It hasn't even been released yet! It will be the entry level metal detector for Minelab's multi-frequency lineup. Don't expect it to out-do the several other Minelab, both single or multi frequency detectors. And it only has 40 units resolution for non-ferrous targets, so all high sought after conductors like silver and copper will be crammed in together with screwcaps, bottle caps and pull tabs. You will probably be digging a lot more junk because of this compared to a lot of singe frequency detectors with a lot higher resolution. And the ability of the Equinox to get deep targets hasn't been addressed yet.
The AT MAX has a lot of the newer technology available, doesn't use old fashioned knobs, resulting with depth loss as you advance the selection to knock out more conductivity, has and is currently showing great depth, target separation and has excellent warranty in case something goes wrong. It will be serviced in Texas where they are built, and have been building metal detectors since 1964.
John - you make some valid points above yet most do not have anything to do with whether the OP should get the Max or wait until some of the the other detectors get released and tested:
Yes - the Equinox has not yet been released, but spec wise it has features that out gun the Max as I described above. The higher frequency operation capability should also further help with resolving small and mid-conductive targets better than the Max. Yes, it is not yet proven, but why shouldn't the OP wait and see if it lives up to its potential rather than having buyer's remorse because he rushed out and got the Max rather than waiting a few more weeks for Equinox user reviews and getting a detector when his region thaws out in the spring. Regarding depth, I had the opportunity to swing and see a pre-release Equinox in action in the red mineralized dirt of central VA at a recent organized relic hunt. That dirt just kills depth and target ID on ALL VLF detectors (including the AT Pro/Max) - yet the Equinox pulled some 6+" minie balls which is impressive for a VLF.
Yes - the Equinox will not be a 3030, Excalibur, or even an E-trac. Yet it will be an average of a thousand dollars cheaper than all those detectors and is not intended to compete with those detectors in performance (hence the price), but will actually outperform (yes, at least on paper), in terms of recovery time. But also what matters is that the Equinox will directly compete with one well known detector at its present price point - yup - the AT Max.
Yes - the Equinox does only have a 40 point target ID resolution for non-ferrous. Could be potentially a drawback for some, yet I know plenty of folks with Deus who kill it out there with 3 or 5-tone audio and they never look at a target ID. Heck, full tones on the Deus is only 32 tones, no one seems to have a problem with that resolution. If the target ID's are accurate (minelab is know for rock solid/accurate target ID's and they are not all that accurate on the deus) and the tones are solid, then a lot of resolution is not needed. But yeah, we'll have to see how minelab does with this with some real world feedback.
John - to be brutally honest - your unabashed commitment to everything Garrett and unwillingness to consider anything without a Garrett label as swingworthy is in one respect laudable, but for the most part detracts some from your credibility when it comes to giving other brands a fair shake.
Bottom line - am I saying the OP should NOT get the Max? No way. It may turn out to be the ideal detector for him (and obviously is a capable detector with flaws - and they ALL have flaws, believe me) but I encourage him to get as much information as possible about all the detectors that are competing in the Max's class and there is no denying that the Equinox (and even the Quest detectors) will be in the Max's class, so why not get as much info as you can?
From a performance standpoint, the First Texas Patriot series and Nokta Impact detectors should be considered, but they are not submersible.
