Long post and humble opinion here ... I will stick by it.
The GTI2500 is unmatched for one reason: it displays the target's depth and size, simultaneously.
When you pinpoint, every modern detector shows the target's depth. Of course the GTI2500 does this too. But it goes one step further. It shows the target's size.
In the past years, I have used some "good" detectors (meaning, they were good at the time). They still have good reputations. Examples, the Fisher CZ-7a and CZ-70, the Garrett Beach Hunter AT3, the Garrett GTP1350, and a Teknetics Gamma.
Right now, besides the GTI2500, I have a Teknetics Omega version 6.
With every one EXCEPT the GTI2500, if they showed a coin at, say, 4 inches --- it could be accurate, or it could be a larger object at 6 or 7 inches. With other detectors, I've dug can slaw at 9 inches that rang up like a coin at 2 inches. You could say, of course, well, if it said "2 inches" and you're down deeper than 4 or 5 inches and the target's still in the hole, then you could stop digging. But life isn't always like that. Just one more inch, still looking for the coin, and just one or two more, "just in case". If it's deep, it might be old.
You take time doing that, and come up with can slaw. Not with the GTI2500.
Up front, you know what the depth and size are.
... Aside: it's due to the cone-shaped pattern of the search signal. A "large" metal target down deep in the "small" area of the pattern comes back similar to a "small" metal target up shallow in the "large" area of the pattern.
Your mileage may vary, but I think that's a fact of life.
In other detectors, there are two windings in the search coil: a transmit winding, and a receive winding. In the ground, there's one cone-shaped pattern.
The GTI2500 coil has three windings: a transmit winding, and two receive windings. The two receive windings are of different diameters. In effect, the GTI processor sees two cone-shaped patterns: one larger and deeper, and one smaller and shallower. The processor has two cones to analyze the depth and size.
So, in addition to the target's "type" (i.e., iron, silver, foil, zinc, etc), which all decent detectors process, the GTI sees one more piece of information: it also processes the target's size.
OK, enough of that stuff.
When I first got the GTI (and the GTP before it), I dug everything. Just to see how it worked. I already found that the target "type" was accurate (as much as any good unit can be, given mineralization, halo effects, nearby trash, etc). No sweat there. What I wanted to find out, was how accurate was the target's "depth" and "size".
It's accurate.
Yes, it can be fooled once in a while, but not often. If it says it's a large object down deep, it usually is. With other machines, I could dig a deep can lid that rang like a shallow coin. Not with the GTI2500.
Of course, if you're detecting for relics, you might want to dig the large target. It might be an antique pocket watch down at 9 inches, or it could be a pocket spill of multiple coins.
The point is, you get both items of information right up front. Make your "X" pattern, and the GTI will show both: target depth, and target size. You can make the call. You don't need to do anything special -- it's there to see while you're pinpointing.
Yes, it has issues. It's heavy. Even with the 9.5-inch coil. (We won't even discuss the 12-inch coil.) The display is in segments, instead of real numbers. It gets good mileage on batteries, but there are eight AAs to replace. Those issues ought to be addressed.
I've enjoyed all the detectors I've had. I had good finds with the older ones. Right now, the Omega (version 6) is excellent and I use it regularly, with enjoyment. But the GTI is the go-to machine for "serious" detecting.
Come on, Garrett -- time's up.
Cheers,
Joe
