X-Terra Pro - Do We Need Another Single Frequency Detector?

[Chase Goldman]

2 hours ago, TedinVT said:

So, lots of good comments on my previous post. Be sure you've read the other X-Terra Pro (XTP) usage considerations I stated. My prominent reason for possibly purchasing the XTP is in the water beach detecting. Why would I consider the XTP for that purpose? Here's a link to Calabash's recent XTP saltwater beach test:  https://youtu.be/i6Gs0uKPk1c

A single frequency detector running quietly in saltwater? Who'd have thunk! I had tried my AT Pro in saltwater 6 years ago and quickly learned a 15kHz machine was no match for the saltwater. Great on the dry sand and tolerable in the wet sand. Thus the 800 entering my stable to cover all the bases. But the drowning worry still exists even though it's in its 5th year and I detect up to neck deep in saltwater and fresh water and hasn't leaked - yet. So, for the price and better chances of not leaking than the 800, why not pick up a cheap machine that, so far, seems to be a decent performer in saltwater? Especially if could serve the other purposes I stated in my previous post. The 800 will remain my land machine for sure.

Good discussion guys.

Agree good discussion.  I did read the other usage considerations and restated them in my post.

Like I said in my post, if I'm wrong about the surf performance/stability of Xterra vs. Nox or any other SMF detector, then Xterra is the real deal (i.e., true Nox salt water replacement) and an even better value.  If I was afraid of a Nox drowning, the surf is where Xterra would have to bring the goods.

CD's demonstration of the Xterra in wet salt sand was impressive for a $230 single freaker - it defintely slays Simplex, possibly even Apex. But what I was seeing in his video was performance about 60 to 70% of Nox depth (I've recovered nickels at 14 to 16") in wet salt sand where I have no qualms swinging my Nox even if I drop it.  

The slight falsing when CD did dip the coil in moving salt water and reduced wet salt sand performance vs. Nox tell me it might not be competitive with Nox submerged in moving salt water.

So submerged surf performance and black sand performance for Xterra Pro are TBD. 

BTW - It looks like a killer value as a submersible freshwater rig!

I get the tremendous value of Xterra Pro.   And it makes a nice no-brainer purchase as a competent backup rig if you don't really need to have Nox-like versatility but want Legend-like value in a multiple selectable single frequency machine.

Really not arguing for or against the purchase.

Just not seeing the compelling case for using  the lower performing Xterra instead of Nox as your primary machine going forward in just wet salt sand (where I'm personally not afraid of the Nox "drowning") and surf performance is TBD.  So if those are non-issues for you, that's all that matters, I'm just pointing it out not trying to change your mind.  I do get being cautious with an out of warranty machine.  

In a pinch, I'm definitely willing to use Xterra with confidence as a wet sand beach rig if without a Nox or Legend (or D2 or Manticore) based on what I saw in CD's video.

Xterra Pro appears to makes a great entry level detector including use as a wet salt sand beach rig (first purchase) and I would enthusiastically recommend it to anyone who was considering a Simplex or Vanquish for that purpose.  After seeing that video, Vanquish's continued existence makes even less sense to me.  I agree with Simon that a some Vanquish stripped down Multi-IQ DNA in Xterra would be amazing (at that price point).

One additional consideration on the Xterra price point if you desire wireless audio.  Xterra utilizes ML's implementation of BT LE Audio for which there are no compatible 3rd party phones available now.   Only Minelab's own ML-85's and ML-105's are compatible.  I could be wrong, but I don't believe there are any Xterra Pro packages that include wired or wireless phones.  If the ML-85's mirror the ML-80 standalone accessory price, then add $139 minimum to the detector cost if you want BT LE audio, if they are even available for purchase yet.  Or be prepared to purchase a BT APTX-LL transmitter dongle (~$30) to plug into the Xterra.

(I see Mirda covered some of this while I was typing this up).

[TedinVT]

Agreed, Chase. No headphone packages available, yet. And ML recommends the ML85 phones which I haven't found sold separately, yet. Yes, they'll probably be in the $139 price area when available. BUT, if the plan is to dedicate the machine as a water hunter, the wired waterproof Nox, etc. headphones we already have will work with the X-Terra.

 

Edited March 25 by TedinVT
Deleted veteran's discount comment as it is not available on this low priced machine 😢

[Chase Goldman]

2 minutes ago, TedinVT said:

Agreed, Chase. No headphone packages available, yet. And ML recommends the ML85 phones which I haven't found sold separately, yet. Yes, they'll probably be in the $139 price area when available. BUT, if the plan is to dedicate the machine as a water hunter, the wired waterproof Nox, etc. headphones we already have will work with the X-Terra.

Makes sense.  Just make sure you're good with its performance in the water and not just wet salt sand if you need it to do both.  It looks really promising, I would just need to see some actual submerged salt water detecting demonstrations with it to be sure.  Otherwise, it's definitely a no-brainer for all the other reasons discussed.  GL HH

[Digalicious]

From what I've seen, the X-Terra was very quite on the salt beach, although depth was lacking compared to the SMF detectors.

How is a SF detector so quite on the beach? Is it some unique salt algorithm, or perhaps when in Beach Mode, the sensitivity is significantly lowered and the recovery speed significantly raised? (both of which would account for the quietness and mediocre depth).

 

[Chase Goldman]

45 minutes ago, Digalicious said:

From what I've seen, the X-Terra was very quite on the salt beach, although depth was lacking compared to the SMF detectors.

