A good Highend Metal detector
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SkiWhiz
Elite Member
Quote - I have both and love 'em more than my kids (ages 39 & 36). Oh boy its goin to be in the dog house for you John when Momma hears out about thisWelcome to the forum from California.
I agree the MXT is an excellent machine without the "high end" price. If you really want the latest detector...take a look at the Spectra V3 (a.k.a. "Vision").
I must truthfully say that I don't really recommend the Vision for a beginner. I have both and love 'em more than my kids (ages 39 & 36).
. Steve.
Cherry Picker
Forum Supporter
It is a bit complicated, but let me try and explain the basic idea.
Higher frequencies have a greater response from low conductive metals such as gold, and lower frequencies have a greater response from high conductive metals such as silver. You also have the problem of ground minerals. Lower frequencies penetrate mineralized ground better than high frequencies, and high frequencies are able to detect smaller targets better than lower frequencies.
So as you can see, it not only makes a difference in what metals(gold, copper, silver) you are detecting, but the type of ground minerals you detect in which frequency works best, and hence which detector will perform better.
If it were as simple as detector-A is the best, we would all own detector-A.
West Texas John
Forum Supporter
Hi Brannon, I am not sure about ole John out West but maybe there is a cure for him! I am feeling a bit guilty Brannon, I really should include the Fisher F75 IN the equation. But I still am an Etrac kinda guy. And thank you Brannon for the kind words. Ok good hunting all my Friendlies and be safe!
John Tomlinson,CET
John's Detectors
! I am feeling a bit guilty Brannon, I really should include the Fisher F75 IN the equation. But I still am an Etrac kinda guy. And thank you Brannon for the kind words. Ok good hunting all my Friendlies and be safe!John Tomlinson,CET
John's Detectors
West Texas John
Forum Supporter
Well the Minelab Sovereign GT is a deep detector also, if you don't mind a very slow pace. One must not get in a hurry with this Minelab, but it has it's own place in deep detection. I just found a Patriot target meter for mine. This is an analog meter but uses a DAC to drive it from the signal. I will hope to get in the field soon with this combo and see what the meter can do for the GT. Ok I hope this helps you out.
John Tomlinson,CET
John's Detectors
foreverRich
Forum Supporter
Welcome to our detecting family. By now you should be TOTALLY confused. I don't think you need to be worried about the detectors being overpowered. As for learning curve, almost all machines have a "preset" that allows you to hunt with very little previous knowledge. All of the machines should meet your need to find surface level copper objects. The stock coil on all the machines should meet your needs. The MXT might be an easier "turn on and go" machine, at a lower cost. I think you will be happy with any name brand detector you choose, to get into this great hobby. Best of luck with your decision.
Welcome to our detecting family. By now you should be TOTALLY confused. I don't think you need to be worried about the detectors being overpowered. As for learning curve, almost all machines have a "preset" that allows you to hunt with very little previous knowledge. All of the machines should meet your need to find surface level copper objects. The stock coil on all the machines should meet your needs. The MXT might be an easier "turn on and go" machine, at a lower cost. I think you will be happy with any name brand detector you choose, to get into this great hobby. Best of luck with your decision.
Don't forget the Safari at $1000 It is nice, but you must have the patience to learn a Minelab, I wanted to wrap mine around a tree the first day, But for fit, finish and ergonomics, The Safari, SE, and E-trac are #1
Proflemoi
Full Member
One thing I will echo is what 13Rannon said... if you have a local dealer and the prices are close to the Kellyco then I'd opt for the local dealer every time. I had a business myself and I can't underscore how important it is to support your local economy. Plus you get local service... and that is HUGE. Get one try it out and get a host of advice from the local guy who may very likely know your ground conditions in that area and advise on what is going to work the best for you. For example the conditions in Maine are most likely very different then in California. So your detector choice may also be influenced by the local ground conditions. Thanks 13Rannon for pointing out the values of a local purchase... your quite correct. Just make sure you find a reputable dealer who knows their stuff.
