I think Im leaning towards the V3i...nudge me?

[the13bats]

I think I'm leaning towards the V3i...nudge me?

So for the last couple weeks wife and I have been looking for what units we want to update to,

I was thinking the garrett 2500 was for me, I still think it's a good unit but after hours of reading forums and watching youtube videos last night seems I might like the Spetra v3i better.

I like the displays that show fun little pictures, I liked how the 2500 gessed what coin it could be then showed the guess size,
But in a different way it appears to me the v3i does that too just in a different more "busy" way with more info for the tech head.

What scares me is so many threads i read that say the 2500 is outdated tech, it also seems to have "tech" that is unique to it,
Is 500.00 good deal for a 2500 in hardly used condition?

Anyway let me have some feedback what you guys think,

Also heard any places running a good deal on the v3i?
Thanks,
Bats

 

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[deadeye 22250]

I myself would NOT consider the 2500, I had one and was not impressed with it and found very little with it. If you are good with computer stuff, you might like the V3i, for some people it is a little harder to figure out. Some people really like it, some don't. So whatever you decide on I hope it works out.

 

[the13bats]

I myself would NOT consider the 2500, I had one and was not impressed with it and found very little with it. If you are good with computer stuff, you might like the V3i, for some people it is a little harder to figure out. Some people really like it, some don't. So whatever you decide on I hope it works out.

I do geek stuff like build computers, "mess" with smart phones, and in another world I have been a DJ since 82 and do all that music stuff digital now so yeah, I dig tech head junk, on a different side of the coin I also restore and repair old antique arcade stuff, I love the pre solid state when it comes to that junk,

See, your reply about the 2500 seems common, thats what is spooking me on it, the other thing is for a unit that retails at 900 plus it seems a bit cheaply made even in videos.

 

[deadeye 22250]

So the V3i might be the detector that you are looking for.

 

[Smooth Blend]

Have you checked out the minelab safari or Teknetics T2? it's in the $800-$1000 price range

 

[RobRieman]

I love my V3i. The extra info on the polar plot and the 3 frequency analyze screens help a lot once you know the detector. You can customize it to your hearts content if you like to. It goes deep and there are a ton of coils available. It's a little heavy compared to some but not bad, I can swing it most of the day with no problem. The wireless headphones are killer too.

 

[gsxraddict]

it's a good machine, you won't regret it; I have no doubt it's one of the best on the market. However, I chose the CTX in most situations.

 

[RobRieman]

I would love to try the 3030. It was just a little too rich for me when I purchased the V3i. It looks like a sweet machine.

 

[the13bats]

Have you checked out the minelab safari or Teknetics T2? it's in the $800-$1000 price range

I would love to try the 3030. It was just a little too rich for me when I purchased the V3i. It looks like a sweet machine.

My wife wants the 3030 really bad, she thinks she would do some in water stuff, the way she dumps coffee in her laptop waterproof might just be a good idea, but yeah, it's pricey, would have to be skinny for a spell,
I took a long look at the minelab safari but seems the v3i beat it by a hair with "stuff" what do you owners of it think?

 

[McKinney_5900]

My wife wants the 3030 really bad, she thinks she would do some in water stuff, the way she dumps coffee in her laptop waterproof might just be a good idea, but yeah, it's pricey, would have to be skinny for a spell,
I took a long look at the minelab safari but seems the v3i beat it by a hair with "stuff" what do you owners of it think?

I have owned a V3i since Sept '10. My advice...don't get the V3i. I still run the V3i and I always get stomped-on by the Minelab folks I run with, and other machines as well. I am techie.

 

[the13bats]

I have owned a V3i since Sept '10. My advice...don't get the V3i. I still run the V3i and I always get stomped-on by the Minelab folks I run with, and other machines as well. I am techie.

I feel like I am going in circles, been reading and watching videos for hours, I get very little from sales pitches like Kellyco no matter which unit I read about it is the "best".
I sadly feel like you said you are a techie to avoid someone chiming in that the reason your didnt do well with the v3i is you do not know how to work it,
I do need this type feedback, but we both know some other fellow will chime in that his XXXXX brand gets spanked by the v3i,
so give me some example how the mindlabs spank you and why havent you sold the v3i and bought ML?

 

[Smooth Blend]

My wife wants the 3030 really bad, she thinks she would do some in water stuff, the way she dumps coffee in her laptop waterproof might just be a good idea, but yeah, it's pricey, would have to be skinny for a spell,
I took a long look at the minelab safari but seems the v3i beat it by a hair with "stuff" what do you owners of it think?

I will be purchasing the 3030 right after i sell my safari.so excited!!!(maybe you or wife would be interested?)

Well, I am telling you from personal experience,me and a fellow metal detectorist did a comparison between his v3i and my safari. long story short, we did a series of tests on land and salt water and my safari outperformed his v3i, but we are both fairly new with the machines so don't take my opinion too seriously. Good Luck!

 

[the13bats]

smooth blend,
I am in no way trying to be offensive to you or anyone but do want to make a valid to me point and you so very well helped me do that,

I do not find any owner comparisons without errors and faults,
To start with we are all human we are bias,

Next just like you said that you guys are new with your machines, while these are not the programming nightmare some people want to make them out to be, some people work with some controls better, doesn't make the machine junk because me or you cant adjust it correctly.

