My 2 cents, playing with a few different machines. CTX at $2,500 or so for one of the package deals from bigboyshobbies.com gets you everything you need for trashy, pounded out parks. It's what I use in Pittsburgh and have loads of YouTube videos pulling goodies. Still takes a lot of time, and I have the $399 add on of the 17" coil, which adds depth but sacrifices discrimination a bit. Others right next to me with a stock coil do just about as well. I think they get targets masked by the big coil pretty often. The biggest benefit of the CTX over the etrac is the available 17" coil, wireless module, and waterproof so good for beach or park. In terms of ability, the etrac with stock coil will find 95%+ of what the CTX with stock coil will find. There are now wireless modules with low latency that you can just attach to your detector (Z-link from Garret will work or WM-8 or ProSonic from minelab). So you can make the etrac wireless. Also some other coils are available for the etrac to get more depth as well. As far as I know, you can't make the etrac wireless. I would say that a group of MDs mixed with CTX 3030 and Etracs hunting for a day in the same pounded out park, compare the finds and there likely would be little or no difference. Individuals with experience to swing the right speed, in the right areas, with the right angles will get more. It is true, with the minelabs, gotta swing real slow in trash. You can do just as well and save a lot of money if you get the Etrac. Personally, I use my CTX but just because I had the coin at the time to pull the trigger. If money isn't burning a hole in your pocket, get the etrac.
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