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What Will The Equinox Be Best At Finding?


mn90403

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My question is 'What will this detector be best at?'  (Maybe I'm repackaging the same question from another thread ... so many I haven't read them all. )

Minelab says:

(Coming Soon) With innovative NEW multi-frequency technology, the EQUINOX Series redefines all-purpose detecting for the serious enthusiast. Equally adaptable for all target types and ground conditions, just set your detecting location and go!

With the added functionality of Gold Mode, High Frequency 20/40 Hz., Wireless audio accessories and Advanced settings, the EQUINOX 800 offers extra versatility.

Mitchel

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4 hours ago, mn90403 said:

My question is 'What will this detector be best at?'  (Maybe I'm repackaging the same question from another thread ... so many I haven't read them all. )

Minelab says:

(Coming Soon) With innovative NEW multi-frequency technology, the EQUINOX Series redefines all-purpose detecting for the serious enthusiast. Equally adaptable for all target types and ground conditions, just set your detecting location and go!

With the added functionality of Gold Mode, High Frequency 20/40 Hz., Wireless audio accessories and Advanced settings, the EQUINOX 800 offers extra versatility.

Mitchel

Treasure Mitchel, Treasure!  Oh and some Booty too, Eye!  

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Perhaps you will find what ever it is your looking for....

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The Equinox is a waterproof general purpose detector that is quite obviously gunning for the Garrett AT series and XP Deus. I would therefore say that park and field coin and relic detecting is very high on the list, along with all manner of in water use which generally means jewelry. Coins, relics, jewelry - toss in a few gold nuggets.

I think I can say at this point that in the realm of "do-it-all" metal detectors, Equinox is better at doing it all and doing it well than any other detector I have ever used.

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 04/01/2018 at 5:35 AM, Steve Herschbach said:

 toss in a few gold nuggets.

Hi Steve,

A first timer here on this site & in detecting in general. Hope this is the right place to be asking this type of question.

I was wondering if the Equinox is a good purchase if I intend to detect some coins for a bit of fun & practice but would most likely spend most of my time detecting gold. When you say "toss in a few gold nuggets" exactly how good would it be as first purchase & probably only purchase when I'm probably looking a spending no more than about $US1,200 at this stage. Would I be better off purchasing a specialist gold detector like the Gold Monster or similar. I would be using it in mostly NSW, Australian old gold fields & a few Sydney beaches.

Hope you can make sense of what I'm trying to say.

Cheers

Paul

 

 

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23 minutes ago, ignas said:

Hi Steve,

A first timer here on this site & in detecting in general. Hope this is the right place to be asking this type of question.

I was wondering if the Equinox is a good purchase if I intend to detect some coins for a bit of fun & practice but would most likely spend most of my time detecting gold. When you say "toss in a few gold nuggets" exactly how good would it be as first purchase & probably only purchase when I'm probably looking a spending no more than about $US1,200 at this stage. Would I be better off purchasing a specialist gold detector like the Gold Monster or similar. I would be using it in mostly NSW, Australian old gold fields & a few Sydney beaches.

Hope you can make sense of what I'm trying to say.

Cheers

Paul

 

 

It should be a great turn on and go detector for beginner and expert alike.  Just pick your program (park, field, beach, gold) and swing away no real tweaking needed.  As you grow in experience you can experiment with new settings and the machine should be able to grow with you.  My only caution is that, even though the Equinox appears to be a great value, I seldom recommend to any new detectorist dropping that much money on a their first machine, not because the machine is not worth it, but often new folks may find that the hobby is not for them after all and they have just spent all this money.  It takes a lot of patience, learning, and pragmatic expectations about what you will find.  I usually recommend introducing the hobby to a newcomer using a much lower priced but capable machine, if it turns out to be their cup of tea, then they can always upgrade down the road with relatively little up front investment.  Folks often do not realize that you will dig a huge amount of trash targets for every keeper.  You will have days of being shut out and days when you will find keeper after keeper everywhere you put the coil.  It's kind of a streaky thing.  To me it is the challenge of search rather than the find itself.  I do not detect with an intent to sell my finds nor think about the hobby in terms of when my finds will "pay for my machine."  To me that is like work, and I detect to get away from the stress of work.  The solitude, exercise, adventure, unexpected surprises and camaraderie with like minded gadget geeks, adventurists, history buffs, and puzzle solvers is what I seek.  The finds are just icing on the cake.  That being said, I do not think you can go wrong with the Equinox. It will certainly tackle your desired targets in coinage and gold unless Minelab has totally botched it (and no one thinks they have).  In addition, even though you "think" you want to just do coins and gold, you may find you have other detecting interests after you get started and having a flexible swiss army knife type machine keeps you from being locked in to the limitations of a specialized gold machine from the get go..  And if detecting turns out to be a temporary venture, should easily hold its resale value.  To answer your question:  yes I think the Equinox will be a good purchase for you.

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Welcome to the forum Paul!

It is far too early to know how the Equinox will sort out as a nugget detector. Any good detector can find gold nuggets, but machines made specifically for that task have had an edge historically. However, be aware that many hot prospecting detectors do not get along well with saltwater.

This is a very generic recommendation but if prospecting really is the primary use, then look for a prospecting detector. If you want a general purpose detector, Equinox is obviously a contender.

The Gold Monster has proven to be quite popular and successful in the U.S. where ground conditions tend to be milder than in Oz. The story there appears to be mixed - some people quite happy with the Gold Monster, but quite a few people down under seem to be hating it also. No doubt related to ground conditions. Even though Oz has a reputation for the worst mineralization in the world there are actually large areas of milder mineralization also, so where you are intending to hunt specifically does matter. And as I noted the Monster will detect saltwater and wet saltwater sand so it is not a good beach detector unless the sand is bone dry or a freshwater beach. The main forum has quite a few Aussies hanging out so they may be able to provide insight on that for you.

Anyway, back to Equinox. I am sure gold nuggets can be found with it, and if you are in no hurry there will probably be reports on how it performs in Australia coming from Jonathan Porter once the lid comes off. The reason I am hedging is nugget detecting is one of the most technically difficult types of detecting (worst ground, smallest targets) and until people are able to use the final version at locations around the world and report, then it is a bit of an open question. Some of it is coil related because none of the coils projected for intital release are what I would call “nugget coils”. I would very much like to see a 10” elliptical for the Equinox eventually.

I will be reporting more on how the Equinox does on gold nuggets in the U.S. later but I am still collecting data myself and waiting for Minelab to give me more leeway to get into details.

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Hi Chase,

Thanks for the advice & info. Totally understand a newbie can be unaware/unrealistic, over purchase & lose interest quickly. Also aware it's for fun & rarely pays for the beer money let alone equipment, fuel, effort etc. 

After looking at the prices of a 7000, 5000, 2300 the Equinox is light relief. I've done quite a bit of research, been detecting with a newbie friend who purchased the 2300 first up. Talk about the blind leading the blind (now experts at cleaning up ferro trash). The joke being we could have opened up as scrap metal franchise. 

I may consider it as an allrounder & entry level gold detector & if I get serious I could up grade to a specialist gold detector as required. As you say it will probably hold it's value for resale, though from reading about other people's equipment it would most likely complement rather than a replacement in one's arsenal. 

 

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