The Garrett ATX was introduced by Garrett Electronics in 2013 and is still in production. It is a pulse induction metal detector waterproof to ten feet. It is unique in that it is one of the few metal detectors retailed to the general public in a housing developed for military applications. Garrett makes a military land mine detector called the Recon Pro AML-1000. It was developed and marketed after the Garrett Infinium, the only underwater ground balancing pulse induction (GBPI) metal detector made by a major manufacturer at the time. The Recon is notable for the waterproof telescoping compact design with hidden coil cables. The new ATX is a highly refined detector combining the best of the Garrett Infinium and Garrett Recon AML-1000 into a single package. The actual housing is almost identical to that used by the AML-1000. The electronics has attributes from both detectors. It is a considerable improvement over the much older Infinium electronically and folds into a remarkably small package without disassembly.

I was one of the first individuals to obtain a Garrett ATX when they came out as I had been waiting for a new waterproof ground balancing pulse induction metal detector ever since the Infinium came out over ten years ago. I honestly was a bit surprised Garrett came out with a second generation waterproof GBPI before the competition has released any at all. Ground balancing PI detectors have the ability to work in a combination of salt water and black sand/hot rock environments in unique ways. VLF and even standard non-ground balancing PI detectors suffer under these extreme conditions. The Infinium showed me what might be possible in Hawaii but it suffered from issues common in first generation detectors. There was room for improvement, and I am hoping the ATX addresses the electromagnetic interference (EMI) and salt water instability problems that plagued the Infinium.

My first impressions were positive, with my first detailed report at Gold and Silver with the New Garrett ATX. I have a separate article on prospecting with the ATX at Gold Nugget Detecting with the Garrett ATX. The ATX is a versatile detector and will see use prospecting, relic hunting, jewelry detecting (above water and under) and even coin detecting. I have two beach detecting articles on the ATX - Beach Detecting in Hawaii With The ATX and Garrett ATX Return To Hawaii.

Garrett ATX waterproof pulse induction (PI) metal detector with 10" x 12" coil

The Garrett ATX is uniquely versatile in its physical aspects. It can be extended longer than most people need yet can collapse into a very short diver configuration due to the three piece lower rod design.

Garrett ATX collapsed for diving use

For storage or backpacking the ATX folds even shorter yet to only 20" in length due to the rotating/folding coil design. The ATX coils are rather unique in that they are integrated with the lower rod with the wires running through the rod and a rear mounted hinge on the coil. This allows the coil to fold back completely over the rod and/or detector body. The rod/coil assembly can be rotated 90 degrees for hunting walls and to enable a more compact stowed configuration.

Garrett ATX folded for storage or backpacking

All the ATX functions are accessed through a top mounted control panel with rubber topped touchpad buttons and LED indicators. A shift button allows each button to have at least two functions allowing for a full feature set in a simplified layout.

Garrett ATX Control Panel

Quick Guide to Garrett ATX controls from Owner's Guide  - Click image for larger version

The Garrett ATX comes standard with a 10" x 12" DD search coil. Optional 8" round and 15" x 20" mono coils with integrated lower rods are also available. New for 2017 are 11" x 13" enclosed coil options in both mono and DD designs.

The ATX does have a built in waterproof speaker and so does not require headphones. It does come with land headphones that use a waterproof connector, the same connector that Garrett uses on the Infinium and AT Pro/AT Gold models. The same waterproof headphones available for those models work on the ATX and are required if it is desired to put the headphones underwater. The included headphones have a waterproof cable that can be submerged but the headphones themselves must be kept dry. A short adapter dongle is also available to convert the ATX waterproof headphone connector to the standard 1/4" female receptacle so standard metal detector headphones may be used.

See the Garrett ATX Accessory Page for details on headphones, search coils, and other accessory items available for the Garrett ATX. There is information there on using Garrett Infinium coils on the ATX, and notes on how to chest mount or even backpack mount the ATX control box.

Finally, the ATX runs off eight standard AA batteries, eliminating any shipping or airline issues that can be a problem with some PI detectors. The detector comes complete with both alkaline and NiMH rechargeable batteries plus a 110V and 12V charger system. The detector runs approximately 10-12 hours on a charge when using headphones, less if running off the speaker. The best method is to use the rechargeable batteries and carry the alkaline set as backup.

Garrett ATX search coil options

I have had the Garrett ATX now since the fall of 2013 and so have had a solid year with the detector. It really does take about a year for me to settle down my thoughts about a detector. I tend to be all giddy with the new toy at first, having fun, and discovering new things. The strong points and weak points are revealed with use over time, and now I think I can offer up a fair summary of the detector.

The ATX is a bit difficult in that Garrett started with the premise of using an existing housing designed to military specifications, and then decided to put a detector in it for consumer retail sales. On one hand this is really great as we get this very unique detector design that would never have been developed just for consumer sales. On the other hand it means for some uses the ATX is just not a very good fit. For other uses it works pretty well.

It just so happens I am an avid prospector and an avid beach hunter. I do not beach hunt as much as I like but when I do it I really go after it. Because of this the ATX hits a particular sweet spot for me personally. I really do need a good pulse induction metal detector that can be submerged in saltwater. I would keep the ATX for that purpose alone. I am very happy with its performance as a beach detector especially on beaches where there is black sand mineralization or volcanic rock to deal with. The fact it also does very well as a prospecting PI is almost a bonus for me.

From a straight up prospecting perspective Garrett also scores though nobody needs a seven pound detector waterproof to 10 feet while desert prospecting. However, if all I had was a couple thousand dollars to invest in a brand new, full warranty PI for gold prospecting it would be a Garrett ATX. I believe the ATX is superior to the White's alternatives in overall performance and it is far less money than a new Minelab PI detector. I will not speak for the Australians but in the U.S. the ATX holds its own for PI performance and I feel quite comfortable using it gold prospecting. I could wish for a lighter package but the fact is it works and a person who puts in the effort should do just fine with the ATX. I know I can.

The ATX does well for relic hunting applications and I have even found I can cherry pick coins halfway well with it. I have always been partial to pulse induction detectors and Garrett has won me over with the ATX. I enjoy using the detector and I can make good finds with it, and that is all I can ask of any detector.

Some of Steve's finds with the Garrett ATX in the first year of use

In retrospect I have actually done remarkably well with the ATX since I got it, considering it is only one of several detectors I have been using and not the one with the most hours on it. I have found about 3 ounces of gold and platinum jewelry with the Garrett ATX plus about two ounces of gold nuggets with it. I have found gold nuggets in Alaska, Arizona, California, and Nevada with the ATX under sunny skies and in pouring rain. My ATX has spent a couple weeks of days underwater in rough surf and is none the worse for wear. Many thanks and a hat's off to Garrett for producing my all time favorite Garrett detector.

~ Steve Herschbach
Copyright © 2015 Herschbach Enterprises

Official Garrett ATX Page

Garrett ATX Instruction Manual

Garrett ATX Color Brochure

How To Disassemble and Clean the ATX Coil Shaft & Camlocks

Garrett ATX Accessory Page

Report on new 11" x 13" Search Coils

Forum Threads Tagged "garrett atx"

Garrett Metal Detectors Forum

Garrett ATX vs Minelab GPX 5000

*Notes on Technical Specifications - Detailed notes about the specifications listed in this chart.

The Fisher F19 was introduced in 2014 and is still in production. It was originally released in two "Limited Edition" models that feature a camouflage paint scheme, one in green and one in pink. There are no other differences between the Ltd models and the standard black and gold model finally released in late 2015 except for a slightly lower price.

The Fisher F19 is basically a Fisher Gold Bug Pro enhanced with additional features to make it more appealing as an all around detector. The F19 is mainly targeting the relic hunting market. The features revolve around enhancing the discrimination capabilities for working in sites with heavy ferrous trash. In particular, the ability to adjust the volume of the ferrous tones has been welcomed by many. A backlight has also been added for working in low light conditions.

First Texas, the company that owns Fisher, also markets this detector under the Teknetics brand as the Teknetics G2+. The main difference is the Teknetics model uses the pistol grip rod and handle from the Teknetics T2 instead of the "S" rod utilized on the F19.

Fisher F19 Black and gold variant with 6" x 10" DD coil

The extra features do not really add to the ability of the F19 to perform as a nugget detector but neither do they detract from that capability, and some people may prefer this detector to the Gold Bug Pro due to the extra versatility. In particular those wishing to have the 5" x 10" DD coil as the primary and only coil for the detector will be interested because this currently is the only model in the series that comes with this coil as standard equipment.\I am a big fan of the Gold Bug Pro but if I was to buy another one new today I would personally be looking at the F19 or G2+.

I may not have a pressing need for the extra features, but I would rather have options and not need them then find a time when I want the option and don't have it! These machines have been offered periodically at very steep discounts, and so with careful shopping you can get an F19 for not much more than a Gold Bug Pro, especially once you consider the coil options.

Fisher F19 with 11" DD Coil Option and Teknetics G2+ variant

Official Fisher F19 Page

Fisher F19 User Review Page

Fisher F19 Instruction Manual

Difference Between Gold Bug, F19, and G2+

Forum Threads Tagged "fisher f19"

First Texas (Fisher) Metal Detector Forum

*Notes on Technical Specifications - Detailed notes about the specifications listed in this chart.

The Garrett Infinium LS (Land & Sea) was introduced in 2002 and was discontinued in 2015, replaced by the Garrett ATX. I have a particular interest in the Infinium. I am a metal detecting fanatic and one thing I want to see is better technology. I believe the best way to get that is through good old competition. Although Minelab makes fantastic ground balancing pulse induction metal detectors (the SG/GP series) I was frustrated by the fact that the U.S. manufacturers were bringing nothing to the table to compete. It seemed to me they had totally ceded that portion of the market to Minelab.

