Sovereign XS... Worth it?

[Auriemma]

I have the chance on picking up a Sov XS in a trade. Trade value running around $350. It looks to be in great shape and comes with 2 coils (12" Sunray and stock 8"). I have an ATP and love it. I have read many great stories and reviews about the Sovs.

Are they all their cracked up to be?

They say they are great beach machines... How about GB? Wet sand? In saltwater?

Does it take AAs or is it a rechargeable pack? Does it have need a ML charger?

 

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[Auriemma]

Well... I hope so. I did the deal. Interesting machine. Now to learn it.

...and it takes 8 AA Alkalines or NiCads.

 

[RustyGold]

Hey Auriemma,
I just got a new Sovereign GT and if its anything like it, you will be blown away! I did air tests today on the stock settings and it was quiet on all the nails, foil and bobby pins!
I think you will be pumped about your purchase!
Best of Luck!
Here's the Owner's Manual in case you don't have it!
http://www.minelab.com/__files/f/10475/Instruction Manual Sovereign XS.pdf

 

[jeff of pa]

Excellent machines & I hear even better on the Beach.

Just remember swing it as slow as you physically can & Reap the rewards

by the way there should be rechargable pacs for the XS.

My XS-2 had one. Kellyco may still sell them , but if you try to buy one anywhere,
be sure to get the correct one. at some point in there they had 2 different setups.
one with a Plug in Battery pack the other with a slide in battery pack,
they seemed to be trying to decide which was better

or you could just go buy 8 Quality rechargeable AA's & a Recharger
& do it yourself

 

[Auriemma]

Thanks Rusty and Jeff. I took it out for a dry run at a local park... I have some learning to do. Understanding what it's telling me will be the hard part. I guess it's listen and dig for a while. And it does "sing" to you.

I did find some NiMH battery packs with chargers for sale at third party sites.

BTW...
alkalines are 1.5v. x 8 = 12v
NiMH are 1.2v x 10 = 12v
Keep that in mind if you decide to DIY a battery pack.

 

[jeff of pa]

yes the more you use it the more you'll understand each tone.
no matter what, tones are still only the machines guess,
But the Sovereign is one of the Best detectors out there

 

[Auriemma]

Well... I'm invested now. (2) 2500 mAh NiMH battery packs and chargers ordered. I ordered 2 because I have no idea how long they will be available for an older unit.

 

[jeff of pa]

& if you don't wear them all the way down before recharging,
they can get a memory also. I noticed mine both have a half life

 

[Auriemma]

Smart chargers can prevent that. They discharge them, then recharge... And stop when full. Now that being said, supposedly you can reset the"memory" by fully discharging and recharging to full. If all else fails, I'll pull out my soldering iron after a trip to the hobby shop for some LIPO batteries.

Question... How long do you get from your "half life" batteries?

 

[Keppy]

To me the Sovereign no matter what model … the original first one ...to the GT the last one ... and all models in-between are the best detector put out by any company . That is what i think of the Sovereign's ..You can not go wrong with a Sovereign...

 

[jeff of pa]

Smart chargers can prevent that. They discharge them, then recharge... And stop when full. Now that being said, supposedly you can reset the"memory" by fully discharging and recharging to full. If all else fails, I'll pull out my soldering iron after a trip to the hobby shop for some LIPO batteries.

Question... How long do you get from your "half life" batteries?

usually about 3 to 4 hours (lest then half life actually) which was my Normal Day.
I just had to Recharge every night.
They didn't seem to hold a charge sitting either.
but Now I don't use my Sovereign So no Big Deal

 

[jeff of pa]

To me the Sovereign no matter what model … the original first one ...to the GT the last one ... and all models in-between are the best detector put out by any company . That is what i think of the Sovereign's ..You can not go wrong with a Sovereign...

I have to agree ! I do feel My Explorer Is better on Deep Silver.
But My Sovereign was a Magnet for Gold Jewelry of all Sizes & Karat's.

add to that it was a Killer Relic machine

 

[penzfan]

I have the chance on picking up a Sov XS in a trade. I have read many great stories and reviews about the Sovs.

Are they all their cracked up to be?

They say they are great beach machines... How about GB? Wet sand? In saltwater?

Auri, The Sov's incorporate automatic GB in the Disc mode and are hard to beat on wet sand and in shallow saltwater. GL and HH