I have used but don't own a 3030. I considered the 3030 as a multi-frequency compliment to my Deus. When the Equinox was announced, it seemed to have addressed some of the knocks against the 3030 (weight, complexity, mid-conductive target performance (Nox hits harder at depth on nickels and gold), and recovery speed). Price is also a consideration and ML has now set the bar to a level where I doubt we will see another $2000+ vlf detector hit the market. But make no mistake. The Equinox is not a 3030. There are definitely some high end features of the 3030 that make it superior to the Equinox including a sophisticated discrimination programming scheme and precise 2-D target ID. The 3030 is a deep silver slayer.
That being said, I think the biggest thing Equinox has going for it is it's versatility. The various Equinox search modes are truly different modes optimized for different target types and site conditions by providing different weighted multifrequency profiles and signal processing (Multi IQ) and not just different multi frequency channels and different default user adjustable discrimination and filter settings. Like the Deus, and unlike the 3030, recovery speed is adjustable enabling you to trade off depth vs. separation. Also, the battery does not have to be removed from the Equinox to be recharged which means you are not having to constantly manipulate the battery compartment seals like on the 3030 risking inadvertent damage and water intrusion. The Equinox has seen few water intrusion failures but these appear to be related to manufacturing defects vs. design defects and have all been fully covered by the generous 3 year warranty.
In conclusion, what I would really like to see from ML is a Multi IQ based version of the 3030. A faster, lighter, less expensive 3030 using the latest multifrequency tech but with the target ID and discrimination sophistication of the old 3030. ML has several detectors in development. 2 1/2 years after the Equinox launch, I think a Multi IQ based 3030 tech refresh is not too far away. The 3030 still gets it done in it's deep silver wheelhouse but it is starting to show it's age and reduced value as ML and Nokta have both released very capable detectors in the $300 - $500 range (including the Vanquish multi-frequency machine) that paying top dollar for the 3030 in 2020 does not seem to be such a great value proposition any longer. It's a great detector but I am not sure it is still worth the $2500 price tag at this point. Investment in a gently used 3030 might be the smart way to go at this point, if you don't find the Equinox compelling.