I was therefore very happy when I was contacted by Garrett Electronics Engineer Brent Weaver about testing a new metal detector prototype in Alaska. The prototype was the soon to be Garrett Infinium LS. Brent wanted to know where we could go where there was really bad ground mineralization so that he could test the unit. We took the unit to the Petersville district north of Anchorage, where there is both highly mineralized bedrock and some very nasty graphitic slate hot rocks. The Infinium handled both with ease.

I was impressed and was an early adopter of the unit. It unfortunately was over-hyped prior to release and faced some backlash from those expecting a "Minelab killer". Eventually the hubbub subsided and the Infinium has now found a niche as a very versatile ground balancing pulse induction detector with good performance at a very reasonable price. What makes the machine remarkable is that it is waterproof to 200 feet if you get the optional submersible headphones. Rare also in underwater units is that the Infinium has interchangeable search coils by way of a watertight connector. Most underwater units are hardwired with a single coil, limiting their versatility. Obviously the Infinium can be employed in environments far more adverse than most nugget detectors.

Garrett Infinium LS waterproof pulse induction metal detector

I had a lot of success using the Garrett Infinium gold nugget and jewelry detecting and have several stories about the unit at Steve's Mining Journal. See Garrett Infinium in Hawaii,  Garrett Infinium at Moore Creek, and Coin Detecting with the Garrett Infinium. I also published a lot of tips on operating the unit that are detailed below the specification chart.

The Garrett Infinium was discontinued in 2015, replaced by the newer Garrett ATX.

Garrett Infinium LS Instruction Manual

Forum Threads Tagged "garrett infinium"

Garrett Metal Detector Forum

*Notes on Technical Specifications - Detailed notes about the specifications listed in this chart.

The Garrett Infinium is a very simple detector to operate, but here are a few tips to help give you a head start. These are unofficial tips based on my own personal use of the Infinium for detecting gold nuggets, jewelry, coins, and relics.

First, here is a suggested starting procedure. Make sure the headphones are just slightly above the minimum setting. The Infinium puts out a very strong audio. Set the Discriminate control at “0”. Set the Threshold about “4”. Turn the Power on and set to the Slow ground tracking position. The machine should beep 4 times indicating fully charged batteries, three times if less charge, two times if low, once, you’d better replace right now. A continuous tone indicates the batteries are below operating condition. No sound? Check your stereo/mono switch and volume controls on your headphones. Wave the coil over a target and adjust the headphones for a comfortable sound on the loudest targets. Then tweak the threshold for a barely discernable tone.

Pulse Induction (PI) detectors have extremely sensitive receiver circuits. This means that they are much more prone to picking up outside electrical interference than standard metal detectors. This interference can be from power lines, substations, radio transmitter, lightning, and other metal detectors, to name a few. In populated areas some kind of faint sounds and intermittent signals are inevitable. Some areas can be virtually unsearchable due to interference.

Garrett Infinium Controls

There are several solutions to the problem. First and most important is the Frequency Adjust control. Rotate the Threshold control as far to the right as it will go. Then turn the Discriminate control to far left. Now listen to the detector. The Discriminate control is now actually a Frequency Adjust control. It has 32 separate positions. Unfortunately, the 32 positions are not marked! So turn the knob a tiny amount to the right and wait a couple seconds. The machine interference may be reduced, may increase, or may stay the same. Then advance again a tiny amount, and listen a couple seconds. The idea is to slowly advance through the different settings looking for the quietest.

Once you find the quietest setting, turn the Threshold control back to about “4”. This will lock in the Frequency setting, and it will remain set until you adjust it to something else. Be sure and rotate the Discrimination control back to “0” and you are set to detect.

One thing that helps a lot is to keep the coil flat on the ground. In town the coil is like an antenna, and lifting it at an angle off the ground can massively increase the interference. So making the above adjustment with the coil flat on the ground will usually be the way to go.

In populated areas, you will still be likely to receive faint noises and spurious false signals. Like most false signals, the key is repeatability. Real signals repeat over a certain spot, false signals come out of nowhere and then are gone. I tend to run my VLF detectors on the ragged edge of performance, with the gain set high. In doing so I get lots of false blips and tiny signals. So I've long since learned to ignore this kind of noise. But for beginners it can be difficult to deal with. Remember - repeatable signals are the real ones.

DD coils are less prone to interference than mono coils, and smaller coils are less prone than larger coils. So a change of coils may help. Finally, as most of these false signals are fainter than most genuine targets, reducing the threshold slightly lower than normal can eliminate most of them while still getting all but the faintest real signals.

I have been able to operate in town near power lines with quite a bit of background noise. I set my headphones very quiet and listen more to the tone of the signals than the volume. Genuine signals simply sound different than the noise produced by the electrical interference. But if the noise gets bad enough, it can be a real obstacle to pleasant detecting and some areas will simply be off-limits to the Infinium. But please do not take this explanation to mean this is a major issue. It is something all PI detectors face to varying degrees in areas where there are many electrical sources. In unpopulated areas the Infinium is very quiet with a very smooth threshold, except rare blips that may come from distant lightning.

As far as the Power/Tracking settings go, I’ve been able to discern little difference between the settings. I generally just set my Infinium on “Slow” and forget about it. In theory, you may be able to hit slightly smaller or deeper targets by switching to “Fixed” after the machine tracks into the ground for a couple minutes, but I have noted no real improvement myself. The “Fast” setting is supposed to help with the worst ground conditions, but again, I have not seen a situation where I felt it made a difference. So “Slow” it is for me.

All found by Steve with Garrett Infinium except small gold ring on pinky finger

My view of the Discriminate control does not agree at all with what it is billed as. I’ve played with it a lot, and as far as I am concerned it acts just like a sensitivity or gain control. At “0” you have max sensitivity to small items, and max depth. As you advance the control, you lose overall sensitivity. Low conductive targets are affected the most. So the "Reverse Discrimination" theory is that if you advance the control all the way and still get a signal, it is junk. If it disappears, you are supposed to dig it.

Well, it does not work that I can see. All that happens in reality is the weakest signals are eliminated and strong signals remain. Big junk at the edge of detection depth has a weak signal, and so this “Reverse Discrimination” method calls it good since the Discrimination control causes it to disappear. Conversely, a 2 ounce gold nugget an inch down responds no matter what. So it should not be dug?

Nope, forget all that. The discrimination control can be thought of as a sensitivity control, just like that on a VLF detector. Reducing the sensitivity by advancing the control above “0” can reduce ground noise, particularly in salt water environments. If you are getting lots of ground signals or hot rocks that will not track out, try advancing the Discriminate control to eliminate them. If you are having a problem with tiny trash items, advancing the Discriminate control can eliminate some of them. But the more you advance the control, the less overall depth you will get on most targets. But just like lowering sensitivity or gain on a VLF detector can result in smoother operation and actually better performance, so advancing the Discriminate control on the Infinium to reduce unwanted signals can result in better overall performance.

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Finally, the best is last. The dual tone discrimination on the Infinium really does work, and work well. The catch is it might not work like you think it should!

A hi-lo tone means aluminum, gold, nickels, zinc pennies, and various wire-like items. Like small, thin nails, bobby pins, and actual wire. Some thin, flat, flaky rusted steel reads hi-lo. If nugget detecting or beach detecting, hi-lo tones are the ones to go after to get the gold nuggets and gold jewelry.

Silver, copper, and clad coins read lo-hi. As does larger steel junk or relics. Want old silver deeper than any VLF detector will detect? Dig lo-hi tones. You will come up with larger, heavily rusted items of all sorts but you will be amazed by the depth you pull up coins with an Infinium. The worse the ground mineralization, the more advantage the Infinium will have over VLF detectors. Try digging lo-hi tones only, and you will find deep coins others are missing. See Coin Detecting with the Garrett Infinium for details.

You can use the discriminate control in conjunction with the dual tones to get a bit more information about the target. I have found in actual practice, however, that I rely strictly on the tones for making my digging decisions. Gold - always dig hi-lo tones. Silver coins - always dig lo-hi tones.

In very trashy locations it pays again to keep headphone volume low so as not to be overwhelmed by the signals. I have a favorite freshwater beach I hunt. It is hunted to death, and VLF detectors can barely find any targets. My Infinium made the beach seem like it had never been detected. There are signals everywhere. Sure, I’m digging iron junk, and lots of aluminum. But I’m pulling up old coins passed over by thousands of detectors. The biggest catch is you need a location where digging large deep holes is ok… and backfill them! A good pinpointer like the DetectorPro Uniprobe is a major help also.

You will also find that on shallow or very large targets the audio will "stick" or drag on for a longer than normal time. In other words, a deep coin will give a nice little tone similar to what a VLF might. But the same coin an inch below the surface will exhibit this "dragging tone" effect. Bury a quarter at 8" and one at 1" and note the difference. This effect can be used to determine the size and depth of targets. Be careful in trashy areas, as closely spaced targets can be "masked" by the effect. A dragging tone from a shallow junk item can cause an adjacent deep good item to be missed. Moving very slow in trashy sites helps considerably.

