Best Top 3 New Tech Detector Release in Last Five Years

[RONS DETECTORS MINELAB]

I have been watching and waiting for something big to happen in detector technology development for 25 years now and am currently waiting to try out the New Goldmonster 2000 when it’s available to see how its newest technology has improved over previous technology.

IMHO myself looking back 5 years I’ve seen 3 detectors that really stood out in regards to technology breakthroughs:

Algoforce E1500 stands out with It’s very quiet Pulse Induction EMI handling capabilities, it’s static target ID working at almost target depth and the capability of identifying small lead shot with 00 ID’s while retaining very good sensitivity in very mineralized ground conditions is really quite a lot of technical improvements for any standalone Pulse Induction detector.

Manticore although having a lot of previous technology incorporated into it really stands out to me as it’s has completely combined everything I wanted in a VLF into one detector, so kinda a tech. break through with its incorporating so many features into one detector. I now can coin hunt and find similar to Gold Bug 2 size gold all in one detector and with a decent waterproof housing.

I really enjoyed all the years learning the GPX-6000, primarily with the small coil which has the ability to hear the smallest nuggets I’ve ever seen found with a Pulse Induction detector making it also a true breakthrough in technology over previous generations. I also liked the timing switch that worked well and helped with determining hot rocks and creating different metal sounds on rubbish.

Mods and coil improvements have also been interesting to watch over the last decade with quite a performance boost coming from these  minor modifications and accessories to make the older version detectors perform much better.

Please add any detector and it’s technological advancements that I’ve missed from your perspective. 😀

Ron

[Aureous]

The Gold Monster 2000 is not yet in the hands of users so no praise is possible yet. But it seems like a winner, based on tech specs alone. I concur with your E1500 and GPX6000 suggestions. I've not used a Manticore, because I don't chase coins and relics all that much and my Nokta Legend does everything I need in that regard. It seems yet again, that Minelab (and Ex-Minelab) engineers have the vision to take technology forwards and everyone else merely tries to catch up. Our hope is that Nokta opens the door a bit more with its Magnetar PI and provides value for money options like the E1500 does. 

[phrunt]

The unusual thing about detectors in the world of electronics is they take a few steps forward and a step or two backwards in each model, most electronic products incorporate the old and add the new so the new product is a combination of the old with improvements and nothing lost.   How many steps forward depends on the model, the Manticore only took a few steps forward from the Equinox whereas the Equinox took massive steps forward from previous VLF models and only a few steps backwards from the likes of the CTX.  The Manticore added some of the CTX back into the Equinox with the target tracing and more depth but really lacks the target ID stability of both the Nox and especially the CTX.

With the GPX 6000 it took a fair few steps forward in small target sensitivity and ease of use but steps backwards with ground handling over the earlier GPX series, it was the real take it almost anywhere PI machine from black sand beaches, salty areas and extreme red dirt, it could go anywhere which is odd as marketing for the 6000 indicates that it's that detector.

The Algoforce has a fair few attributes that make it something different and an improvement over anything else on the market, Target ID being the obvious one and I hope it becomes the norm in the future combined with the iron discrimination that past PI's had like the legacy GPX series.

While the Manticore might be the best multi-purpose VLF on the market at the moment I still see room for improvement.

There hasn't been all that many releases of note in the past 5 years so your top 3 are almost everything that's towards the high end that's came out 🙂

Until they come out with a detector that combines the best attributes of all into one model with no steps backwards there is always room to improve.

Releases of note to me are much the same in the past 5 years as yours Ron, as there really wasn't anything else to choose from without pointing out the massive jumps in lower end VLF's performance for the price.

[Norvic]

Pi`s are the go for me, top 3 for last 5year for my back-yard, the opener 6000 for its sensitivity/depth, yeah depth.... if you don`t ignore those slight whispers blinded by the excellent distinct audio signals of shallow scraps (patiently take it low and slow in Auto or Auto+ it`ll vacuum most grounds), the first drop Axiom for its comprehensive set of user settings especially GB handling settings and the all-round E1500 for its massive aftermarket coil choices and continual firmware/software update. Opener/first drop/all-round being cricket terms that I feel suit these 3 Pis. 

[Aureous]

16 minutes ago, Norvic said:

the first drop Axiom 

I didn't include the Axiom for, although its a great detector, it isn't anything tech-ground breaking. It would have been a top notch competitive prospecting detector if it had been released 10 or 15 years ago, to compete head-to-head with the 4500 or 5000. I'm certain it would have severely cut sales of those detectors, especially in its current, good price form.

