What's the Best BANG For My Buck When Buying a New Detector?

[AusTexDude]

I hunt mostly jewelry at parks. The composition of the ground is mostly limestone. The ground balance on my AT max usually runs about 94. I also hunt the beach in Corpus Christi and there is a lot of black sand.

Debating cashing out a bit of crypto and buying a new detector. I'm looking for a combo detector, wireless head set, and pointer. Looking in the $800-$1,200 range.

New Only - Under full manufacturers warranty.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

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[RobNC]

I hunt mostly jewelry at parks. The composition of the ground is mostly limestone. The ground balance on my AT max usually runs about 94. I also hunt the beach in Corpus Christi and there is a lot of black sand.

Debating cashing out a bit of crypto and buying a new detector. I'm looking for a combo detector, wireless head set, and pointer. Looking in the $800-$1,200 range.

New Only - Under full manufacturers warranty.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

I'm sure you will get a lot of replies with different brands/models recommended.
After all these years and multiple brands and models nothing has made me as happy as the Nokta Legend.
Most of my hunting is parks and schools in very hard hit areas. An abundance of trash and such in every single site I normally hunt. The Legend will find the items if they are there. The LG24 coil is an absolute slayer. I use it exclusively on my Legend. Here the soil is different than yours I think. It's that old red dirt with glittery speckles. I've detected with this thing in areas where other detectors were so chatty you couldn't hunt.
Absolutely the best detector I've ever owned because it has so many options that allow it to be adaptable to whatever kind of hunting you go after. My unit came with the Nokta Accupointer and it has also impressed me. The wireless headphones are ok on it but I'm using wireless earbuds and they've done well for me(AptxLL).

I can't speak to beach detecting but it has been observed the Nokta Legend does well with black sand.
It is not the only detector in the house but it's the one I always use for a while now. I pull the others out at times and do tests but the Legend just clicks with me like nothing else ever has.
What else is in the house? Minelab Equinox 800, Minelab XTerra Pro, Nokta Double Score.
The last time I took the Equinox out was 4 months ago. After I used it I brought the Legend out, and it found coins the Equinox 800 missed. After I seen that sort of situation repeated a few times the Legend became my primary/preferred detector. You get a lot of detector for the money. WELL under your $800 lower limit. The LG24 coil is a must buy for the Legend. That little coil is amazing.

 

[Terry Soloman]

I use the Nokta Legend as well. I have picked up a few good targets walking behind a Minelab Manticore, but she was swinging it like a golf club - so fair is fair. If you can afford a Deus II - Get One. If not, go with the Nokta.

 

[AusTexDude]

I'm sure you will get a lot of replies with different brands/models recommended.
After all these years and multiple brands and models nothing has made me as happy as the Nokta Legend.
Most of my hunting is parks and schools in very hard hit areas. An abundance of trash and such in every single site I normally hunt. The Legend will find the items if they are there. The LG24 coil is an absolute slayer. I use it exclusively on my Legend. Here the soil is different than yours I think. It's that old red dirt with glittery speckles. I've detected with this thing in areas where other detectors were so chatty you couldn't hunt.
Absolutely the best detector I've ever owned because it has so many options that allow it to be adaptable to whatever kind of hunting you go after. My unit came with the Nokta Accupointer and it has also impressed me. The wireless headphones are ok on it but I'm using wireless earbuds and they've done well for me(AptxLL).

I can't speak to beach detecting but it has been observed the Nokta Legend does well with black sand.
It is not the only detector in the house but it's the one I always use for a while now. I pull the others out at times and do tests but the Legend just clicks with me like nothing else ever has.
What else is in the house? Minelab Equinox 800, Minelab XTerra Pro, Nokta Double Score.
The last time I took the Equinox out was 4 months ago. After I used it I brought the Legend out, and it found coins the Equinox 800 missed. After I seen that sort of situation repeated a few times the Legend became my primary/preferred detector. You get a lot of detector for the money. WELL under your $800 lower limit. The LG24 coil is a must buy for the Legend. That little coil is amazing.

Thanks for the info. The Legend is one I was looking at along with the Equinox 800.

 

[AusTexDude]

I use the Nokta Legend as well. I have picked up a few good targets walking behind a Minelab Manticore, but she was swinging it like a golf club - so fair is fair. If you can afford a Deus II - Get One. If not, go with the Nokta.

Thanks... I have been researching and watching videos for hours now. Getting tired and the quicker I go to bed now the faster I can start detecting tomorrow morning.

 

[TORRERO]

I use the Nokta Legend as well. I have picked up a few good targets walking behind a Minelab Manticore, but she was swinging it like a golf club - so fair is fair. If you can afford a Deus II - Get One. If not, go with the Nokta.

DEUS II comes highly recommended..

 

[TORRERO]

Thanks for the info. The Legend is one I was looking at along with the Equinox 800.

DEUS II is better than the NOX 800, just ask my hunting partner.. LOL

 

[sprailroad]

Thanks for the info. The Legend is one I was looking at along with the Equinox 800.

I have the EQ 900 and the Legend. I do prefer the Legend.

 

[Jollyrodger1]

Get what you can afford, most importantly if you’re serious and learn the machine to its fullest potential the probably Deus II or manticore. Yeah that’s my opinion.