Cabo Chris

The NOX obsoleting single frequency machines in certain ways makes sense and is nothing really new at all. BBS and FBS been there, done that! No single frequency detector works as well as a BBS Excalibur in the sea. Yet BBS/FBS have not obsoleted single frequency machines. The Sovereign was known to open new detecting grounds, yet even ML was/is marketing their 705 VFlex. While the NOX most likely will turn out to be wonderful, I think the ML obsolete statement is brilliant marketing! This prolonged NOX release clouded with showmanship, truths and lots of speculation has caused a loss of interest in other detectors, which I believe to be temporary. I doubt the AT MAX is dead. I'm as excited about the NOX as much as anyone, but have come to my senses. All the speculation, even on my part has cooled me down to just wait and see mode, the only option most of us have. We all can imagine how perfect the NOX will be and it may even be a result of reversed engineering of alien technology? I hear the NOX can make a Cappuccino while detecting! Any new detection technology is welcomed, but I just have to wonder about a new Wonder Machine, outdoing them all starting at $649? Why ML could charge $2,495.00+ and most of us here would still buy it! Well I would. No matter how great the new technology, I'm wondering where the compromises are? How will the NOX compare to my Excals in saltwater? Or handle a black sand beach? How will the NOX compare to FBS on deep silver coins? Will the NOX really outshine the Fisher GB2 on small nuggets? Does any of this really matter? How many GB2 users will dump for a NOX? Will the NOX hit gold chains in wet salt sand like the Makro Racer can? I think the NOX will have to be a Super Machine to obsolete? I'm hoping all this speculation is not turning the NOX into eventual disappointment for some? Besides, the best detector is not the only thing needed for treasure hunting success. Why I recall some fantastic treasures being discovered by an inexpensive ACE 250! The kind of finds which cause drooling! One still has to put the coil over it. Why I have watched "Fanners" find large gold chains in the sea with no detector at all! I kind of question if single frequency technology is dead? Tesoro has never been that HOT on MF, and Jack flat out indicated that in their detecting mags. Even dual frequency machines have potential with some new automation... like taking up where the Whites Beach Hunter ID ended. The BHID liked gold rings in wet salt sand and was a fast responding machine. The NOX has some big shoes to fill, especially as many have different expectations for their detecting needs/styles. It's going to be very interesting after all this hoopla how this pans out... will the NOX become King or will there be some disappointment? Again I welcome all this NOX stuff with open arms, but will just go back into my WAIT mode. Fun Stuff. Happy New Year and great hunting in 2018 to all!

Thanks Guys, I know it may seem silly buying a used FBS SE just prior to the Equinox release and even I questioned my actions. But I'm really liking this SE for beach and general treasure hunting. Granted it does require a slower swing, yet seems a step above the XS and Safari I briefly had and I just like the flute tones better than my CTX. Despite being older technology I'm rather satisfied with this gamble purchase. The control box looks new as it was always covered and every function works. As a BBS user for years, getting used to something different, even FBS can be difficult as one develops a bias. For my shallow water detecting needs I feel nothing can touch BBS and am not looking forward to the day possibly when Excalibur production ceases. Like the end of the Sovereign. I really wish ML would produce a modern Excal! Something light that folds for travel... like their Go Find machines. But this new SE just might get me hooked on FBS as FBS days may be numbered? I'm liking the full screen digital view, all metal pattern and the Long response. Not sure yet about Conductive vs Ferrous responses and which might be better on a salt beach for jewelry? While I'm looking forward to the Equinox as potentially a travel machine, it's going to have to blow the SE off the beach for me to sell my new to me FBS machine. Who knows it just might do that? I can see where new NOX technologies could make it better. Such as being a faster responding detector which might permit more ground coverage and hence more finds? I always find the most gold jewelry when I cover ground Caribbean shallow water hunting. Some Pros like to search every square inch of a particular area and when I do that find less. So being faster the NOX might provide a serious advantage over BBS/FBS? It does not seem the NOX will be able to provide as much target/tonal info as FBS? And I keep bringing up ML says the NOX will not handle saltwater as well as BBS/FBS, nor be as sensitive to silver. I know lots of you hunt for deep silver coins with FBS, so will the NOX compete? I'm very hopeful the Equinox meets our expectations. At this point while I have 2 800s on order I'm still thinking about going with 2 600s instead, since mostly a beach/shallow water hunter. (My dealer friend will let me switch). I like the simplicity of the Excalibur when in water/surf and think the NOX 600 simpler than the 800? I may not need the other 800 functions? I'm not to fond of wireless anything as wireless is a constant problem in my small business- so I really do not care about the wireless phones of the 800. I'll be using the waterproof phones anyway. Some say the 800 will be good for micro gold jewelry on the beach. I may be missing out hunting for micro gold but again my style of hunting has proven again and again, when I think small gold and struggle to hear every tiny signal, that's what I find... small gold. When I think big gold I tend to have more fun and guess what... find bigger pieces of gold! I'll take the bigger pieces. I know all about expensive small rings with diamonds and such and have found several. One nice engagement ring found was insurance appraised for nearly $9,000/replacement value. I've not been able to sell this beautiful ring for $3,000! So it's in my collection. Yup diamonds are nice, but I like finding big gold! So the 15 KHz of the NOX 600 should be fine for dry sand beach gold. I just have to wait for ML to release more on the Equinox to make a final decision. In the end I blame the lengthy Equinox release for my perception of a used detector buyers market and why I now for better or worse have an SE. It's the Explorer accessories that remain pricy... like lower coil rods. I would like 2! New high capacity batteries and I just purchased an aftermarket aluminum Explorer arm cuff for some $50!

