Looking to Upgrade to higher end detector

[Mikemikey]

First post so I'll try to make it brief:

I own a Garrett At Max and search on beach and in beach water.
I live in RI with highly mineralized beaches
The At Max gives a lot of feedback so I am constantly resetting, ground balancing, etc to reduce sound and have not found any "great finds"
I've adjusted frequencies, modes, discrimination settings, etc. (lots of pennies, dimes, nickels, etc.) not much jewelry.
Looking at the Garrett ATX (Pulse vs VLF) but also looking at the Minelab CTX3030 and Minelab SDC2300

Have also been looking very closely at the Minelab Equinox 800 as well even though it seems to be a different catagory, it seems to get rave reviews.

Looking for input, suggestions based on experience for using in the areas/settings described above.
Thank you.
Mike

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Treasure of Victoria Peak - Grab it through Amazon!

[Hawks88]

Welcome to tnet from Niagara Falls. Lots of hunters on here like the Equinox. I came over from Garrett and Fisher machines and bought an Equinox 600. I absolutely love everything about this machine. Good luck with any machine you choose.

 

[TheGreenBoy]

No detector can find you what's not there. I would bet on ATX to avoid troubles you described. Count on a bit more rudimentary discrimination with ATX. Than again, you may opt for a chip PI without discrimination at all, if you are willing to dig it all, it's a sand beach, right?

 

[smokeythecat]

My XP Deus is almost idiot proof, with me being the idiot! With the newest software upgrade it works well in shallow salt water and does great on mineralized beaches, and I mainly use mine as a relic machine. It does not chatter or have EMI problems.

 

[Iffy Signals]

First post so I'll try to make it brief:

I own a Garrett At Max and search on beach and in beach water.
I live in RI with highly mineralized beaches
The At Max gives a lot of feedback so I am constantly resetting, ground balancing, etc to reduce sound and have not found any "great finds"
I've adjusted frequencies, modes, discrimination settings, etc. (lots of pennies, dimes, nickels, etc.) not much jewelry.
Looking at the Garrett ATX (Pulse vs VLF) but also looking at the Minelab CTX3030 and Minelab SDC2300

Have also been looking very closely at the Minelab Equinox 800 as well even though it seems to be a different catagory, it seems to get rave reviews.

Looking for input, suggestions based on experience for using in the areas/settings described above.
Thank you.
Mike

Also in RI. Ive hunted plenty of beaches in Newport and Jamestown. I had the CTX which is awesome on the beach. I use the Equinox now for the beach, sold the CTX because to me the Nox is great for relics and the beach.

 

[Got-Good-Tones]

Yep...Kind of kicking around (I.E. - Thinking about...) the Equinox 800 myself...Lots of really good reviews...etc...etc... Current have the Garrett Ace 400...just not cutting it if you know what I mean...

Got-Good-Tones

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

The Garrett ATX is heavy at 7 lbs. If your primarily a beach hunter I would seriously consider the Minelab Excalibur 1000. 3030 or the Equinox, if you spend more time in water than wet sand I suggest the Excalibur.(I own all 3)

 

[fistfulladirt]

I think you already have a decent machine. I’ve upgraded several times for not much gain, is it really worth it to dig a couple extra mercury dimes

 

[Mikemikey]

It is primarily a sand beach and I am assuming the chip PI's are the Minelab or White's you are referring to. I am leaning toward the ATX but realize there technology doesn't seem to be the latest and greatest. As per finding what's not there, I believe that there is a fine line between no discrimination and digging a lot or too much and missing. After about 100+ views on youtube comparing different makes, models, etc., it seems to me that Minelab has the latest and greatest but seem to have some water proof issues (although I hear upgrades may have addressed) and Garrett which came out in 2013 but is a work horse.

I know not one machine will do all but I am vacillating between the ATX, SDC 2300, CTX 3030 and Equinox 800 (which seems to be a different category) but an all around great detector.

I guess more personal experiences from people would help.

 

[TheGreenBoy]

I had in mind assembled kits such as Surfmaster PI 1.2, delta pulse sniffer xr71 etc., you can buy for around 100 EUR on the net. I am using a simple PI i made for around 50 EUR. With a 15cm diameter coil i can peek a larger coin or gold ring at 25, maybe 30 cm, along with all the trash and pulltabs - no soil problems whatsoever, which is not really a nusience, what i find as a nusience are deep large finds, the detector can find larger metal as deep as 70cm even with a small coil. So if i don't get anything at 20-30cm, i just let it go....
Gold chain is a more difficult to find, it's more miss tha a hit wit such machine, but i guess it is with any, maybe specialized military detectors could do better there.

AT Max is a decent and great machine, i would keep it.

 

[smokeythecat]

One thought I have often. Did I turn off the stove? But seriously...you have a very good machine. The stuff has to be there to begin with.

Like they say down home "it's always something". The Garrett ATX and Minelab 3030 are heavy (weight wise machines), too heavy for me although I've wanted some of their machines in the past and had to pass due to the weight issue. I'm not familiar with the 2300, I haven't seen one used around here. My XP Deus does well in salt water, but you have to use the $65 kit for it, which is to me, rather annoying. The Deus doesn't mind EMI in the least. The Minelabs have issues with EMI. If you get close to a decision, find a dealer or a club or something with the machine you are considering and try it out first.

Our "toys" are getting more and more expensive.

 

[RustyGold]

Smokey is right-on about the XP Deus. I use it at the beach all the time and it's an awesome detector but I am going to recommend the Equinox 800. Mainly for the waterproof factor and it truly is a great beach and water machine. I bought & received the first incarnation of the 800 and have had it under water with no issues. The latest update addressed the Iron Bios and is killer at I.D.ing bottle caps. One can always be fooled though. Coins on edge or at an angle are no problem.
The larger (than the deus 9" coil) makes it a little bit nose heavy. So if that's an issue (as in shoulder problems) please be aware of that.
The Equinox is a tone machine as per most minelabs but the fairly accurate VDI sure helps in identifying targets prior to the dig. As with the PI detectors it's your choice to dig everything of course. As whether to get the 600 over the 800 there is a great comparison write up by Steve Herschbach at minelab.com. https://www.minelab.com/usa/community/treasure-talk/equinox-600-vs-equinox-800
For overall improvement in the arm cuff, please consider Doc's Arm Cuff Cover:
https://docsdetecting.com/product/docs-equinox-control-box-cover-package-docs-gold-screamer-brand/
You can purchase the arm cuff cover separately.
Hope this helps and good luck!

 

[Mikemikey]

Thanks to all for great responses. I am leaning toward the NOX 800. The light weight, multi frequency VLF and updated technology (and price) have me swaying that direction. I will be posting another question about suggestions for collapsible scoop handles as when I travel, I like to put in a bag for easy transport.

Once again, thanks for the great responses.

 

[Got-Good-Tones]

If Active/Retired military can get a 15% discount on MineLab detectors...did a random pick on a url to show discount is for real... But if you do a search using "minelab 15% off for military" you should find a bunch of vendors offering same deal...

https://www.colonialmetaldetectors.com/minelab-military-discount-info-page.html

Got-Good-Tones

 

[smokeythecat]

If you go with an Equinox, budget another $100 for an after market lower shaft. Minelab has/had a lot of problems with that part and everyone I know who has one has bought an aftermarket shaft and loves them.

 

[civil_war22]

I know everyone rags on the 1280-X Aquanat, but I’ve never had a problem in the beach areas, or wet sand. A lot of the sounds you’re hearing is the small iron in the sand. Mineralized sand will have it but I’ve also been able to learn the difference in tones