Thoughts on a detector

[Older The Better]

This may be a common question but I’ll take my turn.
I started with an old radio shack detector, then a whites auction buy, right now I have a Garett ace 400 I was thinking of taking another bump up looking maybe 500-800 range and figured this is a pretty good site for an opinion… I have several coils compatible with the Garett but I’m not opposed to looking at other machines if there’s others that come highly recommended… I prefer my small 6” coil just with the weight and precision. But occasionally I’ll go the other way and put on an i believe 18” coil , but I hunt farmland and woods looking for relics… no beaches no gold prospecting around here… I’d like to hear what you guys have been happy with

 

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[l.cutler]

I've had pretty much every major brand of detector and a few not so major brands over the last 40+ years, but when I got my Equinox 600 it was like a whole new world. I was pulling stuff out of sites I thought I had hunted out. I have since got a Manticore, and while better than the Equinox, not as big a jump as the Equinox was over the Garretts, Fishers, Tesoros, etc. I was using before. I haven't tried a couple of the newer entries, Nokta detectors or Deus II but have heard great things on them as well. I would look at Minelab, Nokta and XP for sure.

 

[Older The Better]

Some good thoughts, was also looking at the step up garetts but was curious if they were all that different… part of me wants to see how a different machine would fare. Like you said about some of your places I’ve got sites I think I’ve hunted out so the equinox sounds appealing.

 

[l.cutler]

I don't have any idea how the new Garrett Vortex detectors are, you may be able to find some youtube videos on them, but I'd take a Minelab, Nokta or Deus over any of their other detectors. My opinion and I'm sure others would feel differently.

 

[Older The Better]

I appreciate the opinion, I’m a little dubious of online reviews, especially the ones that say something like “top 5 detectors of 2024” figured there’d be plenty of people here with real life experience and an informed opinion. Not getting the life I had hoped on the thread but I can’t be the first to ask maybe people are tired of the question, i figured with new detectors all the time some older threads may not be as accurate anymore

 

[pepperj]

I appreciate the opinion, I’m a little dubious of online reviews, especially the ones that say something like “top 5 detectors of 2024” figured there’d be plenty of people here with real life experience and an informed opinion. Not getting the life I had hoped on the thread but I can’t be the first to ask maybe people are tired of the question, i figured with new detectors all the time some older threads may not be as accurate anymore

I've looked at the top rated machines before and was actually 🤬 at the screen.
From owning top tier White's, Minelabs, Then Deus 1&2.
Hunted some sites using 4 different Minelabs, then hunted them again with the Deus 1.
If I had never had seen the the site before, I would have swore that I was the first to hunt it.
Now the D2 pulled more even. Now with 2 years and the new programs even more recoveries.
But it's getting thin now.
Stick with proven reviews from the members.
Folks that have put tge time in on beat sites.
Not the testers that play the game of comparison levels or machines.
The folks that dig actual dirt are the truth on what actually is working.

Keep your eye out in the used market also.
Folks buy and sell alot if machines @ a very reasonable price.
Best of luck.

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

It's a common question with a lot of possible answers.

I've using my Deus for almost 9 years now - thousands of keepers.
Ultra light weight (2.2 lbs.) swing all day - very fast recovery speed and it's 100 % wireless.
The Deus with a 9" Coil has a much faster recovery speed in Iron than my E-Trac does with a 6" Coil.

Ever since the Deus 2's came out you can get fantastic deals on new and used Deus 1's.
You can find a lightly used one in the $500.00 range or a new one for around $800.00.

Good Luck !

 

[Older The Better]

Leaning towards a deus 2 at the moment but I’ll let it marinate for a bit… I do like the lightweight part been feeling the Garett more often in my elbow when I go out looking… when I start finding things that tends to go away though haha

Update: so digging into the difference between the deus 2 with the square box roughly 1,400 and the round display around 700… on the surface there’s no drop in capability BUT… the cheaper one isn’t submersible, not a big deal to me, but what IS a big deal, it doesn’t have a speaker, you have to either have it attached to the headphones where you can’t see the display or attach to the machine with no sound unless you use the adapter and plug in wired headphones.

I go almost 100% by sound I only look at the display just an extra clue but I’m already digging it anyway. I’m not a fan of headphones so the cheaper one may be problematic

 

[Older The Better]

Went with the xp deus 2 was more than I planned but I found an “open box” deal although they didn’t say exactly what that meant, the pics looked like it was going to be the detector only but the box came with wirless headphones, and diving headphones so that was cool. Too bad deliveries come so late around here and batteries need to charge… still tempted to break out a headlamp and poke around the yard haha… might have to work fast tomorrow to get home with some daylight left.

 

[Gare]

Here we go again. You asked a simple question but there are a LOT of factors that go into it. like
1. How are you at computers some of the computers require a o programming knowledge
2. Hows your hearing ?
3. what is your physical condition and age ?
4. Where do you live and plan to hunt. (Do you need a multi frequency machine ) ?
5. How much are you willing to spend with out it breaking you ?
These are some of the major factors If you live and hunt in a highly Mineralized area then by all means get a multi freq type machine

 

[Terry Soloman]

This may be a common question but I’ll take my turn.
I started with an old radio shack detector, then a whites auction buy, right now I have a Garett ace 400 I was thinking of taking another bump up looking maybe 500-800 range and figured this is a pretty good site for an opinion… I have several coils compatible with the Garett but I’m not opposed to looking at other machines if there’s others that come highly recommended… I prefer my small 6” coil just with the weight and precision. But occasionally I’ll go the other way and put on an i believe 18” coil , but I hunt farmland and woods looking for relics… no beaches no gold prospecting around here… I’d like to hear what you guys have been happy with

I have the PERFECT machine for you. A Tesoro Compadre.

