DFX vs. 1500 -- should I trade?

[drakes]

Hi,

First time on forum. I have owned a Garrett 550 for about 5 years and love it.

Recently I was given a used (like-new condition) Whites DFX by a relative. From the instruction book it appears that it will take quite some time to really learn how to best use it. I don't mind investing the time to do so, but I have only had the 550 and am really happy with how it performs. Because of that, and Garretts reputation I am thinking about maybe trading the DFX for a used Garrett 1500 with a local dealer.

I read this forum all the time and and respect your comments. So my question is this --- what would you all do? Keep the DFX or trade for a 1500? I mostly hunt for coins in parks etc.

Thanks in advance for any and all comments.

 

[John-Edmonton]

I don't own a DFX, so I can't comment on it, but I do know that the GTI 1500 has the "Power Master" circuitry giving you about 20% over the 550, and of course, it has the Imaging feature, the ability to size an object, which the DFX does not.

Good luck with whatever you get

 

[sasquache]

hello drakes i have owned the whites dfx and the gti 1500 and now own the gti 2500 and i just have too say i have had just as much luck with all three but i have too say that your dfx is worth a trade, up grade too a gti 2500 ?? nothing less

 

[Uncle Willy]

I haven't used a DFX but I've field tested the 550, 1500, 2500, and a bunch more, and for coinshooting and jewelry the 1500 is tough to beat plus it has imaging - a feature found on no other detector. Once you use imaging it spoils you for any other detector.

Bill

 

[dahut]

I would tend to see these as apples and oranges.

Value wise, I think you would come out ahead on the DFX. I mean, I've seen 1500's go for under $400 recently - you won't see that low trade value on a DFX.

The DFX is infinitely adjustable, and equally complex. If you are a gadgety person and just love to fiddle with menus and settings ad nauseum, the DFX is the Ticket.
But, the 1500 is about as dead easy to use as you can get and balances better. You don't lay the guts in the dirt everytime you set it down to dig' either, and like Bill says, you get Imaging.

The DFX gives you more information to process. It has everything from a spectrum analysis engine of the target conductivity to 100 different tones you can filter through your brain. The 1500 sticks to the critical stuff - a 24 segment ID graph, three tones and size Imaging.

In terms of pure depth, I'd suggest the DFX will be ahead - but not by much. And to get that depth, you'll need to become an xpert at setting it up.
The 1500 won't be like that. You turn it on, make a few simple user adjustements now and then and you're done.

Neither will be great in trash with the stock coils, so you should have a smaller coil with either one.

Were it me, I'd use the DFX for a while and get to disliking it for the balance and all fiddling around you do with them. Then I'd sell it for top-dollar and get a used 1500. Proabably make a few bucks in the bargain.

If you already like Garrett's and their 'high-tech made simple' approach, my guess is you will favor the 1500. For the money/trade value of the DFX, you can probably get into a used 2500, too. That is something to consider.

 

[Eu_citzen]

Well I had a GTI 2500 and now have a DFX. Heres my take on them:

DFX:
Good coin hunter and very sensitive to small stuff, also good for beach.
Adjustable
Many coils to choose from
191 tones actually each VDI has a tone of it's own.
It "likes" a faster swing speed
Much discrimination info
Easy to loose depth by not setting the settings correct
pretty good balance(does not feel to heavy)

GTI 2500:
Good relic/beach hunter not so sensitive towards small stuff
Basic
Fewer coils to choose from
3 tones (4 w/ overload)
Notches
It likes a slower swing speed
Little disc info
Easy to get depth but about as deep at DFX (in disc mode)
heavy

Note my comparison is in disc mode; in all metal the GTI will probably be deeper then the DFX, else they are pretty close.

I prefer the DFX, but if you want depth I would look out for a used Minelab Explorer or similar.
Easy to set up, fun to use, good disc, fairly cheap now only down side is the recovery speed which is slow.
I think it is lighter then the GTI acutally, or the balance is better.

 

[Terry in PA]

I've had a DFX and a 1500 and I can tell you the DFX is way harder to learn then the gti 1500. As far as depth goes the DFX stinks in the preset modes anyone who knows how to run it will tell you that.That's way there was a book made (Digging deeper with the DFX ) It showed you how to set the detector up to run deeper. You'll have to make adjustments to get any real depth out of it. The GTI 1500 on the other hand has good depth right out of the box in the preset modes. Not that hard to pick up. I think you'll like it way more then the DFX.

 

[Eu_citzen]

Hey Terry, indeed much harder to learn the DFX.
It stinks in the presets mode indeed, though you only need to know of two settings to get more depth out of the presets.
Preamp gain and AC sensitivity.

I don't think that is to complicated for even a newbie.

Also there are a lot of folks who know how to set up the DFX and are sharing their programs.

Another tip would be to go and ask the same question on the DFX forum.