Norvics 6000 Initial Impression

[AussieMatt]

On 5/1/2021 at 2:47 AM, alaska detector said:

This may have been answered already, but does the 6000 work with any Bluetooth headset? Let’s say I have a Bose or Sony noise canceling headphones, or even AirPods, would those work with this machine?
 

I rigged up my GM24K with a Garrett MS-3 Z-Lynk headphones/transmitter and it worked pretty well, just a bit kludgy. I’d prefer not to have to install a transmitter, or use specialized headphones if I don’t have to.

Any Bluetooth headset will work but to get the optimal level of low latency you need Bluetooth with the aptX Low Latency codec.

People also need to be aware there is different aptX codecs also. Not all will give the optimal low latency. 

There is also standard aptX, aptX HD, & aptX Adaptive.

Only aptX Low Latency products will connect with the GPX6000 (or Equinox/Vanquish) with lowest available Bluetooth latency. Need to look for aptX-LL on products.

https://www.aptx.com/product-listing?product_category=7&aptx_type=3

Transmitters/receivers:

https://www.aptx.com/product-listing?product_category=8&aptx_type=3

[Jonathan Porter]

22 hours ago, Northeast said:

If using a Bluetooth receiver of some description (APTX Low Latency of course) do you then need a booster of some description or will the receiver run a speaker directly?  My guess is you need the booster to 'drive' the speaker?  Electronics are not my strong point!  ?

JP - personally do you use a B&Z/speaker arrangement with the 6000 or just plug in wired headphones?  The B&Z to give extra volume seems redundant as the 6000 has plenty of volume?  OR, as with the GPZ, is there some benefit to running audio controls lower on the 6000 to maintain a stable machine and then boost the audio after it has left the detector?  

Cheers, N.E.  

I use both depending on the weather, during testing I used wired headphones a lot for continuity when making calls on audio ect (full BT operation did not happen till much later in the build/development cycle), but personally prefer a speaker for our climate. 

I now use the Avantree Rx APTX BT unit just like a WM12 dongle, they come supplied with a lead with a 3.5 mm plug each end and I just add a 6.35 mm adapter to go to the booster input socket. Currently I’ve just been putting the booster in my shirt pocket along with the BT Rx unit and then out to a single GME speaker in my other pocket or clipped to the cross over chest strap if I’m wearing my camelback. IMHO there is really no need for two speakers, the audio on the 6000 is pretty powerful as is so a single speaker in the middle of your chest is more than sufficient.

There is a blend of volume required to get the audio sounding nice and crisp, usually this requires the 6000 volume to be about 2 or 3 then adjust the booster volume to a level where you can easily hear the threshold, I then run the coil over a small surface target and confirm its not overloading and back off a touch from there if required. This method also works really well with Zero threshold when in the Auto+ mode. I tend to use Steves insane settings methodology when using Auto+ with Zero threshold and crank the volumes to bang on the tiniest of bits, the threshold breaks pretty regularly and becomes a pseudo threshold but wow does it smash those tiny targets, a really brilliant method in saturable twitchy ground that unsettles the 6000. You need to keep on the Quick-Trak button often in this mode, balancing regularly, an OCD approach to forcing the GB is highly recommended. ? 

Note: DO NOT USE the Tx module anywhere near the control box of the 6000, insanity will result through the cursed EMI!!

JP

 

[Norvic]

Another couple of days behind the 6000, this time with the BT ML 100 headphones. They pair up effortlessly, perform brilliantly, H/phones take out that EMI that is introduced with the speaker, obviously the speaker is being over driven a bit to get the volume up to levels that allow the speaker to be heard in windy conditions.

The volume is much like the volume on the Z, tis more then just audio gain. Anyhow the ML 100 headphones with their own volume controls, bring those faint signals in clear and stable as and further adds to the magic of the 6000. But I`m looking forward to trying out the Aventree aptX Band and stop those soggy ears that h/phones cause, being a long time user of Steve`s Insane Settings I go for Sens Auto+ and got to say those of you that are hesitant to use Bogenes settings will soon change your ideas, as JP says it "smashes those tiny targets" and at insane depths.

Look out detectorists when ML pack the 6000 features into the next Z or maybe a software upgrade for our existing Zs.

[mn90403]

Norvic,

I have a 'trick' for you on the headphones to keep your ears dry.  I bought one of these hats.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SPZ6237/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 

The material is thin so it doesn't affect the sound coming through the headphones when you wear the headphones outside of the flap.  I have to look for this cap every time I'm on the beach or my infrequent trip to the desert these days.

Mitchel

 

I just ordered another one even tho I can wash and rinse this one in a sink or water fountain it sometimes needs laundry too.

[alaska detector]

22 hours ago, AussieMatt said:

Any Bluetooth headset will work but to get the optimal level of low latency you need Bluetooth with the aptX Low Latency codec.

People also need to be aware there is different aptX codecs also. Not all will give the optimal low latency. 

There is also standard aptX, aptX HD, & aptX Adaptive.

Only aptX Low Latency products will connect with the GPX6000 (or Equinox/Vanquish) with lowest available Bluetooth latency. Need to look for aptX-LL on products.

https://www.aptx.com/product-listing?product_category=7&aptx_type=3

Transmitters/receivers:

https://www.aptx.com/product-listing?product_category=8&aptx_type=3

Thanks Matt, this explains it perfectly.

[Purplehays69]

I have used external speakers for years and have always been a fan. Thanks to input from JP and Lunk, I just ordered Aventree Torus. Was gonna just run with the 6000s external speaker but I do like having speakers on my shoulders under my ears so the Torus should be an amazing fit for me. Thank ya'll for the info n feedback. 

[flakmagnet]

10 hours ago, Norvic said:

or maybe a software upgrade for our existing Zs.

Now that would be a spectacular move by MineLab.

[afreakofnature]

I don’t think a software or firmware update would do it.  Just like PC’s you need more processing power for better improvement.  More chips!  ?

[Norvic]

3 hours ago, flakmagnet said:

Now that would be a spectacular move by MineLab.

I suspect ML know that not in just ergonomics that the 6000 is the new current King, thus they have something up their sleeves, a software update to get the current Z up to speed is the go, or a new lightweight, more ergonomic Z as second choice, Steve and other testers might have a prototype already (I`m an OZ, tis in my DNA to av some wacked fun ? pleeeze put down the axe Steve). Cunning buggers have no competition so to stop it all being boring (and keep shareholders happy) they make their own products compete with each other.