[Norvic]

I differ there Au, as I don`t see ground breaking tech but refinements in detectors since the GPZ7000s ZVT, nothing wrong with refinements as these 3 have shown, the chief refinement these 3 have, at least for this old codger, is almost VLF ergonomics/light weight. The 2000 may beat that if it does combine VLF sensitivity/discrim with Pi depth/ground handling, we`ll see when it is released.

[Elijah]

I have managed all the top VLF detectors that have been produced over the past 20 years and am confidently ready to put XP DEUS 2 in first place among all VLFs, this is my personal opinion based on many hours of work with this detector in different conditions. thanks

[Wild Bill]

I use a Nokta Gold Kruzer for gold prospecting.  I personally think it’s better than the ML Gold Monster 1k in almost every regard.  I had a chance to swap with a guy for awhile and the GM 1k is well balanced but falls over unless the ground is flat as a table.  The Kruzer was more sensitive and in some rare cases of severe mineralization, it handles it with no problems that the GM1k has trouble.  It also is coil knock sensitive, something I haven’t experienced with a detector since the 1970s.  But the GM1k is far more popular.  
 

The other detector I use for general purpose is the Garrett AT Max.  I know it’s 7 years old and single frequency and unimpressive by today’s multi frequency standards.  But something it can do and do it well is detect .05 gram gold with a 5x8” DD coil at a frequency of 13.6 Kh!   At .3 gram at 1-2” it’s an obvious signal and that’s in my own Nevada soil with a ground balance of 96.  You drag a magnet a few inches and you have to grab a hand full of black sand off to use it again.  I’ve never done more of an in depth test on it but that kind of sensitivity I did not expect.  There’s a lot of coin/relic detectors out there that can’t do that.  I’ve used the Gold Kruzer for high grading gold ore and the tiny gold “particles” it detects is amazing and the only detector I’ve witnessed doing the same is the good old Gold Bug 2.  Which might be more sensitive than the Kruzer.   GB2 3x6” coil @ 71Kh Vs Gold Kruzer 4x7.5” @ 61Kh.  The MD-20 hand held prob detector @ 300 Kh is the most sensitive I know of for high grading ore.  The Gold Kruzer’s other operation modes is a plus but I’ve never used it for jewelry or coin detecting yet.  But after watching a video of the Deus with the coil operated at high frequency and it’s greater response to non ferrous metals, I think I’ll use the Kruzer some time soon for that purpose.  Still I’m a bit behind the times on the latest technology.  I just don’t go buy a detector every year or two. 

[Erik Oostra]

On 6/18/2025 at 8:22 AM, RONS DETECTORS MINELAB said:

Please add any detector and it’s technological advancements that I’ve missed from your perspective.

Thank you for this post Ron, I reckon you're nearly spot on.. The only difference is that I wouldn't swap my Equinox 800 for a Manticore.. Talk about technological advancements and this VLF detector comes out on top for me.. I started off with a Gold Bug Pro as a general purpose detector but quickly switched to the Equinox series, starting with the 600 and then the 800 for its two gold settings.. At that time the folk using this giant leap in technology were still called 'Multi-Freakers'.. These days any detector company worth it's salt would be mad not to make multi-freaking models.. The other advantage the Equinox 800 has over the Manticore is its huge range of coils.. I reckon this is another technological leap forward as it allows you to cover every possible situation from the goldfields to 3 meters below the waves.. 

I wholeheartedly agree with your PI picks.. My son's got an GPX 6000 and I've got an AlgoForce E1500 and we often swap for half a day to put get used to both detectors.. He really likes my E1500 for all the reasons you mentioned, especially how quiet it is compared to his detector on hot ground.. I really like his 6000 because I've found gold with it which, except for a tiny 18ct gold ring on the beach, the E1500 has so far failed to deliver.. This is entirely due to me constantly wandering off the reservation in search of 'unsearched' ground and is no fault of the E1500, in fact it also detects the gold found with the 6000 whilst it's still in the ground (and gives accurate target IDs whilst doing so).. I've also owned a GPX 5000 and in terms of ease of use, weight and new technologies like GeoSense and target ID for PI detectors, I think both the GPX 6000 and E1500 are major technological advancements over what came before them..

But so far I haven't been tempted to get my own GPX 6000 because, like the Equinox 800, the AlgoForce E1500 has a huge arsenal of coils to cover every situation (and its constantly updated software is a winner too)..  

Thanks again Ron, I hope we can agree to disagree on the Manticore! 😁