Gold nuggets found at Ganes Creek, Alaska by Steve with Garrett Infinium

Nugget detecting with the Infinium is pretty much a no-brainer. Most mining areas will have no interference issues, except perhaps other detectors. I prefer to hip mount the Infinium for long hours of detecting. I keep it on the rear of my hip so that I do not stress the coil wire when bending over. Make sure and get a coil cover for nugget detecting as rocks and gravel are rough on coils. The stock 14" x 10" DD coil is probably best for most nugget detecting applications, but it is nose-heavy when the control box is hip mounted. If ground conditions allow the 14"x10" mono is lighter and will get slightly better depth in mild ground. I like the 10" x 5" DD for hip mounting applications, as the wand/coil combo is very light and works well is steep terrain or thick brush. If you do get into heavy iron junk, oversize iron reads lo-hi, while nearly all gold nuggets read hi-lo. But when possible dig it all!

Tidbits... The 14" x 10" mono coil is much easier to pinpoint with than the DD version and gets a bit more depth dead center. But it is nosier in areas with electrical interference and if used nugget detecting will hit hot rocks more than the DD coil. Still, it is my favorite coil. The 8" round mono coil is very popular with lots of people. Mono coils are more sensitive around the edges than in the center, so tiny surface targets will signal at each edge, giving a double blip. It also makes pinpointing these tiny items hard - try dragging one edge along the ground. The little 7" x 3" DD is the most sensitive to small items and is fantastic for working trashy sites, but like most small coils does not cover ground well and gives up overall depth. I prefer it for wading at I can pinpoint and scoop so well with it, and it is great for nugget detecting deep nooks and crannies. To pinpoint excavated items in a pile of dirt with the elliptical coils, try dragging the coil pointed end down in the dirt. The target will signal directly off the nose of the coil. For those so inclined, I cut my Garrett headphones off a few inches above the waterproof connector. I wired a 1/4" female receptacle onto the end creating a "dongle" into which I can plug any headphones. You can put a 1/4" male jack onto the Garrett phones so as not to waste them. One thing to look out for are large elongated steel items. Like a steel strap a foot long or a long spike. These can signal well off one end or the other. Again, a powerful pinpointer can help with un-centered targets.

I hope these notes help. The main thing to remember is that this is a radically different detector than any VLF machine. In some ways it is like the early, cruder VLF detectors. Weird operating methods, poor discrimination… but genuine raw power is the reward. Be patient and dig it all for awhile, and I promise you will make finds with the Infinium that would not be possible with a VLF detector. Parting word - keep the coil low, and swing it slow! PI detectors do not like air space between the coil and ground, and are slower to respond than VLF detectors.

~ Steve Herschbach
Copyright © 2004 Herschbach Enterprises

The Makro Racer metal detector was introduced in 2015 and discontinued in 2017, replaced by the Makro Racer 2. The Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $499 for the Racer was very aggressive for a detector that offers both manual ground balance and automatic ground tracking. The ergonomic three pound package drew attention, as did the Racer's ability to pull non-ferrous targets out of heavy trash.

The Makro Racer came standard with an 11" x 7" DD coil and had optional 5.5" x 4.7", 10" x 5.5", and 15.5" x 13.25" DD coils available. The Makro Racer models do not share coils with the Nokta FORS models. For those that are not aware of it, Makro and Nokta are under the same ownership and so there is considerable technology sharing between the two brands. The Makro Racer is a 14 kHz single frequency detector while the FORS models are 15 kHz and even though that is close, I have tested the coils and they are model specific.

The Makro Racer shares an almost identical feature set with the Nokta FORS CoRe metal detector and the Racer is basically a FORS CoRe in a lighter weight package and a forward facing display.

The Makro Racer includes innovative features like a handle incorporated vibration mode for use in very noisy areas. This feature can even be used to allow a deaf person to metal detect more efficiently and safely without having to constantly stare at the meter. There is a small LED flashlight built into the pod that illuminates the coil area in low light conditions.

Makro Racer metal detector

The Makro Racer has a full set of accessory items available, including optional environmental cover set, a Bluetooth module and headphones, and coils including the new 10" x 5.5" DD coil. This coil will be the stock coil on the Gold Racer model. The Makro Racer comes with an 11" x 7" DD coil but a popular option will be the 10" x 5.5" DD coil. This is a superior coil for nugget detecting due to the narrower profile and solid design, which prevents it from snagging on brush or sharp edged rocks. Other coil options include the 5.2" x 4.7" DD coil and 15.5" x 13.25" coil. The small coil is great for hunting in really trashy locations and for finding the smallest targets. The large coil is mainly for covering more ground quickly but also adds extra depth on large items.

The Racer is a very high gain detector susceptible to overload signals. From Makro: "The electronic gain of the RACER consists of 3 levels to eliminate the internal electromagnetic noise and to adjust the saturation level. The electronic gain change points correspond to levels 39 and 69 on the Gain setting. In case of saturation (overload), you may raise your search coil a bit or adjust the Gain to the lower electronic gain level. For example, in the All Metal and Two Tone modes, if the Gain is set to 70 or above and if saturation occurs, adjusting the Gain to 69 or 39 will minimize or eliminate the saturation. Similarly, if you experience saturation in the Three Tone mode, adjusting the Gain to 39 will be sufficient. Reducing the gain will not cause a dramatic decrease in depth."

The target id chart below is based on statements by company representatives that the Racer is very similar to the Nokta FORS CoRe in capability combined with the target id reference label published in early photos. You can see below that the target id values on the reference label and those published in the FORS CoRe owners manual match almost perfectly.

Makro Racer Target ID Chart

Makro is fast gaining attention as a company that listens to its customers. The new Makro Racer models are offering performance on par with detectors selling for quite a bit more money. They are simpler detectors focused on the task at hand - making good finds.

I had the experience of reading other reviews of the Makro Racer on the internet before using one myself. It highlighted for me that how I look at detectors and how they work for me is often remarkably different than what others experience. Depth tests in particular from back east have nearly no connection to what is see in the soil I hunt in. And air tests as usual show one thing and the ground another.

I have to preface this by noting that when I did this review in 2015 I was really waiting for the Makro Gold Racer. The Gold Racer has since been released but some of the commentary here is from before it came out.

The Racer offers the physical aspects I am looking for but the Gold Racer is tweaked specifically for gold, and gold is my thing! Some of what follows is just speculation on my part based on both models being Racer models and so therefore likely to share the same basic physical design. Whether the color will be the same, what the frequency will be, and even if they can share coils I do not know at this time. Still, here is a picture of what the Gold Racer will probably look like, except possibly the color.

Makro Racer with Optional 5.5" x 10" DD Coil

The bottom line I am pleased with the Makro Racer. I think people are just getting a little crazy with all the expectations it is supposed to replace detectors costing up to twice as much. This is a feature packed 14 kHz single frequency metal detector for $649 (later reduced to $499), nothing more and nothing less. It offers good performance for that price range and a feature set unmatched at that price. What I am looking at is a detector hot on gold with ground grab, manual ground balance, automatic ground tracking, good coil selection, at 3 lbs for $649.

Unfortunately the machine caught me at a bad time between two business trips and so I have only been able to give it a spin hunting a sandy tot lot and some general park detecting, both in highly mineralized ground. The ground runs 7/8 on the cool Makro pie chart which would be 5 bars on the Fisher F75. I rigged the Racer up with the optional 5.5" x 10" DD coil just to get a total unit weight with batteries as seen in the picture above. Three pounds, 1.5 ounces. Very nice! The coil is not an epoxy filled coil making for a much better weight and balance than for instance the Fisher Gold Bug Pro with similar size coil. The Fisher coil is epoxy filled and weighs in at 1 lb 2.6 oz whereas the Makro coil weighs 12.8 ounces. That is a fairly significant weight difference out there on the end of the rod.

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Still, I really like the little 4.2" x 5.5" DD coil and with that coil the Racer only weighs 2 lbs 15.7 ounces. The rod assembly is very tight and stout feeling. The hand grip, despite what others reported, works just fine for me. The angle changes if held high to give my thumb instant access to the four way control buttons. I am happy with the grip showing how it is very much a personal preference area. The Racer suits me because I have always imagined this as the "small coil" detector and the sister company Nokta FORS Gold as the "big coil" detector due to weight and balance design differences.

I found the depth and sensitivity of the 14 kHz Racer to be nearly identical to the 15 kHz FORS Gold, which is exactly what I was hoping for. I am talking about real world in highly mineralized ground. The perceived difference between the DI2 and DI3 modes all but disappears in bad ground.

Makro Racer with Optional Bluetooth Module Installed and Wireless Headphones

I ran the wireless Bluetooth headphones and any lag or delay there is so minimal as to be almost unnoticeable to me. I certainly had no problem with it at all and quickly liked the wireless headphones from an operational standpoint. My only issue there is the audio quality compared to my Sun Ray Pro Golds is lacking. The Phillips phones have a muffled sound, the Sun Ray a much sharper, brighter tone. Not surprising given the relative price difference. Since we are talking Bluetooth I would like to haul the Racer to an audio store and try different headphones to find something of higher audio quality and with individual volume controls. I am a bit deaf in my right ear, another reason I like my Sun Rays with their dual volume controls. Bottom line is I found the lag issue to not be an issue for me personally but the audio quality is not what I am looking for in a headphone.

The Makro Racer is a very high gain detector, with important jumps in the gain occurring at two different locations on the sensitivity control. This note from Makro:

"The electronic gain of the RACER consists of 3 levels to eliminate the internal electromagnetic noise and to adjust the saturation level. The electronic gain change points correspond to levels 39 and 69 on the Gain setting. In case of saturation (overload), you may raise your search coil a bit or adjust the Gain to the lower electronic gain level. For example, in the All Metal and Two Tone modes, if the Gain is set to 70 or above and if saturation occurs, adjusting the Gain to 69 or 39 will minimize or eliminate the saturation. Similarly, if you experience saturation in the Three Tone mode, adjusting the Gain to 39 will be sufficient. Reducing the gain will not cause a dramatic decrease in depth."

