X-terra Elite to Equinox 900 or wait for Manticore/Deus II - W. Coast Beach Hunting

[DudeDoubloonYoutube]

Hey everyone,

Been planning to eventually move up to a Manticore, Deus II, or maybe even wait to see what Minelab releases next year. But I was just offered an Equinox 900 for half off, which makes it really tempting.

I’ve been swinging the X-Terra Elite for a year now, and honestly it’s been one of the best bang-for-the-buck detectors. For those who beach hunt, especially on the California coast or similar conditions, is the performance jump to the 900 noticeable enough to justify grabbing it at a massive discount?

Curious to hear from folks who currently hunt beaches with the 900 — or anyone who upgraded to the 900 from a lower Minelab model. How are you feeling about its performance these days? Would you take the deal or keep waiting for a Manticore/new release?

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

I have the 800 and very happy with it, no issues so far, and had it since it's release.

 

[TORRERO]

This is my opinion after 40 years of experience, upgrading can be exciting but the truth is.. will that $1000 investment really find you more than you would have found otherwise? (I’ve had 15 different machines over 40 years)
Almost certainly not! There is no way to know if a target you get with a new machine, you could have gotten with your old machine.. it’s a fools game.
That being said, clearly some machines are better than others for finding certain targets. If you want gold on salt water beaches I would recommend the DEUS II WITH the ELIPTICAL coil. I have found that if set correctly I get almost no noise in the salt water sand but it will respond to some of the smallest targets including gold, of any machine I have ever used on the beach.
Good luck 🍀

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

I have CTX 3030, Equinox 800, and 3 excals with the reverse discrimination mod with 3 different coil sizes, 12", 13" & 15" , for the salt beach I still favor the Excalibur, it goes so deep.

All excals have the Anderson shafts so I can really cover some ground with the 15" WOT

 

[TORRERO]

I have CTX 3030, Equinox 800, and 3 excals with the reverse discrimination mod with 3 different coil sizes, 12", 13" & 15" , for the salt beach I still favor the Excalibur, it goes so deep.

All excals have the Anderson shafts so I can really cover some ground with the 15" WOT

Yes, I will say that I’m not convinced that the DEUS II goes as deep as some of my other machines did, but GOLD is hard to detect with any machine so I’m staying with my DEUS II. All of these other machines are great though

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Yes, I will say that I’m not convinced that the DEUS II goes as deep as some of my other machines did, but GOLD is hard to detect with any machine so I’m staying with my DEUS II. All of these other machines are great though

Nothing against the DEUS at all, I have a hunting partner uses the Deus and loves it.


I have used Excals since about 2008 I know them pretty good, I tested hundreds of them in the repair center, and help with custom mods on dozens of the excals.

When I go detecting I always take 3 detectors with me, the Equinox800 and 2 Excals, 2 scoops one as a back up scoop. The surf conditions is what decides what I use once at the beach.

The Equinox is great detector, and I love it, but if the surf is rough I use the Excal. A lot of people dont think about the extra water pressure ocean waves carry,

 

[cudamark]

Hey everyone,

Been planning to eventually move up to a Manticore, Deus II, or maybe even wait to see what Minelab releases next year. But I was just offered an Equinox 900 for half off, which makes it really tempting.

I’ve been swinging the X-Terra Elite for a year now, and honestly it’s been one of the best bang-for-the-buck detectors. For those who beach hunt, especially on the California coast or similar conditions, is the performance jump to the 900 noticeable enough to justify grabbing it at a massive discount?

Curious to hear from folks who currently hunt beaches with the 900 — or anyone who upgraded to the 900 from a lower Minelab model. How are you feeling about its performance these days? Would you take the deal or keep waiting for a Manticore/new release?

