Time to upgrade.

[Biggamefish]

I have been running a vanquish 340. I like the ease of the machine but feel I am missing stuff. What do the better machines give you. Do they really pick up the metal better or is it just identifying the metals better so you have the option to dig or not.
I was looking at the xterra or the equinox options. I am a casual detectorist. I go out on the beach 2 times a year and bomb around woods and parks. Not sure i need a 1200 dollar option but want something I can grow into and will be great for years to come.

 

[sibbley]

You could look at the Vanquish 560, or the Xterra Elite. Both are multi-frequency and priced about $500. Also, the XP Icon which should be coming to the U.S. soon, about $569.

 

[sibbley]

To answer your first question, I think the more expensive detectors offer better target separation. I don't think one detector is any better at identifying different metals than the other. I think that comes with experience. IMHO, a guy that knows his detector and its sounds could identify different metals better than a guy that just bought a Manticore or Deus 2 using 2d target trace or X/Y screen.

 

[cudamark]

The better machines will be more adjustable to conditions, have more features to help I.D. targets good or bad, and under some conditions, can go a bit deeper and tell better if a target is good or bad on deeper stuff. Your machine will probably find 80-90% of what a Manticore will find......it's a matter of what those 10-20% targets are and if they're something you want to find by spending more money to find them.

 

[guest]

Hello @Biggamefish .

I have been running a vanquish 340. I like the ease of the machine but feel I am missing stuff.

Why do you think you miss stuff? May be you filters have been set to high? You know, the more you use, the more you loose.

What do the better machines give you. Do they really pick up the metal better or is it just identifying the metals better so you have the option to dig or not.

The more advanced machines will offer better and more filters. More adjustments. More time to fiddle and make you think, am I missing good targets?

I was looking at the xterra or the equinox options. I am a casual detectorist. I go out on the beach 2 times a year and bomb around woods and parks. Not sure i need a 1200 dollar option but want something I can grow into and will be great for years to come.

Nowadays, it makes little sense to buy several detectors from the same manufacturer, as the accessories are not interchangeable.
Even if you need accessories for an older model, it's almost like with a car; it's best to have the vehicle registration document.
If you're thinking of selling your Vanquish 340 and want to stay loyal to the brand, then you've made a good choice by the X-Terra Elite.
However, if you're considering getting a second machine, then I would take up @sibbley 's suggestion and take a look at the XP Icon.
But perhaps reducing the disc will help?
However, keep us informed, what ever your choice will be.
Good Luck & Have Fun 😃🍀🤞

 

[guest]

Just stopped by this. Maybe it's helpful?! 😄😊 And BTW, welome aboard, @Biggamefish .

 

[cudamark]

That applies to coin/jewelry/relic hunting too.

 

[mtdoramike]

I have been running a vanquish 340. I like the ease of the machine but feel I am missing stuff. What do the better machines give you. Do they really pick up the metal better or is it just identifying the metals better so you have the option to dig or not.
I was looking at the xterra or the equinox options. I am a casual detectorist. I go out on the beach 2 times a year and bomb around woods and parks. Not sure i need a 1200 dollar option but want something I can grow into and will be great for years to come.

I used to scratch that same itch. I used to ask myself those same questions that all detector manufactures want you to ask yourself because that is how they stay in business. But after going through close 35-40 metal detectors I had an epiphany moment. It was never the detector that was missing targets, it was me. But if you want to go down that same road, good luck to you, you will have that same epiphany moment too.

 

[guest]

I used to scratch that same itch. I used to ask myself those same questions that all detector manufactures want you to ask yourself because that is how they stay in business. But after going through close 35-40 metal detectors I had an epiphany moment. It was never the detector that was missing targets, it was me. But if you want to go down that same road, good luck to you, you will have that same epiphany moment too.

The luck I had was, my friend was a dealer & distributor for metal detectors.
So I had a chance to test a wide vary of machines of different manufacturers.

 

[Biggamefish]

Hello @Biggamefish .

Why do you think you miss stuff? May be you filters have been set to high? You know, the more you use, the more you loose.

The more advanced machines will offer better and more filters. More adjustments. More time to fiddle and make you think, am I missing good targets?

