Jeff McClendon

The OP’s second post referencing he and is wife, the Deus 2 with 9” coil and referencing coin/relic hunting in mineralized ground in his first post make it clear that they like to hunt together often and would probably like to be able to easily do “detector talk” about the same detector instead of having to transpose and translate information on the fly. So, Manticore with 9” coil and Deus 2 with 9” coil is probably the best way to approach this comparison. At least for me, swinging the Manticore with M8, M9 and M11 coils is very easy and nicely balanced for a person my age (69 almost). Swinging Deus 2 with its 9” coil is very comfortable. Swinging the 11” coil is okay and swinging the 13X11” coil on anything but flat ground is not okay. So I am going to talk about the M9 versus FMF9 coils and what I have experienced using them on Fe3O4 highly mineralized ground for coin and relic hunting. Like others, I trust Deus 2 with 9” coil to currently be the first choice for hunting for those targets in man-made iron infested sites for shallow to 6” or so non-ferrous targets if the user knows how to set it up for higher iron mineralized conditions. For the same coils on deeper targets in that situation, I would pick the Manticore with M9. At least for me, that coil is deeper than the FMF9 and the Manticore is more likely to hit deeper than 6” non ferrous coins/relics with better audio and target ID information where I detect in Colorado. The same happens for just trying to get a beep dig response on edge of response targets. I would trust the M9 over the FMF9 for that type of detecting too. If XP releases the HF2 elliptical coil soon, all of this may change. Like a couple of other posters, I mostly choose my Manticore for the type of coin, relic and jewelry hunting I do over Deus 2 with 9” or larger coil. I do often take Deus 2 to parks that I have hit hard with the Manticore and I usually find some non ferrous targets. The same goes for the opposite scenario. They are both awesome detectors that can be used in so many ways with so many different setups including in multiple single frequencies. At least out here in higher Fe3O4 ground, the T2/F75 type detectors are basically useless on targets deeper than 4” other than beep/dig. People can’t give those great detectors or lesser models away since no one will take them after using these latest SMF tech detectors that mostly also have similar single frequency operation capabilities.

And Beast mode is definitely not a gold prospecting mode even though it is located as an option in the Gold Field mode.

No explanation needed. This video by Gary Blackwell is priceless.

Thanks for that report Simon. Sorry you have been dealing with back issues. I hope you feel better soon. Now, if you do the same air testing with your AT Gold you will see what some of us here in the USA that are very familiar with the “normal” Garrett 00 to 99 target ID system on our coins and at least for me, some of yours, Aussie and UK coins too, are wondering about. Why has Garrett decided it is necessary to change that target ID system to a much more limited number of usable IDs for its land based Multi Frequency mode for the Vortex Series? If it has been deliberately done for stability AND they are willing to at least talk about it, that’s fine with me. I will adjust to it if I decide to buy a Vortex. If it is somehow an arbitrary decision, an accident or something even more strange, I hope they fix it if that is possible.

Thanks for letting the forum know more about Caleb. I always enjoyed his posts and his enthusiasm. My prayers for him and his family.

Any chance you could update your current list of used detectors and prices? Thanks

Once again, another experienced hunter/tester takes the Vortex VX9 using its Multi Frequency setting through a well established for years test area. Ivan has good technique and tests a lot of current detectors for comparison at this same test area in Northern Europe that you can check out on his YouTube site. According to some, the VX9 simply can't hunt. No one on this forum is saying that. At sites with very little modern trash like wooded areas or plowed fields, the Vortex would be fine. At a fairly mild saltwater beach in Multi Salt, no problems. In thick modern trash where good high conductor targets are fairly shallow, I could use a VX9 in Multi Frequency and do OK. Due to the Multi Frequency target ID system, hunting for gold jewelry in thick aluminum trash would not be much fun for me at the moment. Anyway, here is the video.

Another training video by Steve Moore and Garrett for the VX9

Your bank will accept that coin no problem. Still in circulation.

I haven’t tested it yet personally but the tendency to call deeper non ferrous targets as ferrous way too early has been significantly improved in the final V1.17 software at least on milder saltwater beaches according to several YouTube accounts. That tendency has been improved for turf hunting too which I have tested.

I’m not a black sand saltwater beach hunter so I really don’t know how I could have helped you very much. The latest software update was October 11, 2024 which included Beach mode improvements.

To be 100% clear, what settings were you using on your Legend and what software version.

Garrett released this Iron Volume/Iron Audio tutorial video.

Jim is from Yuma AZ. That explains how the ATs missed those deeper targets. They would have been all iron or totally missed depending on how they set up their AT Pros due to the mineralization in that area. Chase said: “It’s the ground handling advantage of multi frequency”. I want to clarify that statement by adding: it’s the outstanding ground handling advantage of the Legend’s multi frequency. Simply can’t say that about the multi frequency tech ability of some other SMF detectors in bad ground like the DFX, V3i, and the Apex and possibly the Vortex. Hopefully BBS/FBS Minelabs would have hit those 11” half dollars.