I still believe the Equinox is helping to flood the used detector market. I just picked up a sweet deal on a used Explorer SE Pro with 4 coils, including an SEF, WOT, phones, accessories... for under $550. Now some of you will respond I paid too much and perhaps I did, but do not care. I got a great FBS machine cheap! I have not used Explorers much. Had a customized XS and a Safari. I was not too fond of either after some basic testing and sold them without fair field use. I've had 4 3030s, because 3 of them leaked. So I know what the CTX is all about- obviously the best FBS machine. But I just could not pass on the used SE and know I good ring find will pay for it, which I expect to happen based on my beach work with BBS/CTX. The only way for me to know if I like a detector or not is to use it. Because I had not fallen in love with the XS/Safari, I had some doubts about the SE. Well I just got it and it's in better condition than the photos/description! Put it together and liked this detector instantly. It responds better to my test targets than the XS/Safari seemed to. Actually now that I understand CTX functions, the SE seems easy to run. It does seem faster than the XS/Safari and I can't wait to hit the beach in search of jewelry. As mostly an Excalibur user, thus far I do like the tones of the SE. Like the detector is speaking to me and my brain can process what I hear. If after some hunts if I do not still like the SE, I'll make a great package deal to someone else! But I suspect I will be keeping the SE! Because the NOX has become such a sensation is why I even looked at Explorers. I just wanted to see the market, especially what is/will be happening with the CTX! When I saw how cheap SEs went for, I just had to try one. I'm looking forward to testing in wet salt sand the SE vs. NOX on deep gold rings and am hoping the NOX Wows me! I want the Equinox to excel for my travel needs, but suspect the NOX will not provide the same level of tonal information as FBS? Some who sold their FBS machines for a NOX may be going back? I want the NOX to be the best machine for my needs.

Why do you say it's not finalized with a 4 week delivery window announced? Perhaps production and printing is faster than I think? If ML is still designing/testing, how could units possibly ship within 4 weeks? I'm pretty sure ML said they would post the manual when the release announcement was made? (might be on their FB page?) That's why I'm asking about the manual. By secrets I mean the testers should be able to tell all at this point? Unless like you say the NOX is nowhere near ready and the announced release date wishful thinking... Now that would make sense. I was hoping to take a NOX on a January Caribbean shallow water treasure hunt- 7 days, 5-7 hours in the water daily... which would have been an interesting NOX test. I write TH articles and would have loved writing a beaming shallow water Equinox review. (I suspect the NOX will shine in the sea) Obviously this now unlikely, despite having a ML dealer friend and it will just have to wait until my next trip. Oh and because of how this Equinox saga is unfolding, there really is nothing wrong with those interested in asking silly NOX questions on such a forum.

Thanks, sounds good!

I just don't get why this is still all secret with the release next month? I believe ML said when they announce the release, the manual would be posted on their site and why I'm wondering where the manual is? I personally could care less if the prototypes have changes. That's no big deal and expected. Whatever changes must be for the better anyway.

