I've always used the MXT in prospecting new areas with lots of trash and potential for iron artifacts. I've been trying the 705 in the same way but miss the vdi when in prospecting mode and when in the relic mode the 705 will give a beep at each side of a large target, like a horseshoe, while the mxt will overload or give a broad sound, which I like better. In any case once I've found gold its off to the races with a GMT, gold bug 2, ML4500 or other dig it all gold detector. So I don't know the answer to witch is better on gold, but both detectors are alot of fun.