Coencentric or DD?

[wymanwvp32]

I was just wondering what everyone's opinion was on which coil type is better?
Do you think a Coencentric Coil or DD coil is the best? I'm looking for answers from People who have experience with both, and not just what some website says that there style is better for this reason and that.
I'm thinking of getting another coil for my explorer SE, and wondering which one I should go with.

Thanks!
John

[Detector]

Of course it depends on conditions. The Concentric, in lower mineralized soil, will have the better depth for the same size. I.E. 10" Concentric compared to a 6x10 DD. In bad soil the DD coil will have the better depth. The DD coil also covers more area and does a bit better in high trash areas.

I prefer a DD over the Concentric

[TNCSHOOTER]

I would have to agree with detector... I bought a package with both coils, and the smaller stock coil doesn't have the seperation in hagh trash areas as the larger dd coil... they both definitely have their place though... my dd coil is really tiresome to swing all day...

[WThesing]

A concentric coil has a circular "beam" area, which is conical in shape, like an ice cream cone. The active area becomes narrower as the depth increases, thus the surface area becomes smaller as you go deeper. A DD coil has an active strip along the center bar, which remains constant with depth, thus giving a wider sweep area. For the SE, the best coils are the SunRay 12", and 5". SunRay coils are "tuned" for the Minelab electronics. My 5" coil goes just as deep as my stock coil on my Explorer II. The 12" goes quite a bit deeper, and the sensitivity must be lowered in average soils. I run it almost wide open on the beaches. The best add ons for the Explorer are 1. the SunRay X-1 Probe, 2. SunRay X-5, and the SunRay X-12, in that order. Absolutely the best coils out there for the Explorer. Pinpointing with a concentric coil tends to be more accurate than a DD, but the coverage of a DD is much greater particularly as depth increases. One last footnote, the 12" coil is lighter than the stock Exp. II coil, and about the same weight as the stock SE coil.

[Lost&Found]

John,

I've used a concentric for many years and got used to it. When I got the Explorer with the DD coil, I had a rough time with the triple beeps as it passed over a coin 2-3 inches down (once on leading edge of coil, one for center, and one for trailing edge). The marketing of the DD implies that you get a single signal from the center bar. Not true, at least for the first 3 inches or so. I verified it with tech support at Minelab.

If they made a concentric that would work with the Explorer I'd buy it. My preference is the concentric. But alas, I love the Explorer so I live with the DD.

Opinions will vary, like the preferences for Pepsi or Coke.

[WThesing]

No triple beeps with the X-12.

[rcasi44]

I agree and I think it's been covered well. I use both and because of location and mineralization no one type of coil is better in all conditions. Rob


Concentric loops have the following advantages:
Can get good targets under bad targets because of their cone shaped field
They are 10% quieter regarding magnetic interference from power lines
They have 10% better trash discrimination on iron - steel bottle caps and foil
They can shape the target without walking around it
They pin point accurately

Wide Scan Loops (DD) have the following advantages:<o></o>
They have better side by side target separation
They are more sensitive to smaller than coin size targets
They are more sensitive off the tip area of the coil
They smooth out the ground reactivity noise by 10%.<o></o>

[wymanwvp32]

Thanks everyone for all your replies!

[RickO]

Rcasi44... very nice breakdown indeed.... RickO