Well I took the plunge and bought me a Vision tonight from my local dealer. He knows very much about the soil here in TN and talked extensively about it. I got to test drive the machine in his test bed and even got to look at other machines such as the TDI and MXT. He also invited me to come along on a hunt with him to an exclusive spot here in TN at an old war camp closed to all but a very small handful of people to get use to my new detector.
The knowledge and personal treatment you get from local dealers is priceless and will always be the first choice in my book. Although it took me 25 years to come to this conclusion. It's a lesson learned and I hope I can pass that on to some of you right now.
Now if you trust or know the person you are dealing with over the internet this is one thing. Truth is you can't get over wires what you do in the flesh. So get out there and mingle with your local clubs and talk to the dealers close to you.
You could find some hidden places, get some good deals, help out the people around you, and might even have fun doing it.
The knowledge and personal treatment you get from local dealers is priceless and will always be the first choice in my book. Although it took me 25 years to come to this conclusion. It's a lesson learned and I hope I can pass that on to some of you right now.
Now if you trust or know the person you are dealing with over the internet this is one thing. Truth is you can't get over wires what you do in the flesh. So get out there and mingle with your local clubs and talk to the dealers close to you.
You could find some hidden places, get some good deals, help out the people around you, and might even have fun doing it.
Congratulations on the instrument and if you have questions on how it works just ask. There is some knowledgeable people on the V3 that should be able to answer the questions and I might be able to answer a few of them.
rcsnake
West Texas John
Forum Supporter
Hi Brannon, I think I would go ahead and get an appointment to have a kidney removed. Good luck to ya.
John Tomlinson,CET
John's Detectors
You know earlier it was all about depth for me. I was being a real depth queen, but I'm telling you what. The graphs, pin pointing, and 3 freqs on this machine...WOW.
I'm not sure I would even go over to the E-Trac if I KNEW it went deeper. I thought the E-Trac was the future with PC connection and FBS...but now having this Vision in my hand and sleeping on it for the night and using it today I have no question right now the future is the Vision.
Now in hindsight I can see what kept me from making my decision sooner. The hype...(and price)it's hard to believe, but it's true It's truuuuuue.
Wahoooooo!
Come on guys! Get out there and sell that plasma!
I'm not sure I would even go over to the E-Trac if I KNEW it went deeper. I thought the E-Trac was the future with PC connection and FBS...but now having this Vision in my hand and sleeping on it for the night and using it today I have no question right now the future is the Vision.
Now in hindsight I can see what kept me from making my decision sooner. The hype...(and price)it's hard to believe, but it's true It's truuuuuue.
Wahoooooo!
Come on guys! Get out there and sell that plasma!
I know what you are talking about. I almost got the E-trac as well. I actually got a Safari and tried it a few days, but the Minelabs are either love or hate. I love my Vision. The E-trac and its tones, and that screen
I do not see how anyone can tell anything from it??
I do not see how anyone can tell anything from it??Yeah, you have to get use to the tones and know your numbers. I like the battery packs, sunray probe, and balance of the Minelabs for sure.
Crevias does pretty good with his SE Pro. I know Minelabs are good machines, but Vision is the future and you pay for it.
...but really $200 more from E-Trac to Vision. I feel chipping in the extra cash for the Vision is going to save me from buying a new machine for a couple years at least.
Minelab is going to be forced to upgrade soon to keep up with white's after the Vision catches on.
I don't know if you guys are gamers, but it's like xbox 360 20gig VS ps3 60gig. You know playstation 3 is far superior hardware and compatability wise...but the high price tag was it's downfall.
If white's would make the Vision a little lower in price range dipping closer to the E-Trac I don't think anyone but diehard fanboys and the occasional n00b would even touch new Minelabs/etc in the $1100-$1500 market this year.