It is not fair for me or you to take brand y and brand x in the field and be a novice to tuning both or either and then say one is "better" that the other,

I would only accept a "VS" if a tech from each company did the tuning and a neutral party conducted a field test, ( never happen )

A slight exception is a seasoned store owner/dealer who can play with units for free and get to know them like the fellow who gets to know some about all the cell phones they sell, but the con there is again bias and tuning abilty.

I am about 99% sure wife will get that 3030 and I will eat Ramon for a month, lol, she comes from a background of gov contracts and deep research, she has many published papers on things like Electromagnetic radiation and the like and is a Phd in said fields she will take to tuning it like a fish in water.

Since I was last here I have been reading and watching videos on the Safari, V3i, and even a couple others,
The last forum I read every one hated the v3 the one before that every one loved it....ugg.

No reflection on you but it's a little spooky buying used I would never know if it was me or the machine not working right...lol
I might have interest in your Safari, depends on price and condition, so please do send pics and price to me at
[email protected]

 

[Jason in Enid]

Which way would you like to be nudged?

since you ask, I would "nudge" in the direction of an E-Trac

 

[RobRieman]

As you see bats it's never as easy as it sounds. Lol These are all great machines and I would love to own them all. The user is also what makes them great machines. I'm sure I would do great with any of them because this hobby is all I think of and I swing every chance I get so I would get the most out of what a detector has to offer. Your doing great researching all the machines first to see what they have to offer but the reality is none of them are "the best". An XP Deus user will probably chime in next and if your hunting the beach it's a whole new set of machines. Get the most you can afford that fits your hunting style and you will be figuring out how to buy the next one very soon after that. Have fun! That's what it's all about.

 

[scott9050]

The V3i can do everything, and do it well.
You can literally change every aspect of the machine for your needs.
Some people can't handle that and get 'outperformed' by others who are familiar with their machines.
As far as deals go, they are out there. I have seen used units with goodies included for a grand or less. New with headphones cost me about $1250 plus tax.

 

[Metal Detecting Stuff]

Detectors are somewhat like cars, Fords and Chevys have their fans. That being said, the top end detectors have their places where they shine. The V3I does better on small gold because it has a prospecting mode. The CTX3030 does well in iron because of the multiple target ID. They V3I has three frequencies- low frequency for silver - middle frequency for average targets and a higher frequency for gold. The CTX3030 scans 28 frequencies. They will both find coins, jewelry and relics very well. You have to invest the time to learn them to get the maximum potential. The V3I has a multitude of settings and is the most customizable machine out there right now for the techie.

Of these two machines, I have the most time on the CTX3030. I dig a lot less trash using this over any other detector that I have used.

Wayne

Metal Detector Sales and Rentals | Fisher, Garrett, Minelab, Lesche and DetectorPro

 

[Normsel]

I just bought the V3i and happy with it even though I am at the bottom of my learning curve with it. I think if the 2500 was such a good machine Garrett would have come out with an upgraded model rather than cme out with a new machine to compete with the minelab ctx3030

 

[TreasureMtnDetectors]

Hello The13bats, The more and more you research top end machines by looking at other peoples opinions the more and more your going to go around in circles, as you stated before. The fact is the V3i and the CTX are excellent metal detectors and honestly you cant go wrong with either one. Ask yourself what type of hunting do you do the most? (general hunting for relics, coins and jewelry= either one will be excellent) Will you be doing any water hunting?= CTX 3030. Do you constantly find yourself tweaking your old detectors and wanting to change this and that and understand what your tweaking?=V3i. Do you hunt salt beaches/wet sand=CTX3030. Do you do any gold prospecting or hunt for small jewelry like gold necklaces, bracelets, earrings? = V3i. Do you hunt Historic home sites or parks that are extremely iron infested?=CTX(target trace feature is great). Once you get the machine that is best for your hunting read the manual, watch videos, test it on different targets to get the feel for what the different tones to different targets sound like and what the display screen tells you....use it= experience... the more experience and the more you start to understand your machine the better YOU become with your detector. Start with factory preset programs and Make adjustments to your detector to fit your type of hunting when you feel comfortable you understand what that adjustment does. Honestly if you do general hunting then the more you understand your machine and the more experience you have on it = the better you will be at finding good things with your detector. Just because you have the best metal detector on the market does not mean you will go out and make all of these great finds if you do not understand it. Good example, I think someone earlier mentioned the GTI2500 and I think most people agreed on this post that the V3i and CTX are a little more advanced.. newer technology etc... now lets give average joe detectorist a V3i or CTX or Deus for general hunting(most expensive detectors on the market for general hunting).... now lets give Charles Garrett his GTI2500 for general hunting in the same area as average joe detectorist with his top dollar detector.... who do you think is going to have the better finds?= Charles Garrett/GTI 2500 wins! Experience and understanding the detector is the key to successful detecting. Feel free to contact me anytime.

 

[msviking]

I have the V3i, CTX3030 and XP Deus. They are all good machines. You would not be unhappy owning any of the three. Being "techie" the V3i might be a good choice for you. I too consider myself a techie and have enjoyed all the settings, displays, etc.. that the V3i can bring to bare.

In an ideal world you could test all three in your area and make a better decision, but that not being possible, pick one and don't second guess yourself. Neither of the three are "magic bullets" so to speak. All good well made machines.

**Treasure Mt Det. comments are spot on

HH
Robert