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Anyone using the Minelab Vanquish?

bigtim1973

bigtim1973

Well-known member
I got a hold of one of these this week. I must say it past my test garden with flying colors. I only have the 12" coil. I have not used it much other than playing in the test garden. I think it is well made. I like the buttons on this better than the equinox style buttons. It has a nice feel to it. I am not particularly happy with how it balances with the 12" coil. It may be better with a smaller coil. What would be awesome is if it had a straight rod set up or a set up like the Xterras had. I think that would make it feel even better.

Not many bells and whistles to fiddle with. Only volume, iron on or off, sensitivity and the ability to notch out some target segments. I understand there is an upgrade to make the iron have adjustable volume. I like it the same volume as the good targets.


So for someone who really wanted a machine for a first time purchase or maybe a back up unit, I think it is a very good machine for that. I do not really know what else to compare it too in the same price range as the standard Vanquish set up like I have for under 380.00 bucks but it certainly beat the Xterra series like crazy. I had a few of those over the years, the 50, 505 and 70. To be honest the Xterras were real fun machines back in the day as long as you purchased another coil other than the stock one it came with. I loved the small 18khz DD coil set up for coin shooting on my xterras. It was a real fun set up.

However I see these new Vanquish really being probably the best bang for the buck on a budget unit currently.

I know the simplex has a big following. I tried one out and was not impressed with it as I thought I would be. It is a good unit for what it is but I think the Vanquish beats it on everything except for submerging in water.

I hunt on land so waterproofing is not as important as it is to some others.

Anyways, this is just a few thoughts from me. If any of you have a vanquish, chime in a give me your thoughts as well.

HH Tim
 
bigtim1973 said:
I got a hold of one of these this week. I must say it past my test garden with flying colors. I only have the 12" coil. I have not used it much other than playing in the test garden. I think it is well made. I like the buttons on this better than the equinox style buttons. It has a nice feel to it. I am not particularly happy with how it balances with the 12" coil. It may be better with a smaller coil. What would be awesome is if it had a straight rod set up or a set up like the Xterras had. I think that would make it feel even better.

Not many bells and whistles to fiddle with. Only volume, iron on or off, sensitivity and the ability to notch out some target segments. I understand there is an upgrade to make the iron have adjustable volume. I like it the same volume as the good targets.


So for someone who really wanted a machine for a first time purchase or maybe a back up unit, I think it is a very good machine for that. I do not really know what else to compare it too in the same price range as the standard Vanquish set up like I have for under 380.00 bucks but it certainly beat the Xterra series like crazy. I had a few of those over the years, the 50, 505 and 70. To be honest the Xterras were real fun machines back in the day as long as you purchased another coil other than the stock one it came with. I loved the small 18khz DD coil set up for coin shooting on my xterras. It was a real fun set up.

However I see these new Vanquish really being probably the best bang for the buck on a budget unit currently.

I know the simplex has a big following. I tried one out and was not impressed with it as I thought I would be. It is a good unit for what it is but I think the Vanquish beats it on everything except for submerging in water.

I hunt on land so waterproofing is not as important as it is to some others.

Anyways, this is just a few thoughts from me. If any of you have a vanquish, chime in a give me your thoughts as well.

HH Tim
Click to expand...
Tim, I have a 540 and I totally agree with you. It is a lot of detector for the money. I have found some nine inch silver and it is an absolute nickel beast. I don't see much of a drop off from the 600. It is as close to "turn and go" as any detector I have used. I have the Pro Pack and have only used the 12 inch coil. It is not nose heavy and really performs well for a big coil. It looks sort of cheap, but is surprisingly well built. Best detector for the money in my opinion.
 
RLOH said:
Tim, I have a 540 and I totally agree with you. It is a lot of detector for the money. I have found some nine inch silver and it is an absolute nickel beast. I don't see much of a drop off from the 600. It is as close to "turn and go" as any detector I have used. I have the Pro Pack and have only used the 12 inch coil. It is not nose heavy and really performs well for a big coil. It looks sort of cheap, but is surprisingly well built. Best detector for the money in my opinion.
Click to expand...

