Jump to content

Recommended Posts


1 hour ago, Jeff McClendon said:

This is reality at the moment in the USA on January 2nd, 2025.

A person can buy a Garrett Vortex VX9 on Amazon and many other areas online or at your brick and mortar dealer for $599 US. No headphones or extra coils included.

81rUoVrkEtL._AC_SL1500_.thumb.jpg.0cf1ba369ef998fa3fbe84d2d38feab0.jpg

 

 

 

For $595 on Amazon and other places, you can buy a Nokta Legend with no headphones or extra coils BUT with a very good pinpointer.

71ItGHZtRML._AC_SL1500_.thumb.jpg.adaafdf58e5dd054a88897957789752b.jpg

 

I am not in the market for a new detector right now.

If I was, I know which one I would buy.

Just look closely at the photos and forget about performance and features.  Look closely at the shaft systems, locking mechanisms, plastics quality, etc. 

Okay.

Right now, the Nokta Legend is Nokta's flagship VLF SMF detector and for what one gets for the price, a buyer is getting an incredible deal on a very fine detector with the bugs iron out. It's basically an Equinox 800 but with no leaking, no coil ear problems, a great carbon fiber shaft system, every possible feature that a person could ever want and some that they will never use and it comes with a pinpointer that has ferrous/non ferrous audio discrimination.

The only things on the VX9 that are debatably nicer than the Legend are the display, user interface and the robust coil construction. Otherwise, the Vortex VX9 is not a flagship quality detector. Its build quality in my opinion is not as nice as the Apex or the AT Series.

As far as actual performance between the two and I own two Legends and spent a week with a borrowed VX9, there is simply no way to even have a conversation about it. They are that far apart.

This is actually good news and really may mean that something even better (at least as far as build quality) is in store from Garrett as far as a flagship SMF VLF detector. Hopefully if that happens, it will have performance to match.

Didn't they say about those same words about the Apex & Vortex before it came out?

  • The title was changed to Garrett VX9 Nokta Legend Pricing January 2nd, 2025

A very fair and accurate assessment of the the VX9, Jeff.  I don't think it was ever intended to be a flagship model but rather a replacement for the AT Pro. 

You comment about the Legend being equal to an 800 is quite a compliment to Nokta since their goal from the start was to compete with that detector.  Having reached that goal I wonder what their next target will be after their upcoming PI.  Nokta certainly has come out with some very nice inexpensive detectors but I have to wonder what they could come up with to go against the Manticore or Deus II. 

Always fun to speculate.  Thanks for this post.

Bill

  • Like 5

For the features available on the VX9, I think the Nokta Triple Score is a better comparison. Legend is a step up offering gold mode and a few other things the Triple Score and VX9 doesn't. A person can get a Triple Score with headphones and an extra coil for $499 and it's light years ahead of the Vortex in performance. I have them both and it's sad to say but Garrett has really screwed up with the VX series. Build quality, performance, and overall ergonomics on the Triple Score are superior to the Vortex in almost every way. The only thing the Vortex has going for it IMO is the easy to navigate menu.

IMG_0585.jpeg

  • Like 6
  • Thanks 1
3 hours ago, abenson said:

For the features available on the VX9, I think the Nokta Triple Score is a better comparison. Legend is a step up offering gold mode and a few other things the Triple Score and VX9 doesn't. A person can get a Triple Score with headphones and an extra coil for $499 and it's light years ahead of the Vortex in performance. I have them both and it's sad to say but Garrett has really screwed up with the VX series. Build quality, performance, and overall ergonomics on the Triple Score are superior to the Vortex in almost every way. The only thing the Vortex has going for it IMO is the easy to navigate menu.

IMG_0585.jpeg

In my opinion after using a VX9, the only detectors that are remotely apples to apples as far as a direct performance and features comparison with the VX9 are the Garrett Apex and Nokta Score. I would pick the Score over the VX9 or Apex at this point. 

  • Like 4
20 minutes ago, Jeff McClendon said:

In my opinion after using a VX9, the only detectors that are remotely apples to apples as far as a direct performance and features comparison with the VX9 are the Garrett Apex and Nokta Score. I would pick the Score over the VX9 or Apex at this point. 

Yes that's the sad truth Jeff. I actually had my Vanquish 340 (with 7 x 10 coil) out the other day comparing targets with the Vortex and a 8" nickel that's easily detectable with the Vanquish with a 12-13 ID the Vortex can't even touch. Nor can it hit my 9" quarter the Vanquish actually chirps on with a 30-39 up averaging ID. So imagine if I put a bigger coil on the Vanquish what it would do against the Vortex. 

  • Like 2

Easy win Vortex. Even beats those wimps, Manticore and Deus 2.
When the Vortex goes over a tab, steel cap, aluminum cap or foil, the tone is wider than the object. (has to do with Laws of Physics) Zero mode, no notch and no filter.
You immediately know that it can’t be a coin or ring.

Which other detector instantly eliminates tabs, steel caps, aluminum caps and foil?
Don’t be too quick to hand out the blue ribbon just yet.

  • Haha 1
  • Confused 1
  • Oh my! 2
25 minutes ago, IBMe said:

Easy win Vortex. Even beats those wimps, Manticore and Deus 2.
When the Vortex goes over a tab, steel cap, aluminum cap or foil, the tone is wider than the object. (has to do with Laws of Physics) Zero mode, no notch and no filter.
You immediately know that it can’t be a coin or ring.

Which other detector instantly eliminates tabs, steel caps, aluminum caps and foil?
Don’t be too quick to hand out the blue ribbon just yet.

ME OH MY!!!----This high tech stuff is givin me a headache! 🙂

  • Like 2
  • Haha 1

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...