If I could buy both right now I would but I'm only budgeted for one in their price range. I hunt it all, coins, beach, relics, occasional nugget hunting out west when I visit family so a somewhat do it all machine with the features I want is in my sights. I've narrowed it down to these two. I've many years experience with Whites machines, they've never let me down and always performed well so the MXT Pro appeals to me. The Equinox 800 I'm still studying on and a plus to that is that Minelab offers a 15% military discount, which would bring that in under the cost of the Whites. Decisions, decisions
Kinda on the fence here and welcome all opinions.
Coinucopia: I actually have both, coincidentally, so I'll give you my opinion.
A quick history first: My son (now 15 years old) and I have been metal detecting together for almost a decade (!), and our first metal detector was a White's Prism 2, purchased at the beach "shell shop". We found a lot of coins with that thing together. We enjoyed it so much that about 5 years ago I bought a used MXT Pro. I thought that I already had a White's, so I'd stick with the brand. I wanted one that could be taken gold prospecting and the MXT Pro was the best all-in-one option I could find in my price range. I've been happy with it (did take it to Arizona to a GPAA claim; did NOT find any gold), and it's worked very well on the beach and in fields/woods/parks. I've learned it well enough that I'm pretty certain when I find a coin without even digging, and I can guess the depth within an inch.
This year my son and I agreed that we'd spend more time "treasure hunting" (metal detecting as well as gold dredging); I've realized I've only got another year or two with him before he heads off on his own, so I want to maximize that time. My son did say "but Dad, can we get a better metal detector?" He'd definitely outgrown the Prism 2, and he didn't like how heavy my MXT Pro was (more on that in a moment).
With all that in mind, I decided to invest in another detector. I've always read good things about Minelabs and consider that brand the best, due to reputation (I'd never used one before). I will also admit that Gary Draden ("Curse of Oak Island") using a Minelab influenced my decision also. I wasn't going to buy a 3030, but the Equinox 800 was in a price range I could handle, so I didn't really debate the options much. I ordered one in January.
Now that the weather has broken here on the East Coast my son and I have taken our detectors out in the field 3 times, and here's what I can tell you:
- the Equinox is so much lighter than the MXT Pro. If weight is a consideration for you, Coinucopia, then there is no debate. The Equinox is the absolute clear winner. The MXT Pro is very heavy (the standard concentric coil is surprisingly heavy and hard to swing for more than 1.5 or 2 hours. I have the smaller coil for the MXT Pro but tend to use the larger one).
- Both detectors will find and identify a coin if you're even generally familiar with their sounds and VDI's. However:
> the MXT Pro tends to show more erratic numbers, jumping around a lot, and it seems to vary quite a bit when you're swinging the initial swing vs. the cross swing.
> the Equinox numbers seem a bit more steady. This could be because of the smaller VDI range (-9 to 40) but I also think the circuitry is much newer and so it's more precise. The MultiIQ multifrequency tech might also be helping hear.
> the Equinox is "faster", meaning it's return is very very precise with what you're swinging over, while the MXT Pro feels more "sloppy" around the target.
Honestly, I don't think there's much of a decision to be made here. If I had to spend $800 again, it would absolutely be on the Equinox. I'm glad I have an MXT Pro as a backup, but once my son is off to college the Equinox will be my primary detector.
Good luck!
- Brian
