Chase Goldman

No worries, Chuck. The feeling is mutual. I like your freewheeling style of posting. If I didn't, I wouldn't be responding to your posts . Was just pointing out that the Vanquish does need to do high frequencies even if it isn't a gold detector, because they are advertising it can find gold rings too. Multi IQ has the ability to do that because it uses a range of two or more frequencies (ML doesn't specify) from low to high (ostensibly anywhere between 5 to 40 khz if Equinox is any indication), simultaneously. But ML has not seen fit to give us the secret formula on what frequencies they DO use and how they combine them (to keep the competition guessing). So unless the Vanquish is set up to use individual frequencies (which it appears to not be able to do), ML is likely not going to post any frequencies for the machine. So what is considered high frequency as far as Vanquish Multi IQ is concerned will likely remain a mystery, for now. HTH.

That's not how Multi IQ works, you still need a higher frequency profile for jewelry and mid-conductive relics, so I suspect those modes emulate the Equinox Park 2 and Field 2 modes. Multi IQ Frequency is irrelevant, frankly. What is a key missing ingredient, though is being able to go to single frequency and that advantage is key and could result in the ACE series or Simplex being superior to Vanquish under certain circumstances. Lack of basic pinpointing on the 340 and other limitations almost makes it even less relevant than the GO FIND for entry level detecting. Wish they had just dumped the 340 and focused on squeezing a few more features into the 440 to make it more competitive with Simplex while keeping the price at $279, namely wireless and IP67 waterproof. No excuse for not doing that these days if for no other reason than you don't want to trash your detector if shallow water hunting by simply dropping the thing in the drink and having a water immediately enter the control housing. Not good. Comparing the V440 to the Ace 400, Vanquish appears to be the winner based on specs. Comparing the 440 to the Simplex, Nokta/Makro edges it despite Multi IQ on the 440, too many other compromises, IMO. Inability to switch off IRON BIAS completely is not a good thing.

The Vanquish uses Multi IQ which is a proprietary multi frequency scheme used by Minelab on the Equinox and Vanquish detectors. The Multi IQ frequency profile is not specified and varies depending on the mode selected. Similar to Equinox, I expect the Vanquish Relic and Jewelry modes would tend to favor higher frequencies for mid-conductive (i.e., brass, lead, gold, nickel) and small profile relic and jewelry targets, whereas the Coin and Beach modes tend to favor lower frequencies for high conductive silver, copper, and clad targets. HTH. btw - can't find where ML advertises that the 540 provides "a customizable frequency range setting" in the official specs. Looks like something Kellyco threw in their description but it really doesn't make sense in the context of Multi IQ as I explained above.

