Nodrog58, you've made two main forum posts that are a little lacking in information, yet you ask for some 'direction' in detector choice. That makes it difficult for anyone to help you, and opens the door for those who like to pick on detectors you own or ask about.
You were just 6½ years old when I started metal detecting and I have been at it constantly ever since. I currently own and use fourteen detectors that I prefer for different hunt site needs and for different types of hunting I most enjoy, such as Coin & Jewelry Hunting and Relic Hunting.
Through these many decades I have not only been a very Avid Detectorist, but have been a detector dealer, a distributor, worked for a once major detector manufacturer, and have worked with many dealers to help them out at shows. I have been provided prototypes from over a half-dozen detector manufacturers going back to 1974 to evaluate, and since 1981 I have hosted full-day or two-day metal detecting seminars.
All of these experiences have provided me with many opportunities to help others who have an interest in this fascinating outdoor sport who are trying to learn more about the metal detectors they own, as well as those who are looking for a new detector to get started or for an additional unit or simply to move up to a better all-purpose model.
To achieve that, I/We need to know more about what it is you have, what you're going to use it for, what it is, in particular, that you don't like about your current detectors and what it is you are looking for in a different model. All of that info was lacking in your two posts.
It might also help to know the types of search sites you plan to hunt, and even how often you might expect to get out detecting in the course of a week or a month or more. All too many detector owners are at the 'Hobbyist' level and end up staying there maybe forever and never advancing to what I call an Avid Detectorist level.
Most Hobbyists seldom get out detecting, and when they do it is usually only for a brief amount of time. They seem to never really get too enthusiastic about learning all they can about a detector, its control functions, or how to get the most/better performance out of it. The bulk of the time they have never read the Instruction Manual,
thoroughly, from cover-to-cover, and then tracked down the answers to better understand things they read that didn't make sense to them.
Some replies to your post have encouraged you to go check out the model or models that interest you, but how experienced are you now? Do you know what you are looking for and would you be able to simply handle two or three detectors and find the answers by doing so?
Nodrog58 said:
I have the at pro but would like to get whites mx sport any opinions that might steer me in the tight direction
Q: How long have you had the Garrett AT Pro?
Q: What prompted you to purchase the AT Pro?
Q: Which search coils to you have and use with the AT Pro?
Q: Do you own any other metal detectors, and if so, what are they?
Q: How long have you been into the metal detecting sport?
Q: What type of detecting do you do, or in order of what most often to least often?
(Coin Hunting; Jewelry Hunting; Relic Hunting; Beach Hunting; Gold Nugget Hunting.)
Q: How many days per month, weather permitting, do you plan to get out detecting?
Q: What is it about the AT Pro that you do not like?
(Physical Packaging, Features and Performance or both.)
Q: What is it you are looking for in a different metal detector?
Nodrog58 said:
Yes, I owned one.
There's an answer to the question, but what did you really want to know? Simply opinions about the White's MX Sport? Okay, I'll share some:
• I felt it was rushed into production and release because the local dealer got one in and it was terrible. The coil felt heavy, the grip was fine but balance a little heavy for me, but I'm not young and healthy and strong anymore. But it was the performance that was a let-down. A friend & I went it to check it out and it didn't perform in their store as well as the M6 and MXT Pro they had on the wall.
• Later: There were a lot of complaints and quite a few issues that surfaced and needed to be addressed. White's did just that and the finished product worked fine.
• I was interested in their efforts to correct the issues ,and they used the new and improved circuitry in a land-based model called the MX-7. I bought a brand new MX-7 at the White's factory thirteen months ago and two more after that. They all have worked quite well for me and the needs I have for most of my iron littered sites as well as getting depth in open area with sparse masking targets.
• Earlier this year I worked a trade deal to get a newer, low-use MX Sport to check out since I had my accessory coils for the MX-7 that work on it. Performance wise, it worked OK and I compared it with my other detectors as well as some I borrowed from friends. Those included an AT Pro, AT Max, Equinox 800, Multi-Kruzer and finally the Anfibio 19. Other makes and models as well, but those are the submersible waterproof units to compare if waterproofing is desired.
In the end I prefer the White's MX-7 with all the same features and performance but in a much lighter and better-balanced land-based model.
In the waterproof category, I liked it better than the models from Garret and Minelab, but not as well as those from Nokta-Makro. I parted with the MX Sport. Even though it works OK, for my wants and needs, for the same performance I favor the MX-7.
I can't help you more than that unless I/We know more about what you do, what you are looking for and we can answer from there. The AT Pro is an 'OK' detector and seems to be liked by many. Equally, it isn't a favorite pick for others, so it is really a matter of what you want and are looking for.
Monte