You have to weigh the desired results with the coil's potential, as well as the trade-offs associated with the use of an optional coil.
In trashy areas it is easy to appreciate that a smaller coil will work among the junk better and you know you can live with a little less depth and coverage in order to reach your goal.
In low-trash sites it is easy for many to not fully appreciate some of the larger coil's benefits. You stated:
<STRONG>"The only time I have had the 9.5 back on is when I went to the beach. However, I'd like to get another coil that will cover my area where it is not trashy."</STRONG>.... You said you only used the 950 at the beach, but you wanted another coil to cover your area where it's not trashy. This left me wondering if you want a larger coil (<EM>to provide </STRONG>coverage</EM></STRONG>) when working the beach, or if you're referring to using a larger coil to hunt an inland site. If it is a non-beach area, have you used your 950 there? You said you have only used it on the beach and perhaps you might try it on inland sites as well.
If you are refering to the beach, just keep in mind that due to the conductive salts it is possible that a larger coil (seeing more ground) might present a few extra difficulties.
However, to provided a more direct answer I will say that I have found the 14" Excelerator coil to be a very good coil for coverage on the MXT! While it will often display a little better depth than the stock coil, it isn't necessarily a gain in depth that I like, it is the response from the deeper coins that are at the 950's maximum depth range, as well as the very good coverage on the side-to-side sweep of the 14" Widescan coil compared with the 950 Concentric coil.
There are going to trade-offs, and since you seldom use the stock 950 you will notice them more than the user who works a 950 a lot. That is the added weight and off-balance of the 14" Excelerator coil. I am not going to try and fool anyone by suggesting the 14" DD is without a drawback. But, you can put the extra weight to work for you, too. How's that, you ask?
Well, when you use a Double-D coil you should sweep it a little slower. Also, with a larger coil, it is best to shorten the side-to-side sweep length to help reduce the pendulum affect that causes a coil to be lifted from the ground at the ends of the swing. When using a larger or heavier coil you can help reduce the amount of 'discomfort' by making slower and shorter sweeps, and doing this to reduce the fatigue on you also accomplishes attending to the operation requirements to get the best out of such a coil size and design.
The MXT is a very capabale detector and matching up the best coil for the task at hand, and using both to their fullest ability, will certainly reward you.
<EM><STRONG>Monte
