Explorer XS Settings
SETTING RANGE
Detector mode Quickstart, Advanced
Sensitivity mode Semi-Auto (manual can be over sensitive)
Sensitivity Value 26-32 usually closer to 32
16 or lower if in very thick iron, after trying higher sensitivity first
THRESHOLD I PREFER NO THRESHOLD ON XS, but do use lowest I can at times)
DISCRIMINATION FUNCTION Iron Mask mode ON
Iron Mask value I prefer no discrimination, so -16 is what I usually use
Noise Channel I hit the Noise Cancel button to do it automatically
Display Type SMART screen (Crosshairs)
Display Size Normal
Display contrast Factory Preset 6
Audio Volume Max limit Factory Preset 10
Audio Volume GAIN I use 10 which is max, if lower, the deeper targets sound softer, but then you can miss a target
THRESHOLD Tone Factory preset 5 ( usually do not use threshold tone)
TONE VARIABILITY This is important, try coins and other items, the higher the number the more high pitched
sound you will get for a coin, and a big difference in tone then between a silver/copper
target and a more ferrous target, so I would start with 7 or 8
Audio tone limits Preset 10
Audio SOUNDS I use FERROUS and love it and tried CONDUCT several times but too flutey for me (IP loves it, whatever works for ya)
Options Response Normal at first but then recommend trying AUDIO 1
Recovery FAST OFF On, gives too many false readings in my opinion
Recovery DEEP ON All sounds will be same, but at least deep sounds can be picked up better.
I believe most never use digital on XS, the do on the XSII but the XS, the Smart screen with the crosshairs is superior in most opinions.
Some hunt in manual, but semi auto works great and I am sure the vast majority use semi-auto
Threshold - On the XS, Threshold at a low sound was hard to get, the XSII improved on that, so I got used to hunting with no Threshold and
because I use max Gain, that makes Threshold tone harder to get at a low background hum.
Iron Mask mode, well, that is what the Explorer is about in my mind, and to discriminate out sort of defeats the purpose of having a
detector as great as the XS is. Maybe a little bit of discrimination until you get used to it, like start at -12 instead of -16. But I like to hear
non-diggable Iron hits so I know when I am on a hot spot in the woods. No NULLING< that won't happen with high GAIN and no discrimination
Do not swing the coil fast!!! This is not a Whites !!!
Also, if you use the SunRay X-1 probe and leave the switch in the wrong position after a dig, with no threshold you might walk around for a bit and wondering why no signals, of course I have never done that! 
