Prizm II or Prizm III - which to buy (versus ACE 250)

[WI_Stu]

My son (11) wants to get into MD. I don't know anything about MD other than I expect to have fun helping him. I was looking at the Prizm 2 and 3 with him (also ACE 250). The only difference between the 2 and 3 that I saw was depth indicator. Is that worth the difference? I'm leaning towards the Prizms over the ACE 250, but any thoughts on that would be appreciated also.

[brickeace250]

i dont know much about the prizms but i do own a ace250 and it is a high priced machine packed into a low price box ive dug coins 7 in deep the pinpointer is right on the money they cost 212 $ a little cheaper than the prizms this is were i bought me free shipping and gifts take a look http://www.detection.com/garrett/ace250.html

[vwayne1]

sounds like your sold on the ace250. I would stick with it. I am a white's guy, but I like the ace much better than the prizm2.

[hollowpointred]

i agree with the others. i think the prisms are good but i think the 250 gives you more bang for the buck.

[Mighty AP]

I hope I dont offend anyone but I have a Ace 250 & a Prizm3..........I think the Prizm is a much better machine! I dont use either, I also have a QXTpro that i LOVE & use all the time but my girlfreind has her choice & she prefers the Prizm as well. The prizm is also much lighter weight than the 250, although the prizm is a little more expensive.

[SkiWhiz]

I hope I dont offend anyone but I have a Ace 250 & a Prizm3..........I think the Prizm is a much better machine! I dont use either, I also have a QXTpro that i LOVE & use all the time but my girlfreind has her choice & she prefers the Prizm as well.

Glad to hear this, I traded in a Ace250 for a Prizm II about a month ago. Both machines are good, really like the Prizm for pinpointing alot better. Just curious why you think the Prizm is a better machine though. Steve.

[Jason in TN]

Prizm is the better machine. But the 250 is alot of bang for the buck also.

[WheatbackDigger]

Spend a little more and get the Prizm IV. I first bought my daughter a A250 and then got her a Prizm IV. She finds a lot more with less trash with the Prism IV.

[Mighty AP]

I hope I dont offend anyone but I have a Ace 250 & a Prizm3..........I think the Prizm is a much better machine! I dont use either, I also have a QXTpro that i LOVE & use all the time but my girlfreind has her choice & she prefers the Prizm as well.

Glad to hear this, I traded in a Ace250 for a Prizm II about a month ago. Both machines are good, really like the Prizm for pinpointing alot better. Just curious why you think the Prizm is a better machine though. Steve.

Skiwiz, the Prizm3 was my first machine & was finding clad & jewelry from the first day. I used it for a month then bought a QXTpro & now use it exclusively. I bought the Ace250 at the same time I got the QXT so I never realy used it, only a couple times so my opinion may be biased. I used the Prizm everyday for a month so I got to know that machine fairly well, but I found that pinpointing was much more accurate with the Prizm & it weighs a lot less than the Ace. Depth on the Prizm was good & I liked the display better too. One thing I hated about the Ace is the "ice cream truck" tones, chimes, bells.........drove me nuts! I know the Prizm3 is about $100 more than the Ace but I'd pay it. Like I said, that may be a biased opinion, I see a lot of great finds on this site that were found with Ace250's.

[WI_Stu]

Thanks for all the advice. I started looking on July 3rd. Today is August 16th and we still haven't gotten the detector ordered. (Too many things going on!) I have gone both ways, but am now leaning towards the Ace 250, for probably a dump reason....From what I am reading, the Prizm's use 9 volt batteries, the Ace 250 uses 4 AA batteries. I already have AA NiMh rechargeable batteries, and the charger. Just seems like one less expense. I also like that a larger coil is also available for the Ace. Price is minor, but since he is paying for it, price matters to him. I guess the bottom line that I gathering from everybody's comments is: Both Prizm III and Ace 250 are good machines. Personal preference has people picking one over the other, but either one is a good starter. I tend to want the "perfect" item right away, but I've reminded myself that this isn't a "critical" decision. He may love one over the other, or decide to save for a different unit when he's older, more experienced, and knows what he wants. The last thing I want to check is which one has the shortest operating length for him (important). Other than that, I think we'll get one this weekend (both are available locally) or order one in. (I like the internet deals, but he's already been waiting on me. I may just pick up the extra cost over internet price and get him using it.) Thanks again for the input.

[allanw23]

Having used both the Whites PrizmII and III and also the Ace250,150 the build quality of the Whites seems to be much better. The accuracy of the Whites is better also. The Ace has more features but less problems with Whites and end up having more success with the Whites.

[BobinSouthVA]

My son and I are set to begin MDing soon and interestingly enough these are the models we have been debating purchasing, (leaning toward the whites Prizm II)

Does anyone have a fair assesment on how these detectors perform on the beach, or in the sandy wet soil we have here in SE virginia?

Thanks for any input.

.

[TonyinCT]

Hi and welcome. The Ace250 will go a bit deeper but the Prizm II will pinpoint better and do a bit better in wet salt conditions. If you need any more halp please let me know.
TonyinCT
www.tcmetaldetectors.com

[khouse]

The p3 in not worth the extra $100 than a p2. The p2 is the best of the Prizms. The smaller coil is a better all around size also. The Prizms do pinpoint easier than the 250. But with a little practice the 250 pinpoints fine. I have weighed these detectors and the P2 is 3 oz lighter than the 250.
The p2 is $50 more than the 250. The Ace 250 has a 4.5 inch coil for trashy sites. Prizms do not. The Prizm does NOT have a true notch system. The 250 does. Meaning if you want to just beep on nickels you can accept that one notch on the 250. You can't on the Prizms. The Prizms only have 8 ranges of targets. The 250 has 12. I'm not saying the Prizms are no good. They are really great. But they can't come close to the options you have with the Ace 250.

[Casull]

Khouse, you just stole my thought. I was wondering what everyone was talking about as far as the prizm being a lot lighter. According to the Whites catalog, the prizm weighs 2.5 pounds and the ACE weighs 2.7, so that is only 3 ounces. Also, the ACE uses four AA batteries, which cost less than one nine volt (and the prizm takes two of those). I just got my ACE, but just air testing (playing around), and the notch discrimination is very nice (and accurate). Just my 2 cents.

[Pull-tab Parson]

Hey all,

I run the Prizm III and find it to be a fine piece of machinery! I know that I could have saved myself an extra $50 by not getting the depth meter but I wanted it and after getting it, I have found that I have used it on vurtually every target. I don't know that much about the Ace 250 but I had considered it before I bought my first detector. There were a few things that sold me on the Whites over the Ace.
1) Whites reputation for building a great detector
I read numerous reviews about whites detectors and I just kept reading good things about them
2) The well built and harty construction
The Prizm is a pretty solid machine which is great for me cus I can get clumbsy
3) It doesn't play Betovan's 5th synphony
I didn't want a detector that sounded like an ice cream truck (thanks AP)
4) White's legendary Service
I keep reading how great the service is, numerous stories and they have all been good
5) I have a dealer located right in my little rural town
This was the clincher!

I have heard great things about the Ace 250 but in the end it was the prizmIII and soon I'm hoping it will be the MXT