Makro Racer with 4.5" x 5" coil and wireless headphones

Close up of Makro racer optional 5.5" x 10" DD coil

Close up of Makro Racer LCD display and controls

Close up of Makro Racer under arm battery compartment with protective cover, power/volume knob

My favorite feature? Quick mode switching. I was able to set up separate sensitivity levels for all metal, DI2, and DI3 modes and hunt with any one and switch rapidly between modes with the touch of a button. I only played with this a bit but immediately liked it. I found switching to all metal made for a better pinpoint mode than the pinpoint mode. Or I could hunt in all metal, then switch to two-tone ferrous mode to check the target. Switching between DI2 and DI3 is instant and effortless.

I like the big display, easy menu setup - bottom line I just like the detector. Just a great little machine, well thought out and with good performance at a good price. It fits me and my hunting style but again, it really is just a preview and a stepping stone to the Gold Racer. Chances are the Racer will be the model for those seeking slightly more versatility by way of the saltwater beach mode. The Gold Racer is likely to be too hot to play well with wet salt sand but that remains to be seen. So far so good though, I'm happy with where we are heading.

~ Steve Herschbach
Copyright © 2015 Herschbach Enterprises

June 2018 Note: The Makro Racer is now a part of history, but may still be found for sale used. Note that early models had a lot of issues with both coil ears and coil bolts breaking easily. The coils have been beefed up a lot since, but do look out for this if considering a used detector. Makro was great about taking care of that stuff under warranty, but these units are now out of warranty and you may have to take care of any such issues encountered with a used model on your own.

Makro Racer Instruction Manual

Makro Racer Product Brochure

Forum Threads Tagged "makro racer"

Makro Metal Detector Forum

*Notes on Technical Specifications - Detailed notes about the specifications listed in this chart.

The Nokta FORS Gold was introduced in 2014 and discontinued in 2016, replaced by the Nokta FORS Gold+. Nokta Detectors is a new name to most people in the United States. Nokta Engineering is a company based in Istanbul, Turkey since 2001. I had an opportunity to acquire a FORS Gold and discovered it was a well built detector offering a lot of features and performance for the price. In the process I discovered the most spectacular gold/quartz specimen I have ever found!

The Nokta FORS Gold key features:

1. The FORS Gold runs in pure all metal mode while displaying target id number in the handle mounted LCD window. This allows for best performance with an eye towards dig it all detecting, yet allows obvious junks targets to be verified and ignored if desired. The key is no mode switching is needed, and time waster and ultimately something that wears out controls.

2. You have all ground balancing options possible. There is the easy push button and bob, or "grab" type ground balancing. There is pure manual adjust up and down ground balancing. And there is full automatic ground tracking.

3. There is an efficient dual tone based discrimination mode, called Boost Mode (DI2 on the CoRe model), that can be used to easily sort out ferrous trash and most hot rocks by either tones or outright discrimination of these undesired targets. Yet detection of gold nuggets is only minimally affected.

4. There is a three tone mode aimed more at coin detecting that makes the FORS Gold suitable for almost all detecting tasks, whether coin, relic, or jewelry detecting. The only area to expect only moderate performance would be on saltwater beaches, where all single frequency detectors suffer. The FORS CoRe has an additional mode to help it deal with conductive salt water conditions that the FORS Gold lacks.

Nokta FORS Gold prospecting metal detector

Here are some details on the three modes offered on the FORS Gold. There is a true threshold based all metal mode that has no discrimination control. There is no variable discrimination in this mode but the on screen target id does kick in for targets in discrimination range. Because all metal reaches deeper than discrimination modes the deeper targets will give an audio signal but no on screen target id number. This is how you locate deep targets beyond what a discrimination mode can detect.

Then you have preset tone modes, either two tones or three tones. In two tone mode it is low tone ferrous and medium tone non-ferrous. Three tone mode adds a high tone for targets zinc penny and higher. These discrimination modes are "silent search" with no threshold sound.

In both the disc modes you have a variable control called ID Mask. It is just like the control on a single knob disc machine, up and down with anything below the setting rejected. This is on top of and in addition to the tones. However, ID Mask is not like on most detectors where it starts at iron and goes up from there. The control starts all the way down in the ground range and goes up from there. This is important because many detectors cannot be set for a true "zero disc" mode but always have a little iron discrimination built in even at minimal settings. The FORS are like other Euro machines that let you fine tune the ferrous responses for extracting targets out of thick ferrous trash. This combined with the small coil makes it deadly in ferrous trash.

ALL modes always have an active on screen visual target id number:

Nokta FORS target id number chart

If you want you can run ID Mask very high to eliminate foil or aluminum or whatever on the high end, but like other machines you will lose nickels if you go too high. There is no notch function. The best way to proceed there is use three tone mode. Run ID Mask up to just below nickel range. Now you get no signal on targets that fall below nickel, nickel to just below zinc penny medium tone, and zinc penny on up high tone.

My FORS reads 56 on a nickel. If I turn the ID Mask up to 56 it still accepts the nickel. If I turn it to 57 nickel breaks up badly. At 58 nickel is gone.

There is no threshold in the disc modes so no threshold nulling. The rejected targets are simply gone, and nothing pops up on screen for a target id. So on screen target id is not 100% independent of settings.

If I turn the ID Mask up to 99 nothing goes beep so the control operates over the entire discrimination range unlike many detectors that do not allow the control to run into the coin range. The ID Mask control has exceptional range all the way from ground on one end up to silver coins and above on the other end.

I like the out-of-box thinking Nokta is displaying in the design of their detectors. The FORS Gold has a small LED flashlight built into the handle to illuminate the work area in low light conditions or to just use as a flashlight when you get back to your vehicle in the dark. And in a nugget detecting first, there is an adjustable vibration mode built into the handle that operates in conjunction with or independently of the audio. This feature alone can be a real benefit to people with hearing loss and in theory will allow somebody who is totally deaf to go metal detecting effectively! Now that is some real cool out of box thinking and the reason we need more companies like Nokta in the business. Even people with good hearing can benefit as most of us have run into high wind or other situations where hearing the detector is difficult at best. Anyone who has ever used the new pinpointers already knows how this works.

Spectacular 1.83 ounce gold specimen found by Steve with Nokta FORS Gold

I used the FORS Gold and did a very in-depth review on the forum. Rather than duplicate it here see Detailed Review of Nokta FORS Gold Metal Detector. Also my story Nokta FORS Gold Scores Spectacular Gold Specimen!

I found the Nokta FORS Gold to be very easy to operate on one hand, yet it has features to please a demanding detectorist like myself. The FORS Gold is an extremely capable prospecting VLF detector with excellent ground handling capability. I was able to become proficient with it in very short order and recover several very nice gold nuggets with it. Nokta is a name to pay attention to in the future as I believe this company is going places.

The Nokta FORS CoRe and the Nokta FORS Gold are the almost the same detector with the FORS CoRe offering a salt water beach mode for the same price and for that reason I think most people would be better served by purchasing a FORS CoRe. The FORS Gold instead has an alternate mono tone DI2 offering that the FORS CoRe lacks but overall I think the Salt mode on the CoRe may be more useful even for prospectors who may encounter salt or alkali conditions. Other than that everything on this page would apply just as much to both models. For those interested in using these detectors hunting around old cabins and campsites here is a Review of the FORS CoRe by Keith Southern.

Again, the Nokta FORS Gold has been discontinued and replaced by the Nokta FORS Gold+. However, the machines are nearly identical so almost everything here still applies. The main changes were a boost in the frequency from 15 khz to 19 kHz and the FORS Gold+ comes with the elliptical 5.5" x 10" coil instead of the 7" x 11" coil.

~ Steve Herschbach
Copyright © 2015 Herschbach Enterprises

Nokta FORS Gold Color Brochure

Nokta FORS Gold Instruction Manual

Difference Between Nokta FORS Gold And FORS Core

Nokta FORS CoRe Instruction Manual

Forum Threads Tagged "nokta fors"

Nokta Metal Detector Forum

*Notes on Technical Specifications - Detailed notes about the specifications listed in this chart.

The White's Electronics MX Sport was introduced in 2016 and is still in production. It features a new housing design waterproof to ten feet. Many people assume the MX Sport is a White's MXT stuffed in a smaller box, but the reality is the MX Sport is based on the MX5 electronics. The MX5 circuit is inspired by the MXT but is new and so an experienced operator can tell the machines are different at the core. Not better or worse - just different.

The MX Sport also has its own offshoot design, the White's MX7, which is the MX Sport circuit in a dry land design. See White's MX7 and MX Sport Compared for details.

The MX Sport comes with the 10" round DD coil and has a couple coil options taken directly from the MXT lineup. These are the 950 9.5" round concentric, 6" round concentric, and 10" x 5.5" DD elliptical. There is also a new 7" round DD coil made by Detech. Although these coils are similar to the coils used on the MXT they have the special waterproof connector needed for use on the MX Sport and are tuned differently. White's official position is that coils are not directly interchangeable between the MX Sport and MXT series.

The MX Sport has a great set of target id tone discrimination options. There are single (mono) tone, 2 tone, 4 tone, 8 tone, and 20 tone options. The tone ranges and the tones themselves are preset, but each tone has its own volume setting - a very rare feature. On most detectors notching out or rejecting a certain target segment causes items that fall in that segment to make no sound at all. With the MX Sport, you can set the Rejection Volume to a percentage, for instance 20% or 50%, and instead of being completely eliminated those items would be heard at 20% volume or 50% volume levels respectively.

