OK, Last Time ... I Promise

[Stringtyer]

I am retired and want to get back into metal detecting. I have been wanting a machine to replace my ancient - and recently deceased - Compass Magnum 420 (over 30 years old) and the Bounty Hunter Tracker II that my wife got me as a birthday gift a few years ago.

Since my house and cars are paid for, I am at the point where I don't purchase things I can't pay for when I buy it. I find myself with some expendable funds and am going to buy a new machine next week. I have been looking at these machines: Garrett AT-Pro, Minelab EX-600, and Minelab EX-800.

I am just re-entering the hobby after many years. I think most of my detecting will be at or near old houses and home sites, some parks, and occasional trips to the beach. I don't see getting into serious gold prospecting although I will admit to enjoying a weekend of panning now and then.

Since I am limiting my decisions to the machines mentioned above, I am interested in your opinions. Which machine should I buy? If you would like to offer supporting info, please do.

This money is burning a hole in my pocket.

 

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[Terry Soloman]

Equinox 800 if you have the money (Best Bang 4 your Buck!). Equinox 600 if you can spend $650! Best of luck to you!

 

[BuffaloHunter]

Equinox 600! The AT Pro isn’t even comparable to what the EQ line has to offer.

 

[Debatedc]

I bought an AT Pro last fall and wish the EX-800 would have been available. That's next on the list of wants though

 

[toddbbq]

Equinox 600 is the best for the $$$ and even better with 15% off with the minelab military discount

 

[Gare]

What is your ability to understand some complicated machines ? (do you learn quick) What is your physical condition ? The Xp Deus can be a bit complicated. It weighs 2.2 pounds IS a PROVEN machine and has great finds. The Garrett At Pro is a great machine and many great finds easy to use. I can not comment on the Minelab Equinox 800 I have been trying to get one for over 4 months

 

[digger460]

Had the AT for a couple of years. I was very happy with it, but was hoping the EQ series was up to the hype, especially depth in my case.
Went over an area in a park yesterday that I beat to death at the end of last year, and was sure there was no more clad. 14 clad later I was happy I made the decision. They were all 4 to 6 inches deeper the AT. If you get the 600 and want to use your favorite bluetooth headphones, you'll have to spend $250 for the module, so the 800 is the way to go. It's a plug and play machine, but it does so much more. And you get the gold mode, which maybe useful when you feel the urge.

 

[Normsel]

Equinox 800 for wireless headphones and the gold feature or the E 600 with wired headphones but will hunt just as good as the 800 and will hunt gold. You can also use wireless headphones with the 600. Without a doubt the Equinox over all others in the price range. You can hunt out of the box with some discrimination and sensitivity adjustments. It also hunts deep upto 12" and maybe a bit more depending on your soil. I have or have owned all three detectors you mention and the Equinox is superior to the ATP

 

[smokeythecat]

The Garretts are way heavy but good. Both Minelabs are ergonomically unbalanced, but that's irrelevant if you don't have health (arm or shoulder) issues, I'd go with the 600, both do work well.

 

[Stringtyer]

Thanks, everyone. Having heard from folks who have used all three of the machines, it looks like my choice is one of the Equinox models. I have to admit that I am so tight with money that I squeak when I walk but I am seriously leaning toward the EQ-800. I'm only buying one machine and it may as well be the nicest I can afford that will allow me to enjoy the hobby. I suspect my getting that machine is like giving a 16 year old boy a new BMW but I figure, what the heck, I'm only going to make so many trips around the sun. I may as well get what I want.

Again, thanks. I'll let you know when the deal is real. I hope my local provider has some EQ-800s in stock.

 

[against the wind]

The Equinox 800 is definitely the way to go.
I believe there may be a waiting list so be patient and get the machine that is out hunting all VLF machines.

 

[Stringtyer]

Equinox 800 for wireless headphones and the gold feature or the E 600 with wired headphones but will hunt just as good as the 800 and will hunt gold. You can also use wireless headphones with the 600. Without a doubt the Equinox over all others in the price range. You can hunt out of the box with some discrimination and sensitivity adjustments. It also hunts deep upto 12" and maybe a bit more depending on your soil. I have or have owned all three detectors you mention and the Equinox is superior to the ATP

You have provided some information that is very useful about the EQ-600; it will find gold. I am not interested in looking for gold nuggets as most of the gold in my immediate area is all placer gold but I am interested in finding gold jewelry. OK, my wife is interested in me finding gold jewelry. I'm going to assume from your comment that the 600 will work for that purpose. Let me know if I'm wrong. The deal is going down on Tuesday or Thursday of this week.

 

[cudamark]

IMO, the 800 is a much better deal. It has many more adjustments available and with the wireless option, it's a no-brainer.

 

[johnwon2]

You have provided some information that is very useful about the EQ-600; it will find gold. I am not interested in looking for gold nuggets as most of the gold in my immediate area is all placer gold but I am interested in finding gold jewelry. OK, my wife is interested in me finding gold jewelry. I'm going to assume from your comment that the 600 will work for that purpose. Let me know if I'm wrong. The deal is going down on Tuesday or Thursday of this week.

My understanding is that in multi-mode the 600 runs on the same bands as the 800, so you will be able to find gold the same. The 800 will allow you to run the gold frequencies exclusively for the nuggets. I bought the 800 because of the wireless headphones and module as well as the additional advanced adjustments. As a side note, I found that it detects deep and I needed to spend a bit more for a pin pointer. it has pin pointing features, but I was struggling with just using that on a 12" deep nickle without digging an 8" round hole.

 

[WIDirtFishing]

IMO, the 800 is a much better deal. It has many more adjustments available and with the wireless option, it's a no-brainer.

Just to clarify to people reading the post, the 600 is also wireless, it just doesn’t come with the 800s wireless headphones or module. Which I’m sure sold separately is more than likely worth the price difference.
I chose the 600 because you can get a “poor mans” wm08 module online for $30 and use a $10 waterproof case and use whatever waterproof headphones you want. Which is what I did. I also got the Military Discount though that helped make my decision easier. Picked up the new Fischer F-Pulse pinpointer with the money saved!
The 600 arrives Wednesday!