What is the deepest detecting machine for the least money?

[amedhussaini]

Even the company websites for a lot of these detectors don't necessarily mention any difference in depth between the $1,500 detector and the $800 detector. Are there any specs or one sheets that have, say, "MXT PRO: Good for 18 inches", "Minelab: Good for 12 inches"?


Thanks so much and appreciate your time.

[Diggler]

What are you looking for? Coins? Caches? Pipes? A couple details and you will get some answers. How deep you need? Lots of options.

[Detector]

Welcome from the Wickedest Little City in the West.

No such claims, and if there were you'd have good reason to question their intentions.

The problem is a detector that might get 12" here in Kansas, may only get 6" in Tennessee. Ground conditions play an important role in a detector stability to penetrate the ground, and then be able to identify a good target. You can get a rough idea from air tests, because I believe they show the maximum depth ability a detector can achieve under ideal conditions. This suggestion is controversial but I believe the science says it is true.

I've got a Minelab E-Trac(list for $1500 used about $1000), which is rated pretty high when it comes to depth on coin type targets, the White's DFX(List $1000 used about $450) which is the king of versatility, and the Garrett AT PRO(list $594 used $500), their newest detector. The E-Trac, in my opinion, is still the deepest of the 3, but the AT PRO is really close, and the DFX for $450 is the best buy for the money as far as I'm concerned.

[beest]

i personaly don't think the differences in depth are that big.
i think the differences in prices are to be found in better ID and better discrimination, better ergonomics and techniques.
my second detector is a cheap one, has a bigger coil so goes deeper than my digital professional, but a bad disc so with that one much more iron is to be dug.

[Detector]

Good point beest. I have generally 1 site where depth is everything, and the rest it's a matter of technique and tools. Those tools being different coils and detector features(bells & whistles).

In our city park where it has had numerous floods, that deposited up to several feet of dirt/mud in some places, it's all about a detector with depth. A few of the areas also contain a huge amount of iron trash and requires a good trash coil, and proper adjustments to claim a few goodies.

[Diggler]

Originally Posted by beest

i personaly don't think the differences in depth are that big.
i think the differences in prices are to be found in better ID and better discrimination, better ergonomics and techniques.
my second detector is a cheap one, has a bigger coil so goes deeper than my digital professional, but a bad disc so with that one much more iron is to be dug.

Which is exactly why we need to know what he is looking for.

[scout23]

Too many things affect depth of detectors. Only way to tell is to compair all the detectors in the exact same spot on the same targets.

[TimC]

For the most part all VLF detector here in my ground run about the same varying 2 to 3 inches depending on where you are at, the ground conditions play a huge part in the whether or not a machine operates well. Unfortunately the only detectors that will get down deep in any soil is far outside of my justification of spending save for the TDI Pro, which I have with a variety of coils and is deeper than any of my VLF machines, is the Minelab GPX 5000 which I have personally witnessed it finding a large domed button down almost 2 ft. This machine is serious and demands a serious operator at the controls. Listening is the real key to this machine as is any other, but more so for this one. Maybe one day in the future the GPX 6000 or 8000 will be in the cards but not for now.

[beest]

Originally Posted by Diggler

Which is exactly why we need to know what he is looking for.

right ..... or if he has no problem digging much for iron (no good for parc's!!!)

i use my pro for difficult spots. this one picks a coin against iron and with good dept (thin copper coins 2grams up to 10"). but ik can't buy a bigger coil for this one.
for the bigger coil (search large area's for less findings and trash) i use my other cheaper, so no digging to much for iron-trash. and i use this one when i want to dig iron (archeologic, war).

[goodmore]

Stick with the major manufacturers and you will get a quality machine.

[Dustyloins]

Originally Posted by goodmore

Stick with the major manufacturers and you will get a quality machine.

Yup, or get a two box detector and dig a six foot deep hole!!!

Dusty

[TimC]

Forgive the rambling of my last post. If I were going to get a machine that meets you criteria, the most machine for the least money, It would have to be a nice used MXT or DFX. Although if a VID is not important opt for a nice Tesoro Cibola or Tejon, which is a very deep machine, but is some what chatty, but not any more so than the MXT.

[triplehooked]

If you were looking all out deepest for cheapest, I'd say the Cibola was pretty impressive. They are $340 new and I've seen them as cheap as $220 used. An excellent, deep machine. Just be prepared to dig it all til' you get used to the beep and dig thing....

[RelicHunterNGA]

Take a look a the Tesoro Vaquero. It is a deep detector with manual ground balance. You cant go wrong and will be happy with it. Too many rely heavily on a display. Learn what the detector is telling you.

[amedhussaini]

Thanks to everyone for giving me a lot of insightful points to think about!