Nowadays, it makes little sense to buy several detectors from the same manufacturer, as the accessories are not interchangeable.
Even if you need accessories for an older model, it's almost like with a car; it's best to have the vehicle registration document.
If you're thinking of selling your Vanquish 340 and want to stay loyal to the brand, then you've made a good choice by the X-Terra Elite.
However, if you're considering getting a second machine, then I would take up @sibbley 's suggestion and take a look at the XP Icon.
But perhaps reducing the disc will help?
However, keep us informed, what ever your choice will be.
Good Luck & Have Fun 😃🍀🤞

Thanks for the reply and the welcome aboard. The vanquish 340 is super user friendly. You turn it on and go. Has three settings for metal, you can change the depth you are searching and the volume. Thats it so it is a great beginner.
By watching a bunch videos I think recovery speed and the clearer tones will make a huge difference. I am leaning towards the equinox 900. Just for growth down the road.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

I've told this story before, but I'm going to tell it again. I had an Ace 250 for the first three years metal detecting. Found a lot of really good coins and colonial relics, but it had two fatal flaws. One, it wasn't waterproof and two, bottle caps rang up as quarters. I used a plastic cover to deal with the first problem, but the second problem drove me crazy! Combine that with the fact that everyone said the Ace 250 was just a toy and I needed to upgrade to find better stuff.

I finally bit the bullet and bought a slightly used AT Pro and couldn't wait to hit all my old spots. I figured I'd missed a lot of coins and relics with my Ace 250. After a couple of months of hitting my old spots, guess what I found? Jack squat! I hadn't even missed one penny with my Ace 250. I felt like I had wasted my money with the upgrade.

I will admit the AT Pro has found me a lot more silver dimes than my Ace 250, so that's a win. And I rarely dig a steel bottle cap now. I still dig aluminum caps once in awhile, but overall, my AT Pro has saved me a lot of time by not digging all those annoying bottle caps. Too bad it doesn't help me when it comes to shotgun shells! I've dug over 2,300 now!

 

[Tesorodeoro]

I've told this story before, but I'm going to tell it again. I had an Ace 250 for the first three years metal detecting. Found a lot of really good coins and colonial relics, but it had two fatal flaws. One, it wasn't waterproof and two, bottle caps rang up as quarters. I used a plastic cover to deal with the first problem, but the second problem drove me crazy! Combine that with the fact that everyone said the Ace 250 was just a toy and I needed to upgrade to find better stuff.

I finally bit the bullet and bought a slightly used AT Pro and couldn't wait to hit all my old spots. I figured I'd missed a lot of coins and relics with my Ace 250. After a couple of months of hitting my old spots, guess what I found? Jack squat! I hadn't even missed one penny with my Ace 250. I felt like I had wasted my money with the upgrade.

I will admit the AT Pro has found me a lot more silver dimes than my Ace 250, so that's a win. And I rarely dig a steel bottle cap now. I still dig aluminum caps once in awhile, but overall, my AT Pro has saved me a lot of time by not digging all those annoying bottle caps. Too bad it doesn't help me when it comes to shotgun shells! I've dug over 2,300 now!

View attachment 2257151

A $20 coin sounds exactly like one of those. Just so you know.

 

[Tesorodeoro]

I used to scratch that same itch. I used to ask myself those same questions that all detector manufactures want you to ask yourself because that is how they stay in business. But after going through close 35-40 metal detectors I had an epiphany moment. It was never the detector that was missing targets, it was me. But if you want to go down that same road, good luck to you, you will have that same epiphany moment too.

I just don’t see that as being universally true. Does your coin/relic machine find small pieces of gold like earrings and placer gold? If not it’s your fault? No certain detectors are more sensitive to very small gold. I can recall a very good older machine that couldn’t detect a $5 gold coin much less a 1$ gold coon. 3” down it wasn’t there. Modern multi frequency detectors detect gold better than the old coin/relic detectors. Great reason to upgrade.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Modern multi frequency detectors detect gold better than the old coin/relic detectors. Great reason to upgrade.

That's your opinion. Don't have placer gold around here, but I have found a lot of small earrings. None were gold, but some were gold plated. My AT Pro is really good at detecting small objects up to 7 inches deep. Here's some of the 1700's flat buttons I've found with it over the years. They are VERY tiny buttons!

 

[Bart@Big Boys Hobbies]

Welcome! Great hobby to be in for sure!