I have an explorer xs with grey ghost headphones. I probably have the volume a little high but the tone is high also. I really don't mind it though, makes me wake up and pay attention. As for the nickles, I was pulling up several pieces of chopped up alluminum cans and other junk in the nickle area that I just ignored them. Usually I set up the detector and then open up the nickle area very small and cut out the pull tabs and other junk. I have found a gold plated ring there before but after about an hour of hunting and digging most everything this time, I masked everything except for copper and zinc pennies, dimes and quarters. If I had a nickle in my pocket I would have opened that up also. I was getting enough pennies to keep me entertained anyway.
Thganks for asking
MedicE11