White's MX Sport metal detector waterproof to ten feet

The MX Sport is waterproof to ten feet. However, it is a very high gain single frequency metal detector. This means that although the MX Sport can be used in saltwater, the sensitivity will have to be reduced to eliminate false signals from the saltwater of wet salt sand. This is not a problem; it is common to all single frequency detectors. Freshwater however is invisible to a detector and so the MX Sport can be operated in freshwater lakes and streams in a similar fashion to using it on dry land. This is a good time to mention that in 2017 White's added underwater headphones to the MX Sport standard package. This is an item that would cost over $80 if purchased separately, and do note that many competitor machine do not include this needed option in their waterproof detectors.

The MX Sport does have a Prospecting Mode, but in a field already crammed with lower price mid frequency prospecting machines I have my doubts. White's themselves is not marketing the MX Sport as a prospecting detector. I therefore expect the MX Sport to have minimal if any impact on the prospecting market. The main market as pursued by White's is coins, relics, jewelry, and beach detecting. However, I personally have no doubt that I could go out and do just fine using the MX Sport for gold nugget detecting.

Sept 2017 Note - The MX Sport had new machine issues with both the firmware and the hardware. These appear to have been solved now. However, potential buyers of used MX Sport detectors, especially those made in 2016, would be wise to be fully informed of these issues prior to any purchase of a used unit. See this forum thread for details. Rest assured that if you somehow end up with one of these detectors either new or used, that White's will take care of you. Contact them if you have questions.

Official White's MX Sport Page

White's MX Sport Instruction Manual

Forum Threads Tagged "whites mx sport"

White's Metal Detector Forum

*Notes on Technical Specifications - Detailed notes about the specifications listed in this chart.

The XP metal detector company has announced a new model for late 2018 called the XP ORX. This new model appears to be a refined version of the XP manufactured Depar DPR 600. The DPR 600 was made to take advantage of the African gold rush by offering a model designed primarily as a gold prospecting detector with other uses taking a back seat. I personally think the Depar DPR 600 was used as a proving ground for the new high frequency (HF) coils while also offering an opportunity to fine tune the Gold Field program. My expectation all along is that XP would eventually release a similar model for sale outside of Africa. It looks like after almost two years that new refined version of the DPR 600 is available for purchase as the XP ORX.

This introduction is so new that information at this time is limited - everything here is subject to change as new details emerge. For now what we know for sure is that the XP Orx will be available in two configurations. The versions are basically the same, with a wired headphone version for 700 Euro, and a wireless headphone version for 800 Euro. U.S. pricing is unknown at this time but $799 and $899 is probably in the ballpark. You can choose either the 9" round HF coil or 5" x 9.5" elliptical HF coil. There is no exact word on availability yet, but presumably we will be seeing this model available for purchase in early 2019.

XP ORX gold prospecting metal detector

It is possible hints about the new XP Orx can be gleaned by reading the DPR 600 User Manual. One main difference is in the User Modes. The DPR 600 and XP Orx both have four preset programs plus two user custom program slots for saved programs. The programs on the DPR 600 are designated as 1. General 2. Large Gold 3. Fine Gold 4. Iron Discriminate. The XP Orx is designed for a bit wider appeal, and so it looks like the General and Iron Disc modes have been recast as coin hunting modes. The modes on the XP Orx are 1. Gold 2. Fine Gold 3. Coin Fast 4. Coin Deep

ORX Key features:

• HF coil technology (21 Frequencies ranging from 13 to 81kHz).
• Extreme sensitivity to small targets with high frequency 50kHz and 81 kHz.
• 4 factory programs: Gold Prospecting (x2) – Coins and Relic (x2), + 2 user.
• Trusted XP fast wireless technology: Coil – Remote – Headphones – MI-6.
• The all new “WS Audio®” compact wireless headphone receiver.
• Re designed ultra-light Telescopic “S” stem.
• The lightest machine on the market at only 770grs (remote hip mounted).
• Easy to operate with a user-friendly interface.
• Wireless connectivity to the MI-6 pinpointer + advanced remote settings.
• Lithium batteries, giving up to around 20 hours of detecting.
• Easy to charge with any certified USB charger or via computer (XP USB charger optional only)
• Available with a choice of HF coils – 22cm (9") Round or 24/13cm (9.5"x5") Elliptical.
• Compatible with the X35 coil range (22, 28, 34/28cm).
• Software Update (remote control via USB cable).
• Go terrain mobile app compatible (coming 2019).
• 5-year warranty – Made in France.
• Affordable price – Suggested maximum retail price: 699€ including taxes – 799€ including taxes with wireless headphone (WSA).

Note that the upper armrest area of the rod has been redesigned and is different than the existing Deus rod assembly.

XP ORX Controls & Settings

ORX settings:

• 99 levels of sensitivity
• 21 frequencies (13 kHz to 81 kHz).
• 99 levels of discrimination + 5 levels of IAR Discrimination in Gold programs.
• 20 levels of Threshold.
• 4 levels of Reactivity.
• Iron Tone with Pitch audio (ON/OFF)
• Ground balance: manual adjustment from 60 to 90 or automatic (fast grab).
• Salt mode ground rejection: 00-25
• 4 factory + 2 user programs.
• Target ID/ Iron probability.
• Pinpoint function with target zoom.
• Go-Terrain compatible (smartphone app coming soon).

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XP ORX MI-6 Compatibility

Advanced remote settings when the ORX is paired with the MI-6 pinpointer:

• 50 levels of sensitivity
• Audio tone from 120 Hz to 1582 Hz
• 2 audio modes: PITCH or PULSE
• 3 factory + 1 user program
• Recover a lost MI-6 (even when switched off)
• Target zoom screen
• Battery life indicator

I don't think there is much mystery here except for how many people will opt for this new model versus the new X35 coil based Deus models. In my opinion by extending the top end frequency of the new X35 coils to 28 khz has inadvertently removed some of the demand for this higher frequency version. Small gold sensitivity gains over 30 khz are quite minimal and with the extra features the Deus offers many people may continue to prefer it as their detecting solution. A lot may boil down to the price difference between a 9" round X35 Deus package and the 9" round HF Orx package.

No matter what I am very confident this new high frequency XP model will do very well for gold prospecting. I do not expect performance to be any different than that I observed while testing the XP Deus with elliptical HF coil on small gold.

XP Orx Data & Reviews

XP Orx Owner's Manual

Forum Threads Tagged "xp orx"

XP Metal Detector Forum

*Notes on Technical Specifications - Detailed notes about the specifications listed in this chart.

The Minelab GPZ 7000 was introduced in 2015 and is still in production. “This revolutionary new ZVT technology far surpasses GPX detectors for detecting deep large nuggets AND finding gold at any depth. The GPZ 7000 will open up the  gold fields again.” -Bruce Candy, GPZ Inventor

"I have been using the Minelab GPZ 7000 for some time, first as a tester prototype versions, and now as an owner of one of the first production line models. I did not find the GPZ 7000 to be a detector that immediately wowed me. Instead, it is a detector that reveals itself with use. However, I did finally have my Eureka Moment with the GPZ 7000 and after that there was no turning back. I sold my Minelab GPX 5000 and the large collection of accessory coils and other options I had accumulated for it. I am fully convinced that using the GPZ 7000 in the future gives me a better chance of finding gold, especially certain types of gold previously undetectable by other detectors." - Steve Herschbach

The GPZ 7000 housing is obviously based on that used on the earlier Minelab CTX 3030 model. The battery is slightly larger and has twice the capacity of the battery on the CTX 3030. The batteries are compatible with each other (you can use the smaller CTX battery on the GPZ 7000) and use the same charger system.

The Minelab GPZ features a simple LCD menu system with GPS locating and PC mapping options. One set of screen options controls the metal detector settings, while another set controls the integrated GPS tracking and mapping system.

The GPZ 7000 is fully weatherproof and the GPZ 14 coil is fully waterproof to 1 meter. New coils, when purchased, will come with the short lower rod section attached plus an included scuff cover / skid plate. Currently the GPZ 7000 has only two coils available, the stock 14" x 13" GPZ 14 Super D coil, and the 19" x 18" GPZ 19 coil. Rumors persist of both a small coil in the works from Minelab, plus possible aftermarket coils. The coil that comes with the GPZ 7000 is remarkable however in the combination of sensitivity to small gold and depth on large gold that it covers.

Minelab GPZ 7000 gold nugget detector with Zero Voltage Technology (ZVT)

I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to field test the new Minelab GPZ 7000 detector. It allowed me time to make decisions regarding my own use of detectors earlier than most people. It also gave me a place first in line and I now have a brand new GPZ 7000 of my own.

My use of the GPZ 7000 combined with what I think I know about how it works made me decide I had to have one. I am in my detecting prime right now and plan on spending a huge amount of time swinging a detector looking for gold now and in the future. I will never use just one detector for everything but the fact is that I can only swing one detector at a time. I need to decide what detector will be my primary unit for the bulk of my detecting. What one machine will best return my investment of time and effort in possible gold finds? I have decided that machine is the Minelab GPZ 7000.

The GPZ with its 14" x 13" Super D coil provides an across the board powerful solution for getting gold both large and small on the first pass. Most ground I pass a coil over I have exactly one chance of finding a target. It has to happen on that first pass. Sure, when I am beating a patch to death I may hit the same area over and over. But most of my detecting is all about being over ground I have never been over before. I have to have confidence the machine I am using is going to give me my best shot at getting whatever is there on the first and likely last pass of the coil.

As far as I am concerned all the percentages and charts and stuff is something others can debate, though I will post some thoughts on that separately. The bottom line is I am convinced the GPZ 7000 does give me a technological edge at this time, and that by applying that edge early and as often as I can I am increasing my odds of finding gold. If I never said another word about the detector that really just sums it up.

