Equinox competitor?

DeepseekerADS

Gold Member
Mar 3, 2013
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They kinda have to, or be left behind in the dust. Minelab raised the bar.
 

Tpmetal

Silver Member
Jan 4, 2017
4,436
7,560
Western ny
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equinox 800, Whites mx sport, Garrot carrot, bounty hunter time ranger
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I'm sure they got something up their sleeve. But I'll still probably buy an equinox as well as whatever they come out with. haha
 

dsdigger

Bronze Member
Jan 5, 2017
1,389
1,191
Shenandoah Valley, VA
Detector(s) used
Minelab Equinox 600, Whites MX Sport, Whites Coinmaster, Minelab Explorer XS, Kellyco Vulcan 360, Lesche Digger, Rattler headphone, Park Ranger Bag by "Freeloader"
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All Treasure Hunting
Recently got my hands on a 600 and have not spend much time out with it but White's, etc. needs to have something in the works. This thing works nice and is lighter than my MX Sport. Can't wait to get some real time to test it but I can't believe that the others don't have something and just working the kinks out. Take the Sport, make it multi-freq, salt water usable and lighter, good start. Time will tell.
 

wingmaster

Bronze Member
Aug 10, 2009
2,344
934
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White's MXT all pro, MXT300 D2, 950, 4X6 DD, detech ultimate 13" DD coils
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Weight doesn't bother me with the balance and White's detectors are as deep as any out with the right coil and settings, I hope they never go away from the solid metal box either witch is very nice when your tired and the thick wooded area's. I like having my detector solid built for what I paid for it and work good. HH
 

Peter67

Sr. Member
Oct 9, 2016
277
367
Belgium
Detector(s) used
XP Deus 2
Xp Deus
Minelab Equinox 600
Nokta Makro Legend
Nokta Makro Multikruzer
Tesoro Lobo Super Traq,
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting

wingmaster

Bronze Member
Aug 10, 2009
2,344
934
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White's MXT all pro, MXT300 D2, 950, 4X6 DD, detech ultimate 13" DD coils
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Prove it !
Everybody said the E-trac was deeper than other detectors especially on silver, of course I detected with people who had one and it wasn't any deeper than my MXT. People who over pay for bells and whistles don't want to admit even to themselves that their detector isn't any better than the others, I call them like I see them and if I ever overpay for something that isn't any better I will say so and not do that again. HH
 

Acejeckel

Sr. Member
Jul 18, 2009
268
589
Just Outside Detroit
Detector(s) used
White's V3I, DFX, M6, Minelab Equinox 800
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
For the most part the consensus is that the v3i is superior to the Equinox. Water proof would be nice though.

I have a v3i and a vx3 and have lots of time on them and one down fall is EMI, I hunt in big citys a lot and it's a bummer sometimes you get to a site and can't get your machine to run stable. I have the equinox 800 and took it to a site with high tension power lines and was able to hunt right under them where as with my whites I had to stay hundreds of feet away. Just one of the upsides I thought I would share. Im sure every make and model of every brand has there ups and downs. Just my 2 cents. HH
 

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MackDog

Bronze Member
Nov 20, 2013
1,408
2,735
Spokane Wa
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Garrett At Pro, 8 x11" and Nel Storm coils
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White's V3i Standard, 10" DD, 13" Ultimate and 4 x6" sniper, 6 x10 coils, Drect 12 x 15 coil
Whites MX Sport With Detec
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
I hunt with some one who uses the ENox 800, I've found targets deep that he couldn't, also found a gold ring that he had to set it up to find. It's a good machine but not the answer to all. I will buy one for about half price that hasn't been used in about 3 years when the new wonder machine comes out. Until then I'm sticking with the V3i.
 

TrinityBigfoot

Full Member
Aug 20, 2012
120
69
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Whites V3i, Gold Bug II, Whites TRX Pointpointer
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If Whites simply repackaged the V3i, and added Bluetooth it could really challenge the EQ. The would also need to add a dumbed down mode. The detector has too many settings for a lot of users and can be intimidating. Overall, the features that the V3i has are far superior to that of the EQ800. With that being said, the EQ outshines the V3i in many areas too. They are both good detectors. It’s kind of the 4x4 vs. a sports car. Both have advantages and both work well. But one doesn’t work as well in certain situations. As for EMI, I have experienced that with the V3i. Using the right settings I was able to detect directly above a underground electrical box and retrieve targets. Both detectors are great, and someone wouldn’t go wrong purchasing either one.
 

ATPRoDon

Full Member
Nov 26, 2007
132
88
Griffin, GA
Detector(s) used
Whites Surf PI, Whites V3i, Minelab Equinox 800
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All Treasure Hunting
I Have an 800 and a V3i and I like them both....I think the V3i is really hard to beat especially with the 13 inch Ultimate coil on it.
 

