The Timeranger is the only one you listed that comes with any Ground Balance feature at the price you stated.
Even that is unusual, you usually have to get into a higher price point to get that on most brands.
Many of us start out with entry level units that have a preset GB and still do fine, being able to use that feature and hunt at optimum levels is nice but not necessarily needed all the time at every site.
If you are going to get a screen you might want to look for some that have actual VDI numbers and not just icons.
The Timeranger has them but they are tiny, and as far as recovery speed some units are better than others.
The TR is slow in disc but faster in all metal.
Here is a vid...
http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/b...ime-ranger-unboxing-testing-review-video.html
Other popular units near the $200-$250 price with VDI numbers are the Ace 300, the Fisher F22, and the Teknetics Euro Tek Pro.
Here is one that many started with and love from one of our sponsors.
Notice the package...a detector, 2 coils, headphones and even a cheap handheld pinpointer that isn't great but better than nothing.
I used this one for three years in both good and bad soil at many kinds of sites and did extremely well...never regretted that purchase.
http://www.bigboyshobbies.net/fisher-f2-pin-pointer-kit