Crevias does pretty good with his SE Pro. I know Minelabs are good machines, but Vision is the future and you pay for it.
...but really $200 more from E-Trac to Vision. I feel chipping in the extra cash for the Vision is going to save me from buying a new machine for a couple years at least.
Minelab is going to be forced to upgrade soon to keep up with white's after the Vision catches on.
I don't know if you guys are gamers, but it's like xbox 360 20gig VS ps3 60gig. You know playstation 3 is far superior hardware and compatability wise...but the high price tag was it's downfall.
If white's would make the Vision a little lower in price range dipping closer to the E-Trac I don't think anyone but diehard fanboys and the occasional n00b would even touch new Minelabs/etc in the $1100-$1500 market this year.
Cherry Picker
Forum Supporter
The FBS Minelabs are an acquired taste, but make no mistake, they will go deep. The only reason I got rid of my SE was the weight. I didn't even mind that it didn't like small gold. The SE and my DFX have been the only detectors I've tried that can still pull the occasional goodie from the city park.
The Minelab Sovereign GT was the deepest detector I've ever owned, but I do mostly coin shooting and it isn't as friendly as the others. The X-Tara 70 was another good detector, but it just didn't get any deeper than I had gone already.
It was my SE that got me hooked on tones. At first I hated the SE's tones with a passion, but once I slowed down to the right speed for the SE, it became a blessing. I now use tones all the time on my DFX.
The Minelab Sovereign GT was the deepest detector I've ever owned, but I do mostly coin shooting and it isn't as friendly as the others. The X-Tara 70 was another good detector, but it just didn't get any deeper than I had gone already.
It was my SE that got me hooked on tones. At first I hated the SE's tones with a passion, but once I slowed down to the right speed for the SE, it became a blessing. I now use tones all the time on my DFX.
One thing I will say is that when I bought my DFX and brought it home I tried to get my wife interested in hunting. I even let her use my new machine and it just wouldn't take with her. She saw a black and white screen with some numbers and icons on it. "Big Dea" to her right.
Now since I've brought the Vision home she's grabbing at the thing everytime we go outside. The color graphs, VDI/Depth/Freq Feedback/Icons all being on the same screen at once, and the enhanced pinpoint mode all keep her pretty well entertained and more interested in the hobby.
She works at Oak Ridge National Laboratory Spallation Neutron Source so it takes a lot to impress her. She has neater tools than I do...but she really likes the Vision and sees it as a great improvement over the DFX and the Minelabs...to her...forget about it.
...and while I'm thinking about it. Another reason I almost got a Minelab instead of White's this time was because of the sunray pin pointer that you can buy for the Minelabs comes attached to a brand new rod. Also I love the Minelab rods VS the White's. The clip Minelab has that you use for telescoping is fantastic. Instead of having predrilled holes like on the White's detector the Minelab uses a little plastic clip that you can slide the rod up or down as long or short as you want it.
I really wish White's would have upgraded to something similar this time around.
Now since I've brought the Vision home she's grabbing at the thing everytime we go outside. The color graphs, VDI/Depth/Freq Feedback/Icons all being on the same screen at once, and the enhanced pinpoint mode all keep her pretty well entertained and more interested in the hobby.
She works at Oak Ridge National Laboratory Spallation Neutron Source so it takes a lot to impress her. She has neater tools than I do...but she really likes the Vision and sees it as a great improvement over the DFX and the Minelabs...to her...forget about it.
...and while I'm thinking about it. Another reason I almost got a Minelab instead of White's this time was because of the sunray pin pointer that you can buy for the Minelabs comes attached to a brand new rod. Also I love the Minelab rods VS the White's. The clip Minelab has that you use for telescoping is fantastic. Instead of having predrilled holes like on the White's detector the Minelab uses a little plastic clip that you can slide the rod up or down as long or short as you want it.
I really wish White's would have upgraded to something similar this time around.
