Hi stoopstroop,
I've owned one MXT two years ago and used it for about 16 months. The threshhold hum was noisey, not smooth like the older 5000 or 6000 series whites detectors. I found plenty of good items with the MXT but was not content with the irritating noise of the threshhold, so I sold it and bought a Coinstrike. I used this for about 3 or 4 months. This machine ran quiet for the most part ( of course it was setup for the silent search mode ). Even setting it up with a slight threshhold it ran smoother than the MXT. I didn't like the balance of the machine or it's notch disc. system so I got rid of that machine also, and purchased a Quattro. Kept this machine for two weeks ( enough said about that machine ).
Here's my point........ Got another MXT last week. It's noisey like the first one. Thats the nature of the beast as one says. You can set your sensitivity lower ( from 4 to 6 ) and the threshhold will be smoother, at the cost of perhaps an inch or two at most in depth. I sometimes do this when I am finding wheaties in the 3 to 4 inch range, (silvers there too). You can also turn it to preset position and either bear with the roughness of the threshhold, or you can turn the threshhold down so you do not hear it (silent search,somewhat). Iv'e done all of the methods and do not percieve that much of a noticable loss of depth.
The MXT is pretty good at identifying items in the range of up to 5 1/2 to 6 inches deep depending on soil condition and iron content. Beyond that range,I have found that the machine is not as accurrate, but the grouping of ID numbers is a clue as to whether the item is good. Sometimes sweeping one way the numbers are jumpy indicating trash or iron, but sweeping another way the number is more consistant with a coin range. Fifty percent of the time it is junk,but there's that other fifty percent that it turns out to be a coin or other keeper.
Today, a friend and myself went to our backup spot ( and I know everyone has heard this one before.........it's been pounded.......for two years now ). I just started with this new MXT I have, to use the relic mode, sensitivity at 8, disc at first preset and the trigger in center position. Sometimes, when I didn't want to hear the low sounds I would push the trigger to the forward position. My take in this hard hit place for today was.......a 1940 quarter at 9 inches. The reading was 74 70 76 to 80 to 87 one way. The other way...iron,foil pulltab readings. Took the plug out,the hole read 80 to 81.Dug two more inches of dirt the hole read 87 and large object, More dirt out and there's a shiney quarter in the pile.Read the hole again,good penny signal.Yep,a wheatie was there too. Checked the plug....a large fishing splitshot was 3-4 inches deep in the plug. Other finds were four more wheat pennies, three nickles, one a buffalo. And the best...a 1955 ladies class ring. The signals were iffy, but that occassional high tone in the relic mode alerts me to investigate this target in more detail.
The MXT....glad I have it back, noisey threshhold, I'll bear with it. Sorry to rattle on. The MXT is good, but noisey.