First, it's unlikely a replacement for the current Manticore and D2 are coming anytime soon. As for the 900, it's my favorite machine of all time. I haven't used the Manticore yet, but, I have several hunting buddies who do, and I do as well or better as they do, so, I don't see a definite overall advantage for me to step up to the Manticore yet. I've owned and used the D2, but, didn't like it and sold it to a friend. In certain situations, it's better than other machines....in others, it's not. That applies to just about all detectors. Some are just better at certain jobs than others. If I was in the market for a new detector and didn't have anything that used my current accessories, (like a selection of coils) I would go with the Manticore. When I went from an 800 to getting either the Manticore or the 900, my decision was fairly easy. I have many coils with my 800 that also work with the 900, so, the 900 was an easy pick. Overall, your Elite will probably find 95% of what the 900, Manticore, or D2 will find. The decision to make is whether you really want that extra 5%. That percentage might be higher or lower depending on what you're trying to find, and where you plan on using it.

 

[philber]

Hey everyone,

Been planning to eventually move up to a Manticore, Deus II, or maybe even wait to see what Minelab releases next year. But I was just offered an Equinox 900 for half off, which makes it really tempting.

I’ve been swinging the X-Terra Elite for a year now, and honestly it’s been one of the best bang-for-the-buck detectors. For those who beach hunt, especially on the California coast or similar conditions, is the performance jump to the 900 noticeable enough to justify grabbing it at a massive discount?

Curious to hear from folks who currently hunt beaches with the 900 — or anyone who upgraded to the 900 from a lower Minelab model. How are you feeling about its performance these days? Would you take the deal or keep waiting for a Manticore/new release?

All postulating and theories aside, the bottom line is there is only one way to tell. Your soil and locations are different than everyone else and maybe the 900 will be a huge game changer, maybe it wont. Only way to find out is to use it and see. At 50% off, if its not killing your budget, its a great opportunity to find out the answer the only way there is to truly know - actually try it out. Ideas are ideas; proof is proof. Worst case scenario, it does nothing much and you decide to sell it in which case you should have no problem getting your money back or even making a little bit. So there's your answer! lol

 

[TORRERO]

Nothing against the DEUS at all, I have a hunting partner uses the Deus and loves it.

Never meant to say you were if I did 😆 All these machines are great, and you really need to understand the DEUS to get the most out of it.

I have used Excals since about 2008 I know them pretty good, I tested hundreds of them in the repair center, and help with custom mods on dozens of the excals.

When I go detecting I always take 3 detectors with me, the Equinox800 and 2 Excals, 2 scoops one as a back up scoop. The surf conditions is what decides what I use once at the beach.

The Equinox is great detector, and I love it, but if the surf is rough I use the Excal. A lot of people dont think about the extra water pressure ocean waves carry,

I have almost never hunted in the water… you are a better man than I

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Never meant to say you were if I did 😆 All these machines are great, and you really need to understand the DEUS to get the most out of it.

I have almost never hunted in the water… you are a better man than I

Living in Florida you find far more gold on the beaches, and especially in the water. I have hunted up to chest deep wading in the surf when it is calm, when surf is rough I usually don't go much deeper than waist deep,

My best hunt was 5 gold in about 5 hour hunt, nothing first 3 hours then 5 in next 2 hours, 3 of the rings had diamonds. I have had many 3 gold ring days and couple 4 ring days, that is over 19 years,...

 

[TORRERO]

First, it's unlikely a replacement for the current Manticore and D2 are coming anytime soon. As for the 900, it's my favorite machine of all time. I haven't used the Manticore yet, but, I have several hunting buddies who do, and I do as well or better as they do, so, I don't see a definite overall advantage for me to step up to the Manticore yet. I've owned and used the D2, but, didn't like it and sold it to a friend. In certain situations, it's better than other machines....in others, it's not. That applies to just about all detectors. Some are just better at certain jobs than others. If I was in the market for a new detector and didn't have anything that used my current accessories, (like a selection of coils) I would go with the Manticore. When I went from an 800 to getting either the Manticore or the 900, my decision was fairly easy. I have many coils with my 800 that also work with the 900, so, the 900 was an easy pick. Overall, your Elite will probably find 95% of what the 900, Manticore, or D2 will find. The decision to make is whether you really want that extra 5%. That percentage might be higher or lower depending on what you're trying to find, and where you plan on using it.

