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Changing Horses - need opinion

B

bocash3

Member
Howdy:

PLEASE bare with me:

1. I have a perfectly good White's XLT Spectrum (1999), keeping it
for now. I set several custom programs on it years ago but prefer
to get something "not so advanced" where owner has to set many manual
settings.

2. I have a new Garrett's AT Gold on the way. It can be returned. But I'm looking for something to "possibly" replace the XLT that can not only do it all but detect small gold deposits.

3. Nokta Legend:: Listed as "Advanced" machine. 2 rechargable battery packs. Wireless headphone. None of this appeals to me. I don't mind a wired headphone. AND the XLT is still a machine with so many variable settings that I choose not to change what I programmed over the years. I have had bad luck with any company's proprietary batterys and rechargable batteries in general. My White's battery packs finally died and are no longer available, so run AA batteries and am much happier with throw aways. And THINK: How does one "Plug in" a charger when in deep woods? Carrying extra AA batteries is a no-brainer. However, 2 pluses for the Legend are backlit and audio tones. AA batteries are one big plus for ordering the Garrett AT Gold.

4. Moving to Equinox 800: Praised for its pin-pointer (I love the XLT pin-pointer). Top reviews are many. BUT.........lithium ion rechargable and only ONE (I assume proprietary) battery comes with it at that. I see "Beginner" friendly. That appeals to me because I truly don't want to go through the arduous learning curve the XLT presented to me 23 years ago when new.

So decisions, decisions. my plans were to run the AT Gold and sell the Spectrum IF the AT Gold "might" take it's place and be a better choice for small nugget shooting.

OR................ keep either the AT Gold OR XLT and maybe get the Equinox 800 too. I just don't want to get stuck in deep woods overnight with a dead detector battery.

AND: I see the Minelab GoldMonster uses my preferred AA batteries, and is listed as "Gold" and Beginner friendly. Would it detect coins too? I won't rule it out as if it will fits for a purpose, I'm willing to go to $950 it sells for.
I could keep one all-purpose machine and one which specializes in gold??

IF I have not totally scrambled your brains as I have my own, what would you do?

Thanks for putting up with me, "Bo"
 
bocash3 said:
I could keep one all-purpose machine and one which specializes in gold??
Click to expand...
That would be the way to go in my opinion. Particularly, since you want to hunt for gold nuggets. Also, keep in mind there have been a lot of technical advances with detectors since you learned your XLT. And, most detector companies rechargeable batteries are pretty problem free. And once you try the wireless head phones you most likely won't go back to wired ones. HH jim tn
 
jim tn said:
That would be the way to go in my opinion. Particularly, since you want to hunt for gold nuggets. Also, keep in mind there have been a lot of technical advances with detectors since you learned your XLT. And, most detector companies rechargeable batteries are pretty problem free. And once you try the wireless head phones you most likely won't go back to wired ones. HH jim tn
Click to expand...
THANKS, Jim!!

So have the Garrett AT Gold coming to basically replace the Spectrum XLT.

Narrowed down a 2nd new "Gold Specific" detector to fit budget.

WAS ready to pull trigger on Fisher Gold Bug Pro and spotted the Nokta Macro Gold Racer.

I truly want all detectors to use either AA or 9 volt batteries. Am done with anything that uses their own proprietary batteries and that is why I turned down
the Equinox 800 and Nokta Legend. Don't want anything that might be discontinued and the battery along with it. My Spectrum is an example, but at
least I can use AA battery packs. I have cameras, etc. that are useless because of planned obsolescence.

I am in an area where the first (NC) gold rush took place in 1830's and would like to piddle in several local creeks with a gold machine using a small coil.

Any opinion between the above Nokta and Fisher GB? THANKS SO MUCH!! "Bo"
 
I think you would have been happy with any of the three, Garret, Gold Bug or Racer. If you believe the Racer has an advantage, then for you, it does. Confidence is a big part of detecting. I also agree with Odancoils, keep the XLT! You still might like it better.
 
Odanscoils said:
Keep the XLT. Great machine.
Use it when you know there's gram size and larger.
But if you're primary target is gold.
The gold monster is the simplest gold machine on the market. And can find the tinest pieces of gold.
Watch YoTub vids.
A very impressive machine.
Good luck.
Click to expand...
I agree with what you said I have never used a XLT but I do use the Gold Monster all the time, the GM 1000 is basically a turn on ground balance and detect and yes you still have to ground balance the GM1000, it only takes a few seconds, you have to do that every time you stop to dig a target, everything else is pretty much automatic other then a couple buttons and settings, the GM 1000 is not meant to detect coins but it will find coins, brass casings, bullet lead and other non ferrous targets, you just have to decide if you want to dig every good tone or based on what the gold chance meter is telling you, there are no TIDs on the GM 1000, it is a very simple detector to use for gold detecting
 
I switched from a long line of Garrett’s to minelabs. The Garrett AT pro is good. Garrett’s philosophy has been to make detectors that are easy to find something no elaborate settings or programs. But I like my minelabs
 
Bocash3: I didn't get a good understanding of what detecting you want to do overall. Relic Hunt? Urban Coin Hunting? Or only Electronic Prospecting?

Yes, the XLT has a lot of adjustments, but you can easily mess up performance by over-adjusting several of them. I got my first XLT in June of '94 and figured out the best settings for my needs sometime later tha. t month. That is all I use. No tinkering, just turn it on and hunt.

The XLT is at its best as a Coin Hunting detector. If would complement it with a unit for Nugget Hunting. The Makro Gold Racer is a good choice but there are other options.

I wouldn't be too fast to let the XLT go m

Monte
 
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My last new detector was the Etrac a great machine. So recently I purchased the box 800 after watching all the live hunts that seemed like everyone was using one and now I find out Minelabs coming out with a brand new detector !🤦🏼‍♂️🤷🏼
 
Picketwire said:
I think you would have been happy with any of the three, Garret, Gold Bug or Racer. If you believe the Racer has an advantage, then for you, it does. Confidence is a big part of detecting. I also agree with Odancoils, keep the XLT! You still might like it better.
Click to expand...
I had the XLT Whites Spectrum & loved it--no longer have it but because of Illnesses I cannot MD anymore! Ma
 
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