MX Sport 749.00 - ? - Equinox 800 899.00

[Cabin Fever]

Whites needs a makeover for sure. Their latest detector, the Goldmaster 24k still has a big box under the arm cuff. That is  unacceptable with today’s technology if they want to continue to compete.

Bryan

[Dubious]

With the Goldmaster 24k, I believe the box under the arm cuff just houses the AA batteries.  That's a reasonable way to do it, IMHO, for a machine that is not waterproof.  The alternative would be to have the S-shaft hollow and thick enough at that point to incorporate a battery holder inside, with separate legs underneath for stability (like the Minelab Etrac and others). For a much more unsightly hanging box, look at the Minelab GPX 5000.  It seems to sell all right in spite of it ?

[Cabin Fever]

AA batteries are old school too.

[Dubious]

I actually prefer AA or some other replaceable battery.  It's easy to carry spares in case they run down in the field. And you can also use rechargeable types, so no real downside. With built-in lithium ion batteries, you risk trouble with airlines, and you can't carry spares (yes, I know, there are power packs you can carry, to recharge in the field, but a hassle).

Note that Minelab's state-of-the-art SDC2300 uses ordinary C cells.

I suppose everything is moving to sealed li-ion batteries because of size/weight factors, but there are definitely cons...

[Cabin Fever]

Just imagine that SDC2300 in a super light waterproof housing with changeable coils and built in rechargeable battery.  It just doesn’t seem “state of the art” in its current configuration to me, besides it’s ability to fold up.

[schoolofhardNox]

58 minutes ago, Dubious said:

With the Goldmaster 24k, I believe the box under the arm cuff just houses the AA batteries.  That's a reasonable way to do it, IMHO, for a machine that is not waterproof.  The alternative would be to have the S-shaft hollow and thick enough at that point to incorporate a battery holder inside, with separate legs underneath for stability (like the Minelab Etrac and others). For a much more unsightly hanging box, look at the Minelab GPX 5000.  It seems to sell all right in spite of it ?

Yep, the GPX looks like a small tank, but that box actually sits better on the ground than the Equinox. It's footprint is measured in feet . With all the different machines out there, you would think that someone would make a better detector stand that you could just clip on. 

[Cabin Fever]

I’m starting to look like a real downer here and I don’t want to be that guy.

Im just saying I don’t think the future is big clunky boxes filled with AA or worse yet C cells.  Look at the power that resides in our smart phones.  I have seen the light with the Equinox and it’s design.. It will take quite a jump in performance to get me to lay down money for a detector that is all wired up, clunky and heavy.. We have the technology to to do better then that.  

Bryan

[schoolofhardNox]

On ‎11‎/‎21‎/‎2018 at 12:45 AM, Ridge Runner said:

Both the MX Sport and the Equinox 800 are waterproof and that’s about where the two are alike ends.

 Now if we want to put the detectors that have the option to run in different frequencies then how would you place them in price? I speaking about the ones that have other frequencies but still run only one at a time .

 Now remember the Equinox is at the top with a price of 899.00 and a true multi frequency.

  Would you want to slip it in between the Sport and the Equinox in price? Maybe we could lower the price of the Sport and place the ones we’ve been talking about in it’s spot..

 Just thinking out loud but everyone has their own opinion.

 Chuck 

 

Given the choice I would still pick the Equinox. If I was new to the hobby and did not pick Garrett, then I would probably pick White's,  but only if the price was lower. I'm not sure that machine can compete between the Equinox and the Deus and still sell enough of them to remain profitable. But an odd thought just came to me...We all think that this is Minelab's top of the line unit. What if.... it is their entry level machine and they are holding back with releasing their mid and high end units in the $1500 - $3000 range respectively?? What would that do to the MX Sport and AT Pro units sales? I still think the MX Sport has potential, but with a price closer to the Equinox 600.

[Cal_Cobra]

On 12/1/2018 at 2:40 PM, Cabin Fever said:

AA batteries are old school too.

Perhaps, but it's not uncommon for detectors with 4-AA's to run 30-40 hours on them, their inexpensive batteries, available everywhere,  super light so easy to have a spare set in your finds pouch for the field,  and there's tons of rechargeable AA battery options.