X-Terra Pro - Do We Need Another Single Frequency Detector?

[Chase Goldman]

2 minutes ago, TedinVT said:

Agreed, Chase. No headphone packages available, yet. And ML recommends the ML85 phones which I haven't found sold separately, yet. Yes, they'll probably be in the $139 price area when available. BUT, if the plan is to dedicate the machine as a water hunter, the wired waterproof Nox, etc. headphones we already have will work with the X-Terra.

Makes sense.  Just make sure you're good with its performance in the water and not just wet salt sand if you need it to do both.  It looks really promising, I would just need to see some actual submerged salt water detecting demonstrations with it to be sure.  Otherwise, it's definitely a no-brainer for all the other reasons discussed.  GL HH

[Past Member]

From what I've seen, the X-Terra was very quite on the salt beach, although depth was lacking compared to the SMF detectors.

How is a SF detector so quite on the beach? Is it some unique salt algorithm, or perhaps when in Beach Mode, the sensitivity is significantly lowered and the recovery speed significantly raised? (both of which would account for the quietness and mediocre depth).

 

[Chase Goldman]

45 minutes ago, Digalicious said:

From what I've seen, the X-Terra was very quite on the salt beach, although depth was lacking compared to the SMF detectors.

How is a SF detector so quite on the beach? Is it some unique salt algorithm, or perhaps when in Beach Mode, the sensitivity is significantly lowered and the recovery speed significantly raised? (both of which would account for the quietness and mediocre depth).

 

From the User Guide, Xterra somehow identifies "residual salt response" and assigns a "0" TID using it's "specialist salt noise rejection configuration", whatever that means.  It looks like the main difference between Beach Profile 1 (Wet and Dry Sand) and Beach Profile 2 (Underwater and Surf) is Profile 2 has a higher default recovery speed.  Black sand is more problematic without the benefit of Multi-IQ, as your only recourse after ground balancing is to reduce sensitivity.

Salt balance capability is not solely limited to simultaneous multifrequency detectors.  The Fisher F19/Technetics G2+/etc single frequency machine is known for its ability to balance well in salt sand and the Tarsacci MDT 8000, a multiple selectable table single frequency machine is specifically designed to have a salt balance adjustment separate from its ground balance adjustment.  So it can be done, with some limitations.

 

 

The Xterra Pro user guide can be downloaded here:

https://www.minelab.com/usa/metal-detectors/x-terra-pro

[Past Member]

Thanks for all that Chase ?

So ya, lowering the sensitivity and raising the recovery speed seem to be two major characteristics in beach mode. As such (and with the other MF/SF detectors you mentioned), is depth loss a given with those detectors, when compared to the modern SMF detectors in salt / black sand conditions?

 

[Chase Goldman]

1 hour ago, Digalicious said:

Thanks for all that Chase ?

So ya, lowering the sensitivity and raising the recovery speed seem to be two major characteristics in beach mode. As such (and with the other MF/SF detectors you mentioned), is depth loss a given with those detectors, when compared to the modern SMF detectors in salt / black sand conditions?

 

The Tarsacci is a niche detector and some avid beach detectorists feel it is very close in performance to SMF detectors.  The F19 can run pretty stable on the beach with little need to reduce sensitivity extensively, but at 19 khz operating frequency it is probably not as deep as SMFs on high conductors.  But I haven't really heard if anyone who would take an F19 or equivalent over a Nox or similar SMF.  HTH.

[TedinVT]

1 hour ago, Chase Goldman said:

From the User Guide, Xterra somehow identifies "residual salt response" and assigns a "0" TID using it's "specialist salt noise rejection configuration", whatever that means.  It looks like the main difference between Beach Profile 1 (Wet and Dry Sand) and Beach Profile 2 (Underwater and Surf) is Profile 2 has a higher default recovery speed.  Black sand is more problematic without the benefit of Multi-IQ, as your only recourse after ground balancing is to reduce sensitivity.

Salt balance capability is not solely limited to simultaneous multifrequency detectors.  The Fisher F19/Technetics G2+/etc single frequency machine is known for its ability to balance well in salt sand and the Tarsacci MDT 8000, a multiple selectable table single frequency machine is specifically designed to have a salt balance adjustment separate from its ground balance adjustment.  So it can be done, with some limitations.

 

 

The Xterra Pro user guide can be downloaded here:

https://www.minelab.com/usa/metal-detectors/x-terra-pro

Good stuff! Thanks for filling in the blanks!

[Jeff McClendon]

46 minutes ago, Chase Goldman said:

The Tarsacci is a niche detector and some avid beach detectorists feel it is very close in performance to SMF detectors.  The F19 can run pretty stable on the beach with little need to reduce sensitivity extensively, but at 19 khz operating frequency it is probably not as deep as SMFs on high conductors.  But I haven't really heard if anyone who would take an F19 or equivalent over a Nox or similar SMF.  HTH.

I still own my Tek G2+. No, I would not prefer it to any of the latest SMF detectors at a saltwater beach. Same goes for the Simplex, Deus 1, ORX and any other single frequency even if it has a so called salt mode especially if there is even moderate black sand. The G2+ could handle down to 8" maximum depth at the east and west coast beaches I have used it and an F19 on and that was dry to damp sand only. Very wet sand and surf where I was using them.....forget it.

Anybody thinking the X-Terra Pro is going to rival these SMFs for depth in wet salt sand or submerged in saltwater probably needs to think again.

I am seeing people on other forums (not this one) going goo goo gah gah over the X-Terra Pro like it is an Equinox 700/900 Lite and is the deal of the century. It may look like an Equinox but without Multi IQ SMF tech, it is absolutely not an Equinox Lite. 

Instead it is basically a V-Flex selectable single frequency detector that is waterproof, lightweight, with a collapsable shaft system with good coil selection, some other good features and at a very good price. 

It is another nail in the coffin for the current Garrett AT series in my opinion for anyone that is paying attention just like the Simplex was. It also does a number on any VLF offering from FTP using frequencies at or lower than 19 kHz.

[Chase Goldman]

24 minutes ago, Jeff McClendon said:

Anybody thinking the X-Terra Pro is going to rival these SMFs for depth in wet salt sand or submerged in saltwater probably needs to think again.

I am seeing people on other forums (not this one) going goo goo gah gah over the X-Terra Pro like it is an Equinox 700/900 Lite and is the deal of the century. It may look like an Equinox but without Multi IQ SMF tech, it is absolutely not an Equinox Lite. 

Not only is it "da bomb" at salt beaches, Jeff, it easily nails sub gram gold too!  This is a game changer!

  

[George1971]

So, if you had only one choice, what would you buy as all around metal detector, Vanquish 540 or X-Terra Pro?