Well TH, it's good that you aren't keeping a toll on me, but as I have said many times before and I'll say it again: I like the ExCal because it seems to have more power than the Sovereigns, although they both are excellent for searching rocky and boulder areas, because they run so very smoothly and quietly, but they MUST be swung v-e-r-y... s-l-o-w-l-y. I also like (A-L-L) Minelab PI's, {every one of them} for their brute power, and I have said that before too. However, I DO NOT like the idea of having to change search coils as in the case of the X-terra series, in order to achieve the same success that other Mfg's do with single frequencies. I don't like the weight of Etracs at all. The best Minelab I've ever had my hands on was an Excal (which too I have said before), and the worst one - was really pitiful, it being the Eureka Gold, and I've written about these two too. The 3030 is really poor for small gold and so is the eTrac, and I have not to this day seen a Sovereign that would give a reading on a BB-sized gold nugget, nor would a CZ. . I have considered trying out a 705, but I already own a detector made in the early 80's that beats it like a redheaded stepchild overall, and especially since I fine tuned it. There is no such thing as a perfect detector folks, nor is there such a thing as a perfect brand. I tell it like it is if I have actually compared one with another, and that's what I will always do. I'll always be fair in reiterating my experiences, but I will not give my opinions about the subject..since I do not have any.. And no, as you can plainly see, not all I post about Minelabs is negative, just the truth as I experience it..
And no, I have had nothing to do with Minelab, but I have noticed that those who own mostly Minelabs are also the most defensive about them too. My employment was with a company that did work on another well-known brand, and it like (all) detector mfg's made some good detectors, and some bad ones too.. The deepest single frequency detector right out of the factory I've ever seen in all-metal was a Garrett 2500 in some very nasty soil. The deepest single discriminating detector in mild soil was my Tesoro Tejon, but almost as noisy and annoying as an Ace 250. The best discriminator/cherry-picker was a Compass Coinscanner XP Pro, bar none. An interesting note too, is that I see more Minelabs in pawn shops in my State than any other brand, and I find that rather strange and suspicious.. but I can't say that I know why so many wind up there..especially since they aren't even made here, but Whites are, and right down the road from my house. I have no brand-loyalty at all, it would be ludicrous if I did that.
Here is an interesting video comparing the AT Pro, the Excal, and the Cz21. As would be expected, the CZ came out on top, and in salt (with black sand) it does even better.
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