mh9162013

I don't see what the big deal is. Are you saying that because N/M took shots at Minelab, Minelab is now motivated even more to produce a better product? And are you saying that N/M's insults to Minelab brought to their attention problems with the Equinox that Minelab wasn't aware of? I presume we'd agree on the fact that Minelab's motivation to product the CTX 3030 replacement or the Equinox 1000 isn't/wasn't affected by N/M marketing insults. I think we'd also agree that Minelanb is aware of the Equinox flaws, even without N/M pointing them out. However, I think N/M taking shots at Minelab is a net positive. Sure, it might annoy some people, but I think one of N/M's biggest hurdles right now is name recognition and brand awareness. By the latter, I'm preferring to people not understanding where N/M's products fit in against the competition. Also, don't forget that Minelab has taken its fair share of shots at Garrett, although perhaps in a more subtle manner. I think it's fair to say amost people currently considering a mid-level and/or SMF metal detector right now are aware of the Equinox and Apex. So whent hey hear about the Legend, they're probably asking themselves, "ok, but why should I buy a Legend when the Apex and Equinox have already been out a while?" I believe these shots at Minelab address that question. Not only do they get more attention ("no news like bad news"), but they succintly tell a prospective customer why they should get the Legend instead of the Equinox.

N/M might be doing what you say they are, but I don't see the issue. Well, I do, but it happens everywhere*,so I guess I don't see it as a big deal. Of course, this assumes no IP laws are being violated and no industrial espionage is taking place here. *Examples: GUI for PCs, space shuttles, smartphones, Sabremetrics, etc.

You didn't watch Garrett's "commercial" with the Apex, did you?

Honest question: why is having a clock on a metal detector so important to many of you? I get the "odometer" and/or timer, knowing how long you've been operating your machine for a given hunt or its entire lifetime. But a clock? You can't check your phone or watch? Is it that your phone is off to avoid interfering with your SMF detector and you don't normally wear a watch? Just asking for a friend...😁

Great point! I could definitely see that happening. A "stunted" SMF Simplex could be a great seller. It'll be like the love-child of the Vanquish and the Simplex. The only hesitation I can see is N/M finding the right balance so this machine doesn't cannibalize too many Legend and Simplex sales. Or maybe they'll just drop the single frequency Simplex altogether and replace it with a SMF version (that's more limited than the Legend, of course).

Probably because the screen is one of those LCD-segmented displays. If it had enough pixels (maybe 300x500 or whatnot), then sure, just change the language settings. But I don't think the screen on the Legend is like that.

I agree, getting what amounts to an Equinox 800 in terms of performance, but maybe an AT Pro/Max in terms of build quality for $635 street? SWEET! But, having comparable performance to MIQ is a tall order, so we'll see how that goes. As for what a used Legend will go for, if it's as good as we hope, you won't find that many used models and if you do, they'll be for close to retail...kind of like how it was with the Equinox a few years ago. I have a feeling that within a year, we're gonna see what Minelab has up their sleeve, though.

I've only found a few spoons. One I kept and actually use to eat with (made out of stainless steel). The rest I've tossed.

I hate not being able to hunt beaches and look for some gold rings. But a silver lining to only being able to hunt in dirt is that the silver coins look good, at least. 😀 I'd still trade a gold ring for a silver coin any day of the week, though!

I have, but I'm not 100% confident about placing the order with the maker, especially since (based on my understanding), I'd have to mail him (her?) the control box/pod of my metal detector. Then there's the language difference and international nature of the transaction. Not sure what kind of buyer protection I'd have if things didn't turn out well. Still very interested in it, though...

Sorry, but I'm not sure what you're asking? If you're asking about selling the AT Max, then yes, I'm most likely going to sell it. If you're interested in buying it, let me know 😄 As for the Fisher F2, no, I'm keeping that one. It's a very sentimental gift and was my first metal detector. I'm not surprised you're gravitating to the Vanquish. If the Vanquish could ground balance, I'd probably never have sold my 540. For shallow hunting in my highly mineralized soil, it does fine (for the most part). But if I want to go deeper than 6 inches or so (depending on the soil profile), it struggles. I love the look and feel of the Vanquish, especially with its cam locks. I've been brain storming how to somehow replace the control box of the Vanquish with the pod of an Equinox without it looking too janky. I know some people mock the Vanquish's red color, but I like it! I don't like how Minelab can't get their plastic dyes to be consistent, but that's the cost of a cheap detector having MIQ, I guess.

