Jeff McClendon

The latest version of the Axiom is definitely plenty sensitive on smaller stuff for my needs. Now I get to try for some deeper targets. Thanks for your latest video of the Apex, Deus 2, Legend and Manticore gold prospecting I don't have the M8 coil yet for the Manticore so I left it at home. Deus 2 is much improved but the Legend easily beats it for hitting 0.1 and smaller stuff if that is what one is looking for. Otherwise, Deus 2 does very well since it is really stable. Legend is a bit twitchy but really hot. Manticore looked even hotter in your latest video.

Thanks JCR. Very rough Sonoran Desert country where plenty can go wrong. I got stung by some kind of wasp, a Tarantula Hawk. Nasty, still swollen. I had fun testing the Legend and Deus 2. Deus 2 is just not as sensitive as the Legend but it is a whole lot better than it was before software 2.0. It is kind of hitting that 0.01 gram piece of lead that the Legend clearly sounded off on but off camera unfortunately. The best comparison is Deus 2's second target which turned out to be the 0.12 gram lead fragment. Both detectors gave strong responses on that target. Deus 2's quiet running is kind of a form of discrimination. If Deus 2 hits something it might have a little more size. Nothing wrong with that instead of trying to hit a 0.01 gram or smaller target, whereas the Legend will hit just about anything.

Digging all of that trash was the best way for me to get to know the Axiom and what it can potentially do at least in that area using its smaller 11X7" mono coil. I will probably do the same thing next time I am there with the 11X7" DD at least for a few hours. I am not getting any younger, so knowing a detector as best I can as fast as I can is important to me. Everyday that I can still detect in rough terrain is a blessing and I want to take advantage of that when I can. The Axiom's ergonomics and just the right amount of features for me have made that easier. Its performance capabilities combined with my skill level with the Axiom, (which was pretty low) were what I was trying to find out. I am very confident with the Axiom and with me now after using it. Now I need to take it to a site with deeper bedrock and possible deeper and larger nuggets. I got the version with the 13X11" mono coil so that should be fun. How much 12+" trash can I dig in 6 hours??????

This is a short, rambling, 8 minute video that kind of shows what Deus 2 and the Nokta Legend sound and act like in a central Arizona gold field. No gold is found. Some hot rocks, hot ground and lead fragments are found. I am very fond of these two detectors so don't expect any mud slinging or drama other than me completely forgetting to video the Legend detecting plain as day, a 0.01 speck of a lead bullet fragment and me falling into a creosote bush which I did not react to very well......and of course deleted from the video. Creosote and I don't get along. My skin reacts to those bushes like they are stinging nettles on steroids. Legend is using the LG24 coil in GoldField M, A discrimination pattern, sensitivity 20, recovery speed 5, iron filter zero, audio gain 3. Deus 2 is using the 9" FMF coil, Goldfield FMF, Disc IAR 0, sensitivity 95, reactivity 2.5, audio gain 3. Both detectors are properly ground balanced, have been noise cancelled and have their threshold tones clearly audible. I only had about 2 hours to find the targets, make the videos and recover the targets and I am holding an iPhone in one hand while swinging a detector with the other on an up to 30 degree inclined ravine slope so don't expect anything earth shattering. Chase Goldman, the video of Deus 2 is for you. You requested I take Deus 2 on this trip. Otherwise I could have easily skipped the whole thing. Both detectors did very well. I did not. Here is a photo of the targets recovered. Deus 2 detecting its 0.12 gram lead target was the target showing a target ID of 32 towards the end of the Deus 2 part of the video. The Legend finding the 0.01 gram lead bullet fragment was not captured on video for my own insane reason being that I totally forgot about that target. I did try to detect it with Deus 2. It was the third target that Deus 2 tried to detect and had very weak, choppy responses and a target ID in the low 20s. Legend hit that target really hard.

