Isuzu1992,
Hello and welcome to the Treasure Net!
My first question to you on this subject would be how much can you afford to really spend on a new and beginning hobby?
Yes, you can spend less for a metal detector, but certainly, with a cheaper detector, most people get frustrated by digging trash all the time and end up using it for a coat rack or something. I say spend as much as you can possibly afford, get the best for your money, do your homework-ie research the places that you are likely to go and detect at, and in a short time, you will be digging up some real treasures, and thus ensuring a great detecting experience.
I have a Garret Ace 250, a Garret treasure ace 150, and 1 Garret GTAX all of which are mostly for my kids-not trying to put anyone else down that uses these kinds of detectors, but I wouldn't even try to compare it to any of the Minelab Explorers,
the experience is absolutely unique with the Minelabs.
For example, with the Garret Ace 250, you get a "beep", same beep for everything that it detects. The Minelab Explorers have individual tones for different types of metal objects. This alone is quite a remarkable tool just to be able to use.
The Garret Ace 250 displays a LCD graph of what it detects, the Explorer can either display two digital values -like 03 and 29 for a silver dime or something, (Inductive and conductive properties respectively) of the metal under the coil, or a cross-hair display that also is positioned on the screen to represent the same inductive and conductive properties of what is under the coil.
This is a two dimensional definition for the Explorer as compared to a single dimension graph with a block under an unchangeable icon for the Garret Ace 250.
Totally different world for sure.
My second question would be, just how serious do you think you might be as a person that metal detects?
Without a doubt, the Minelab Explorers are built with capabilities that
critically and easily compliment a very serious metal detectorist.
My third question would be, how technically minded are you?
The reason for this is simple. With the Minelab Explorers, sure a learning curve for the first time user to get it set up and using it with confidence, but it, and I must say this honestly, challenges and compliments my skills every time I take it out, by this I mean that the machines capabilities are astounding to say the least.
If you are technically minded enough, you can advance your skills right along with the machines capabilities. I can say that my finds have progressively gotten better and my efficiency has greatly improved over time. In fact, some of the things that I have found with the Minelabs are amazing to say the least.
Go to the home page here and then page on down to the metal detector reviews by manufacturer to read some very informative material on the very same question that you ask here.
Also, here is a link to a topic on this site for my thoughts on the MineLab Explorer II's.
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,25770.msg173778.html#msg173778
I hope that this helps out some.
Happy Hunting and good luck!
T.G.Creations