This is so true, there is no way to know if a signal you get from one machine, you would have gotten from another. What I will tell you is that my hunting partner uses a Minelab 800 and in older place, churches or old houses I consistently get signals he says he can’t or he says “it’s all over the place I probably wouldn’t dig it” and it turns out to be a silver dime or wheat penny.. that being said.. all the basic “good signals” he gets them all… So he is just missing the fringe signals… this doesn’t apply on the beach as targets are usually in the open with little or no trash/iron around them… depth is the main thing.. and he gets deeper sometimes than me and my DEUS II

 

[TORRERO]

Living in Florida you find far more gold on the beaches, and especially in the water. I have hunted up to chest deep wading in the suf when it is calm, when surf is rough I usually don't go much deeper than waist deep,

My best hunt was 5 gold in about 5 hour hunt, nothing first 3 hours then 5 in next 2 hours, 3 of the rings had diamonds. I have had many 3 gold ring days and couple 4 ring days, that is over 19 years,...

Have you ever hunted “Crab Island” outside of Destin Florida… those guys on the tour said that there was a group of guys who go out there 🤣

 

[TORRERO]

Have you ever hunted “Crab Island” outside of Destin Florida… those guys on the tour said that there was a group of guys who go out there 🤣

I wanted to so bad but I didn’t have the cable for water hunting for my DEUS II

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

I wanted to so bad but I didn’t have the cable for water hunting for my DEUS II

I haven't hunted Dustin. I have hunted the Keys, Miami, West Palm, Fort Lauderdale, Port St Lucie, Sebastian, Ft Pierce, Vero Beach, Melbourne, Satellite Beach, Cocoa Beach, New Smyrna, Daytona, Flagler, St Augustine, and Jacksonville on East coast, and Clearwater, Indian Rocks, down to Sanibel Island on West Coast.

 

[DudeDoubloonYoutube]

Thanks to everyone who weighed in on this. I read all your responses and talked to Minelab briefly.

I grabbed it. 900 + Pinpointer open box for $450. At that price I couldn’t not, if I sell my Elite Expedition Bundle sometime it’ll cover it anyways.

Not expecting a massive difference - if I get a 5% performance increase or a few rings I’d otherwise not over the life of it - call me a happy man.

See you on the beaches.

 

[TORRERO]

I haven't hunted Dustin. I have hunted the Keys, Miami, West Palm, Fort Lauderdale, Port St Lucie, Sebastian, Ft Pierce, Vero Beach, Melbourne, Satellite Beach, Cocoa Beach, New Smyrna, Daytona, Flagler, St Augustine, and Jacksonville on East coast, and Clearwater, Indian Rocks, down to Sanibel Island on West Coast.

You’ve been all over the place.. any fleet stuff out of Sabastian or Ft Pierce, I’ve never been but heard a lot of stories

 

[TORRERO]

Thanks to everyone who weighed in on this. I read all your responses and talked to Minelab briefly.

I grabbed it. 900 + Pinpointer open box for $450. At that price I couldn’t not, if I sell my Elite Expedition Bundle sometime it’ll cover it anyways.

Not expecting a massive difference - if I get a 5% performance increase or a few rings I’d otherwise not over the life of it - call me a happy man.

See you on the beaches.

View attachment 2236694

Good luck 🍀

 

[OBN]

Thats a great price! One thing about metal detecting the beach, there is a good chance it will pay for itself.

Honestly, most hunters now days are fresh drop hunters so targets are not going to be insanely deep and just about any of the newer top machines will find those types of targets.

Someday I may upgrade My main machine ......

 

[TORRERO]

Thats a great price! One thing about metal detecting the beach, there is a good chance it will pay for itself.

Honestly, most hunters now days are fresh drop hunters so targets are not going to be insanely deep and just about any of the newer top machines will find those types of targets.

Someday I may upgrade My main machine ......
View attachment 2236743

The reality for me has been… not much of anything on the beaches I’ve tried in the last 10 years…. Sure, the occasional pocket change or ring or something but I ALWAYS do better in schools or other places

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

You’ve been all over the place.. any fleet stuff out of Sabastian or Ft Pierce, I’ve never been but heard a lot of stories

None to date.. The renourish the beach every year, dumping about 8-10 foot of fresh sand on the Treasure Coast beaches.