The Explorer Models - Good and Bad Points - How Do They Compare?

[Michigan Badger]

I just purchased a XS so I'm wondering how it compares to the Ex.II or SE.

I posted this on another forum but got no replies.

So, how do all the Minelab Explorer models compare?

Depth?

Target Separation?

Speed?

Weight?

Build Quality?

Meter Readings?

etc.

Badger

 

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[hollowpointred]

from what i understand depth is the same. the speed of the 2 and the SE are supposed to be better, the SE`s weight is supposed to be lighter (although i would argue that one!), build quality on all three is really good, but i believe the cam locks are improved on the SE and maybe the 2 as well. the meter readings are similar but a little bit more user friendly on the SE ( the menu segments have been simplified a bit). from what i understand the XS,2 and SE are all very very similar. i know you aren't a fan of meters and Target ID and all of that junk, so I'm not sure the XS will be your thing, but time will tell wont it! i hope you like it. its a great machine but not suited to everyones tastes. how many more machines do you need to acquire before you can say you have used them all?

 

[Michigan Badger]

from what i understand depth is the same. the speed of the 2 and the SE are supposed to be better, the SE`s weight is supposed to be lighter (although i would argue that one!), build quality on all three is really good, but i believe the cam locks are improved on the SE and maybe the 2 as well. the meter readings are similar but a little bit more user friendly on the SE ( the menu segments have been simplified a bit). from what i understand the XS,2 and SE are all very very similar. i know you aren't a fan of meters and Target ID and all of that junk, so I'm not sure the XS will be your thing, but time will tell wont it! i hope you like it. its a great machine but not suited to everyones tastes. how many more machines do you need to acquire before you can say you have used them all?

Thanks much!

Somebody has been reading my posts? That's scary!

I figure I only need to buy 743 more machines--life is good

But what you wrote is pretty much what I have read at other sites.

It seems that they've pretty much maxed out the depth. Now they need to make them lighter and improve on the meters.

But here's something I've thought about. If Minelab started making feature weight machines like say Tesoro, would they lose that special uniqueness? You know what I'm saying?

The weight is a problem for some but I think almost a cool thing to others. It's sort of like the Nautilus detectors. They're way worse in weight feel and balance than any Minelab yet they have this completely devoted following. If they got like other brands they'd no longer be unique and different.

Follow me?

Badger

 

[hollowpointred]

i don't know, personally i hate the weight of my Explorer. it gets to be tiring after 5 or 6 hours of swinging and I'm not too keen on the bungee thing( although i hear they do work). i would love it if they could make it a pound lighter. really two things stand out that i really like about the Explorer. the build quality ( fit and finish) is superb in my opinion and the depth is very good. i wish they could improve on the machines recovery time as well. its a pretty slow machine. it handles bad ground really well though. the target ID accuracy....well lets just say that it is what it is. i have yet to see a machine that has truly accurate target ID. the more experience i get in the hobby the more i am beginning to think that target ID hurts more than it helps. i have been trying to not look at the screen as much as i used to.i guess like everything, there is good things and bad things about it.

 

[Michigan Badger]

i don't know, personally i hate the weight of my Explorer. it gets to be tiring after 5 or 6 hours of swinging and I'm not too keen on the bungee thing( although i hear they do work). i would love it if they could make it a pound lighter. really two things stand out that i really like about the Explorer. the build quality ( fit and finish) is superb in my opinion and the depth is very good. i wish they could improve on the machines recovery time as well. its a pretty slow machine. it handles bad ground really well though. the target ID accuracy....well lets just say that it is what it is. i have yet to see a machine that has truly accurate target ID. the more experience i get in the hobby the more i am beginning to think that target ID hurts more than it helps. i have been trying to not look at the screen as much as i used to.i guess like everything, there is good things and bad things about it.

Very good post.

I saw this with those earlier target ID meters and that's why I've tended to stay away from them today. But you know now we have this new group saying the old meters were awesome. Must be models I never used

When I had the Explorer II I almost never looked at the screen after setup. It was not deep but like I've explained too many times now I think that machine was defective. I set it up perfect for our area and it wasn't as good as my Minelab GT. In fact, the GT would eat it alive.

Minelab clearly states that the Explorers are deeper than the GT's so it must of been my Explorer. That's the problem with buying used sometimes. But often the big savings makes it worth returning it to Minelab to be put in top shape (maybe better than a new one).

At this point I plan to be very patient with the XS. I'll set it up and compare it side-by-side with other detectors and that should tell me the true story.

Badger

 

[Iron Patch]

from what i understand depth is the same. the speed of the 2 and the SE are supposed to be better, the SE`s weight is supposed to be lighter (although i would argue that one!), build quality on all three is really good, but i believe the cam locks are improved on the SE and maybe the 2 as well. the meter readings are similar but a little bit more user friendly on the SE ( the menu segments have been simplified a bit). from what i understand the XS,2 and SE are all very very similar. i know you aren't a fan of meters and Target ID and all of that junk, so I'm not sure the XS will be your thing, but time will tell wont it! i hope you like it. its a great machine but not suited to everyones tastes. how many more machines do you need to acquire before you can say you have used them all?

They marketed the II as being faster but made it vague so people would believe it was reset speed when it was actually just a little faster changing menus, not exactly a big deal. The SE I can't say, only used one for 5 minutes.

PS.. I use and XS and never use the screen, just because someone doesn't look at the meter doesn't mean the detector is not for them. It's all about the electronics.

My opinion on all the Explorers right from the S to the E-trac is that they are probably all so close it really doesn't matter, none of them will make up for simply finding a better site. Anyone who has to scrape their pennies together to have the latest and greatest I think is a fool. Unfortunately they don't know what I know and think the more money they spend the more success it wil buy. Gonna be great deals on Explorers from here on in.