- Jul 19, 2015
- 4,910
- 8,377
- Detector(s) used
- XP Deus with HF/x35 Coils and Mi6 Pinpointer/ML Equinox 600/800/ML Tarsacci MDT 8000 GPX 4800/Garrett ATX/Fisher F75 DST/Tek G2+/Delta/Whites MXT/Nokta Simplex/Garrett Carrot
- Primary Interest:
- All Treasure Hunting
The info is still sparse, but you pretty much covered it there. The base multifrequencies are being advertised at 5, 10, and 15 khz with the 800 adding 20 and 40 khz (plus the wireless headphone capability, both bluetooth and proprietary module). The 800 will add a Prospecting mode in addition to the Park, Field, and Beach modes that will be available on both. What is not clear is if the custom program mode slot(s?) that is on the 800 will also be available on the 600 AND whether the 800 will make use of the 20 and 40 khz frequencies when in multi-frequency mode. Even if you are not a prospector, having those frequency modes available for beach hunting, especially if they are utilized in some sort of simultaneous multi-frequency mode, would make the Equinox a killer on the beach for gold (especially gold chains) and other mid-conductors, like that other much sought after mid-conductor beach treasure, pull tabs.
Is this fast enough for you? https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...UiHQZc&usg=AFQjCNHhx3hy3rmo1DiyWJSlQsnsa2bIEQ BTW - That was in multi-frequency mode. I think it will hold its own at contests with that type of performance if actually delivered in the final product. As always, though I want what Minelab is selling, I am skeptical of the pre-release unit capabilities that can be manipulated in a manner to demonstrate the feature they want to demonstrate while masking a perhaps undesirable or not-ready for prime-time feature. Taking the linked video as an example, I have no idea based on the way the demo was conducted whether the machine was set up in some super fast mode that severely limits its depth capability, because that was not simultaneously demonstrated. Obviously, if you are focused on contest hunts, the depth performance is secondary.
I have been looking for a new machine and need one that can perform well in wet sand since I have nothing that does well there since I sold my sovereign(which I regret)....I have been debating on whether to try and find another sovereign just for beach hunting, buy a ctx which I am not crazy about the weight or price of.....or see if the new AT Max really does perform well in wet sand.....now I am very, very tempted to hold off for this seemingly amazing new machine from Minelab. It almost seems they have built the perfect detector....for me anyway. Part of me wants to pre order one tomorrow but the skeptical side says to hold off. My skeptical side was right with the MX Sport....so what do I do
IMO The AT Max does not address the most glaring issue I had with the AT Pro > Weight and Balance and User Interface.. I own a Deus, sure, so no comparison. But I do hold other more traditional detectors up to a weight, balance, and ergonomics standard and that is the Fisher F75 (or the Tek T2). Even though, performance wise, those are two different machines (F75 vs. T2), from an ergonomics standpoint (I am not comparing performance here) they are just about the best designed machines out there in my opinion. Not super light, but the weight is distributed beautifully so they FEEL light, the ground grab/pinpoint trigger and simple multi-use pushbutton and rotating knob make these machines a joy to operate and nice large numbers and text. First Texas set the standard for user interface usability IMO and no other detectors I have used have come close. Of course, the First Texas detectors are not waterproof or all terrain which leaves them (as well as the Nokta Impact) out of the AT Pro, MX Sport, AT Max, Equinox discussion for best mid-priced class, all around all-terrain detector. But the weight and user interface flaws, not to mention the single vlf frequency limitation of the Max pretty much seals the deal that the Max will be mediocre at best when it comes to Salt Beach/Surf Hunting. The multi-frequency capability of the Equinox (provided it is implemented competently, if not exactly technologically the same as has been done in the CTX 3030 and eTrac) ensures that the Equinox will beat the Max at salt beach and surf hunting. No point in pre-ordering the Equinox today (not sure you could even do that anyway) but I think it makes sense to hold of on the Max until we get some real world experience with the Equinox probably sometime in the Spring of 2018, if we're lucky.
Hopefully, it shows up in time to get some late spring relic hunting in the mineralized Virginia soil.
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