every time I open or close the machine. I did come up with a very hacky solution to shaft alignment. I took a white sharpie and drew a ~2in line along the length of the shaft on each section at the joints. It doesn’t hold it, but at least I have a quick visual reference and don’t need to treat it like a winding stick.

I am surprised to hear that you like the headphones. Do they feel like the ear cups mold to your head properly? Maybe I’m just weird, but they feel to me like they’re at an odd angle and won’t actually seal no matter what I do. Plus the waterproofing is an issue.
Click to expand...
Thanks man! That's a good idea on drawing a line for aligning the shaft. I may put one on mine to try it. Thanks!
The 105s fit pretty well for me. I do have a big noggin with flat ears, so may not be a good fit for everyone.
Detector said:
Loved the video. Now that is more how I hoped the 2D TT would work. Now Most of what I'd seen & heard, so far, was that after a certain depth, the 2D TT becomes unreliable. I do have to say most of what I saw you recover was at the minimum depth the coins in our city park would be.

I've taken the D2 to the city park twice now for a total of maybe 4 hours of hunting, and nothing yet. My buddy takes his E-Trac down as well and he found nothing either, so I'm not discouraged.

On a brighter note the drone & GoPro are working out good for when I do find a keeper LOL

Click to expand...
Thanks Terry! On the Manticore, TT seems to provide usable info down to around 9" or so. Anything past that and it becomes a little sketchy.
The Manticore is capable of hitting coins at impressive depths. The ones shown in that video are only 8-9", but I've hit some coins at 10"+ at this same field. In the comparison video, I got a token that was every bit of 13" deep.

What reactivity setting are you using on the D2 in your park? Also, how high are you able to run the sensitivity there?

Great looking footage BTW!
 
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