Sorry F350Platinum, we were typing at the same time. Coil should be officially announced for release in early February with it being available in the USA by the end of March. That is what I understood too. Software will have to be released to accommodate the coil so some kind of software update will also have to happen. Whether we are beta testers or not, I don't care. Either I get my hands on this new coil or I will just stop using a Deus 2. As Phillipe clearly stated early on in the live stream, the current XP Deus 2 coils are not optimized for heavy iron mineralization. This new coil will be for extremely trashy areas with high amounts of aluminum and iron trash, high iron mineralization/gold prospecting and for specific targets like tiny chains and open earrings which are two targets types he mentioned. Hopefully the elliptical HF2 coil will be as sensitive to tiny targets and partially masked targets like the original HF coil. I had a hard time understanding Phillipe, but did he also mention a 9" round HF2 coil early in the live stream? I would really be interested in that coil.

Now, that was refreshing. Some first hand testimony about something that the Vortex does well=saltwater beach detecting. I just want to reiterate that I am not knocking the Vortex for its beach mode detecting, single frequency detecting or any feature that it has or doesn't have. My sole reason for giving the Vortex a well deserved black eye is for its Multi Frequency land based mode's whacky non-ferrous target ID system and non-ferrous notching system. Otherwise, the rest of the settings and functions of Multi Frequency are at least adequate for solid detecting. Iron separation, iron audio volume settings, iron bias with the V2.05 update, depth with its stock 11X8.5" coil, recovery speed settings, 3 or 5 tone audio and overall ground handling are all a step up from the Apex in my opinion. It would make a decent gold prospecting detector too. All of these aspects are very positive. I got blasted on another forum and on some YouTube channels for saying this but I am going to repeat it. The VX9 has real possibilities if Garrett fixes the Multi Frequency target ID/notch system. Everything else about the detector is very positive. So in my opinion the VX9 is just millimeters away from being a competitive detector with other detectors in its price range/feature set IF Garrett can fix the Multi Frequency non ferrous target ID/notch system.

That is truly amazing. Thanks for posting it Rob and thanks Garrett.

Stan, I have tried to keep it real. I refrained from saying anything positive or negative about the Vortex until I had a chance to try one. I went to the trouble of borrowing a VX9 for a week, updating it and spending about 10 hours with it for testing and hunting with it. At this point I would not use it for any detecting that involves selective digging using Multi Frequency on targets at any reasonable depth or even shallow targets. In dig it all situations Multi Frequency is okay. As for the rest of the VX9 search modes, I don’t live anywhere near a saltwater beach and due to high iron mineralization I don’t use single frequencies. I hunt extremely modern trashed parks for coins and jewelry. So for me the VX9’s Multi Frequency mode Is all I would hunt with if I owned a VX9 and that mode is such a mess that I don’t trust it for that kind of detecting. The VX9’s audio is decent but I was unable to hear the nuances that you are reporting. I found the VX9 using Multi Frequency mode to have good target separation, good iron unmasking, good EMI mitigation and fairly good high iron mineralization ground handling. So that mode has some positive qualities and gives me some hope that Garrett might be able to salvage Multi Frequency mode someday. I am not waiting for that day.

In my opinion after using a VX9, the only detectors that are remotely apples to apples as far as a direct performance and features comparison with the VX9 are the Garrett Apex and Nokta Score. I would pick the Score over the VX9 or Apex at this point.

This is reality at the moment in the USA on January 2nd, 2025. A person can buy a Garrett Vortex VX9 on Amazon and many other areas online or at your brick and mortar dealer for $599 US. No headphones or extra coils included. For $595 on Amazon and other places, you can buy a Nokta Legend with no headphones or extra coils BUT with a very good pinpointer. I am not in the market for a new, mid level under $800 VLF detector right now. If I was, I know which one of these two I would buy. Just look closely at the photos and forget about performance and features. Look closely at the shaft systems, locking mechanisms, plastics quality, etc. Okay. Right now, the Nokta Legend is Nokta's flagship VLF SMF detector and for what one gets for the price, a buyer is getting an incredible deal on a very fine detector with the bugs ironed out and a completed feature set with its final V1.17 software. It's basically an Equinox 800 but with more features, very similar performance, no leaking, no coil ear problems, a great carbon fiber shaft system, every possible feature that a person could ever want and some that they will never use and it comes with a pinpointer that has ferrous/non ferrous audio discrimination. Speaking of the Equinox 800, there are still a few online vendors that have 800s for sale at the pre 01/25 $699 US price. If you want one get it now before the price goes back up to $899 or more. The only things on the VX9 that are debatably nicer than the Legend are the display, user interface and the robust coil construction. Otherwise, the Vortex VX9 does not look or detect like a flagship quality detector. Its build quality in my opinion is not as nice as the Apex or the AT Series. Its performance at the moment is not decidedly better than the Apex or AT Series either from my experience. I have heard from trusted sources that the VX9 is better than the Apex and AT series on saltwater beaches using its Multi Salt mode and it does have a nice set of selectable single frequencies. As far as actual performance between the Legend and VX9, I own two Legends and spent a week with a borrowed VX9. There is simply no way to even have a conversation about it. They are that far apart. This is actually good news and really may mean that something even better (at least as far as build quality) is in store from Garrett as far as a flagship SMF VLF detector. Hopefully if that happens, it will have performance to match.

