Help decide, which one?

[BigBeefy]

With the 3030 coming out, there are now tons of etracs for sale. I was looki g for a Sov or Excal. But the prices of a used decent etrac falls in the prices I was finding the other two for.
Would you guys do an etrac or Sov/Excal?
Only thing I do t like abou etra is the annoying sounds.
Any advise?
Thanks
Pete

 

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[Hosensack]

What are you using it for mainly, the Excal doesn't really fit in with the other two. Unless you are only beach hunting, then the Etrac doesn't really fit in with the other two. Sovereign doesn't sound much better as far as tones go(if you don't like the Etrac tones). Sovereign is a really nice machine and if, based on your original choices, are going to be hunting the beaches frequently but want the versatility to hunt elsewhere I would say your best bet is the GT. If you are only hunting the beach and want to venture into the water at all, the Excal. If my assumptions are totally off and you are hunting nowhere near the beach, then you may want to grab yourself a used Etrac for the deals you can currently get.

 

[BigBeefy]

Hosensack
Thanks for the response. I am mainly going to do land hunting with some beach hunts. No diving. No waist deep water stuff. Shoreline and dry sand. We go to beach twice a year (salt) but hunt fresh alot. My F2 can not handle any wet sand at all which is why I was looking for Sov or Excal in first place.
As far as sounds, I thought Sov and Excal sound the same. I'm ok with those sounds. Etrac just seems annoying lol. Until I start finding treasures
I live in Tennessee and there are lots of spots that have highly mineralized areas. I need something to get into the clay.

 

[Hosensack]

Based on that I would say the Sovereign would work best for you, it is great in the mineralized ground, you will have one of the best beach machines out there for the times you are there, and you won't miss a beat for coins either. I'd get more feedback maybe from a fellow Tennessee resident, but that is my input.

 

[BigBeefy]

That's great. I have been talking to one other TN resident that lives close by. They said same thing.
Seems that is the way to go. Couple more paychecks and I'll be set.
Thanks again.

 

[Bart@Big Boys Hobbies]

Since you said a land AND beach hunter, I would go E-Trac if you can afford to. It has much more useable options for land hunting and beach hunting, VERY versatile machine. Snag a used one, they are for sale everywhere because of the new CTX.

 

[Hosensack]

Since you said a land AND beach hunter, I would go E-Trac if you can afford to. It has much more useable options for land hunting and beach hunting, VERY versatile machine. Snag a used one, they are for sale everywhere because of the new CTX.

I agree, but:

1) He hates the tones of the Etrac.

2) Appears to have already researched and is happy with Sovereign GT

3) Hunts fresh water wet sand alot, where the GT is one of the best

 

[BigBeefy]

I see that the ETrac has options for multi tone down to monotone. I like that. I played with an emulator the other day and found tone options.
Tones aside and all the fancy display options of the etrac, if you were to Hunt side by side with the Sov gt and the etrac, which would find more stuff? Does the Sov go as deep as the etrac in the same soil?
It appears that the etrac has more discrimination options.
What are the advantages of the extra frequencies? What would the etrac find that the Sov won't with frequencies going to 25 kHz vs 100 kHz?

 

[Hosensack]

This may be the easiest way in forum format to answer the largest bulk of your questions:

Depth:Advantage Etrac in most situations.
Coins/Silver: Advantage Etrac
Speed:Etrac
Options:Etrac
Relics: Sovereign
Gold:Sovereign
In iron: Sovereign
Beach:Sovereign

It all depends on where and what the bulk of your detecting is for.

 

[Bart@Big Boys Hobbies]

I see that the ETrac has options for multi tone down to monotone. I like that. I played with an emulator the other day and found tone options.
Tones aside and all the fancy display options of the etrac, if you were to Hunt side by side with the Sov gt and the etrac, which would find more stuff? Does the Sov go as deep as the etrac in the same soil?
It appears that the etrac has more discrimination options.
What are the advantages of the extra frequencies? What would the etrac find that the Sov won't with frequencies going to 25 kHz vs 100 kHz?

The tones on the E-Trac can be adjusted to just about anything you want.
With the amazing discrimination of the E-Trac you may not find more but you will dig less junk once you learn it.
Both are equally as deep. Both have advantages on different targets.
The advantages of more frequencies is better discrimination. Better discrimination means digging less junk.