Steve, is there anything new you can now talk about the Prototype Equinox tones? Are they simple solid beeps or like FBS with variance? I.E. with BBS on can hear the mix of alloys within the target tone. I suspect the NOX tone beeps are solid? What do you think about 50 tone? Is there a tone differentiation between say a common pull tab and a 14K gold ring? Is the 50 tone good for discriminating by ear? I suspect 50 tones may be too many to accurately differentiate? Perhaps you do not know/Can you say anything about Prototype sensitivity- I'm not sure but it looks like in NOX vids, the sensitivity is cranked up for max depth? If you do not know, perhaps you can elaborate on Equinox Prototype in average ground, depth loss say at 50% sensitivity compared to 100%? For instance on a deep coin hit, at what point of sensitivity reduction will the same target be lost? I'm trying to get an idea what might happen in saltwater where sens most likely will have to be reduced.

If so, and record numbers of pre-orders for an Equinox and an announced release for next month by Minelab... why is the Equinox still so secret? They have sales locked up for months, the release next month... is everything still Hush, Hush because of waiting for patents? I would sure like to see the Equinox manual posted. It's like a gold rush to get this secret new technology that will obsolete every other single frequency machine! This release is Totally Amazing and would make for a great corporate movie! Only it should be spiced up a bit with drama, roadblocks, espionage, hot Australian business women, gold and crazed customers brooding on forums!

Perhaps a new T-Shirt design.... LAWNS FEAR ME!

Pops... If you want to hunt saltwater a used Excalibur would be a great option. Black sand? Then find a used Infinium. I've dug gold rings some 20 inches is shallow water sand using the 8 inch mono and listening for ghost whispers of signals. Both these machines like gold range targets and are built for water hunting! You can also try a more expensive ATX, but it's heavy and you'll constantly be fighting sand sticking the shaft. The CTX 3030 is good to some 10'. As a water detector it was an afterthought. The older units leak in the battery compartment. If saltwater gets in, your machine is ruined! I know what that feels like trice! ML finally told me it was because sand gets on the seal because of extraction/contraction caused by temperature change of entering water, eventually causing a leak! Their first fix was to tell me one had to clean the gasket every single time one came out of the water and before going back in- even if you were in the water for only 5 minutes. Now the newer model 3030s have the new sand seal battery compartment design. So far mine has not leaked, even after hours of being in the water. But still I worry as this is not the best design for a waterproof detector. Heck, I know guys who actually silicone seal the CTX battery the night before! Just something to think about. If you're careful and clean diligently, you should be OK. Now is a great time to buy a used 3030 on the Bay.... I think many are selling for an Equinox. One other CTX observation... one really needs to tune the CTX for every beach. That's if you want max sensitivity on gold range targets in the sea. Higher the sensitivity the more gold I find with my 3030! Sometimes one can get lazy and just use the last settings, not realizing one can crank up the sensitivity at the new spot. I figured that out eventually as I would find gold ring after gold ring at one beach, then suddenly nothing at the next. Started tuning, started finding more consistently. If you learn a 3030 for general treasure hunting/Shallow water, you'll be happy. The 3030 can hit gold chains- if everything is right! The NOX is obviously a new animal. If you intend only to hunt freshwater, then I would get on the list for a NOX. Saltwater... well we all have to wait and see. As a Multi-Frequency machine it should do well. But ML said the NOX does not handle salt as well as FBS=CTX. Plus it's not as sensitive to silver range either. Their words. I often skip silver in the sea in search of gold/platinum. My concern in saltwater is how much one has to lower sensitivity for stability? I suspect the NOX will work very good in salt... but when the AT Pro first came out, the factory told me it worked great in saltwater and it doesn't. As a shallow water hunter my machine expectations might differ from you? For me to keep the NOX it will have to be at least as good as BBS/FBS in the salt, or Bye, bye! The CTX really is not that difficult to learn, but I suspect the Equinox will be easier. Also lighter and easier to handle underwater. If you're a general treasure hunter, I suspect you would like the Equinox better than the CTX. Plus the NOX costs less! For a Simpleton detectorist, which sometimes is me... the Detector Pro Underwater 8 inch is a fun waterproof machine. It likes small gold- which is surprising for the frequency it runs on- but it does! It like most VLFs flounder in black sand- but if I could only have an Underwater- I'd have fun and find treasure on land and sea! I have to tell you... the newer Underwater is built so much better than the early Headhunters! Works better too, with a 50hour rechargeable battery inside! It's a fast machine and one hunts with some disc, but mostly by ear with an UW. One could go on a week long vacation with an UW and not have to charge the battery! I choose Excaliburs and hope the Equinox becomes my new choice. I view PIs as more of a specialty machine in bad ground. I once had a customized for max gold sensitivity PI built. It hit gold the HH PI dreamed of! One it's maiden voyage the first target I hit was an 18K gold chain in ankle deep water! Visions of gold danced in my head as I proceeded to dig every target. After several hours and my pouch filled with junk, I swapped out for my Excal and proceeded to find gold as usual! For me the PI was just too much fun! Funny, on one black sand beach that gives our Excaliburs fits, I still find more gold there with Excal than with my Infinium! Hope this helps.

