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DFX vs XLT

W

w1ki

New member
I've been using the XLT and before that the Eagle Spectrum for many years now. Anyone want to comment on how the XLT compares to the newer DFX? I use a BigFoot and know that I will need to get a newer BigFoot if I eventually make the change to the DFX.

Thanks in advance,

Wayne in Central Florida
 
Wayne:
I asked a lot of questions myself before buying the XLt..Hands down for Beach your best bet is the DFX.....I do not hunt salt water so bought the XLt..It is a very good and effect detector..The DFX has all the XLT features and some added on for that model two frequency machine correllate, and the ability to use each seperate...It's awsome Sir and being you live in Florida i am sure a beach is in your future..Go with the DFX..You can not go wrong.
 
Well, I have had the XLT for about 3 years now and had the Eagle Spectrum for somewhere near a dozen years before that. Used the Big Foot on both and love that coil. I'm not quite ready to trade up yet but when I do, maybe in a year or two, I'll probably sell the XLT / BigFoot as a package. Time will tell on that decision. I've used the combination on the Florida beaches many times already. It doesn't go very deep, especially compared to the Minelab Explorer 2, but for some reason, I never could get fired up about the Explorer. Just recently sold it even though I know it is a fine machine. I'll "suffer" with the 3 or so inches of depth and lack of stability just because I like the machine so much.

So I guess my question now is, "Does anybody get really good depth and stability from the XLT on salt water beaches?"

Yep, short term, I'll keep it but when the day cones, I'll stay with Whites, go with another BigFoot that is designed for whichever machine I do end up with.

Sorry Minelab, but maybe because of my familiarity with the White's, it wins out!
 
I hunted with with the XLT for about 8 years. When the DFX came out I thought it was the XLT with more bells & whistles so I bought one. Hunted with it for about a year and a half. I could never get it to do for me what the XLT did. I found it to be very unstable. Numbers jumped all over the place. Went back to the XLT. I now own 12 detectors and have owned about 45 or 50 in the thirty years I have been hunting. I may sell or trade many other detectors but I have decided I will always have an XLT.
 
I, like you had many years with the Eagle and XLT. I, like Jack gave the DFX a good year and a half. You, like us, would most likely be disappointed as well.
 
Yes Jack for me you are right..XLt all the way. But he just might not be disappointed in a DFX.Look at DFX Greg for instance. I have a friend who bought a DFX and loves it.Sometimes I think it is the user as much as the machine. He finds great things and finds them well with the DFX.
I was thinking that maybe the area you are in plays a part for the machine to functon at it's best.I just know like you guys, for me, it's the XLT and for my friend he would swear by the DFX.I don't think a person could go real wrong with either machine. A little practice and who knows??????
 
Hey Elton: You are right there are a lot of people that prefer the DFX. You spoke of DFX Creg. I am sure he is a very fine fellow. But you must remenber he is a newbie and hunts only clad. No offense but the cheapest bounty hunter is a very good clad machine. I too was a clad hunter when I first started. I found it to be a lot of fun. I am sure in time he will tire of the clad and do some local research and start finding the better coins and other items.
 
Thats true JAckintexas.I do use my Xlt for new drops and barely old parks....Other detectors for older and deeper targets...DFX Greg is starting to hit Silver if you noticed his posts..But just for the enjoyment of detecting and who cares what you find the XLt, or the DFX are great detectors and each one gets down deep enough to find the Silver if it's there.Your right on research..nothing beats hunting a well researched site.........and I suspect there are a few people out there who understand all the options on both machines and can find really great items..I just wish it were me.I respect your views and agree. Sometimes it takes a little more than luck for great finds. It takes research, and a detector capable of greater depth..It's not like the old days where all we dug was Silver, nickles and pennies pre 1965.
Thanks for the reply.
Elton
 
Hey Elton: I didn't mean anything disrespectful when I said DFXGreg is a newbe. In my book anyone that has been hunting less that 4 or 5 years in my hunting circles we refer to as new. Of course my hunting buddy has been metal detecting since the sixtys. He used to have a detector shop years ago. I started in 1976 when all we had was lunch boxes for detectors. And if it beeped we dug it. S if I refer to someone as a newbe it is because I don't have any better sense....Jack
 
Hey Jack.never thought you did..If it sounded like that sorry man.
I was just saying he seems to be hitting silver more and more..Sorry if I was offensive to you..Not meant that way.
Elton
 
I remember my first Whites it was a 4900 no meter just a big handle and if it beeped you better dig HAHAHAHAH Before that I had I swear to god a Fisher that had a wooden handle and about a 12 or 14 inch coil..I think I found some Silver though..Heck it was all Silver then if it wasn't a nickle or penny.."Oh For the Good Old Days" NOT !!!!!
 
your exactly right jackintexas most people detecting go out to find clad. the DFX is good for that. i own a DFX for 3 years now. i hunt older sites i have no interest in clad hunting.my DFXs vdi #s jump all over the place. deep targets forget about getting a id on them. do you think the xlt would be a better detector for me?
 
The DFX is designed for deep target hunting, to compete with the Explorer line of detectors. The VDI is "jumpy" because it is very sensitive to changes in the ground conditions and possible deep targets. To stabilize the VDI readings, reduce the VDI sensitivity setting. This adjustment will come at a cost of reduced depth though.

Please keep in mind that the DFX is a very advanced, fully adjustable, top end detector and a complete understanding of it's operation and settings are mandatory for best usage. The DFX is NOT for everyone and not recommended for the "casual" hunter.
 
Larry: I agree with you 100%. Did not mean to bash the DFX. I just said it was not for me. I believe the XLT is for me. Not everyone, but me...Jack
 
You just confirmed some of my statement in my response...Some people know how to use the DFX, and the Xlt, and understand all the settings required to get that depth..I still say either XLt, or DFx would be a good choice for most.Not the only choice I am sure. But a good choice.
 
Hey Diggeroof: You asked me if I thought the XLT would be a better detector for you. I like it but that sure does not mean it is the better detector for you. If possible try to hunt with one, maybe a friend has one you can try. To try any in a detector shop will not tell you a lot except the features it has. I tried an F75 in a shop and was wild about it. I sold four detectors to buy one.(with 12 detectors I can't see buying another) Then I tried out my hunting buddys. I did not like it in the field. I did not buy one. The F75 is the hottest detector going right now. Just because I did not like it does not mean others are not thinking it is better than sliced bread.
 
Yes Sir we have.And somtimes I feel like I still am....went out last evening and found nothing but junk..not even a penny. HAHAHAHA....but I
sure dug some top quality pulltabs. How do know? They still looked great after at least 20 years in the ground. LOL,LOL
 
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