OK - so the big reveal has occurred and now it is time to start discussing what we know, what we don't, what we want to know (Equinox cross compatibility), the good, the bad, the ugly (definitely ugly) of the new Vanquish series. Here is the link to the specs. From there you can deep dive into each model and get more information. Some interesting tidbits about the 540 (I will focus on the 540 because it the full up model that is most comparable to Equinox). What I like: The standard/accessory coils look great, hoping for Equinox cross compatibility (V12 12" x 9" Double-D, V10 10" x 7" Double-D, V8 8" x 5" Double-D) Not a big fan of the housing but like the stem Good basic entry level detector. If you consider that two coils and wireless phones are included on the 540 pro pack, then the $499 US seems reasonable. Like thd red backlight. What I don't like: While I understand this is entry level, I really struggle with some of what is left off the detector -specifically single frequency operation appears to be absent. Iron Bias - fine, I guess, except you can't turn it off. Would have rather seen variable recovery speed, which also appears absent. 5 Tones only (cannot be reduced to 2 or 3, or increased above 5 and tone breaks are probably not adjustable either). I can live without greater than 5 tones, but locking into 5 and not being able to reduce to 3 or 2 is a tad disappointing. Questions and other Tidbits It looks like ground balancing is automatic Multi IQ compensation (not auto tracking, but auto Multi IQ balanced - i.e., what you get when you leave GB at 0 on the Equinox). Speculating here. Don't know what "Custom" search mode means because there is not much you can adjust. Not clear what audio accessories are included with the 540/540 Pro other than non-descript wireless headphones are included with the 540 pro. Note only 25 disc segments, so individual TIDs cannot be notched out. 540 Uses Rechargeable NiMH AA batteries. Not sure if they can be charged while installed or if they have to be charged externally. 340/440 use standard alkaline cells though I suppose you could put your own NiMH cells in there. Kellyco is advertising "Early 2020" availability and the following price points V340 = $199, V440 = $279, V540 = $369, and V540 Pro Pack (includes V8 and V12 coils and BT APTX LL Phones) = $499. I think the V440 most closely aligns with Simplex but lacks the wireless audio and total submersibility of the Simplex. Simplex lacks Multi Frequency. Pick your poison. Note that the coils are waterproof to only "1 m (3 ft.)" Not sure whether this is because the entire detector cannot be submerged (the housing needs a rain cover) so there is no need to specify anything greater or if the coils truly cannot be submerged deeper than 1 m, which would limit their usefulness as underwater coils with the Equinox, if they are even compatible in the first place. The limitations, though expected, really make the Equinox 600 look like a CTX vs.even the 540. Lol. More to come when I have a chance to provide a more detailed comparison of features between the Equinox 600 and the Simplex. Click on image below for larger version... Minelab Vanquish Controls & Displays All Models Minelab Vanquish 340 Detector Database Entry Minelab Vanquish 440 Detector Database Entry Minelab Vanquish 540 Detector Database Entry

Wouldn't mind any of those coils on my Equinox, frankly. LOL - someone forgot to post model numbers on the comparison chart. But obvious to figure out. Starting a new thread...for discussion and speculation now.

It will be posted if anyone knows anything. Check back after the festival is over this weekend to see if any announcements were made.

Hope it also has single frequency, too (most likely). Still a lot of questions (e.g., what are the actual dimensions of those elliptical coils, are the Vanquish multi IQ search profiles subsets of the Equinox profiles, price, accessory cross compatibility), can't wait for that website link to go live.

Chuck. Yes I have the 6". If the 8" is elliptical (e.g., 8x10 or 8x11 or even 6x8) like the other 2 Vanquish coils shown and if they are compatible with Equinox, I will have found the perfect Equinox everyday coil. The 6" is fine but the limited 6" if swing coverage vs. an elliptical coil makes it a study in frustration for me in any situation other than searching around stationary obstacles or in other confined areas.

Chuck - is this a word jumble puzzle? [jk - I think I know what you meant - basically there haven't been many detectors you haven't thought weren't worth at least a buy and a try, so your dealer(s) will be sad to see you go some day]

That is a good question. The "auto-tune" feature that enables a detector to not have to be constantly retuned is a convenience feature that resulted in the boon of motion based induction balance detectors in the 80's. Detectorists were enamored with not having to futz with re-tuning their detectors to provide the ideal threshold level which was easily thrown off by various things including drift in the detector circuitry to changing the height of the coil above the ground or changes in ground characteristics. This ultimately resulted in silent sweep detectors where the threshold was eliminated completely. The problem with auto tune was that the coil DID have to remain in continuous motion in order to hear the target otherwise the auto tune circuit would cancel out the target signal. Having a true threashold and non-motion detection without the benefit of autotuning results in the most sensitive detector overall. So the autotune circuit does tend to reduce sensitivity because it manipulates the output requiring swing motion vs. a true all metal, non-motion mode, but not because signal processing filtering is going on, in the strictest sense of what "filtering" means. Steve's article on Threshold Autotune, Sat, and V/Sat explains the background on how induction balance detectors evolved from primarily non-motion mode to motion mode, a lot better than I did here.