I have no doubt a smaller coil would help the AT Max. But then I'd need to put a 6 inch or 5x10 coil on the Equinox to make things somewhat "fair."

Thanks! 1. I held the coil about 1 inch above the nail board. The sweeps were of "moderate" speed. I have no way to quantify this, but it's certainly in line with how I see people swing their coils in their YouTube videos. When "homing in" on a potential target, I will shorten and slow my swing. But when scanning a wide open spot, I will swing at a faster rate. This faster rate is the speed I used for my testing. 2. That's a good question and I don't know the answer to it. I choose lower sensitivities because I was indoors and I know the AT Max can be quite chatty sometimes. And if I recall correctly, the Equinox user manual says to lower sensitivity to 5 or 10 when testing inside. Usually, a 3 out of 8 on the sensitivity scale is enough to keep the AT Max quiet, even in Zero mode. But I also know 2 out of 8 is more than enough sensitivity when hunting tot lots for coins when targets are within 5 inches of my coil. If I had to guess, I would say that increasing the sensitivity of the AT Max wouldn't help. And if it did, it would be minimal. Monte's Nail Board is designed to test a machine's ability to avoid iron masking. So any improvements would need to come from a better recovery speed and/or greater separation ability, neither of which (to my knowledge) are significantly affected by sensitivity, although I could be wrong. I'm confident that if I gave the AT Max the 4.5 inch hockey puck coil or the 5x8 coil, it would have performed better. I don't think it would have matched the Equinox 600 (or maybe it would have, but that wouldn't be a fair comparison, putting a 4.5 inch or 5x8 coil up against an 11 inch coil), but perhaps it would have been close to the Vanquish 340. I was very surprised by how well the 340 performed, then I realized it was using the V8 coil.

Thank you and great points. Even for me, this test isn't the end-all-be all. I did some testing in my yard and local park. The results weren't as obviously in favour of the Equinox 600, but the advantage the Equinox 600 had over the AT Max was clear in terms of VDI stability, depth and overall ease of use. By ease of use, I'm referring to how easy or not-annoying it is to use each machine. The best analogy I have right now in comparing the AT Max and Equinox 600 when it comes to hunting in places I like to hunt (parks and yards) is like trying to complete a jigsaw puzzle. With the AT Max, it's like doing it without your glasses (assuming you're near-sighted). You can do it, but it's slow(er) going. With the Equinox 600 and its recovery speed and improved target recognition (thanks to SMF), it's like doing the jigsaw puzzle with your properly prescribed glasses.

Agreed! I can't count how many times I've set my detector down on grass soaked with dew, only have have it tip over and get the control box wet.

The Vanquish used the V8 coil. The AT Max used the stock coil (8.5 x 11"). The Equinox 600 used the stock coil (11"). As for the Equinox 600's settings, they were the default settings in Park 1, EXCEPT, I reduced the sensitivity to 10 and the Iron Bias was reduced as much as I could (which means I left Fe alone and reduced F2 to zero). And if I recall correctly, in Park 1, the recovery speed is 3 (maxed out). And no, I didn't use the right sized nails. So the ones I had weren't large enough, nor were they small enough (I had to cut some down). So I get this test isn't the most replicable by others (which is one of the primary reasons for Monte's Nail Board). However, I only did this test to compare my detectors; as long as I was consistent between my machines, that was good enough for me.

