Here's an update on my AT Max and Equinox 600 comparison. It's a cut-and-paste of a post I made in another message board:
I did some more testing of the Equinox 600 and the AT Max in my yard, local park and modified Monte's Nail Board. Right now, I'm 98% certain I'm keeping the Equinox 600 and selling the AT Max. Below are my results concerning my series of tests using my modified version of Monte's Nail Board. I'm going to briefly explain my set up, then provide my results. But TL;DR: the Equinox 600 handily beat the AT Max.
My Monte's Nail Board is "special" because I have it set up where I will use a clad dime as the "high tone" target and it's on a plastic tube so the metal detector can be tested with the dime on the same plane as the nails, as well as about 2.5 inches below the nail. At the very bottom are some pics of the modified Monte Nail Board set up.
Legend:
Coin Position 1 (Up) = the dime is in the middle coin position, but the dime is on the same plane as the nails.
Coin Position 1 (Down) = the dime is in the middle coin position, but the dime is below the plane (about 2.5 inches) the nails are on.
Coin Position 2 (Up) = the dime is in the side coin position, but the dime is on the same the plane nails are on.
Coin Position 2 (Down) = the dime is in the side coin position, but the dime is below the plane (about 2.5 inches) the nails are on.
4 = The metal detector gave a tone and/or VDI response that would definitely result in me digging the target.
3 = The metal detector gave a tone and/or VDI response that would likely result in me digging the target.
2 = The metal detector gave a tone and/or VDI response that would likely result in me NOT digging the target.
1 = The metal detector gave a tone and/or VDI response that would definitely result in me NOT digging the target.
When tested, the AT Max was set up so I notched out everything below 65 (so I was in Custom mode), Iron Audio off and sensitivtiy at 2 (out of 8). I also ran the test in Zero mode, but the results were worse (1s all around).
Coin Position 1 (Up):
Sweep 1: 2
Sweep 2: 1
Sweep 3: 1
Sweep 4: 1
Coin Position 1 (Down):
Sweep 1: 1
Sweep 2: 1
Sweep 3: 1
Sweep 4: 1
Coin Position 2 (Up):
Sweep 1: 1
Sweep 2: 1
Sweep 3: 1
Sweep 4: 1
Coin Position 2 (Down):
Sweep 1: 1
Sweep 2: 1
Sweep 3: 1
Sweep 4: 1
When tested, the Equinox 600 was set up in Park 1 where everything was stock, except I adjusted F2 = 0. Sensitivity was at 10 (out of 25).
Coin Position 1 (Up):
Sweep 1: 4
Sweep 2: 1
Sweep 3: 3
Sweep 4: 4
Coin Position 1 (Down):
Sweep 1: 4
Sweep 2: 1
Sweep 3: 1
Sweep 4: 1
Coin Position 2 (Up):
Sweep 1: 4
Sweep 2: 2
Sweep 3: 2
Sweep 4: 2
Coin Position 2 (Down):
Sweep 1: 4
Sweep 2: 1
Sweep 3: 1
Sweep 4: 1