I did consider what you are saying but dont forget , faster speed setting for unmasking ability has an effect on depth potential and target ID. If you are reaching depth but ID is off because the speed is too high then the two have the probability of canceling each other out on many occasions. This would appear to give best averaged results on most " deep " situations if the 800 was not set at the highest speed and negates depth advantage for the 800 based on speed setting. Another situation where some is potentially gained but some is potentially lost. Thats why the highest speed settings are not recommended for hunting deep non ferrous. There is potential advantage if the targets are not deep , but from all I have read so far a faster recovery speed may affect target ID even on shallower targets. Probably another reason some claim the target ID is not accurate , they should slow the speed a little.
As far as unmasking goes, meaning detecting a highly challenged target, target ID is inconsequential, rather can the detector locate and differentiate between ferrous and nonferrous.
But I have have witnessed where actual higher speed setting has indeed helped improve ID of nonferrous targets, even solo sitting. Like my 9" deep clad dime.
The dime IDs betters at speed 6. Although it is detectable at speed 5, but ID is low. (This is likely soil mineralization level driven). Calabash could do same depth experiment and likely get as good a ID with speed setting 5 here vs speed 6 in his soil.
I have also witnessed better (more accurate) ID using 800 model when doing actual head to head comparisons keeping the same detect mode in use, but changing speed setting. Many times a faster speed setting would yield better ID.
And usually with better ID as mentioned above also comes better tone (signal)- more decipherable.
So, it is time for me to make a very bold statement here.
If we had a bunch of sites where all the detectors that has been run there all had 11" DD coils installed. And we took Equinox into a said site. And captured a signal using park 2 or field 2 detect mode using speed 7 or 8. And upon getting the signal denoting nonferrous, if we slow the 800 models to speed 6 and the signal chops or disappears. It is highly likely this nonferrous suspect target has never ever been detected before using another detecfor and a 11" DD coil.
This would go for Etrac , Deus and LF coils, CTX and many more detectors.
There is one detector however wearing a 11" DD coil (I have not run) that may could detect such a target,, called the deep tech gold gain unit.
So what I am saying is a person could use speed setting adjustment and slow the 800 unit down and make a very good educated guess.
The same targets talked about above, a smaller coil (LF) may or may not detect the suspect target either. Many times they won't either.
Now, the above is based on some of my actual in field testing on in the wild targets, using some very good detectors.
