So Greek Hunter, as you can read from many of these posts about your topic and the argument within the topic there are some Equinox haters, some Deus lovers, some ORX users and even the mention of the AT Max.
Before I continue, I own the Equinox 800, the Equinox 600, the XP ORX and the Whites V3i. I used to own the XP Deus, AT Pro, AT Gold and many other detectors that just can't handle my hunting conditions which are moderately to highly mineralized soil for coin, jewelry and relic hunting, salt and fresh water beach, surf and submerged hunting, and gold nugget prospecting in high to extreme mineralization.
These are my opinions from extensive use of these detectors in tough soil conditions for hundreds to thousands of hours except for the Whites V3i which I recently purchased used. It is nice to be fairly fit and retired so I can detect whenever I want, even during a pandemic. They do not reflect what these detectors are capable of in mild soil conditions since I rarely hunt in places with low mineralization.
I really liked the XP Deus. However, it could not handle the mineralization in my area and depth was an issue no matter what coil I used. This was before the newer HF and X-35 coils. I tried another time to make the Deus work well for my detecting needs but I ended up just using Deus Fast and Goldfield since they handled the mineralization here the best. I was wasting the rest of the detector so I sold another Deus. When the XP ORX was introduced which was designed for gold prospecting and relic hunting specifically for use with the HF coils I bought one and couldn't be happier. It has two versions of Gold Field, a clone of Deus Fast and also a clone of Deus Deep which work well here. The ORX is an excellent relic detector and an outstanding gold prospecting detector since coupled with the HF coils, it has the higher selectable frequencies that I need for gold prospecting and relic hunting in moderate to high mineralization. For coin and jewelry hunting in my area it would not be my first choice. For relic hunting in thick iron trash the Deus and Orx are unmatched in my opinion.
The Equinox 800 or 600 are much better equipped for coin and jewelry hunting for my soil condition and for the digging restrictions in my area. I have to basically already have a good idea about what I'm am going to dig with a screwdriver (no shovels allowed) in the parks and public property here. Digging a bunch of big holes will get everyone banned from detecting here. The Equinox will tell me with really good certainty that I am digging iron, a low conductor, a mid conductor or a high conductor down to 11"+ on a coin sized or larger object with the stock 11 inch coil. It gives me accurate tones and numerical target IDs for these targets along with accurate depth. It works really well for jewelry also and is extremely adjustable. My least favorite thing about the Equinox are the ergonomics which Smokey alluded to. I have changed the shafts on both of mine to carbon fiber/graphite and that made a big difference. It would be my second choice for relic hunting behind the Deus/Orx.
The ORX and the Deus in my soil conditions cannot correctly numerically or tonally ID any low to mid conductors deeper than 3" here. Some people will say it is the tones that are more accurate and important on the Deus and ORX. I agree. The problem is that when every tone is a high tone on targets deeper than three inches here, I have little clue what I'm digging. It's just a fact and is not meant as a slight on these outstanding detectors or any other single frequency detector which perform about the same in the areas where I hunt. Only simultaneous multi frequency detectors like the Equinox and the Whites VX3 and V3i are able to numerically and tonally identify deeper targets here.
I will add that in my opinion (and I have extensively used every VLF gold prospecting detector made from the USA, France, Australia/Malaysia and Turkey) the best VLF gold prospecting detector on the planet right now is the Minelab Equinox 800.
If you will be hunting salt water beaches and shallow surf or hunting with your detector submerged, your best choice for a VLF detector is the Equinox 600 or 800. If you just want to hunt dry salt sand, a little wet salt sand or fresh water beaches the XP Deus or XP Orx will do very well since they have salt compensation settings. You cannot submerge even the coil in water however without using the underwater kit. The XP wireless signal cannot travel through water. The AT Max cannot handle salt mineralization well at all, so I would not recommend it for salt water beaches or surf. The new Garrett APEX which comes out soon should handle salt water beaches very well since it has salt compensation and is a simultaneous multi frequency detector but it is not fully waterproof like the AT series Garretts and the Equinox.
If you want a really amazing detector, that sadly is not waterproof, the Whites V3i (many people do not like it by the way) is a master class for learning about what makes a VLF detector work. It actually works really well right out of the box however for anyone that can swing it and will challenge you for the rest of your detecting life. So will the XP Deus and the Equinox. They can also be considered as master level detectors which in the right conditions can work right out of the box for a less experienced person too.
There is at least one dealer that sells the Lorenz Deepmax Z1 here in the US if you are missing your Lorenz. There are many other excellent pulse induction detectors for sale here too.
good luck,
Jeff
but I'm VERY grateful to ALL of you for helping me make a decision
. Now, I will ask another question and I would appreciate your input. I don't know if you can freely express your opinions do to the site's policies but here I ask away... Where should I buy from? Kellyco is one that I know of and a couple of others but I have never bought anything from anyone since I relocated back home not to long ago. I would like a store where I can speak to a person where I'm not just a sale and that would guide me with honesty and not always $$$ and of course great service and warranties. If you Gents can, please share your wisdom. Thank You.
