Revolutionary Detectors Over Time?

[glacialgold]

Gotta say, the responses here have been nothing short of awesome! I'm both awed and amazed at the length of experience users here have, along with the variety and depth of machines used.

I'm still a rookie, but I am experiencing maximum fun running the Equinox 800 and Nokta Legend, testing them out against each other in my local parks and school yards. (I have some minor gold fields available which can yield flakes and tiny nuggests at shallow depth, but we'll get to that later.) No major finds so far, but I have dug out up some silver and jewelry.

Cheers to detecting in 2023!

[Ogliuga]

In my experience and in my kind of hunting, XP has given me great satisfaction, first D1 and now D2. But machine that in any case intrigued me the most is Blisstool V6, a real beast that needs to be tamed: bulgarian analogic single tone. Another machine that I loved is the Nautilus DMC 2B. Loved also V3i but it’s too cumbersome and slow, in my opinion. Talking about P.I, my 5000 is definitely fine even if has been dormant for months..

[Jeff McClendon]

I know this topic has not been responded to in almost a year. 

Since that time the Manticore and Equinox 700/900 have gotten into a lot of users hands.

I have nothing further to say about the Equinox 700/900.

I am definitely enjoying the Manticore, Deus 2, Legend and the Equinox 800.

I recently picked up an E-Trac at a ridiculous price for nostalgic reasons and since I had never used one.

I do have some experience with the CTX3030 and Explorer ll and also a little time with the baby E-Trac, the Safari. 

I can see the attraction by some for those FBS/FBS2 detectors. In the right conditions they would probably work well as in milder soil and fairly normal to sparse target density. 

I have done three head to head comparisons in the last 3 days using E-Trac/Manticore, E-Trac/Legend and today E-Trac/Deus 2. I used the same park where there is enough sun to keep the ground thawed, and where target density is not too bad. Iron mineralization meter on Deus 2 is half to 3/4ths full. I searched an area about 20 by 60 feet each time.  I flagged 4 really deep high conductor targets using the newer SMF detectors that I thought were around 8" deep. I was correct in that assessment each time. I also subjectively counted the 2 way hit targets that I would have dug if I had time and was allowed to dig all targets. I was basically hunting with enough iron target IDs rejected on each detector to silence ground noise. All four detectors had 11" coils.

On all three plots the E-Trac usually got clean hits on around 30 targets. I had to redo the first comparison because I simply could not hunt this ground using Auto Sensitivity and had to switch to Manual. I had Auto Sensitivity on +3 and it never got over 12 on this ground. I could run Manual at 16 to 18 and I got a lot more target responses especially on the flagged deep high conductor responses. The 12 flagged targets turned out to be 10 deep US Wheat pennies and 2 thicker chunks of aluminum and they were in the 7 to 9" depth range. E-Trac hit half of those targets cleanly, gave very iffy responses on two more and was completely silent on 4 of the Wheat pennies. 

By comparison, Manticore, Legend and Deus 2 even running at conservative sensitivity levels hit between 60 and 80 targets in those 20X60' plotted areas. Since I used them to find the deep flagged targets, they obviously hit those well too.

So, I am going to once again give Minelab's Multi IQ all the credit it deserves. The recently made Manticore, Legend and Deus 2 would not exist in the form they are today if the Equinox 600/800 had not been released about 5 years ago. That detector changed my metal detecting life and truly made metal detecting both fun and very rewarding for me after cycling through SOOOO many VLFs trying to find even one that worked well enough for me to get even good results.

Had I used an E-Trac seven or so years ago, I think I could have done very well with it for shallower coin and jewelry hunting. But at least where I hunt, it simply cannot compete with the Equinox 600/800, Deus 2, Legend and Manticore.

Thanks Minelab for being willing to move on from BBS, FBS and FBS 2, to Multi IQ which is much more versatile and effective at least where I hunt and on the targets that I like to find from sub 0.1 gram nuggets to coins to relics and to jewelry both micro and honking big.

 

 

[Lynk]

Spot on, Jeff. In fact, I recently picked up a used 800 and now have two.  If you find the right seller and price, they are really great values and still very relevant.