Terry Soloman

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May 28, 2010
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Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
If Whites simply repackaged the V3i, and added Bluetooth it could really challenge the EQ. The would also need to add a dumbed down mode. The detector has too many settings for a lot of users and can be intimidating. Overall, the features that the V3i has are far superior to that of the EQ800. With that being said, the EQ outshines the V3i in many areas too. They are both good detectors. It’s kind of the 4x4 vs. a sports car. Both have advantages and both work well. But one doesn’t work as well in certain situations. As for EMI, I have experienced that with the V3i. Using the right settings I was able to detect directly above a underground electrical box and retrieve targets. Both detectors are great, and someone wouldn’t go wrong purchasing either one.

$1,400.00 vs $650.00 Hmmm.. The V3i isn't waterproof, weighs 4.5-lbs, and takes almost 200-hours to properly master. Another Hmmm...
 

OP
OP
A#1

A#1

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Feb 18, 2018
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Traverse City, Michigan
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Yeh, the price difference alone says the V3i isn't a competitor at all. Might be a good detector, but i've honestly never looked past the price tag.

$650 for my Equinox 600 was steep for a working man with a family. But my Eagle Spectrum was just too dated.....Served me well for 20+ years, wanted a Whites, wanted the MX Sport, but felt the Equinox was the best bang for my buck.

Waterproof was a HUGE factor, since i only get to play on ceryain weekends, and had to sit out a lot when it rained.

The Equinox doesn't eat rather pricey batteties either, with an extra battery zip tied on, I've nkt had it go under 3 battery bars.

Sorry White's.
$1,400.00 vs $650.00 Hmmm.. The V3i isn't waterproof, weighs 4.5-lbs, and takes almost 200-hours to properly master. Another Hmmm...
 

MackDog

Bronze Member
Nov 20, 2013
1,408
2,735
Spokane Wa
Detector(s) used
Garrett At Pro, 8 x11" and Nel Storm coils
Garrett Propointer er, Pro Pointer AT
White's V3i Standard, 10" DD, 13" Ultimate and 4 x6" sniper, 6 x10 coils, Drect 12 x 15 coil
Whites MX Sport With Detec
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
I Have an 800 and a V3i and I like them both....I think the V3i is really hard to beat especially with the 13 inch Ultimate coil on it.
try the 12 x 15 Detect coil even better
 

MackDog

Bronze Member
Nov 20, 2013
1,408
2,735
Spokane Wa
Detector(s) used
Garrett At Pro, 8 x11" and Nel Storm coils
Garrett Propointer er, Pro Pointer AT
White's V3i Standard, 10" DD, 13" Ultimate and 4 x6" sniper, 6 x10 coils, Drect 12 x 15 coil
Whites MX Sport With Detec
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
$1,400.00 vs $650.00 Hmmm.. The V3i isn't waterproof, weighs 4.5-lbs, and takes almost 200-hours to properly master. Another Hmmm...
yes so thank full that the Nox doesn't have to be adjusted and runs perfect out of the box. You will need to spend time learning all it's features also if not you just wasted your money. Sometimes the best detector in someone who doesn't know how to use it is worse than a person with the worst detector but has mastered it.
 

Rookster

Gold Member
Nov 24, 2013
29,382
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It's the operator just as much as the machine. That has been proven.
 

eman1000

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Feb 24, 2016
728
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Elizabethtown, IN
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XP Deus ORX, Etrac, F75, Simplex, MX5, V3i, Equinox, Tesoro Vaq, F22
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Nokta or Makro keeps raising the bar with each new detector. I haven't tried the Impact/Kruzer but it's the closest price comp to the Equinox.

I think I would prefer Nokta's VDI range as well. I look to see them release a multi-freq either late this year or early next year that will compete at the Equinox price point. I probably would have jumped on the impact if it had been the same price as the Equinox.

I have no major complaints about the Equinox yet though. (Except for the 2000 lumen's backlight)
 

Slowtaknow

Sr. Member
Oct 27, 2015
375
435
Kannapolis nc
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Fisher f2, Tesoro vaquero, Nokta Simplex, Garrett Csi 250, whites gold master 2.
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I have seen an xlt on facebook marketplace go for $175, if you are unwilling to pay big bucks for an equinox, there are cheaper, just as deep alternatives out there. Remember that it is mainly the detectorist and not the detector.:icon_thumleft:
 

Gold Itch

Full Member
Dec 31, 2014
189
196
Detector(s) used
TDI SL 12"DF+7.5"DF, GMT, MXT All Pro, Whites ProStar Phones, Whites Bullseye II
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Well with all the hype that turned out to be bogus, It did not obsolete anything and it has a few issues and some folks have already sold them on, All that hype and yet some machines from 20 years ago wiped it's clock. Using bigger coils will be another issue when they are released and dedicated battery systems are never a good idea when you are 500 miles off the beaten track and have to cut your holiday short to head back to town looking for a replacement,

I was seriously thinking about one but I think I will give it a year or so and see how it pans out.
 

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