I thought very hard about whether I should keep my GPX 5000. I decided any time spent with it would detract from the advantage I would enjoy by using the GPZ instead. It should not have been lost on people that I sold my GPX 5000 and almost every accessory I owned for it. That alone should tell you everything you need to know about what I think of the GPZ 7000.

I even sold my SDC 2300. I was tempted to keep it until a smaller coil becomes available for the GPZ. Small coils are a must for nooks and crannies and other places larger coils can't fit. Yet as I considered it all I had to question just how much use the SDC 2300 would get if I had access to a GPZ 7000, and the answer was not very much. It found a new home.

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The GPZ 7000 does not replace or take away from the SDC 2300 and GPX 5000 in the current Minelab lineup. They are both fantastic units. The GPX 5000 and its vast ecosystem of coils and other accessories remains the no-brainer best value for many people. The SDC 2300 will continue to be the hot small gold sniper it has been proven to be. A person who owns both will have much of the power of the GPZ 7000 already at their disposal.

The thing is the GPZ 7000 to the best of my determination so far seems to offer almost everything those two models offers in a single unit, and then goes farther yet. I can't swear that under every circumstance and in every scenario that the GPZ 7000 trumps the SDC 2300 or GPX 5000. Certainly in the case of the GPX 5000 all those accessory coil options do matter, especially where ground coverage is job one. The SDC does have that little coil.

All I can say is that for that proverbial one pass over any particular chunk of ground I have to pick the GPZ 7000 as my best bet for getting whatever gold is there or missing it forever. And for hitting already hunted ground it is going to find gold both those detectors will miss no matter how many times they pass over the ground. The GPZ 7000 in my opinion is the best overall single solution available. If I was told I had to sell all but one machine and could only use one detector for gold prospecting I would without hesitation choose the GPZ 7000.

In closing, I suddenly see a bright future ahead. I really had given up on there being anything significantly better than a GPX 5000. The GPZ however is not the end of the road but just the beginning. As good as it is it is not perfect and I am certain we will see further improvements as the platform is refined in the future. That first step is often the biggest and the GPZ in its way is every bit the breakthrough the SD 2000 was when it was released. Nobody can put back all the gold that has been detected in the twenty years since but the GPZ 7000 is definitely the next step in getting what is left.

My thanks to Minelab for being able to say I had a part in this, small as it has been. Thanks especially for investing the huge amount of dollars and people power it took to make this happen for us, the prospectors of the world. Were it not for Minelab electronic prospecting would not be near what it is today.

~ Steve Herschbach
Copyright © 2015 Herschbach Enterprises

Official Minelab GPZ 7000 Page

GPZ 7000 Instruction Manual

Minelab GPZ 7000 Color Brochure

Minelab GPZ 7000 Ferrite Field Guide

GPZ 7000 Software Update Page

Official GPZ 19 Accessory Coil Page

GPZ 7000 Zero Voltage Transmission (ZVT) Explained

GPZ 7000 Tips For Better Ground Balance

GPZ 7000 In Difficult Ground Conditions

Forum Threads Tagged "minelab gpz"

Minelab Metal Detectors Forum

*Notes on Technical Specifications - Detailed notes about the specifications listed in this chart.

Using the GPZ 7000 Part 1 by Nenad Lonic

Using the GPZ 7000 Part 2 by Nenad Lonic

Using the GPZ 7000 Part 3 by Nenad Lonic

The Minelab X-Terra 705 was released in 2009 and is still in production. It is a feature packed detector available for under $500 and weighing less than 3 pounds. Quite a remarkable detector for the price, the X-Terra 705 can run at any one of three separate frequencies by changing to various custom tuned "smart" coils.

Unlike some detectors that select between frequencies while using a single coil, the X-Terra 705 insures optimum performance by using coils specifically tuned for each operating frequency. The coils contain a chip that tells the detector what frequency it is designed to run at, and the detector automatically switches to match the coil. You can choose between 3 kHz, 7.5 kHz, and 18.75 kHz.

The original X-Terra 705 comes stock with the 9" round concentric coil, which is great for general purpose detecting. The X-Terra 705 Gold comes with the 10" x 5" 18.75 kHz DD coil deemed best as an all around prospecting coil.

The X-Terra 705 has a full complement of ground balancing options - a simple "Ground Grab" automatic push button option, full adjustable manual ground balance, and automatic ground tracking, making it one of the few prospecting detectors that offer all three methods. There are several tone id options to choose from, all the way from a simple mono tone to a full multi tone mode. The X-Terra 705 features full programmable notch discrimination with memory to save all your settings when turned off.

Minelab X-Terra 705 Gold multipurpose metal detector

Most importantly, the X-Terra 705 Gold has a very powerful threshold based all metal mode, one of the best available. The all metal mode "Prospect Mode" has an adjustable "iron mask" which allows shallow ferrous trash to be identified and rejected even while in the all metal Prospect Mode.

The Beach setting along with the optional alternate frequency coils makes the Minelab X-Terra 705 a worthy contender for those seeking a single powerful "do-it-all" detector in an affordable and lightweight package. At one time this was a $700 detector and it was a good value then - at $499 it is a true bargain.

Official Minelab X-Terra Gold Page

Minelab X-Terra 705 Instruction Manual

Minelab X-Terra 705 Gold Start Guide

Understanding Your X-Terra by Randy Horton

Minelab X-Terra Coil Brochure

X-Terra 70 & 705 On Gold Nuggets

Forum Threads Tagged "minelab x-terra"

Minelab Metal Detectors Forum

*Notes on Technical Specifications - Detailed notes about the specifications listed in this chart.

Here is the text from the posted screenshot:

CZX - Fisher and Teknetics

• This machine is ground breaking technology
• Turn on and go
• 2 frequency - 9:1 ratio
• No need to ground balance or adjust the detector to the environment
• It automatically senses the ground and makes changes accordingly.
• First detector birthed from this platform is a gold unit priced around $1000, but deeper than current VLF, this detector will also see through red dirt, and highly mineralized soil.
• From this platform other machines will develop. We intend to develop the CZX and MOSCA platforms to offer more machines in the $1000 to $2000 range than have ever been available.
• Target release 2016
• We have senior engineer Dave Johnson on this project

The information was leaked and so must be taken with a grain of salt but it looks genuine and matches up with statements made by various First Texas representatives online in the last couple years. Obviously the 2016 timeframe is long past. Fisher has more or less acknowledged this information as genuine but it was never intended to be leaked for obvious reason - stuff happens and delays are the norm in the metal detector industry. In fact, many planned detectors never make it to market for one reason or another.

I think the information was genuine but that unexpected delays occurred. Nobody outside First Texas really knows the full story. However, here is a quote from Carl Moreland on June 27, 2018:

"We have stuff in the works but I can't tell you to delay a purchase based on "it's in the works." The Equinox convinced a whole lotta people to sell their AT Pro, my goal is to come out with something that convinces a whole lotta people to sell their Equinox."

The latest information as of June of 2018 is that First Texas (Fisher parent company) is hard at work on new models, with the most likely new product to appear being a new beach detecting pulse induction model currently referred to as the Aqua Manta. Work also continues on new multifrequency devices, but 2019 is now looking like the earliest probable date for those machines.

A CZX type machine would be great for the Africa market by being turn on and go. The relic hunters in Virginia and elsewhere should like it. If weight and balance are right, I am going to love it as I have been pounding the table for a machine like this for years. I would like to see something with at least Minelab SD type performance in a lightweight affordable package but at $1000 it simply needs to beat the White's TDI. The biggest question I have is how small a nugget can it detect? At $1000 this machine would be the natural next step up for any prospector using a VLF who has not made the plunge into PI.

The old CZ is dual frequency running at 15 kHz and 5 kHz, a 3:1 ratio. Staying at 5 kHz for the low end a 9:1 ratio figures at 45 kHz and 5 kHz. Until recently a machine with no ground balance adjustment (automatic tracking only) would have raised eyebrows, but the Minelab SDC 2300 and Gold Monster have now paved the way in that regard. Dave Johnson always likes power combined with simplicity and good ergonomics, and that bodes well for this detector.

The "Mosca" model looks to be aiming mid-way between the Garrett AT Pro and Minelab CTX 3030 with a multi-frequency all terrain model. The AT Pro has been wildly successful and it only makes sense to emulate that success. The new Minelab Equinox notwithstanding, there is still plenty of room for innovation in this market segment.

10/1/2018 - The CZX saga finally comes to an end. This exchange took place on the forum regarding the CZX with responses by Carl Moreland (Geotech) of First Texas:

"So it was a no go, a dead end or did it lead to the discovery of something potentially greater?"

"Didn't give the results we were looking for. So dead-end, more or less."

Forum Thread About The CZX

First Texas (Fisher) Metal Detector Forum

*Notes on Technical Specifications - Detailed notes about the specifications listed in this chart.

The Teknetics T2 was introduced in 2006 and is still in production. It was the first major project released by First Texas (parent company of Teknetics) that involved famed engineer Dave Johnson after he joined the company. Dave had a hand in many top gold prospecting detectors at many companies, including the Fisher Gold Bug 2, Tesoro Lobo, and White's GMT.

The Teknetics T2 was one of the earliest metal detectors to gain a following in the Africa Gold Rush of the late 20th century. Although technically not a nugget detector per se, the Teknetics T2 has a very powerful threshold based all metal mode. This, combined with its 13 kHz operating frequency, makes it suitable for basic gold nugget detecting.