[F350Platinum]

I probably would be half as prolific if I never came across this forum, I have a lot to be thankful for since I first bought an Ace 400 to look for nails after a roof job. I suspected it to lead to more, but never imagined how much more.

I've made quite a few friends here and expect to be here for quite a while, it's the only forum I signed up for. I hope I have contributed to others' skill as well.

Allow me to humbly cast my vote for the Deus 2, it brings so many revolutionary facets to the hobby such as extreme light weight, completely wireless operation, and for me the tightest ID range of any machine I've used, sadly not enough but a wonder to me. It has its quirks but none of the other detectors I've used are anywhere near as versatile, nor "fit" me the way the Deus 2 does.

I will nod to the Equinox 600, in its simplicity it was a killer for me, I still use it from time to time but its use is reduced the more I learn the D2.

Thanks go to you all for the help and kicks in the butt as I go on. 🙂

[UtahRich]

The big difference makers for me? I started back in the mid-70's with a TR.

Teknetics Mark I back in the mid-80's.  Super accurate Target ID AND Audio Target ID, Manual Ground Balance. Notch ID

Minelab Explorer XS in 2000 and several years later the Etrac. Deep, accurate Target ID, great at sleuthing out coins and tokens

Minelab Equinox 800 - Opened up the low and mid-conductors in the shallow water for me and continued being deep with accurate target ID. Cutting the weight and being 'mostly' water proof.  

[Jeff McClendon]

On 12/18/2023 at 4:31 PM, Jeff McClendon said:

I know this topic has not been responded to in almost a year. 

Since that time the Manticore and Equinox 700/900 have gotten into a lot of users hands.

I have nothing further to say about the Equinox 700/900.

I am definitely enjoying the Manticore, Deus 2, Legend and the Equinox 800.

I recently picked up an E-Trac at a ridiculous price for nostalgic reasons and since I had never used one.

I do have some experience with the CTX3030 and Explorer ll and also a little time with the baby E-Trac, the Safari. 

I can see the attraction by some for those FBS/FBS2 detectors. In the right conditions they would probably work well as in milder soil and fairly normal to sparse target density. 

I have done three head to head comparisons in the last 3 days using E-Trac/Manticore, E-Trac/Legend and today E-Trac/Deus 2. I used the same park where there is enough sun to keep the ground thawed, and where target density is not too bad. Iron mineralization meter on Deus 2 is half to 3/4ths full. I searched an area about 20 by 60 feet each time.  I flagged 4 really deep high conductor targets using the newer SMF detectors that I thought were around 8" deep. I was correct in that assessment each time. I also subjectively counted the 2 way hit targets that I would have dug if I had time and was allowed to dig all targets. I was basically hunting with enough iron target IDs rejected on each detector to silence ground noise. All four detectors had 11" coils.

On all three plots the E-Trac usually got clean hits on around 30 targets. I had to redo the first comparison because I simply could not hunt this ground using Auto Sensitivity and had to switch to Manual. I had Auto Sensitivity on +3 and it never got over 12 on this ground. I could run Manual at 16 to 18 and I got a lot more target responses especially on the flagged deep high conductor responses. The 12 flagged targets turned out to be 10 deep US Wheat pennies and 2 thicker chunks of aluminum and they were in the 7 to 9" depth range. E-Trac hit half of those targets cleanly, gave very iffy responses on two more and was completely silent on 4 of the Wheat pennies. 

By comparison, Manticore, Legend and Deus 2 even running at conservative sensitivity levels hit between 60 and 80 targets in those 20X60' plotted areas. Since I used them to find the deep flagged targets, they obviously hit those well too.

So, I am going to once again give Minelab's Multi IQ all the credit it deserves. The recently made Manticore, Legend and Deus 2 would not exist in the form they are today if the Equinox 600/800 had not been released about 5 years ago. That detector changed my metal detecting life and truly made metal detecting both fun and very rewarding for me after cycling through SOOOO many VLFs trying to find even one that worked well enough for me to get even good results.