Yes at first glance it does look kind of cheap but it really is well made.
I like it. It is like you said about as turn on and go as you can get. And works very good. I was very surprised. I am more impressed with it than I was the equinox 600 that I had.
 
bigtim1973 said:
Yes at first glance it does look kind of cheap but it really is well made.
I like it. It is like you said about as turn on and go as you can get. And works very good. I was very surprised. I am more impressed with it than I was the equinox 600 that I had.
Click to expand...
Let me ask a fair question without starting a war here!
I am still undecided between the Vanquish 540 and the Equinox 800. What impressed you about the Vanquish more than the 600
If the targets were fairly shallow say 4 -6 inches or less, do you think the Vanquish would do the same as the 800? and have less to fiddle with?
 
larryk56 said:
Let me ask a fair question without starting a war here!
I am still undecided between the Vanquish 540 and the Equinox 800. What impressed you about the Vanquish more than the 600
If the targets were fairly shallow say 4 -6 inches or less, do you think the Vanquish would do the same as the 800? and have less to fiddle with?
Click to expand...


What impressed me on the vanquish 540 vs the eq 600 was the performance verse dollars spent.

Yes you can adjust tone breaks and recovery speed, have a choice of tones and the ability to maybe go under water without and damage on the equinox .

However, the vanquish you just turn it in and start swinging. The only adjustment you really can make is on sensivity or volume. That is about it.

Some may say the extra 300 is worth it for the eq 600. Well for some people that can afford it that is good.

But if you could only afford the 540 vanquish standard package or even the other vanquish units, you would do just fine on targets as shallow as you mentioned.

My 540 hits an 11 inch nickel in my test garden with the sensitivity about 5 clicks down from max with correct I'd numbers too!!

That is what impressed me about the vanquish the most is how good it performs for what it cost. I am thinking of getting the V8 coil to go with it too.

Anyways these are my 2 cents. I do like it.
 
I understand completely. I am having a little trouble justifying keeping all of the ones I have. I hope I helped answer your question.
 
i have the 440 & it rocks
this was the first hunt with it 29 grams of 14 k gold & a 10 k ring at 7+inches deep (locked in at a 7 on the vdi)
these were found on a super trashy beach with very heavy minerals
the 440 has some good depth & ids at depth
turn on & hunt simplicity
i like it (y)
 

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I believe I saw this posted somewhere else online and I was very surprised with your first outing on your new Vanquish!! I have only paid for a couple of cheap units in the past with what I have found. But you paid for your vanquish and then some with your first outing!!! Awesome!!
 
Had a 540 and let it go on the old auction site. Bittersweet on that and have been considering getting a 340 for the fun of it. Multi-IQ is really nice and yet couldn't justify a Nox since settling on FBS for more feedback. Vanquish and Deus are both equally tempting for beach trips and the former would have advantages in wet sand. Long story short, the Vanquish is ever more appealing if only to have for beach trips or truck detector. It's just so handy with the lever shafts and lightweight, and the materials seemed right on point.
 
Going with the 440 to keep in the car ready to use anytime and to augment my Orx /Deus lite . I think the V10 coil is just right to handle any situation well. Fine with wired phones. Will see how often I use it compared to my Orx, but Even if only now and then it’s worth the minimal investment I think Just to have the SMF option
 
My new V440 comes today. Excited to give it a swing. I’m familiar enough with the Equinox to judge how nearl in performance it will be. As I said the V10 coil and also the offset shaft are what I look forward to most. My only concern about performance is will the recovery speed be good. I’ve heard it’s fastest in jewelry mode but one well regarded user said relic mode. Vs 540 the only performance difference could be having iron bias high vs low or high on the 540. Will see soon. If I really like it I can consider a V12 coil or even shop for used 540 but maybe the 440 will be just fine as is.
 
I am using the 540 and am loving it !! I use the V10 on it !!! Perfect balance, coverage of ground ..... smooth audio !!! No menu to navigate..... plenty of features to find good, deep targets!!! I will go out in a limb and say it’s as deep as my Cz 70 !!! If your old school, this is great ........ 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸😃
 
RLOH said:
Tim, I have a 540 and I totally agree with you. It is a lot of detector for the money. I have found some nine inch silver and it is an absolute nickel beast. I don't see much of a drop off from the 600. It is as close to "turn and go" as any detector I have used. I have the Pro Pack and have only used the 12 inch coil. It is not nose heavy and really performs well for a big coil. It looks sort of cheap, but is surprisingly well built. Best detector for the money in my opinion.
Click to expand...
I recently bought the Minelab Vanquish 540 pro pack. It’s a great machine, was only able to use it a few times before the weather shut me down. Have you tried the 8” coil. If so what do you think, how was the depth.
 
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