I had planned a trip to Arizona to get to know the Garrett Axiom for the first full week of November. Of course, I got sick and was still sick when I finally left Denver on Monday November 13th. I did make it to Phoenix and got into the area I was hunting by midday on Tuesday. I got in about 18 hours of detecting time with the Axiom and even though I was tired from being sick, I enjoyed using it very much. The area I was hunting is not known for large nuggets. The largest that I have found in this area is 6 grams and I wasn't expecting anything like that. 1 gram sized or smaller gold was fine with me. The ground in this area is moderately iron mineralized with lots of dark gray quartzite looking hot rocks that are full of magnetite, lots of hot rock caliche, basalt, tuft, porphyry, andesite, schists, and other benign metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. This place was super dry. They really need some rain in this area of central Arizona. I committed to dig every possible target each session until I got too tired to safely dig which happened after about 6 hours in 85 degrees Fahrenheit heat. Since it was still pretty hot and rattlesnakes and a pack of ornery wild mules were still in the area, I used Aukey B80 wireless earbuds with a Bluetooth transmitter plugged into the headphone jack instead of over the ear wireless headphones. I only used the 11X7" Mono coil with the Axiom since bedrock is not very deep at this location and I wanted to really see how small a target the Axiom could handle. I was running the latest available update and did a full reset before getting started. As Steve H. suggested in one of his posts, I kept the Axiom's sensitivity at 4. I tried 5 for a bit but there was really no point in doing that. Sensitivity 4 out of 8 was plenty sensitive. I was using the Fine timing, Slow speed, threshold on 14, volume on 8, and the Axiom usually ground balanced around 48/25 with ground tracking OFF. I did try the more advanced ground balance window a couple of times when the prevalent hot rocks were getting overwhelming but I would eventually come back to the original ground balance. So basically these were very close to default settings. There was enough EMI and ground noise in this area near Phoenix to cause the occasional warble which never fully went away even after frequency shifts. However, compared to the sometimes unstable SDC 2300 and GPX 6000 when I've used them in this area, the Axiom was very quiet and predictable as far as the non-target warbles that it sometimes produced. The photos show the targets that I recovered. I did not keep any of the pesky hot rocks that were unavoidable. The smaller plate has a 0.32 gram flat nugget and a 0.12 gram rice kernel shaped nugget. There are several wire targets on that smaller plate that do not register a weight on my cheap gram scales which go to 0.00 grams. Several lead shards give their weight as 0.01 grams. Both of the small nuggets were around 4" deep as were many of the targets on the smaller plate. Some of the targets on the larger plate were easily detected at 8+" deep using the full length of my Garrett ProPointer AT pinpointer as a ruler. As far as I am concerned the Axiom is extremely sensitive to small sub gram targets just the way it is and it's 16 hour battery life, great ergonomics, well organized display, excellent features and overall performance are really amazing.

I don’t like the sound of either choice……No sensitivity control, recovery speed control or iron bias on the SMF?? Those sound like entry level detectors to me. No thanks.

Same for me. I am ignoring your hypothetical situation since at the moment I don’t have to make that kind of choice since the latest and greatest give me both all wrapped up into one detector. Before the Equinox models were released back in 2018, I would have and did make that choice, picking the XP Deus original version with the HF elliptical coil over an Etrac after being very disappointed with the other available SMFs from Minelab and Whites. Thank heaven that the Equinox saved my detecting hobby a few months later.

I used the Impact several years ago. It was an excellent detector no doubt. I mostly detect in moderate to high iron mineralization and the Impact suffered from the same symptoms as all other single/ selectable single frequency detectors which are loss of target ID accuracy and loss of depth along with inconsistent ground balancing and ground noise chatter. So actually using that big coil you mentioned would have made things worse not better. The Legend may not have the biggest coil compared to the Impact, but in dirt around here it will detect deeper, detect targets with more accurate target IDs, ground balance much better and be less noisy from ground conditions due to its excellent simultaneous multi frequency tech compared to the Impact. Plus, the Legend has five selectable single frequencies to help fight EMI and a ton of other great features. I would pick the Legend every time over the Impact, without another thought.