I hear the NOX goes deeep! ?

Looks Good!

It's amazing how few if any leaks on news of the Equinox. But at this point with units shipping in January, why the continued secrecy? I would think releasing all the Equinox Goodies now would create even more demand. I'm beginning to wonder if we will ever get all the dirt on M-IQ? Perhaps ML has to guard until patents approved? Yet having multiple machines on order, I sure would like to read about all the Equinox functions and capabilities. I asked ML when they might post the Equinox manual now that an estimated release date was announced. With the ML answer post above, I wonder why as I've pointed out ML said M-IQ was not as sensitive to silver as FBS, nor handled salt as well? Clearly ML has high expectations for M-IQ and is it possible we're seeing the beginning of the end of BBS/FBS as we know it? Now I'm even more excited about the Equinox!

I find the only way to really know if I like a machine is to use it myself. Stories, reports and field tests do help with a purchase decision, but can not always be relied upon. My expectations may be different than yours. In the case of the Equinox I placed my order basically sight unseen, because I read between the lines, asked secret sources and based on past personal experience. A reason to pre-order now is to actually get one in your hands before everyone else with a NOX finds it all! Obviously kidding but the Equinox demand could delay delivery to those who wait. No problem if you're in no rush. As mostly a beach hunter I'll take the chance on an Equinox. For me the only VLF detectors to produce lots of gold in the salt are multi-frequency machines- In particular BBS and FBS. The CZ20/21 worked as did the Whites Beach Hunter ID. Since the Equinox runs Multi in Beach Mode, more than likely will work good in the salt/beach. Although ML in writing says the Equinox handles Salt almost as good as BBS/FBS and that BBS/FBS is hotter on silver. This is good enough for me to purchase now. The way I look at it is it will only take me a short time in the field to know if the Equinox meets my expectations or not. For years I've put nearly every new water machine up against my Standard- the Excalibur and so far none have dethroned it! I Hope the Equinox finally will. Luis, I think for beach hunting you should Pre-order. Should you find the NOX not to meet your expectations, most likely you could sell it easy. Obviously the NOX likes small gold coins in the dirt and small gold nuggets too. Not everyone is interested in beach hunting.

Now that I see the Equinox likes small gold coins, I want two even more! I like traveling to detect. Like joining TH friends in the Caribbean for 7 to 10 days. We share expensed, duties, comradery and adventure. To this day I remember every detail of my first gold ring find in the sea! For me there's just something so exhilarating seeing gold glistening in my scoop on vacation! 50% for me is the monetary gain and the rest memories, adventure and friendship. Even if I won The Lottery, I would still detect in the sea. The anticipation calls and seeing a $400 ring or a $1,000 chain suddenly in my scoop nearly unbelievable... dug out of the sea! All the sights, sounds, smells, food, cultures of a foreign country are the icing on the cake! My wish is to find enough in scrap gold/platinum to pay for my trip and that usually happens plus some. As soon as I return home I'm thinking about the next trip! The Equinox could make travelling easier, my finds better and hopefully a fun detector to use. It's been a while since I used a fun machine. A Tesoro Bandito II I foolishly sold years back was a joy to hunt with. Recently when I tested the DetectorPro Underwater 8 inch in the Caribbean, I had to stop and realize how much fun I was having detecting! Seemed like no stress to find gold. It beeps I scoop to find out what I found... a coin, another coin, a silver charm, a piece of junk... oh look a gold wedding band! To me the Equinox has FUN written all over it! One of my problems is that I have too many hobbies/interests. Guns and hunting have been one and I have collected too many rifles. Most just sit in the safe and I decided to thin the herd. Heck I only really need a few and actually could pick just one. What a great idea to become one with a rifle and shoot like a champ. That's how I feel about detectors theses days. Why have 20 machines? Instead get to know one or 2 like the back of my hand and spend more time treasure hunting than playing with machines. That's why should the Equinox prove to meet my expectations in the field, I would be so willing to let many detectors go.