Had I used an E-Trac seven or so years ago, I think I could have done very well with it for shallower coin and jewelry hunting. But at least where I hunt, it simply cannot compete with the Equinox 600/800, Deus 2, Legend and Manticore.

Thanks Minelab for being willing to move on from BBS, FBS and FBS 2, to Multi IQ which is much more versatile and effective at least where I hunt and on the targets that I like to find from sub 0.1 gram nuggets to coins to relics and to jewelry both micro and honking big.

 

 

I know I am "quoting" myself but I thought I would give the E-Trac one more chance today at a park with dirt that is much less iron mineralized with only 2 of 10 bars on the Deus 2 iron mineralization meter consistently filled.

I was using the E-Trac, Deus 2 and Manticore today. My plan was to pick an area to grid with the E-Trac, flag 4 really deep targets and then go over the same area with Deus 2, check (not dig) those 4 targets I flagged with the E-Trac, while also flagging any additional deep targets that I did not decide or hear or chose not to flag when I passed over them with the E-Trac, and finally I would do the same with the Manticore and then recover any flagged targets with the Manticore and then just do a Manticore hunt elsewhere in the park.

I ended up flagging 10 targets, 4 with the E-Trac (11" coil), 4 more with Deus 2 (13X11"coil) and 2 more with the Manticore (11" coil). I recovered the E-Trac's targets first. Both Deus 2 and the Manticore did not care for 3 of the 4 flagged E-Trac targets and they were bent nails. I would not have dug them using the Manticore or Deus 2. The E-Trac's 4th target was a copper disk about the size of a US nickel with four very small wedge shaped indentations pressed into it at the 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock position. No clue what that was but it was a full 11" deep. The other six targets were 1917, 1944 and 1945 Wheat Ear pennies, two very deep late 1960s clad dimes and a very deep 1961 US Jefferson nickel. This park was built in 1910 and it has not been heavily disturbed so finding these "older" coins in the 8 to 12" depth is very predictable. Digging those deep targets with a screwdriver..............whooh!

I then took the Manticore for its own little hunt. Ended up with a 1917S Mercury dime that was a full 11" deep, another 10" deep 1917 Wheat penny and a really nice 3 gram 14K really thin necklace that just happened to be balled up about 3" deep. I also dug a lot more clad and a few pieces of deliberately dug trash like aluminum screw caps and pull tabs and a bling necklace.

The Manticore absolutely loves to hit hard on US nickels. I thought the Equinox 600/800 was a nickel machine too, but not like the Manticore. Even using the Normal audio type setting, US nickels sound like a handball striking a wall at an indoor handball court. Totally unmistakeable sound quality even down to about 8" depth where I detect. Digging lots of nickels for me also means digging the occasional gold ring that has the same target IDs.

The first photo is the display while detecting the 11" silver Mercury dime. The next photo is the display with the coil over an 8" deep US Jefferson nickel with the target ID showing red number 25 even though the actual ID is a black number 25/26/27. Those red/black alternating numbers for US nickels reminds me of the 12-13 and 13-13 Fe-Co numbers that I sometimes get on US nickels using the E-Trac.  The last photo is a plate of finds for the hunt.

 

I really enjoyed using the Manticore today. I was hoping it would suit my needs and just plain old detect better than the Equinox 700/900 that I tried out a year ago. So far, I absolutely love the Manticore much like I loved the Equinox 800 and even though I am not crazy about the expanded target IDs, I am starting to believe that the Manticore really is a worthy successor to the Equinox 800. Thanks Gerry for making a deal with me on the Manticore and also.......thanks Minelab for correcting the mistakes made designing the shell for the Equinox 600/800 and coming up with the hopefully revolutionary Manticore.

[Bill (S. CA)]

Nice of Jeff to bring this post back to life.

I think that revolutionary detectors vary by the era.  You can make a case for many machines over the years, a number of which have been mentioned here.  For me, I think the ultimate game changer was the Minelab Sovereign.  It changed the industry as far as I am concerned.  BBS opened up inland sites and allowed us to hunt salt water beaches without having to use PI's or gold machines on the dry.  To this day I have never found more good stuff then I did in the early days of my owning my Sovereign XS.