Nokta have bent over backwards to accommodate the Legend users that have reported depth loss and excessive chatter recently. They have even offered to have owners send their Legends directly to Istanbul for testing after previously requesting that owners make videos of the depth loss they are experiencing and the "chatter" that they are experiencing. So far, I have not seen any videos that have been posted recently on one of the Facebook Legend forums that definitively show any problems whatsoever. All I am seeing are poorly setup Legends with no hope of hitting the targets scenarios chosen. Or the Legends shown are actually detecting the targets but the results are being misinterpreted due to weird settings. There continue to also be videos of chatter which are just examples of EMI. Hopefully this gets straightened out.

One thing I rarely see an influencer video demonstration show or even read very much about is how important it is to really get these hot DD coils centered over the target before making a full judgement about the accuracy of the target IDs when using many of the latest detectors especially the SMFs. I know that Steve has mentioned it in several posts in the past even way back in relation to the Whites V3i (I could be wrong) and so have others. I have complained about the instability of the Nox 700/900 compared to the 600/800 and there were plenty of non Equinox 600/800 users and new users that complained about the 600/800 too. Getting the coil centered over the target with the high gain Manticore, Equinox models, Legend and Deus 2 is super important. For shallower targets it can be less important if the user is using good coil control. I use the onboard pinpoint function a lot on tougher targets and make sure that I am taking the final target ID with the most sensitive part of the coil directly (hopefully) over the target. Maybe these infuencers don't mention it because they don't want to tell the truth, don't know how to handle the situation since they just got the detector, don't consider it important or who knows. Most of what I see are target ID air tests with perfect IDs and tones. Depending on soil conditions, partial masking and depth, orientation, target makeup, target condition and several other factors, those perfect IDs can be drastically different depending on where the target is in relation to the undersurface of the coil. Nokta actually did a really good write-up about the Legend's target ID situation in the Target ID section of their manual. It is almost an apology!!!! What they failed to do was to give suggestions about how to improve the target IDs when detecting. The trend is for faster VLF detectors that can ID accurately and deeper, detect well on a wide range of ground/beach conditions, detect a wide range of targets with different conductivities and a wide range of target sizes. They also need to be SMFs for the most part, lightweight, wireless audio capable, easy to collapse and pack up and waterproof. Today's simultaneous multi frequency operation tech can result in some amazing results. Those simultaneous multi frequencies can also detect and give corresponding target IDs for say a US zinc penny and its copper coating or what's left of it, its corroding and oxidizing zinc interior and it malformed condition with bumps, chips and holes included and they can do this all on one swing of the coil. They can also audibly detect the threads on a screw or bolt, etc. Really amazing and really accurately honest information for an experienced detector user. For a beginner-OMG.

There has been some experimenting by a YouTuber using Deus 2, the Manticore and even the Legend using a lot of notching lately in an attempt to get these detectors to pass small coin next to a down the barrel of a nail type situation. I think someone even linked the original Bird Dog test video on this site. It was hailed as a major breakthrough and since Deus 2 really did well with these settings sitting on styrofoam and any off the ground surface even using a big nail and a half dime obviously, Deus 2 is hailed as the best detector on the planet again. I was contacted to do some Deus 2 Bird Dog testing. Yeah it did exactly what it was reputed to do as long as I did the testing on a non-mineralized surface. As soon as I transferred the test to even a container of moderately iron mineralized dirt........unbelievable iron falsing and next to no depth. I have always tried to do Monte's (rest in peace Monte) nail board test with the paper or foam test board that Monte sent me resting on target free ground or on a container of mineralized dirt. I rarely hunt on dirt that isn't mineralized. I am not sure I would know what to do in a situation like that with these latest detectors. I guess I could actually use 4 kHz for the first time. I like YouTube for a lot of things. Yes, I do sometimes let myself get attracted to metal detectors that do well in tests. But my favorite and most educational YouTube metal detecting videos to watch are in the ground testing head to head or just a good hunt video done by guys like Gary B, Andy B, Nenad, Bill S., Rob A, and others that are master hunters and don't have any reason to push one detector over another. Some of Gary Blackwell's pre XP videos where he reviews a hole bunch of different detectors are really fun. He never says anything resembling "This is the best detector in the world" or just the opposite etc. I have to commend Calabash Digger for changing his hole approach and his development of a generally neutral tone in his videos of the big three SMF VLFs. Deus 2 is obviously his favorite because it suits his hunting styles the best. But he seems to have made up with Nokta and Minelab......I wonder if that was a financial decision? The Manticore, Deus 2, Legend and Equinox 800 models are fantastic detectors. The more I use them the more I like them no matter what any this vs that YouTube detector influencer says.