Nobody seems to know the real story but apparently a local prospector in Africa chose to use a Teknetics T2 detector to search for gold nuggets. It is conjectured that this prospector found a lot of gold, leading to others using the same detector. Word of mouth advertising as produced by actual results rules all other forms of advertising in Africa, and it was not long before the t2 developed a reputation as being the machine to have if you wanted to find gold nuggets. Huge numbers were shipped to Africa. So many, that counterfeiting soon became a problem.

The original T2 was therefore replaced by other models with extra features that also helped keep the counterfeiters off balance. The T2 is made by Teknetics, a company owned by First Texas. First Texas also owns the Fisher and Bounty Hunter brand names. A T2 offshoot called the F75 was marketed under the Fisher brand name. The T2 was designed specifically to run DD search coils so a main goal in the Fisher F75 design was to add the ability to also use concentric coils. The two detectors are very similar, with the main difference being that the T2 is geared more towards simple recovery of non-ferrous targets in the midst of ferrous trash. To this end it has an expanded ferrous target id as compared to the F75. The F75 is geared more towards U.S. coin hunters, and so features a target id range geared more to that task. The F75 also includes features like a meter backlight and the ability to save settings when powered off that the T2 lacks.

Teknetics T2 metal detector for relics, gold, and more

The T2 and F75 saw several similar model variants including a "Limited Edition" LE model with camouflage color scheme and an all black "Special Edition" SE model. These models featured extra settings and dual coil packages. There were unfortunately both hardware and software bugs that saw sub-variants produced of each model. The was another version in 2014, a "Limited Edition 2" or Ltd2 model with digital filtering designed to reduce electrical interference issues along with other extra features. The T2 has been reissued as the T2 Classic with the original green color scheme for a reduced price of only $499 in 2016. Finally, Teknetics released the T2 Ltd as a single coil package with a pinpointer in 2018 and called it the T2+.

The ergonomics of the T2 are superb. It is a perfectly balanced 3.5 lbs. People do not understand how important balance is but a balanced 3.5 lb. detector creates less arm strain than a nose heavy 2.5 lb. detector. The T2 only sips at the four AA batteries, getting a week of long days on a set of good alkalines and nearly two solid weeks of detecting in a set of premium lithium batteries.

~ Steve Herschbach
Copyright © 2016 Herschbach Enterprises

Official Teknetics T2 Page

Teknetics T2 Instruction Manual

T2 Classic Color Brochure

Forum Threads Tagged "teknetics detector"

Teknetics Metal Detector Forum

T2 Tone Break Tip

*Notes on Technical Specifications - Detailed notes about the specifications listed in this chart.

The White's GMZ was released in 2009 and discontinued in 2016. The GMZ is a simple to operate 50 kHz metal detector with exceptional sensitivity to small gold nuggets. The GMZ shares the coils used by the White's Goldmaster/GMT series of metal detectors.

The GMZ might appear to be a stripped down GMT, but it is in fact an entirely different design. Dan Geyer, a White's engineer, started the GMZ as a side project. It really is more of a simple coin detecting type circuit, but stepped up to operate at 50 kHz. Dan's goal was to make a detector as simple as possible yet while still being exceptionally sensitive to small gold. It proved to be a functional design and White's eventually decided to put it into production.

The GMZ only has three controls - two knobs and a switch. The switch flips from the normal operating mode to a "salt" mode. This tunes out alkali salt flat mineralization but does reduce sensitivity to small gold. There is an On/Off Sensitivity dual control. And finally, a single turn ground reject control.

White's GMZ 50 kHz gold prospecting metal detector

From the White's GMZ Owner's Manual:

• Set the Ground toggle switch to the Normal position.
• Turn the Ground Reject knob fully counter clockwise to the lowest setting.
• Turn the Sensitivity/ Power knob on & set it to the factory suggested preset mark.
• Sweep the search coil across the surface of the ground and listen for any sound level variations produced by changing mineralization levels from spot to spot. This will be evidenced by chatter or a sort of clicking sound.
• Now adjust the Ground Reject knob clockwise while sweeping or pumping the search coil over the ground until the chatter diminishes or goes away.

White's GMZ - two knobs and a switch!

That is basically all there is to tuning the GMZ for operation. Unique also to the GMZ for a nugget detector is the fact that it is a silent search detector. Most nugget detectors have a faint threshold sound that the operator listens to for faint variations that indicate very small or very deep nuggets. The GMZ, since it is based on a simple coin detecting circuit, lacks that threshold tone and does operate more like a coin detector - silent until it beeps on a nugget or some other item. This was deemed preferable for beginners.

The White's GMZ is a very lightweight, well balanced, and easy to operate detector. At 50 kHz it does have great sensitivity to small gold nuggets. The price when it came out was attractive at only $499.00

As mentioned before a good feature on the GMZ was the ability to use any coil that would work on the Goldmaster/GMT series of detectors.

4" x 6" Shooter DD, stock 6" x 10" DD, and 8" x 14" Sierra Gold Max DD coils. These GMT coils also work on the GMZ.

Unfortunately, at about the same time as the GMZ was released the market started seeing other detectors with far more capability for a similar price. The new digital version of the Fisher Gold Bug in particular proved to be strong competition. The Gold Bug offers a digital target id display, both all metal and discrimination modes, and the normal threshold based operation prospectors had come to expect and rely on. All in a lightweight package for the same price as the GMZ.

The GMZ just never caught on because of this. More experienced operators were generally put off by the lack of threshold tone. Beginners and pros alike missed having any sort of iron discrimination, a standard feature on all other offerings at the time. Ultimately the GMZ was a great little detector but it really was sold at too high a price when compared to other machines on the market. I think it would have done much better at $399 but that was probably too low for White's. As a result the GMZ languished and even many White's dealers never really were aware of the model. It was finally discontinued in 2016.

White's GMZ Instruction Manual

White's Metal Detector Forum

*Notes on Technical Specifications - Detailed notes about the specifications listed in this chart.

The Minelab GP 3000 detector was released in April 2003 and it was discontinued in 2005, replaced by the Minelab GP 3500. I got one the same year and that detector sure did find gold for me! See GP 3000 & MXT Get Fortymile Gold and Minelab GP 3000 at Moore Creek, Alaska plus Moore Creek Permits & Gold at Steve's Mining Journal.

The Minelab series of pulse induction (PI) metal detectors starting with the SD 2000 are widely acknowledged as being the most powerful gold nugget prospecting detectors currently available. The GP 3000 is a variant in the series. See Steve's Guide to Differences of Minelab SD, GP, & GPX for details.

The GP 3000 was an improvement on the earlier SD 2200D and GP Extreme models, both of which I also owned. Minelab set the bar rather low with the introduction of the GP 3000. All that was touted was "NEW Low-Noise circuitry, NEW battery harness, and a NEW "Smart Point" diagnostic port". OK, new harness, nice, but no big deal. A diagnostic port? Nice for the service department but does nothing for my detecting. There is so little difference between the GP Extreme and the GP 3000 that if you download the GP 3000 Instruction Manual below you will see it is just a modified GP Extreme manual. It even refers to the unit as a GP Extreme in a couple places!

One oddity about the Minelab detectors that bears mentioning is that the Minelab coils are only water resistant. They should not be submerged. There are fully waterproof aftermarket coils available along with external speakers for those who do not want to use headphones.

For me the only real improvement was in the stability of the threshold tone, presumably from the low noise circuitry. The earlier Minelabs had a distinct "warble" in the threshold tone. A smooth threshold sound is critical to allow very faint signals from very small of very deep gold nuggets to be easily discerned. The uneven threshold in the earlier models could cause faint signals to be missed. This small but very important improvement was more than enough to make me happy I had upgraded to the GP 3000. The detector paid for itself many times over.

Minelab GP 3000 pulse induction metal detector for gold prospecting

The Minelab GP 3000 was a very solid performer as was the GP 3500 that followed. These two models were the last of the analog based Minelab PI models, with the switch made to a digital control interface with the Minelab GPX 4000. The GP series however are very capable, and a used model GP 3000 or 3500 would serve a person very well. The main problem is Minelab only services detectors for up to seven years after they are discontinued, so there is a little risk buying these used. If you suffer a major failure it may be difficult or impossible to find somebody that can perform a proper repair.

Still, I would not let that dissuade me personally were I looking for one of these machines used, as long as the detector has been well kept. The main item that bear serious thought is the battery. The GP series used sealed lead acid batteries, and they have a limited lifetime. It would be best to assume any batteries for these older units are no longer going to hold much of a charge. That is fine, since you can still buy batteries for these detectors.new for $128, but do factor that into a purchase of a used detector unless you are positive the battery is fine.

The other item to be aware of on these older models is the power cable to the battery. This item flexes a lot and is a common failure item. Always have a spare, and if a used detector only has one, I highly recommend buying another one new for backup.

Official Minelab GP 3000 Page

Minelab GP 3000 Instruction Manual

Forum Threads Tagged "minelab gp"

Minelab Metal Detector Forum

*Notes on Technical Specifications - Detailed notes about the specifications listed in this chart.

Minelab GP 3000 Front Control Panel (from owner's manual)

The Garrett AT Gold was released in 2011 and is still in production. It is a variation of the excellent Garrett AT Pro metal detector, but modified slightly to make it a better detector for prospecting. Garrett really raised the bar in the detecting world with the AT models. These detectors are waterproof to ten feet yet give up none of the features one would normally expect in an above water detector. They even have an external speaker for use above water which can be submerged without harm. Best of all you pay no penalty in either weight or price. The Garrett AT models provide exceptional value in metal detecting.

The AT Pro is a 15 kHz detector that features full notch discrimination. The lower frequency means that it can be used in salt water. It also allows for custom discrimination, such as tuning out coins to concentrate on likely jewelry targets. The AT Pro lacks a true threshold based all metal mode and so is less suitable for nugget detecting, although it can and will find gold nuggets.