How is a SF detector so quite on the beach? Is it some unique salt algorithm, or perhaps when in Beach Mode, the sensitivity is significantly lowered and the recovery speed significantly raised? (both of which would account for the quietness and mediocre depth).

 

From the User Guide, Xterra somehow identifies "residual salt response" and assigns a "0" TID using it's "specialist salt noise rejection configuration", whatever that means.  It looks like the main difference between Beach Profile 1 (Wet and Dry Sand) and Beach Profile 2 (Underwater and Surf) is Profile 2 has a higher default recovery speed.  Black sand is more problematic without the benefit of Multi-IQ, as your only recourse after ground balancing is to reduce sensitivity.

Salt balance capability is not solely limited to simultaneous multifrequency detectors.  The Fisher F19/Technetics G2+/etc single frequency machine is known for its ability to balance well in salt sand and the Tarsacci MDT 8000, a multiple selectable table single frequency machine is specifically designed to have a salt balance adjustment separate from its ground balance adjustment.  So it can be done, with some limitations.

 

 

The Xterra Pro user guide can be downloaded here:

https://www.minelab.com/usa/metal-detectors/x-terra-pro

[Digalicious]

Thanks for all that Chase 🙂

So ya, lowering the sensitivity and raising the recovery speed seem to be two major characteristics in beach mode. As such (and with the other MF/SF detectors you mentioned), is depth loss a given with those detectors, when compared to the modern SMF detectors in salt / black sand conditions?

 

[Chase Goldman]

1 hour ago, Digalicious said:

Thanks for all that Chase 🙂

So ya, lowering the sensitivity and raising the recovery speed seem to be two major characteristics in beach mode. As such (and with the other MF/SF detectors you mentioned), is depth loss a given with those detectors, when compared to the modern SMF detectors in salt / black sand conditions?

 

The Tarsacci is a niche detector and some avid beach detectorists feel it is very close in performance to SMF detectors.  The F19 can run pretty stable on the beach with little need to reduce sensitivity extensively, but at 19 khz operating frequency it is probably not as deep as SMFs on high conductors.  But I haven't really heard if anyone who would take an F19 or equivalent over a Nox or similar SMF.  HTH.

[TedinVT]

1 hour ago, Chase Goldman said:

From the User Guide, Xterra somehow identifies "residual salt response" and assigns a "0" TID using it's "specialist salt noise rejection configuration", whatever that means.  It looks like the main difference between Beach Profile 1 (Wet and Dry Sand) and Beach Profile 2 (Underwater and Surf) is Profile 2 has a higher default recovery speed.  Black sand is more problematic without the benefit of Multi-IQ, as your only recourse after ground balancing is to reduce sensitivity.

Salt balance capability is not solely limited to simultaneous multifrequency detectors.  The Fisher F19/Technetics G2+/etc single frequency machine is known for its ability to balance well in salt sand and the Tarsacci MDT 8000, a multiple selectable table single frequency machine is specifically designed to have a salt balance adjustment separate from its ground balance adjustment.  So it can be done, with some limitations.

 

 

The Xterra Pro user guide can be downloaded here:

https://www.minelab.com/usa/metal-detectors/x-terra-pro

Good stuff! Thanks for filling in the blanks!

[Jeff McClendon]

46 minutes ago, Chase Goldman said:

The Tarsacci is a niche detector and some avid beach detectorists feel it is very close in performance to SMF detectors.  The F19 can run pretty stable on the beach with little need to reduce sensitivity extensively, but at 19 khz operating frequency it is probably not as deep as SMFs on high conductors.  But I haven't really heard if anyone who would take an F19 or equivalent over a Nox or similar SMF.  HTH.

I still own my Tek G2+. No, I would not prefer it to any of the latest SMF detectors at a saltwater beach. Same goes for the Simplex, Deus 1, ORX and any other single frequency even if it has a so called salt mode especially if there is even moderate black sand. The G2+ could handle down to 8" maximum depth at the east and west coast beaches I have used it and an F19 on and that was dry to damp sand only. Very wet sand and surf where I was using them.....forget it.

Anybody thinking the X-Terra Pro is going to rival these SMFs for depth in wet salt sand or submerged in saltwater probably needs to think again.

I am seeing people on other forums (not this one) going goo goo gah gah over the X-Terra Pro like it is an Equinox 700/900 Lite and is the deal of the century. It may look like an Equinox but without Multi IQ SMF tech, it is absolutely not an Equinox Lite. 

Instead it is basically a V-Flex selectable single frequency detector that is waterproof, lightweight, with a collapsable shaft system with good coil selection, some other good features and at a very good price. 

It is another nail in the coffin for the current Garrett AT series in my opinion for anyone that is paying attention just like the Simplex was. It also does a number on any VLF offering from FTP using frequencies at or lower than 19 kHz.

[Chase Goldman]

24 minutes ago, Jeff McClendon said:

Anybody thinking the X-Terra Pro is going to rival these SMFs for depth in wet salt sand or submerged in saltwater probably needs to think again.

I am seeing people on other forums (not this one) going goo goo gah gah over the X-Terra Pro like it is an Equinox 700/900 Lite and is the deal of the century. It may look like an Equinox but without Multi IQ SMF tech, it is absolutely not an Equinox Lite. 

Not only is it "da bomb" at salt beaches, Jeff, it easily nails sub gram gold too!  This is a game changer!