Thinking of upgrading from Delta 4000 to Omega 8500

[Az Old Noob]

Anything I should know?

I am working on getting permission to hunt some vacant property in Tombstone. If it works out (I'm 99% sure it will), I may only get one chance at this due to work schedules. I want to upgrade a bit before I hit the site and the 8500 I am looking at is priced about right.

 

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[vferrari]

The Omega 8500 is good mid-range detector and a logical incremental upgrade to the 4000, but other than GB adjustment (which may or may not be needed at your site) and unless you are getting the 11" DD coil vs. the std 10" coaxial (which ups the total price another $50 - $100) don't expect a huge increase in performance vs. the very capable 4000 with its 8" concentric (the coils should be swappable between the two detectors provided you have the newer screw on connector on your 4000 - my point is difference in coil performance between the 8" concentric vs. the 10" coaxial is increnental vs. the 8" and the 11" DD coil that I might consider paying the extra $$ for the 11" DD if the cost delta was less than the delta between the 11" and 10" coils if you bought them standalone, that way you will maximize the performance difference between your 4000 and the 8500). Also, I would get some swing HOURS in with the 8500 before hitting the site so you are not learning the 8500 on the site you only have one chance to hit. If you don't have the opportunity to get time on the 8500 before your site visit, bring your 4000 along as a backup and don't be adverse to pulling it out of the car if you are getting no joy on the 8500 (you shoukd bring the 4000 as a backup, regardless). Also, before you spring for a new 8500 look for any trusted, gently used 8500 or even 8000's out there (that's how I obtained my 8500 for cheap). The savings you get may be enough to go towards buying the 11" DD or a smaller third specialty/sniper accessory coil that you could use on either detector. Finally, you might ask for opinions as to whether it makes sense to consider a Tek T2 Classic which can be bought at $499 new and may get you an even bigger bump in performance vs. the 8500 though you cannot swap coils between the T2 and Delta because they operate at different frequencies (~7 khz for Tek greek series vs. ~14khz for the T2). Good luck.

 

[supertraq]

Your also gain iron audio which is priceless to me. Many new features but the one negative seems to be the digital audio?

 

[vferrari]

Yup, forgot that 8500 brings iron audio to the equation too vs, 4000 which can be useful. The T2 Classic which I mentioned in my edited post above also has this feature, I believe (I know the T2 SE DST which I own, does).

 

[Az Old Noob]

Thank you all for the advice and info.
Getting some time on the 8500 may be an issue, but I will try to. Different coils are going to have to wait a bit, but the ability to interchange between the 4000 and 8500 is a big reason I am looking at the 8500 instead of the T2. I'm a bit old school and don't quite understand all the newer tech yet, so I try to stay with simple. I like simple.
I love my 4000 and wouldn't dream of leaving it behind.

 

[vferrari]

You really can't go wrong with those two tek greek detectors. Keeping it "in the family" so to speak , is a good plan. If you can't get much pre swing time with the Omega, is not a deal breaker because it is still a cinch to operate, its just that the tones sound more "digital" vs. the Delta (or even compared the 8000).

 

[Garrett424]

I went from the Delta to the Omega 8000 recently and I doubt I'll ever look back. I still love the Delta but I'm IN love with the Omega.

The great thing is that you'll slide right into using it because it's like a really high end version of the Delta. If you know the Delta well you'll be digging up targets with the the Omega in a very short time. Took me about 5 minutes (if that). They feel very similar. I found five silvers in three short hunts in spots I swung my Delta over for more than a year.

It's a great machine. If you like your Delta you'll LOVE the Omega. It's like the Delta on steroids.

 

[Phantasman]

Vterrari is spot on. The 8500 using the same coils as the Delta is a great idea to buy an 8500. The 8500 gives you so much more control over Arizona's soil than the Delta, not to mention the "deep" option. In areas unexplored, you'll want the extra abilities the 8500 brings to the table.