The mighty Deus
I will try to list and discuss what it does above average and below average,,depending on how you view it compared to other typical Vlf detectors.
I will also relate to minelab's etrac and CTX models a bit.
First off weight,,for an advanced and higher performance detector it leads the pack here#1.
Cost
In the price range with Minelab etrac and White's V3i,,,,cheaper though than Minlab CTX.
Power supply used
All Deus components use housed li pro batteries.
They have a good proven track record.
With full charge,,,hunt all day,, no worries.
Can be charged via wall outlets,,,auto with proper adapter,,,small portable pack like used to charge cell phones, etc. Even a small portable charger exist that runs on I think a pair of aa batteries.
I should point out,,,batteries are not covered under 5year warranty plan,,,although I'm sure if you had any problems with a newer unit,,,you would get service at no charge.
Five year warranty,,,transferrable on all components.
Configurations
Many configurations are available.
All configurations have a coil and a rod,,,,what else you use is up to you.
I highly recommend at the very least the configuration with a coil,,rod,,and remote.
Wireless headphones are available,,,they are in my opinion as far as lack of delay,,,the spot on sound the system produces,,,again #1.
Currently 2 kinds of wiresless headphones offered,,,WS-5 is a more tradition looking full dear cup version,,and WS-4 a back phone type. These here cooler to use in hotter weather,,,but don't mitigate external noise like the full ear cup WS-5s do.
Coils
There are currently 3 sizes,,,9", 11" and a larger 11x13".
The larger here,,Indon't recommend as it makes the Deus very nose heavy,,with added little performed gains other than ground coverage.
The 11" coil likely will yield 1-2" of additional depth,,,but ground minerals and target,,detector settings cs affect this both positively and negatively.
9" coil is the overall better separator,,,yields food depth,,,the better coil for hunting sites laden with nails and iron.
Wired headphones can be used with Deus remote,,,but the smaller jack on headphones is needed.
Emi handling and mitigation
Deus by design is a chirpy machine,,,but make no mistake,,,even with some chirping going on,,it will alert on target ps shallow and deeper.
Deus operates on 4 freqs,,,4, 8, 12, and 18khz.
User can only use one at a time,,,and these freqs when used offer better performance depending on your targets of interest and non interest,,,as well as adding performance depending on your site makeup of metals.
Separation
For its coils sizes compared to other detectors,,,the Deus is supreme.
Separation capabilities can be adjusted on the fly using "reactivity" setting level.
Filtering
Deus operator has options with various amount s of filtering,,,,even be able to turn off. This setting here is key to getting the most depth,especially in higher mineral soils.
Ground balance
Deus has a good system,,,GB can be done in a number of ways.
Tracking to ground,,,pumping ,,manual.
Audio
Deus had top notched audio,,,operator has ability to raise and lower pitch of signals,,,,and the ability to set tone breaks.
Audio using full tones
Again the best here in my opinion,,,an operator can actually run full tones with little or no disc,,,,and the Deus with it superior separation and tonal abilities,,can paint a picture of the ground to operator.
Backlight
Deus gives operator an option for a time out back light,,off setting and on setting.
USB capable hookup
Deus can be hooked to computer and actually receive version updates.
Current version update is 3.2
Also if a person desires,,they can in fact download and use an older version with their Deus unit.
So what are some of the thing Deus can do for you vs other detectors???
Deus sweep speed is very forgiving.
Lots of ground can be covered,,with a seemingly high efficiency,,,deeper targets though a slower than swift sweep speed may be needed depending on ground minerals.
Deus offer on average a higher angle of approach to nonferrous target (with ferrous material near).
Deus' lightweight also adds to this comfort and ability to sweep faster.
Deus has tremendous see through o ferrous materials compared to many other detectors.
Dues audio,,not beep and dig,,but more rolling and zippy sounding.
Where can a person have difficulties or get into trouble using Deus??
Deus will wrap on bigger iron,,a person using non Full Tones setup,,like 2,3,or 4or 5 tones,,,,iron warp signal will appear,,,user will have to learn its sound.
Iron wrap has a distinct sound,,user will have to learn. Using full tones setup,,iron wrap signal easier on average to identify tonally.
Deus target ID unlike in some respects to other Vlf detectors.
Yes it will provide "true vdi" but it will also provide " intentionally" false TID.
Deus engineers basically designed so of a target p's ID was questionable,,,to not report true TID,,,but report higher with higher tone associated.
Operator here will have to learn how to interpret the TID,,,and this is possible with knowing how reactivity setting,,freq setting,,,target size,,,and the horseshoe icon(depth meter of sorts) all dome into agreement.
Can a person cherry pick with Deus???
Certainly
Is it necessarily the best choice detecte for doing? Nope
But who cherry picks all the time??
Deus offers disc settings adjustments,,,as well as notch settings to use to do this.
Target ID in sites with loads of nails and iron
TID here on targets can read anything,,,,from true to all the way down to 00 and up to 98/99 on the screen. (Not a typo here either)
Deus does provide clues of nonferrous hiding in nails and iron. Not as obvious as some may think,,but with training and experience it will become reality apparent.
Programs
User will have slots to load their own programs for detecting,,,they can be saved.
With some experience or advice maybe for a bud or 2,,, good strategy to load certain programs adjacent to one another,,,so fast toggle can be used in the fileld for checking suspect targets.
Tone provided on deeper targets can be faint sounding,,,unlike etrac and CTX.
Deus is a very good detector for lower conductors,,,rings,,,and even smaller.
Version 4 is supposedly on the horizon for Deus,,,,and with it comes some additional coils,,,and if I'm understanding correctly,,these coils will offer higher frequency operation,,and not be a big overall as current coils.
As far as what does version 4 offer the role today using current coils,,,I don't have information.
Overall Deus is a very good detector.
A very versatile detector,,,likes plowed, tilled ground too.
As far as salt water and salt water beach operation,,,I can't help here.