The AT Gold runs at a slightly hotter 18 kHz and has a true threshold based all metal mode. This makes it a better nugget detector than the AT Pro. However, it is too hot to run on wet salt sand or in salt water. It also has only a couple preset discrimination patterns and so lacks the custom discrimination ability the the AT Pro has.

The AT Pro and AT Gold both have three search modes. The first is a discrimination mode preset to accept all items with an audio beep in different tones and a visual target id. Pretty much everything goes beep, but you can adjust the level at which iron/steel is rejected completely, and this is saved when the detector shuts off. The mode is preset and only the iron rejection level may be modified.

Garrett AT Gold metal detector for gold prospecting and more

The second mode is a preset discrimination mode with light foil and pull tabs set to audibly ignored. A so-called coin pattern that eliminates common trash but beep on common coins. Again, only the iron rejection level may be set and saved. The rest of the pattern is preset and cannot be adjusted.

The AT Pro has a third discrimination mode, a fully adjustable notch mode. Notch refers to the ability to set certain non-ferrous items to be accepted or rejected in ranges or "bins". The non-ferrous discrimination range is split up into sections or "notches". For example, all foil items may fall into a range of 0-20 on a scale of 0-99 and so would be said to fall in the 0-20 section/range/notch/bin. That 0-99 range can be split up into several notches and this varies by model. On the AT units you get 12 non-ferrous notches.

Garrett AT Gold with 5" "sniper coil"

An independent adjustable notch system lets you decide what sections get accepted and what get rejected. For instance, you could decide you are looking for something that reads like a nickel and set only the nickel range to beep, all other ranges get ignored. All nickels and items that read like nickels would go beep, and that is it. Or, you can set all non-ferrous items EXCEPT the nickel range to go beep, and ignore the nickel range. The AT Pro in the third search mode allows you to create a custom notch program and save it.

Again, both units treat ferrous items the same. You can adjust how the ferrous targets respond and save the setting. It is only in how non-ferrous targets are treated that the units differ.

The third search mode on the AT Gold is a pure unfiltered all metal mode. All items are detected, with significantly more depth. The all metal mode has an adjustable "iron audio" feature that will identify strong ferrous targets with a low or broken tone. The all metal mode also features a unique ground balance "window" that can expand beyond the normal area spanned by a ground balance control in order to eliminate some types of hot rocks.

Gold nuggets found with Garrett AT Gold

So on the AT Pro the third mode is an adjustable notch discrimination mode, on the AT Gold it is an unfiltered all metal mode. Finally, the AT Pro comes with an 8.5" x 11" DD coil whereas the AT Gold comes with a smaller 5" x 8" DD coil.

I think the Garrett AT Gold is an exceptional detector and for anyone wanting to use a VLF detector in and around water it is an obvious choice. Do note that while the detector itself is submersible the headphones that come with it are not. To actually use the unit face in water with mask and snorkel requires optional fully submersible headphones.

The depth of detection, sensitivity, and ground handling are on par with other 18 kHz nugget detectors. However, if the waterproof feature is never going to be needed (desert detecting?) then the special lubricated O-ring connectors for the headphones and coils add service issues that can be avoided with a normal dry land model. Therefore I think the decision to get a Garrett AT Gold depends in large part on whether the waterproof design is actually needed or not.

Official Garrett AT Gold Page

Garrett AT Gold Instruction Manual

Forum Threads Tagged "garrett at"

Garrett Metal Detectors Forum

*Notes on Technical Specifications - Detailed notes about the specifications listed in this chart.

The Garrett ATX normally comes standard with a 12" x 10" DD search coil. Other package options include the Deepseeker Package, which includes the 15" x 20" mono coil and a large hard case. Optional 8" round and 20" x 15" mono coils with integrated lower rods are available. Garrett also introduced two more new 11" x 13" enclosed coil designs in 2016, in both DD and mono configurations. New packages that include these new coils as the stock coil are now available.

Garrett ATX Search Coil Options

How To Disassemble and Clean the ATX Coil Shaft & Camlocks

I have issues with the weight of the ATX and the stock coil for certain nugget hunting tasks, like gully hunting as in my Gold Nugget Detecting with the Garrett ATX story. I had visions of hip mounting the ATX with a smaller DD coil. If you look at the third photo in my Infinium beach hunting story you will see where I got the idea. An inquiry with Garrett about the possibility of running Garrett Infinium coils on the ATX received this answer:

"The ATX can be operated with Infinium DD coils. Performance with Infinium DD coils should be normal but is not guaranteed. The ATX cannot be operated with Infinium mono coils or any other Garrett coil other than ATX coils and Infinium DD coils. Recon Pro coils will not work on the ATX. The Recon Pro is not the same machine electronically, even though it looks similar. Use of any coil other than ATX coils and Infinium DD coils, including the use of 3rd party coils, will void the warranty."

Well ok then! I purchased two Infinium DD accessory coils, the 3" x 7" DD, part number 2216600 and 5" x 10" DD, part number 2216700. The DD coils work fine. I suspect the ATX has been optimized to run with DD coils and that the mono coils therefore had to be tweaked to work with it. The Infinium mono coils therefore will not work. The Infinium DD coils however are good to go but as the note above say there are no promises about how they will perform. Mine was stable with good sensitivity to small gold nuggets.

The ATX with lower rod and coil assembly plus arm cup removed only weighs 3 lbs 5 oz, basically half the weight of the entire detector. I envisioned slinging it either under my arm or on my back, with only the coil and rod assembly on my arm. An Infinium rod assembly could be purchased as separate part numbers, but I already had a couple White's Space Saver Rod Kits for use with other detectors. These can be ordered as one part number, P/N 802-5236 and are only $39.95, far cheaper than other rod assemblies I have priced out. The White's bolt fit the Infinium coils but was a tad short, and I had to add an extra rubber washer to snug up the narrow White's rod end, but it actually works just fine.

Steve's Garrett ATX Hip Mount Kit

The 5" x 10" DD coil bench tests great. It is hot down the middle like one expects of a DD coil, and slightly more sensitive than the inner coil ring area of the stock DD coil. The advantage is it elongates the hot small gold area to nearly the full 10" length of the coil and eliminates the extraneous less sensitive outer coil area of the stock coil. This is the coil for hunting in tight locations like in bedrock pockets and crevices and in brush. There are no gaps to get caught and hang up, and the coil appears impervious to false signals when knocked about. Home run!

The 3" x 7" coil is no more sensitive to small gold than the 5" x 10" and gives up some depth, so the only reason to use it is for extremely tight areas. Pulse induction detectors do not get more sensitive to small gold past a certain point, unlike VLF detectors, so ultra small coils like the 3" x 7" get no extra boost in sensitivity. But for extreme crevice work or even for use as a pinpointer the little coil has my interest.

The Infinium mono coils should be avoided. I am not sure what might happen but you do not want to void your warranty!

Anyway, here is a picture to give you the idea. I started an official question and answer thread on this experiment on the Garrett Forum here. Check it out for some more great ATX modifications.

Garrett ATX Makeshift Rod Kit in Progress

I have experimented with a  backpack design for this setup at at Garrett ATX Backpack Modification. Chest or hip mount options are also possible.

The Garrett ATX does have a built in waterproof speaker and so does not require headphones. It does come with dry land headphones that use a waterproof connector Garrett uses on the Infinium and AT Pro/AT Gold models. The same waterproof headphones available for those models work on the ATX and are required if it is desired to put the headphones underwater. The included headphones have a waterproof cable that can be submerged but the headphones themselves must be kept dry. A short adapter dongle is also available to convert the ATX waterproof headphone connector to the standard 1/4" female receptacle so standard metal detector headphones may be used.

Garrett ATX Optional Underwater Headphones and Headphone Adapter Dongle

Garrett ATX Optional Submersible Headphones PN: 2202100. This is the same set used on the Garrett Infinium, Sea Hunter, AT Pro, and AT Gold models.

1/4" Headphone Adapter PN: 1626000. Allows land-use headphones with a 1/4” male jack to be used with the Garrett ATX, AT Gold, AT Pro, Infinium and Sea Hunter models. (Not intended for submerged use.) OPERATION NOTES: Inserting the headphone plug into the connector will provide sound from the headphones only and will automatically disable the detector's speaker. This automatic speaker-disable feature requires the input impedance of the headphones to be 10,000 ohms or less. Note that some non-Garrett headphones may not meet this requirement and will require the addition of a 10,000 ohm termination resistor inside the connector to disable the speaker.

Another headphone option is available from DetectorPro - the DetectorPro Gray Ghost Amphibian headphone.

DetectorPro Gray Ghost Amphibian Headphone

The nice thing about the Amphibian headphone is like the name implies, it can be used both above and below water. It is unique in underwater headphones in having a volume control making it easy to increase volume when entering the water and decrease volume when leaving the water. This also eliminates having to switch out headphone sets. The fewer times the o-ring connection has to be broken and reset, the better. The DetectorPro Gray Ghost Amphibian headphones can stay permanently attached to the ATX both above and below water. These work on the ATX, Infinium, AT Pro, AT Gold and Sea Hunter detectors. Check them out at the DetectorPro website.

Finally, the ATX runs off eight standard AA batteries, eliminating any shipping or airline issues that can be a problem with some PI detectors. The detector comes complete with both alkaline and NiMH rechargeable batteries plus a 110V and 12V smart charger system. The detector runs approximately 10-12 hours on a charge when using headphones, less if running off the speaker. The best method is to use the rechargeable batteries and carry the alkaline set as backup.

Official Garrett ATX Accessory Page