Ain't that the truth. I could see myself getting a Vanquish for the sole purpose of repurposing the coils and shaft for Equinox duty, for example. Lol.

Regarding the coils, I guess it depends on the the Multi IQ frequency implementation, but it seems to me that a Multi IQ coil should be compatible across detectors at first blush. That may likely be the case in the long run, but I would also not hold my breath that these would be available any sooner than Equinox was when it was also announced at Detectival. So we are probably looking at Jan/Feb 2020 availability, though I would imagine ML would like to have a Holiday release. Anyway, fun to be able to watch from the sidelines on this one as I am pretty content with my detector arsenal for the first time in a long time. I really am not itching for anything soon. Perhaps a multi IQ variant of the CTX/E-Trac, but still, it is not a burning desire at this point. Really just want to focus on detecting rather than detector acquisition, and it has been that way pretty much since the Equinox came out in early 2018, which is the longest I have gone in awhile without a major detector purchase.

Also, it would be interesting to see if the Equinox control head could be somehow mounted on that Vanquish shaft.

I want that 8" elliptical coil that comes with the 540 Pro Pack for my Equinox!!!

I think it does depend on the detector. I think in the pure audio mixed mode implementations that Mike was referring to as the more traditional mixed mode implementation, you do no lose anything. AM on the F75 is AM and the AM audio is unaffected even though you do get a visual target ID. The issue arises regarding whether the detector in "All Metal" is truly giving a raw, unfiltered all metal audio signal or simply processed audio but devoid of any "discrimination" filtering. In other words, no discrimination "pseudo All Metal" does not necessarily equate to "true All Metal" where no signal processing/filtering is occurring. In the former, even though there is no discrimination filtering occurring, there may be other signal processing/filtering going on. I think the Equinox is a good example of this as well as the Deus, where a true all metal audio output is more a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) audio that is proportional to signal strength (volume) and phase shift (pitch) of the target signal. The Equinox does not do this when all discrimination is removed (even in the pseudo VCO audio of gold mode) and with the Deus, even though a VCO output is provided in Gold Field mode (perhaps the closest thing on the Deus to true all metal) the signal is still processed through various signal processing filters.

Get better Busho, sounds nasty. Glad you were able to get out and recover some nice saves. Nothing like gold on the coil to help you feel better.

Jeff, The iron volume thing in gold mode on the ORX is interesting AND opens up some possibilities with the ORX that I hadn't considered before. Deus does not have a gold field mode iron volume setting. It is pure vco pitch audio with visual TID with selectable Iron Audio Reject which tends to break up the pitch signal. IAR is pretty much useless to me in highly mineralized ground because at depths beyond 4 inches or so, everything looks ferrous or mixed ferrous so the IAR just breaks up the pitch signal. If IAR as implemented on the ORX simply breaks up the iron audio grunt somewhat, that makes it very useful as a "two-tone" pitch mode like I have used on the regular discrimination modes on Deus. Going to have to give this a run on my next relic hunt. Thanks for pointing that out.

Understood. It is addressed as an alternative implementation in Steve’s article on the subject of mixed mode, which I linked to so I covered it that way in my response for completeness. Understand there are varied opinions as to whether or not some consider that implementation mixed mode. I think all that matters to those who care about the feature is to simply understand whether it is implemented solely in audio (the more “typical” or traditional sense) or as AM mixed with discriminated visual TID and choose the detector that has implementation that works best for them.