Finding good gold, saving money on the heating bill and having a great time in some nice weather. Lots to be thankful for here in Denver and points north too for guys like John!!!! Great gold.

Have you scoured this area of the internet yet? I am a new Axiom owner so I am still scouring that Essential Information area myself. I used a GPX 4800 and 5000 for relic hunting. They did okay. So far the Axiom and its Iron Check feature used with its DD coils has worked well on small nail sized to larger, shallower iron targets but where I have used it was on moderate to highly iron mineralized ground. I have no idea how it will work at saltwater beaches, alkaline soil conditions or on less iron mineralized sites. My biggest hurdle is just getting used to the type of DD coils that the Axiom has and how different size and type of targets respond using them. The huge plus with the Axiom compared to the GPX 4000 to 5000 models is I don't need a harness, bungie, hipstick, guide arm or a bionic arm to swing the Axiom even using the 13X11" coils. Ergonomics are fantastic.

For me, Deus 2 with the stock shaft system and the 9" coil feels very balanced and lightweight. The same setup with the 11" or 13X11" coil is still lightweight but it is not well balanced. The Equinox 600/800 with stock shaft system, big hand grip that is too vertical and 11" coil was very unbalanced for me. The Equinox 700/900 with stock shaft system, updated hand grip size and angle and 11" coil felt very balanced and nice to swing. The Manticore with everything stock feels lightweight, balanced and very nice to swing. The original Legend with 11" coil felt heavy but balanced. The new updated Legend shaft system, updated arm cuff and LG30 coil feels much lighter than the original and nicely balanced, very similar to the Nox 700/900/Manticore at least to me.

Welcome to this outstanding forum Mark! I enjoy your videos. good hunting. Jeff

Your main settings tools for trying to use Deus 2 FMF Goldfield on really hot ground are Sensitivity, Reactivity, Audio Response and Threshold besides doing a quick ground grab very often. Sometimes running Disc IAR on 1 can help a bit. That is similar to running normal Deus program disc at -5 or so instead of -6.4 and might take care of some of the ferrous ground noise. Running Sensitivity in the mid 80s to around 92 is the sweet spot at one really bad place I hunt. Over 92, sensitivity seems to go into overdrive for me anyway and coil bump noise starts up. Reactivity between 2 and 3 works well here in lots of small magnetite. When it gets to be pebble sized or bigger and is everywhere...............nothing will help that no matter what detector your are using. Keeping the audio response at 3 or below helps me. Running the threshold just high enough to smooth out the background noise also helps me so around 10 is when that starts to happen for my hearing. Keeping the coil a bit off the ground helps too in thick magnetite....maghemite/iron stone for you? I run the VCO audio in high square and Notch OFF If all else fails, try Deus 2 Mono on 40 to 45 kHz, Pitch tones (I like the high square tones personally) sensitivity 90 to start with, disc on -6.4, reactivity 2.5, Silencer 0, Notch OFF, audio response 3, threshold to suit and start from there. To some degree, you will hear everything using Deus 2 FMF Goldfield. Getting rid of unwanted coil bump sensitivity is a good thing if possible. None of this may help at all.....sorry!