I translated this to English: Why is there so little information about the equinox on the beach? My intention is to use it especially for the beach, but not knowing how it will work with your siblings with BBS and FBS technology. I'll have to see how he behaves on the beach before ordering.

Great news! I sure hope the Equinox likes Gold jewelry in the sea!!!

Wunderbar!!!! I'm glad to see the Equinox likes GOLD!!! Hope ML posts the manual soon!!!

There sure seems to be lots of Interest in the Minelab Equinox. Everyone wants one, even at $900. I want an Equinox for Caribbean shallow water hunting because traveling with 2 would be easy. My intent would be to replace my Excaliburs and 3030... that's only if the NOX performs in the sea to my expectations. I also want a NOX for dry sand hunting for gold jewelry at night on my trips. So why do you want an Equinox and what detectors might it replace?

Because of the nature of the Equinox release I speculate... only because I want one... like now! At this point expecting a ML announcement any day, I wonder at what points the tweaking and manufacturing are? Has manufacturing even started... like all the plastic parts? The electronics? Even the batteries? Or are several thousand ready to ship, perhaps waiting for final software uploads? At this point one would think the Equinox is ready to ship after bugs/changes are finalized. I also wonder just how many pre-sales there really are? Many may say they'll order, but how many are willing to part with $900 so quickly? Were this a $2500 machine... I would wait for sure. So perhaps the lower price gets more to pull the trigger and perhaps many on the 600 too? That's if the 600 will be available soon? If there are thousands of pre-orders, then some of us may have to wait on production? I want an Equinox to see if it suits a specific detecting task for me. I like everything I see about the NOX, only despite a new technology, suspect the NOX will be a Jack of All Trades. Most likely a good one at that... but were I a prospector, I seriously doubt the Equinox would replace my ATX/ML Gold detectors. As a serious deep silver coin hunter would the NOX replace my top coin detector? Unless I read wrong,ML said the new MF technology was not as Hot on silver as FBS. I would think many on the detecting forums lean towards specific detecting, such as nuggets, coins, or in my case shallow water. Will the NOX really be that good to replace the current hunt specific Top Dog machines? Again, as a compromise machine the NOX calls like candy does to kids! I want one, I want one, I want one! I understand why X-Terra users might see the NOX as an upgrade, must have. It will be interesting to see how the Equinox supply/demand story unfolds. At first either a NOX will be difficult to get- or easy, depending on production/demand. I wonder when the first Used NOX will show up online for sale/auction?

When it says Made in China on Minelab Detectors is the day I'd stop buying them!

Too bad the Deus is not waterproof. It will be good to read your comparison.

Oh, I wanted to say... over the years of detecting I've noticed while LUCK, Persistence, Knowledge and Equipment play parts in the success puzzle, most important is attitude! When I'm positive, think gold and expect to find... I do and find in some sad looking places. If I have a negative/poor attitude I find nothing! This has happened again and again- so much so, even when I go a few hours without finding, I keep thinking the next target will be a gold ring! After hours and days of detecting in the sea, keeping that positive mental attitude can be difficult. Sounds crazy, but at the onset of a lightning storm I somehow get tuned-in and suddenly start scooping gold for as long as I dare stay in the water! I find it's very important to like your equipment. To have faith in your detector, knowing it will find gold. When I like my machine, it's far easier to stay positive during a hunt. Hand me an Excalibur and I know I'll soon find gold! Every time Iook at the Equinox I smile on the inside. I'm filled with visions of treasure. So if the Equinox performs close to my perceived expectations.... well gold is as good as in my scoop!

Mark- thanks for the Video! Clearly ML is a First Rate Company! Hopefully the Equinox will turn out to be a great most-use detector! It will be interesting to see how this unfolds. Wonder how much demand there really is and can production keep up? Most likely the Equinox will be better than an X-Terra, which means it's really good. There is lots of confusion and why we all wonder and speculate. The new Equinox technology sounds good and to me the Equinox simply looks cool! Almost like a cell phone on a wand!

Yes, I too am looking forward to learning more about the 50 tones! Great for letting your brain become one with the machine!!!