Which detector should I keep?

scaupus

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Apr 20, 2011
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I have 2 detectors, of which I must sell one, I can't afford to keep both. One is a whites eagle spectrum that I've had for almost a year. I found a lot of good stuff with it, and its been an amazing, fun machine to use. I have 2 coils for it, the 950 and the 6".

The other is a DFX 300 I picked up about 3 months ago. I've used it many times since then, I've been playing with the programming myself, and trying out the various factory programs. A few times now, I've been surprised by the stuff I've been able to pick out of some very bad ground with lots of trash in it. And I was wondering whether my surprise was due to the fact that I would not have dug those items if I was using the eagle. That's just speculation of course.

In head to head tests, the Eagle does as well or surpasses the DFX. Air testing a large gold ring, the Eagle picked it up an inch further away. At a salt beach, the eagle in beach mode could be used on the wet sand without too much falsing, no worse, it seemed, than the DFX in beach mode.

I did a test, placing a gold ring on top of some iron infested ground. Both machines picked up the gold ring well, but the Eagle seemed to give a stronger, clearer, more consistent gold range signal. When the ring was turned on its side, neither machine picked it up as a gold range signal. The DFX may have just barely indicated it as a high iron or low foil read when I used the high trash program.

The thing is, selling the DFX will get me a lot more money than the eagle, and I have a lot more money in it. I like the DFX a lot, I like the battery system and I have both the rechargeable and the aa battery pack, so that's a big plus. I like the screen, I like the physical conformation of the eagle, I like that I can cover more ground with the 12" coil. And there is that suspicion that somehow I'm picking out some targets I'd miss with the eagle and the 950 coil.

On the other hand, I have 2 coils for the Spectrum on separate stems so I can switch them fast, I'm using rechargeable AA's in C adapters that give me about 5 hours which is plenty in one day for me.

I think I could get about $200 more for the DFX.

I hate to give up the more sophisticated machine, but unless the DFX can pay me $200 in more or better finds, I think I should let her go.
 

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Frankn

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Mar 21, 2010
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Keep the one you enjoy the most! Frank
 

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spartacus53

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Jul 5, 2009
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This sounds awfully like a post I replied to about a week ago with disastrous results. Sounds like you're between a rock and a hard place:icon_scratch:

Now as I see it you have two wonderful options I can offer you :icon_thumright:

1- Flip a coin and call it in the air heads, DFX; tails, Spectrum

2- Keep the machine 'YOU' desire most, even if you don't make that extra money, and go out more often so you can get finds to make up the difference :icon_thumright:

This was easier for me to answer than to decide what color/style shoes to wear while hunting :laughing7:
 

Terry Soloman

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May 28, 2010
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Sell them both and get a Minelab! :occasion14:
 

Jim in Idaho

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Jul 21, 2012
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No question...the DFX is a much more capable unit, though more difficult to learn.
Jim
 

Sandman

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Aug 6, 2005
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Which one do you have more fun with?
 

extractor

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Sep 27, 2007
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Sell them both and get a Minelab! :occasion14:
Terry . I thought for sure you would say Tesoro :laughing7:
It is a ok Idea to sell them and go for the minelab.
IMO, I'd keep the DFX and Just save up for a Minelab.
The DFX would make you one Great back up Detector, :headbang:
 

fella

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Oct 24, 2012
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Terry . I thought for sure you would say Tesoro :laughing7:
It is a ok Idea to sell them and go for the minelab.
IMO, I'd keep the DFX and Just save up for a Minelab.
The DFX would make you one Great back up Detector, :headbang:

Minelabs aint all that!. I have an E-trac and I don't care for it at all!
 

hurricane dale

Jr. Member
Nov 1, 2009
98
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miami,florida
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get a minelab excaliber II ..i just paid 1400 bucks for it a week ago and this is great for miami beach climate ...it will pay for itself within 3 months from my south beach future finds
 

GPS53

Sr. Member
May 17, 2009
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I have had both, of those two, I miss the Eagle the most, wish I had kept that one. You will get more for the DFX and still have a very good detector with the Eagle. You are asking, that is my humble opinion, but keep the one YOU like best.
 

Keppy

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I would have to go along with what ever one you like best.........
 

Keppy

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Terry . I thought for sure you would say Tesoro :laughing7:
It is a ok Idea to sell them and go for the minelab.
IMO, I'd keep the DFX and Just save up for a Minelab.
The DFX would make you one Great back up Detector, :headbang:
... I think terry's become undecided........???
 

bill from lachine

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Keppy,

Terry just said that to get us confused....don't know about you but it's a short trip for me....lol.

Regards + HH

Bill
 

TerryC

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Jun 26, 2008
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If you already own both, how can two be more expensive than one? Rent a bigger storage shed, or....... she'll get over you having two! TTC
 

lem49

Jr. Member
Mar 25, 2010
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Repuplic of Panama
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fisher cz7a pro, Tesoro Vaquero, whites coinmaster GT,
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When you say you cant afford them I am interpreting you need to raise some cash. Sounds as if you get rid of the DFX you may
have some regrets. If money is critical, you need to determine if getting an extra 200 dollars by selling the DFX is critical to
what you need the money for. Perhaps you can find something else to sell to raise the full amount of cash, or the difference
of the dfx....bestof luck to you
 

Dec 1, 2007
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altamont, ny
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hi--when my bride told me i was getting older & should start selling stuff off i put an ad in our metal detecting news letter. young bride for sale, low miles. loud muffler, not tune able, free-- obo. bob@northeast metal detector
 

GarretDiggingAz

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Dec 5, 2012
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Scaupus. Did you decide which one you're keeping? If you're going to sale one how much are you selling for?

Bob, Did I buy your wife? Lol.
 

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