I did some more testing of the Equinox 600 and the AT Max in my yard, local park and modified Monte's Nail Board. Right now, I'm 98% certain I'm keeping the Equinox 600 and selling the AT Max. Below are my results concerning my series of tests using my modified version of Monte's Nail Board. I'm going to briefly explain my set up, then provide my results. But TL;DR: the Equinox 600 handily beat the AT Max. My Monte's Nail Board is "special" because I have it set up where I will use a clad dime as the "high tone" target and it's on a plastic tube so the metal detector can be tested with the dime on the same plane as the nails, as well as about 2.5 inches below the nail. At the very bottom are some pics of the modified Monte Nail Board set up. Legend: Coin Position 1 (Up) = the dime is in the middle coin position, but the dime is on the same plane as the nails. Coin Position 1 (Down) = the dime is in the middle coin position, but the dime is below the plane (about 2.5 inches) the nails are on. Coin Position 2 (Up) = the dime is in the side coin position, but the dime is on the same the plane nails are on. Coin Position 2 (Down) = the dime is in the side coin position, but the dime is below the plane (about 2.5 inches) the nails are on. 4 = The metal detector gave a tone and/or VDI response that would definitely result in me digging the target. 3 = The metal detector gave a tone and/or VDI response that would likely result in me digging the target. 2 = The metal detector gave a tone and/or VDI response that would likely result in me NOT digging the target. 1 = The metal detector gave a tone and/or VDI response that would definitely result in me NOT digging the target. When tested, the AT Max was set up so I notched out everything below 65 (so I was in Custom mode), Iron Audio off and sensitivtiy at 2 (out of 8). I also ran the test in Zero mode, but the results were worse (1s all around). The AT Max was using the stock coil (8.5 x 11). Coin Position 1 (Up): Sweep 1: 2 Sweep 2: 1 Sweep 3: 1 Sweep 4: 1 Coin Position 1 (Down): Sweep 1: 1 Sweep 2: 1 Sweep 3: 1 Sweep 4: 1 Coin Position 2 (Up): Sweep 1: 1 Sweep 2: 1 Sweep 3: 1 Sweep 4: 1 Coin Position 2 (Down): Sweep 1: 1 Sweep 2: 1 Sweep 3: 1 Sweep 4: 1 When tested, the Equinox 600 was set up in Park 1 where everything was stock, except I adjusted F2 = 0. Sensitivity was at 10 (out of 25). The Equinox 600 was using the stock (11") coil. Coin Position 1 (Up): Sweep 1: 4 Sweep 2: 1 Sweep 3: 3 Sweep 4: 4 Coin Position 1 (Down): Sweep 1: 4 Sweep 2: 1 Sweep 3: 1 Sweep 4: 1 Coin Position 2 (Up): Sweep 1: 4 Sweep 2: 2 Sweep 3: 2 Sweep 4: 2 Coin Position 2 (Down): Sweep 1: 4 Sweep 2: 1 Sweep 3: 1 Sweep 4: 1 I also tested the Vanquish 340 (and the Fisher F2, but that scored 1s all around). The 340 was in Coin mode with sensitivity at 1 (out of 4). I was also using the V8 coil with it. Coin Position 1 (Up): Sweep 1: 4 Sweep 2: 3 Sweep 3: 3 Sweep 4: 3 Coin Position 1 (Down): Sweep 1: 1 Sweep 2: 1 Sweep 3: 1 Sweep 4: 1 Coin Position 2 (Up): Sweep 1: 1 Sweep 2: 1 Sweep 3: 2 Sweep 4: 1 Coin Position 2 (Down): Sweep 1: 1 Sweep 2: 1 Sweep 3: 1 Sweep 4: 1

Online sellers are fine to use, but to make sure they're on the up and up, check to see if they're authorized sellers. Minelab's website should have a list of its authorized sellers. I think you can search that list by country.

Good to know, thanks!

I never use the pinpoint function on metal detectors. Well, sometimes, if I'm bored...

If I got the Arrow coil, it would be to find coins that are only a few inches deep; I wouldn't expect it to find coins deeper than 3 inches in my soil. So I'm not too worried about the lack of ground balancing. As for which Ace to get, that's good to know about the models lacking the VDI/TID. But it looks like even the Ace 200 has a VDI. It's almost as if the Ace 200 is like a single frequency Vanquish 340. If I am in the market for an Ace, I'll make note to avoid the 150, 250 and 350.

Tell me about it! And that's a great deal you got on the Simplex and Ace 300.

Used Garrett Aces are a dime a dozen. If someone in my area is selling one, I'm sure I can get an Ace 150/200 for $75-$100, Ace 250/300 for $100-$125 or an Ace 350/400 for $125-$150. I'll have to be patient, but for those prices, I'll pass on the Simplex. Of course, if I find a used Simplex for really cheap, I'm open to buying that, too.

Agreed

B/c I can sell the AT Max, buy an Ace, then still have cash left over.