1. In metal detecting, there are no absolutes because there are so many variables to account for and that are not under your control. So take all advice with a grain of salt, including what is to follow. 2. Location, Location, Location. A good site, research, detective work, understanding how people lose things, and experience trump good equipment. If the targets are not there, no machine can help you. 3. Depth is not everything. 4. Getting a detector that has the ability to impart target information via nuanced audio is more advantageous than super precise target ID numbers. Learning the audio language of your detector can often tell you a lot more than a memorizing target ID numbers. 5. Coil control and coverage help give you control over the audio and ensure you get your coil over the maximum number of targets. Overlap your swing and move forward slowly to minimize missed coverage. Often coil coverage is more important than depth, so elliptical coils than can provide that coverage without the added weight of a circular coil of the same diameter as the length of a coil can be advantageous. 6. No site is ever really played out. Targets are masked by junk. No one truly gets their coil over every square inch of ground, and natural and man-made forces such as frost heave, rain drops, plant growth, plowing, and erosion all keep targets constantly moving in the ground. 7. Increasing sensitivity above default settings often just results in more noise, not more depth. 8. If you have the luxury of taking your time with a site, then do so. Visit it repeatedly. Use different detectors, different settings, different coils, and different walking patterns and you be rewarded. Also, see 5 and 6. 9. Use your head when surveying a site. Look for the iron nails you would normally throw in the scrap heap, because they are telltale signs of human presence. Look for high point where people would choose to dwell. Look for water sources. Research the geology of the site if looking for natural precious metals. Look for places where people would choose to rest or gather. On the beach focus on entry points, the standard towel line, refreshment stands, life guard stands, umbrella and chair concessions, cuts that show erosion to old sand and hard pan, know the tides, and check the weather. 10. Learn your detector inside and out. Start with some standard settings. Generally, stick with the defaults until you understand what the settings do and then incrementally adjust to experiment with them. Avoid switching detectors, settings, and modes often unless you know them well otherwise you reset your learning curve. 11. Take nothing for granted (see1) and remember that the best discriminator is your eyes, so when it doubt, dig it out. 12. Try to leave any site the way you found it, if possible. Replace your plugs and pack out both the recovered trash and keepers. 13. Take time to stop and enjoy the scenery and solitude. I detect mainly to get away from the stress of daily life, so the last thing I want to do is make detecting a source of stress by pushing myself or turning the outing into a contest with my hunting buddies, unless that is what we collectively want to do that day, for fun. 14. Be safe. Avoid detecting alone in remote places unless someone knows where you are and when you plan to be back. Carry plenty of water and other necessities for outdoor adventuring. Know your limits. Don't trespass, seek permission. Don't poach someone else's permission. Know the detecting laws wherever you hunt. 15. Join or support a local detecting club. You can learn from the members, meet some great people, and get connections to some great sites. Contribute your knowledge or participate in online forums, like this awesome site. 16.. Most important: Do have fun.

You are not not imagining things. Rubber tire mulch in playgrounds is a thing and is controversial from a health perspective. That being said, the steel wire belt material is supposed to be removed from the rubber used for playground mulch, but the process appears to be only 99.9% effective at removing the metal. This means that in tire rubber mulch playgrounds you may encounter some random bits of wire. Here is an article on the topic: https://www.playgroundprofessionals.com/surfaces/rubber/rubber-tire-mulch-hazard-or-harmless203

Lol, Chuck, you wear me out. Yes your self contradictions tend to cause the threads to run in circles. Enjoy blocking out your numbers. Cheers and out. .

Get the Whites. The fewer Equinox users I run into out there the better, at least that is what my Equinox 800 tells me in my wireless headphones.

The button doesn't "say" reject on the label but that is what it is called and does. I don't know about you getting old, Chuck, but perhaps you didn't own it long enough to learn it? Regarding full circle, dunno what you mean by that because like I said earlier, notch is not a feature I use much so can take it or leave it, single number or bundled it makes no diff to me one way or the other. Discrimination, on the other hand, well...starting that discussion up again I guess would mean we are going around in circles....and you are frankly wearing me out discussing basic metal detector features, so I must be the one getting old.

Not a Whites detector, but you can do that exact thing with the Equinox.

Like how Nokta provides wireless module compatibility across its entire detector line unlike at least one of its prominent competitors.