 

[Older The Better]

Here we go again. You asked a simple question but there are a LOT of factors that go into it. like
1. How are you at computers some of the computers require a o programming knowledge
2. Hows your hearing ?
3. what is your physical condition and age ?
4. Where do you live and plan to hunt. (Do you need a multi frequency machine ) ?
5. How much are you willing to spend with out it breaking you ?
These are some of the major factors If you live and hunt in a highly Mineralized area then by all means get a multi freq type machine

1. Feel like if I try I can handle any computer just a matter of learning.
2. Hearing is fine
3. 37 and pretty good did about a 5 mile 5 hour hunt a few days ago.
4. Kansas farm fields and woods
5. Wanted around that 700 ended up going a bit more.

I know it may seem weird to answer the questions after I bought one but if you take the time to ask, I feel I should take the time to respond.

Sorry terry im committed but maybe I’ll keep that in mind if I ever want to see how a different machine performs.

couldn’t wait till daylight, turned on my outside lights and did a test run in the yard… just on the most basic program I could tell this thing is going to be a great machine. Scored a sales tax token… from Colorado which is odd being roughly 45 minutes from Missouri… wasn’t the first find but probably the most interesting thing I’ve dug in my yard for a while.

 

[Earlafindit]

1. Feel like if I try I can handle any computer just a matter of learning.
2. Hearing is fine
3. 37 and pretty good did about a 5 mile 5 hour hunt a few days ago.
4. Kansas farm fields and woods
5. Wanted around that 700 ended up going a bit more.

I know it may seem weird to answer the questions after I bought one but if you take the time to ask, I feel I should take the time to respond.

Sorry terry im committed but maybe I’ll keep that in mind if I ever want to see how a different machine performs.

couldn’t wait till daylight, turned on my outside lights and did a test run in the yard… just on the most basic program I could tell this thing is going to be a great machine. Scored a sales tax token… from Colorado which is odd being roughly 45 minutes from Missouri… wasn’t the first find but probably the most interesting thing I’ve dug in my yard for a while. View attachment 2179814View attachment 2179815

Manticores on sale $500 off 1199.00 Tesoro is out of business Terry who repairs them & has parts ?

 

[Gare]

1. Feel like if I try I can handle any computer just a matter of learning.
2. Hearing is fine
3. 37 and pretty good did about a 5 mile 5 hour hunt a few days ago.
4. Kansas farm fields and woods
5. Wanted around that 700 ended up going a bit more.

I know it may seem weird to answer the questions after I bought one but if you take the time to ask, I feel I should take the time to respond.

Sorry terry im committed but maybe I’ll keep that in mind if I ever want to see how a different machine performs.

couldn’t wait till daylight, turned on my outside lights and did a test run in the yard… just on the most basic program I could tell this thing is going to be a great machine. Scored a sales tax token… from Colorado which is odd being roughly 45 minutes from Missouri… wasn’t the first find but probably the most interesting thing I’ve dug in my yard for a while. View attachment 2179814View attachment 2179815

Thanks for your replies. You might consider a 11x13 for doing the farm fields, I have all three of there coils and i use them quite often. In some what trashy areas I stick with the nine inch but in the open areas I use my 11x13. And it is very simple to change and pair up the different coils.
GOOD LUCK and keep us posted !!

 

[Tnmountains]

Where are the vendors telling the pros and cons? Wake up we have a buyer wanting to know,

 

[Older The Better]

I am tempted to get the 11x13, i noticed on my little run even in the dark I was pinpointing pretty good, I have a big coil that compatible with Garett.. coors I think, but I had a hard time figuring out where a shallow target was under the coil and I’m not a fan of digging 2 foot holes. The deus put me right on my target every time.

Now to learn the sounds and vdi noticed what would be a solid penny/copper signal was foil a lot… but it even produced a winning bottle cap haha, think i missed my window though

 

[pepperj]

I am tempted to get the 11x13, i noticed on my little run even in the dark I was pinpointing pretty good, I have a big coil that compatible with Garett.. coors I think, but I had a hard time figuring out where a shallow target was under the coil and I’m not a fan of digging 2 foot holes. The deus put me right on my target every time.

Now to learn the sounds and vdi noticed what would be a solid penny/copper signal was foil a lot… but it even produced a winning bottle cap haha, think i missed my window though
View attachment 2179860View attachment 2179861

Did you opt for what set up?
I have the 9" coil/remote/WSA II-XL headphones.

You stated that your not a fan of using headphones.
I have done 2 partial hunts in the past 2 yrs just using the speaker.

In a wide open area, limited separated targets it works ok.

In a concentration of iron, the speaker option doesn't provide the quality of sound for separation.

 

[Older The Better]

9” with remote and the smaller headphones. In the description it didn’t show headphones but they came so I tried them out last night. I may dabble with them, the ones with the Garett made no difference to me and were just an extra thing to carry. The deus seems to have a lot more range on the tones where headphones might actually help hear the soft deep ones

 

[sprailroad]

Nokta Triple Score might be something to consider. Recently came out I believe, and it does look good, I have the Nokta Legend, and use it often. The Score is a simpler version of the Legend, but with a lot of bang for the buck. I've used Garrett, Minelab and a couple of others over the years, still have them all hanging on the wall, 9 of them. The only ones used now is the Minelab EQ 900 and the Legend. Never had a Deus, but they sound to be most excellent.