Comparison; MXT, Sov. GT. Exp. SE

[grumpy]

Wonder if I could trouble you folks here to give me an opinion or two and comparison if you will on some metal detectors.
We are thinking about getting a White MXT and wondered how it would compare to the Minelabs Sov. GT and Minelab Explorer SE. We have and use both of the minelabs but are pretty sure a change is blowing in the wind.
What we have heard from others so far is the comparison is pretty much like the Sov GT but we wanted to hear from possible MXT people that had used both.
Thanks for any input you have
Grumpy

 

[Hillbilly Bob]

I have never used a Minelab, but I can say I really like my MXT. And you cant beat the service and backup support you get with Whites. Made in USA.

 

[xGregx]

The Mxt and GT are real nice machines, both have nice coil choices, but i would have to go with the mxt, The VDI, 3 different modes (prospect,coin and relic) also has a salt mode.

I am not a big fan of the SE, but i am hearing good things about the Etrac

 

[grumpy]

Thanks for the input; I really like the GT sov. we have and think it actually out does the SE we also have but since the "BIG" change , (buyout) of minelab we cant get real comfortable with the way repairs and tech is handled. They let go all the people we knew and now it is like a skelton crew working the best they can with what they have but that does not fall under "my problem" so to speak. Id like to have a machine in and out when it brakes they are no fun when they are gone to the shop and also when you call for tech you would like to have someone that really knows the machine your are asking about, uses it or at least has used it some?????
I think since Garrett has not got re charge bats most of all our votes are leaning toward the Whites and I think the MXT even tho cheaper I think more benifits than the more expensive models.
Thanks again and any other tips appreciated
Grumpy

 

[Nauti]

Hi Grumpy,Nauti Neil here from the u.k.(Nauti because i use a Nautilus as well).I've owned two minelabs including the GT and now the matrix M6.The Matrix M6 as you probably know is a simplified version of the MXT....same KHZ,recovery speed etc.Personally for me there is no comparison between the GT and M6.....the M6 wins hands down every time,it's more sensitive to smaller stuff and much better in high trash areas.Don't get me wrong the GT is a cracking machine but the M6 has a better finds rate than my GT ever had.So the MXT which is comparable with the M6.....but with slightly more user options......would do the same job in giving u a higher finds rate.I also go detecting with a friend who uses an explorer with the new sef coil(12x10) and most of the time i pick up more non-ferrous finds than he does proving the excellent performance of the M6/MXT.I have heard that the MXT is a bit noisy under certain conditions and that the M6 is the quieter model....My M6 is certainly stable under all ground conditions encountered so far and i've even used it on the wet salt sand with no problems at all.Superb machine......either model will do the business.

 

[mr007s]

n/t

 

[B.T]

Owned the GT , ran the EXPLORERS a number of times & use the MXT often.
For coins and relics the GT and EXs are great machines and do detect deep for what they are, Id be lying to state otherwise. But, I do know quite a few people who have switched to the MXTs from Exs and the SOVs and reckon they love them.
For gold though, nuggets and species, the MXT leaves them for dead. Even though the Minelabs mentioned do encompass the freq range that is used by the MXT they do not utilise that freq to its full potential. They sort of power share meaning that the power put out is spread across those freqs ( i know someone might explain this better but..) and not punched fully into one in particular. Meaning that you will detect a small bit of gold or a specie with the MXT which will not even register on the others even though their spec sheet will show them using freqs well within the range of the MXT.
Also with the MXT they have a much tighter signal response which is no where near as drawn out as the Sovs and EXs. Great for high trash areas.
The Sov is too flimsily built, it often falls of its shaft mounting if bumped and the plastic housing is poorly made. I had to seal mine with silicone to keep dust and sand out. Also when you put it on the ground you are placing the battery compartment right into the dirt. Works good but poorly designed. I did like mine when I owned it and found a lot with it too but it is far from properly designed for tough conditions.
The Exs are too front heavy for my liking also.
The MXT is better balanced, more versatile, tougher built by a mile and is a very capable gold getter.

 

[Hillbilly Bob]

Well said B.T, MXT is a great gold getter!

 

[mr007s]

First, let my state, I am no expert. I'm a user of the original Sovereign and the MXT. I have many hours of hunting with both. I used the DFX for several years and feel like I learned it real well. All the settings on the DFX were constantly needing to be changed to mate with the site and types of targets I was after. I found a great deal of money and jewelry with it.
Finally, I let it go to a friend and bought the MXT because it was better for prospecting and the fact that coils I owned would interchange. I immediately started pulling coins from areas that I had hunted repeatably with the DFX, especially nickles. I hunt mostly in Relic mode and go by the confidence bar and tone, not the icons. One thing that bothers me with the Whites is this: Several times I have hunted and chose to dig all signals. I got a VDI reading of 40 something or any number that would not lead me to think it was a coin. Upon digging, it would be a dime, nickle, or a coin that the VDI should have been reading much higher. Re sweep the hole and register another target. What I actually have found is a coin spill that is 10-20 coins and the Whites acts like it is averaging or doing something screwy, not able to distinguish a solid coin VDI. This has happened on several hunts.

After reading many good things on this site about the Sovereign I placed a bib for one and won. Glad I did! Clive ? has several books I studied and after using the SOV a while I began to hear the tones. It ain't easy. I'm pushing 60 and all the years of loud banging at my job has worked on my ears. I have went back over my old sites that were hunted with the WHITES machines and found more coins, deeper. The original Coinsearch coil rang up three dimes in a play area that were over 10 inches deep, good clear signals. I had swept this area repeatably with both previous machines, neither even hinted the dimes were there. On recoveries with multiple coins in the same hole, the Sov and it's tones identifies them as good targets every time. The 15 inch wot and the Sunray intruder 12 round out the package. The Sov so impressed me that I bought a second one for a back up. Some on this site have stated that the GT is the best Sov yet. I can't imaging it being any better than what I own!!

So, do I like my MXT? Yes! With the Bigfoot coil it's hard to beat on a large field with lots of 3-4 inch deep targets. With the 4x6 DD, trashy sites are a pleasure to work. I have the 12 inch coil as well as the 9.5 but they rarely see use.

I hope I haven't sounded like a rep for Minelab, just sharing my experience with each brand. Luckily, none of my units have needed repair so I have no personal knowledge in that area. But, I have read good things on this site about both companies. I know this is the MXT forum and please don't think I am bashing a Whites. I cut my teeth on them and still use one, I'll always have it. Do keep an open mind though and use what works best in your environment.

I hope this helps in your choice for the detector that is right for you.

 

[Rick(ND)]

I havent got back to you yet, havent forgot you and will answer some of my E Mails later.

I have all 3 of these detectors plus the F-75 and the F-70. The MXT is the easiest to use and is a very fun detector to use after using the Minelabs for years. I can go faster with it and I run the relic mode as I like the 2 tones I get and pinpointing is great. The MXT will not go as deep as the GT or the Explorers, but the coil can be swung much faster than the Minelabs. I gave the MXT to my wife to use and she does real good with it as we used the 6X10 coil and the little 4X6 coil for the real trashy area which is great little coil and it goes deep too,
The MXT is a good detector for quantity with the Minelabs dont get as much, but what it finds is the old quality finds, My wife get many more coins with the MXT than I do with the GT or the Explorer, but I get the older coins and the silver. Comparing signals side by side with me with the MXT while JamesND with the Explorer XS he got some deeper IH and older wheaties I couldnt get a signal on with the MXT, but by the end of the day the MXT had more total, but nothing real old.