Jeff McClendon Posted June 18 Share Posted June 18 Price structure is way better than I thought it would be. All models without wireless headphones. MAP price. VX5 $450. VX7 $535. VX9 $600. I am okay with these detectors not having a gold prospecting mode and it makes sense with Garrett's Axiom and Garrett's Goldmaster 24K being highly competitive. I am not ruling out the VX9 for makeshift gold prospecting either with the Ripper coil. What scares me: ---the Apex is $424 without wireless headphones and Garrett's chief engineer went on and on about how the Apex multi frequency tech would handle highly mineralized dirt in the Apex release video. I certainly did not experience that happening where I detect. The Apex was honestly very disappointing in that regard both for target ID accuracy and depth. Hopefully for just a little more money, the Vortex models will live up to the ground handling, target ID accuracy and depth statements made by Mr. Weaver during Vortex release video ---the Vortex VX9 sounds like is has a very similar 5 tone audio system to the Apex from the release video demonstrations and from the one tester video posted on YouTube so far. 5 tones being the only choice on the Apex is a big flaw. Hopefully there are more choices than just 5 tones for the VX9. I don't mind supporting Garrett one bit even if the VX9 is basically less detector than the Legend and about equal to the Equinox 600 at least on paper. I bought and quickly sold two Apex detectors. One was pre-update and I purchased the other after the update and coil issues were settled. I saw no difference where I detect. I will save up some money to buy a VX9 if it appears to be a legitimate mineralized ground detector with accurate target IDs at depth like Mr. Weaver claimed. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Past Member Posted June 18 Share Posted June 18 The first and third lines are the ferrous scales with the same ID range. Why two lines instead of one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Herschbach Posted June 18 Share Posted June 18 It’s in the video. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Past Member Posted June 18 Share Posted June 18 Ah I see. Ferrous with stronger nonferrous characteristics goes on the 1st line and ferrous with weaker nonferrous characteristics goes on the 3rd line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Herschbach Posted June 19 Share Posted June 19 26 minutes ago, Digalicious said: Ah I see. Ferrous with stronger nonferrous characteristics goes on the 1st line and ferrous with weaker nonferrous characteristics goes on the 3rd line. It is two dimensional. You do get all target indications on all scales simultaneously. As we know bottle caps and other flat stuff can mimic coins. Good non-ferrous reads middle line, simple ferrous the lower line. But the bottlecap reads across all three scales at the same time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AirmetTango Posted June 19 Share Posted June 19 2 hours ago, Steve Herschbach said: …And don’t be surprised if across the board free updates add to and modify the feature set over the next year or two. Maybe even a V11 with a completely different screen and feature set altogether? What’s not to like about all that? Overall, I agree and I like what Garrett has done with this progressive upgrade option - I think it has several legitimate benefits for the user. I especially like that Garrett did a solid by keeping the total upgrade price the same as if you just purchased the higher model from the start - excellent consumer friendly move. My only question would be how future updates would be handled. I trust that Garrett would certainly issue free bug squashing updates, but what about any possible added features down the road? Let’s say Garrett develops adjustable tones or adjustable iron bias for the Vortex - does that get released as a free update, or does Garrett charge a modest fee? Does it set a new precedent for the industry in general if Garrett’s new update pricing model is as successful as it might be? Don’t get me wrong - I don’t begrudge any company making a profit or reaping some reward for a good update. But as a consumer, it is a nice perk when manufacturers occasionally add new features to a machine at no charge to the user - something we’ve maybe gotten a little spoiled by in the last few years of user updatable detectors. The more I think about it, I’m not necessarily sure a modest fee for good updates would be a bad thing - it could give manufacturers added incentive to develop and release more frequent updates to aging but still viable models. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Herschbach Posted June 19 Share Posted June 19 On 6/18/2024 at 5:10 PM, AirmetTango said: Overall, I agree and I like what Garrett has done with this progressive upgrade option - I think it has several legitimate benefits for the user. I especially like that Garrett did a solid by keeping the total upgrade price the same as if you just purchased the higher model from the start - excellent consumer friendly move. My only question would be how future updates would be handled. I trust that Garrett would certainly issue free bug squashing updates, but what about any possible added features down the road? Let’s say Garrett develops adjustable tones or adjustable iron bias for the Vortex - does that get released as a free update, or does Garrett charge a modest fee? Does it set a new precedent for the industry in general if Garrett’s new update pricing model is as successful as it might be? Don’t get me wrong - I don’t begrudge any company making a profit or reaping some reward for a good update. But as a consumer, it is a nice perk when manufacturers occasionally add new features to a machine at no charge to the user - something we’ve maybe gotten a little spoiled by in the last few years of user updatable detectors. The more I think about it, I’m not necessarily sure a modest fee for good updates would be a bad thing - it could give manufacturers added incentive to develop and release more frequent updates to aging but still viable models. They need to tread the line carefully. Bug fixes have to be free. But features? I would not do minor stuff, I would have the current versions fixed in stone except for bug fixes, or maybe a minor tweak that applies to all three models for free. Other than that, big updates for a fee. Don't know, not my problem, but does not look like they are going to be greedy about given the price structure so far. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bohemia Miner Posted July 6 Share Posted July 6 On 6/18/2024 at 11:19 AM, phrunt said: A thing that puzzles me, salt modes on the higher models, yet you can buy an Ace Apex and hit the salt well. The Apex is the top of the ACE line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bohemia Miner Posted July 6 Share Posted July 6 On 6/18/2024 at 9:42 AM, Ridge Runner said: I said they on another post that we need the US tester come on here and let us hear his opinion being he’s a first user on here. Chuck One Tester on the East Coast said "It's nothing like the Apex. It's different" The comment starts around 6:40. YouTube Channel = Adventure Archeology 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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