My “complaining” about the target ID system on the VX9 only relates to the target IDs using the VX9 in Multi Frequency. The target IDs using Multi Salt and selectable single frequencies are normal and line up with the target IDs of the Apex and AT Series. The target IDs using Multi Frequency do not. So instead of “complaining about accuracy” I and others are just pointing out how the VX9 is using two different target ID systems and notching systems depending on what mode is being used. I think it will be interesting to see what happens on the VX5 and VX7.

I can really understand your frustration especially if you are experienced with the AT Series and the Apex. Right now after a week of borrowing a VX9, I would rather use the VX9 instead of the AT Series or the Apex. However, the actual performance improvements of the VX9 over the AT Series and Apex are way too small at this point. Had I ditched a good mid level detector that I was really familiar with even if it was just single frequency and bought a VX9 as an upgrade, I would likely be disappointed. Even though the VX9 selectable single frequency and Multi Salt work well and offer slight improvements over the AT series and Apex, the Multi Frequency target ID system on the VX9 is just too weird and far afield from the "normal" Garrett target ID system for me to take it seriously. After working with it, the Multi Frequency tech is an improvement in the soil conditions where I detect. But, the target ID system employed in Multi Frequency, just my opinion from using it, is an abomination. Had Garrett prepared or even alerted potential VX9 buyers about that odd target ID system used in Multi Frequency and actually put details about it in the Quick Start Guide and Manual.........OK. Potential buyers could have made a choice. They said nothing.

The Vortex was never meant to beat out the Manticore, Deus 2, Equinox or Legend. According to Garrett, the VX9 is not even meant to be their flagship VLF detector contrary to what your topic title proclaims. The Vortex series is meant to be an alternative to the AT series. One AT model has already been discontinued. Garrett has never produced a VLF detector with as many features as the VX9. Does it have some glaring flaws even after the first update, definitely. Before I join the “mob” I am going to give Garrett some more time like I did with the Equinox 800, Deus 2, the Legend and even the Manticore which were all improved by one or several software updates.

I want to bump this video back to the first page of the Vortex. This is basically what I experienced during a “dig it all” hunt that I did with a V2.05 VX9 where targets were 4 to 6” deep in high iron mineralization. Even though I don’t like the Vortex Multi Frequency target ID system, during my hunt and the hunt that Iffy did in the above video, target IDs and audio were solid even on deeper targets. I was able to call the targets before I dug them most of the time and Iffy was at least calling ferrous vs mid to high conductor non ferrous in his video. So, anyone that wonders if the Vortex actually works due to all of the negative opinions online, you should take a close look at this video. The video above is of a pre-update Vortex. As I said in another post, at this time, hunting low conductors like US nickels and gold rings in modern aluminum trash is a completely different story due to the grouping of so many targets on target IDs 52 and 55 and the lack of really descriptive audio to tell them apart. Not a good experience for me. Many posts on some forums are complaining about extremely jumpy target IDs. I did not see that in actual hunts. What I did see was target IDs jumping from 50 to 52 to 55 on US nickels for example and 75-78-79 on clad dimes and copper pennies. If you have studied the available target IDs, those are equivalent to a Nox 900 or Manticore reading 26,27,28 on a nickel and 79,80,81 on a US copper penny or clad dimes. I am not apologizing for the VX9 here. I am just stating some facts from my experiences with it. 1. The detector works. 2. The available target IDs in Multi Frequency are weird and I had to really learn them in order to be successful and 3. I wish the VX9 had more than one land based Mutli Frequency mode so that it had different frequency weighted modes.

Definitely not the updated version since it has the V2.03 power management issues. I completely agree with Andy. The Vortex actually works well right out of the box AFTER it gets updated to V2.05. It should be a decent detector for most people who have not used any of the latest SMF detectors and for people that have only used Garrett detectors. It's also fine for less demanding hunting for anyone that wants to use one. Learning the Multi Frequency target ID system is the next step if you are a land hunter. There is plenty of helpful information for doing that on this forum. I will at least say that in the soil conditions here, the VX9 outperformed the Apex with both using Multi Frequency. Like Andy, it has similar performance to my Vanquish models but with a lot more features and at least it will ground balance here whereas the Vanquish models will not. For context, the Vanquish series detectors are about the most rock solid target ID detectors that I have ever used if targets are 6" of less deep in the high iron mineralization here. Saying the VX9 can do something similar in the dirt here is actually a big compliment. Saltwater beach hunters that are familiar with Garretts or have owned the Apex can go hunt with it in Multi Salt without much of a learning curve after they do the update if their VX9 still shows V2.03 at startup. Those who were expecting or demanding similar cutting edge technology that rivals $400 or higher priced waterproof SMF detectors by Nokta and Minelab will be disappointed. Maybe that will change and maybe it won't.