Fisher Impulse AQ vs TDI SL?

[PI-Man]

The info I dug up on this machine I am still thinking my modified TDI SL’s with MJ coils will still beat this thing in the end.  I could be wrong you never know.  Would love to try one side by side, but that will probably not happen.  Actually thought of offering 1k as Steve suggested but I just bit my tongue and said to myself keep the money in my wallet instead.  

Lost track of the Impulse AQ progress or lack of since I have been dealing with health issues the past couple of years.

Does anyone know of any existing information out there on a TDI SL vs Impulse AQ Limited.  Looking for results against a TDI SL that has the larger 16.5V battery and has the sweep speed mods, gain mods, and filter mods done to it etc etc…..y’all know what I mean.  Also targets that are actually buried in land (ground) or beach (sand) no air testing stuff or tubes in ground or sand.  Preferably targets that have been in ground for some time. 

[Jim in Idaho]

That would make an interesting comparison, Gary. I'd like to see that done, myself.

Jim

[bklein]

The TDI is not tuned for gold like the AQ is. So you’ll get more of a broad range of targets with it vs the AQ.  I am hesitant to support this tuning because I don’t really know what it misses as a result - but it does.  I get less coins that a Manticore came behind me and got.  It’s not a depth contest - the AQ goes deep, and works well in black sand. I never tried a TDI, just had/have several whites PI’s.  The AQ probably runs very quiet for a PI too. The TDI has no issues prospecting for gold nuggets, the AQ does. Once set for the beach conditions the AQ is a pleasure to use.  Just sometimes it gets sensitive when you hunt parallel to the waterline and I have to start tweaking knobs to settle it down to withstand my fast swings.  You can put a variety of coils on an AQ but not many do - the connectors are unique and expensive.  I am running a Beach hog 18x4 - but use the Manticore much more often.

[PI-Man]

Jim are you trying to get me to break out another thousand out of my wallet to do the test. 😆 

bklein — great input.   I keep searching for that TDI SL to AQ direct comparison.  I just can never find one anywhere online.  It’s a quest of mine.  I was hoping Fisher would shock the world with the AQ.  Doubt I could lift the TDI big box these day assuming that  is the model you are referencing too above.  I have to swing the TDI SL instead of the old TDI.  That big box would wear me down too quick 😂 

[kac]

One to ask is Carl....

[stateguy]

I know a guy who uses a modified sl. I said this before on this forumwhen he digging a target. He also putting in Chinese order. Not sure what coil he using but not the sl coil. It might be a Minelab coil
I also dont know what MJ coil is. 
I cried many times here about my AQ not going that deep as others claim there are. Its basically collecting dust. I use original whites tdi instead and I dug some deep targets
 

[Jim in Idaho]

13 hours ago, PI-Man said:

Jim are you trying to get me to break out another thousand out of my wallet to do the test. 😆 

 

LOL....no way I'd con you like that, Gary. I'm interested, but not enough to want either of us coughing up money. I'm doing some other weird detecting stuff, so haven't had the SL out in the field for almost a year. This "thinking outside the box" is a real time-eater..ha! Also still working with the dry sluice.....gotta get more time in with that. Afraid I'm going to have to live to 100 to get it all done.

Jim

[Steve Herschbach]

A Fisher impulse AQ is like a finely tuned big box TDI Pro locked in the ground balance off position. It is literally the same technology fine tuned and improved as far as it can go. The ground balance itself has been preset for use more as a discrimination function. Since this is the case you are comparing apples and oranges when comparing to TDI models with a functional ground balance control. The AQ is basically useless except for the beach detecting it was specifically designed for. It acts like and in a beach environment will rival or exceed a big box full power TDI. It will easily outperform a 12V TDI SL in the same environment. If the TDI SL has been modified to bring performance back up to big box standards, mainly by boosting the power supply, then it will get into the ballpark. Again, with ground balance off, which on the TDI series is the most powerful beach mode.

In any situation that requires a functioning ground balance the AQ will fall on its face due to an inability to adjust for and tune out some ground conditions and hot rocks that a normal TDI can handle with ease. But in its environment doing what it does best, an Impulse AQ is a formidable performer. If you have one that is operating properly and if you are not in ground that falls outside its narrow range of preset conditions. Given the history of the unit anyone with a AQ that is exhibiting subpar depth may very well have a defective unit. At the end of the day nobody is going to prove anything if the goal is to prove one better than the other. That will depend on the ground, the hot rocks, and the desired targets. May as well compare a screwdriver to an adjustable wrench. Each has situations where it can excel compared to the other. In general keep the AQ on the beach. The TDI series is by far the more versatile, working well under almost any conditions.

[PI-Man]

7 hours ago, stateguy said:

I know a guy who uses a modified sl. I said this before on this forumwhen he digging a target. He also putting in Chinese order. Not sure what coil he using but not the sl coil. It might be a Minelab coil
I also dont know what MJ coil is. 
I cried many times here about my AQ not going that deep as others claim there are. Its basically collecting dust. I use original whites tdi instead and I dug some deep targets
 

MJ is a Miner John coil — fabulous coils.  That would break my heart n wallet if I bought a machine and it did not work the way you think or told it would.  Hate purchasing paperweights.