It's hard to be relevant for some YouTubers. I appreciate all of Sharpshooters testing, but it's testing. Like you said it might work in real conditions and it also might introduce a lot of iron falsing in higher iron mineralization and in areas with lots of iron targets.

Deus 1 and the ORX had a Salt Mode for some of their programs. That Salt Mode is not included with Deus 2 Mono......maybe something we could ask for. I still agree with the conclusion that Deus 2 Mono Program 7 running as high a frequency as your conditions can stand but probably dry sand only, is more sensitive to smaller targets than Beach Sensitive. With the V2.0 software update, FMF Goldfield is now just as sensitive to small targets as the Mono program running a similar high single frequency. Goldfield is a least using simultaneous multi frequency FMF tech so it might run a little better than the Mono program on dry/damp sand with some adjustments. Beach Sensitive is still really good and the best option for wet sand/light surf from my limited experience.

It's discontinued. I sold that pair of Avantrees when I sold an Equinox 800 last spring. I used them with my Legend some too. Sorry I gave you wrong information. Personally, I think the Nokta Legend headphones are fantastic. They pair easily, have outstanding audio for my hearing and are the best noise cancelling stock metal detector headphones that I have used. Whether they will hold up, so far after nearly 20 months on one pair, yes. The only times that I don't use them are when it's too hot or when I need to hear my surroundings (as in threats from wildlife). I use Aukey EP-B80 BT earbuds for those times. These headphones seal out ambient sound so well that I have difficulty hearing the pinpointers that I use! The Avantree Audition Pros are excellent headphones too. Their noise cancelling is not as good as the stock Nokta Legend headphones. I have had issues with the headband deteriorating pretty fast on the three different Avantree models I've owned.

Supposedly $239 for the M8 in the USA. I am not interested in the M15 so I haven't checked the price yet, sorry.

My BAD. I forgot that I had an earlier version of the Avantrees. It looks almost just like the Audition Pros. It pairs just fine. The Audition Pro set will not. My apologies.

Some things to think about with the Vanquish models and the 540: No, they do not have automatic ground balancing or user ground balancing. They have a preset ground balance range that can internally shift in the background just a bit since they are always running in multi frequency. They do not do very well on high iron mineralized ground. They do okay on salt and moderate iron mineralization. The Vanquish models do not have particularly good target separation so if your hunt site has a lot of iron or modern trash these detectors are not very appropriate. Only the 540 has a high/low iron bias switch and even that is not going to help much in thick iron trash. The 440 and 340 have the equivalent of the 540's high iron bias only. All three models can only run in Multi frequency. There is no single frequency option for a high EMI area. These detectors are battery hogs. You will need lots of spare throw away AAs or good quality rechargeables. These models have outstanding depth and outstandingly accurate non-ferrous target IDs on stand alone targets. They are not very sensitive to sub 0.5 gram targets. The 540 has 5 tone operation. 5 tones might be a bit much for beginners. The 440 has 3 tone operation and is much easier for most newbies and infrequent users. The X-Terra Pro unfortunately only operates in 4 different selectable single frequencies. Its 15 kHz frequency is very close to the Lobo's operating frequency. X-Terra Pro has excellent audio, number of tones, recovery speed, and ground balance options. X-Terra Pro has internal rechargeable battery operation so no need for extra batteries. X-Terra Pro is very good at target separation but not as good as the Vanquish models for target ID accuracy on deeper targets.

I currently own two Avantree Audition Pros. They pair up easily, so not sure what the problem is in your case.

What search mode and settings were you using? Equinox 800 and 900 Gold modes using multi with high sensitivity settings will respond to the human body and organic stuff like manure. The Gold modes will also detect just about any visible metallic detectable object including very small bits of magnetite sand and magnetite grains that are still in host rocks for instance. Frequent manual ground balancing may be needed instead of using tracking ground balance.