DFX or XLT Which would you choose?

[reddirtfisher]

A relative of mine who knows how much I love metal detecting has offered to buy me either a DFX or XLT metal detector. All I have to do is decide which one. I have never used an XLT but I have played with a friend's DFX before. If I get the XLT then the coils for my IDX Pro will fit it. If I get the DFX there are more programs on it but I will have to buy more coils. What would you do? Any advise on the pros and cons of these two units? Which one do you like better? Any comments will be appreciated. Thanks, RDF

 

[Hombre]

I've had em both, get the XLT, it's deeper and more stable. I say this because I had the XLT for six years, then traded it and $ for the DFX. I kicked myself for over five years while trying to get better performance out of the DFX. I would change one setting, like PAG and then have to lower sensitivity to equal it out to stabilize the DFX. I finally gave up, and sold it in 2007, and bought a 6000 Pro Xl and I have been happy ever since............Hombre

 

[goodmore]

The DFX gets better results on the beach. The duak frequency comes alive there. If no beach hunting I would go XLT. If a relative was paying for mine I would buy a used Vision.

 

[Dean Stone]

Get a MXT and you don,t have to think about it. IT dose it all.HH Dean

 

[therover]

If you are going to do any type of beach hunting in wet, salt sand or suds, then the DFX comes out ahead. It is a very underrated beach machine.

That said, I feel the new configuration with the 12 inch coil ( DFX300) is not a good first time coil. I would opt to try and swap for the new 10 inch DD or the older 9.5 size coil. The 9.5 concentric coil is a great all around coil for the DFX.

 

[Monte]

get the stability, depth, or performance on some deeper coins that I got with the many XLT's I've had.

Any of the three moderate-to-fast sweep models they offer today (V3, DFX or XLT) can compliment your IDX Pro when you want 'coverage', but of those three I still prefer the XLT. Of them, I think the XLT makes a better unit for 'cruising' a large, low-target site, and can hunt coins up a bit better in trashy places. That's what I have found so far.

For slow-sweep hunting in iron infested or densely trashed sites, you're going to want a good, dedicated, slow-motion discriminator such as the MXT, M6, or your IDX Pro.

If someone was offering to get me one of the two, without hesitation it would be another XLT. And you don't need to be concerned about a long list of factory 'programs' because in the real world, you only need 1, 2 or 3 to get the most out of them. They can't be made to duplicate a slow-motion detector, so you just need one good one and a decent slow-mo, which you already have.

Then, too, in the end you have to ask yourself what you want one for? What applications do you have for it? I have a friend who's been considering a new V3 having parted with his DFX. He also liked the XLT better, but now he's considering an MXT instead. I told him my 'low miles' MXT-300 is available and he's trying to budget the funds. Obviously, he doesn't have a good relative.

Monte

 

[reddirtfisher]

Thanks guys for taking the time to let me know what you think. I was already leaning towards the XLT and it seems this is the favored machine here. Also I don't live anywhere even close to the ocean and I mainly hunt real trashy sites. As Monte said my IDX Pro excels in trashy sites. My reason for wanting a second detector was for a backup or for my son to use when he goes out into the field with me. I wish you guys had an uncle who just won a Texas Lottery scratch off ticket too! He won't let me tell you how much he won. You will have to guess. But I can tell you it won't hurt him at all to buy me another detector. I have entered the online sweepstakes to win a detector for over 10+ years so I 'm not very lucky I guess. Maybe my luck is changing
If anyone else has any opinions on this I would like to hear yours also but right now it looks like I am going with the XLT! Thanks and HH from RDF

 

[D&P-OR]

Hey reddirtfisher----Tell that uncle of yours that I'm available if he's lookin to adopt an ole kid!!----Seriously, I don't think you can go wrong with either detector.--The wife & I just purchased our 5th DFX (over the years) and have really liked them.--On the other hand, lots of good reports on the XLT and it has a large following as well---decisions, decisions.----I KNOW--have him buy you BOTH! -------Del

 

[UK Brian]

I "upgraded" to the DFX and whilst regreting it, won another DFX. I never trade in machines so still had the XLT to go back to. My old Spectrum was better than the XLT but the need for extra programme slots and the improvement in weight swayed me.
So if I could get a Spectrum in good order I'd have that and get a good beach machine to go with it. If not then XLT plus the beach detector.

If you could only afford or only wanted one detector then the DFX does cover most detecting situations. The XLT's weak points are wet salt beaches and light, dry, fluffy soil. Spectrums and XLT's do seem to prefer a solid soil matrix.