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Etrac vs CTX

Way to many variables to answer that fairly. Both are very good machines and owners are doing well with them. E-Trac is cheaper, but the CTX has many additional features, including a faster processor. I started using Minlab's around 2000, with the Explorer XS. I have an E-Trac and a CTX now days. I have done well with all of them, and don't bad mouth any of them, as they all are very good, once you learn them. For myself, I haven't used the E-Trac since getting the CTX, but am certainly not going to get rid of the E-Trac any time soon. I purchased the E-Trac the month that model came out, so I had 3-4 years on it. I've only been using the CTX since very late May, so I don't feel like that's enough time for me to make a fair judgement on "can one do better than the other".
 
The Ctx wins hands down,all I'm gonna say is my silver count is way up coming from the E trac!don't get me wrong the mighty E is a great detector but the Ctx got the advantage!
 
Have either of you tested side by side on a buried target?

What did you find?
 
I would not necessarily compare each detector but compare each forum. the e-trac forum is going strong with new finds everyday..........the ctx forum not so much. the e-trac seems to make great finds consistently. just sayin
 
Porschephile said:
Have either of you tested side by side on a buried target?

What did you find?
Click to expand...
yes,in a couple instances the e trac could only see the :pulltab:,lower conductor or iron that was masking the silver dimes/ quarters that came from those signals we checked and also I don't know how many times I have heard,""I would have never dug that signal...""and out pops a silver,I have spent way more time with the e trac and found under half as much as I have with the Ctx in half the time ..that's enough proof for me.. I'm no pro by any means but it is just my personal experience with the Ctx....and I hunt an area that is hit hard by a lot of people...
 
jbblue4u said:
I would not necessarily compare each detector but compare each forum. the e-trac forum is going strong with new finds everyday..........the ctx forum not so much. the e-trac seems to make great finds consistently. just sayin
Click to expand...
there are 10 times more people out there with E tracs so take that into account....
 
Ctx does better in the trash its gps is worth the extra for me. Knowing where you found it and what settings you was in is a great tool . As for the comparing pages , Really I find stuff all the time doesnt mean I want to put it on each time . I love my ctx over etrac for those reasons and being water proof . It could be as easy as how well you know your machine . I dont everything about the CTX OR E TRAC but I do know this I bought one with selling my e trac and my clad savings . Thanks e trac for getting me to this point if you can afford one get it if not dont dog on it until you own one.
 
I've had my Etrac since it 1st came out. It's been good to me and I have learned alot about detecting with that thing in my hands... It's a great machine, fantastic machine! I thought dropping $1400 on this thing was steep but now looking at the price of the CTX... I think I got a DEAL. If cost was of no concern, then I would most likely get a CTX and keep the Etrac for backup but NOT sell it.
 
Thanks everyone! My wife and a good friend of mine came up with a scheme. I wondered why we suddenly couldn't come up with the cash for an Etrac...she gave the go ahead to order a CTX!!!!!! So, it's done...it's official...I'll be upgrading from an Ace 250 to a CTX! Wow, can't believe it. I have the best wife and best friend a guy could ask for. See y'all on the CTX forum lol
 
CTX 3030 is great but E-Trac is also great machine! CTX have gps, waterproof and more accurate on target but question is IF a mercury dime at 8 inch deep .....both CTX and E-Trac have both the same 11 inch coil so which one able to pick up mercury dime at 8 inch deep? If both can then great so next is 10 inch deep which one? I readed somewhere a few months ago that CTX is not great for deep coins but I might be wrong! I love my E-Trac! I might rent CTX from Windy City Metal Detecor and test on my coin garden to see if it able do contact my coin in deep!
 
You know this is Not realy fair to the CTX cozz this is a E-Track forun????? think on it??????
 
The coils are not the same, the CTX coils has a preamp. (smartcoil technology)
 
Actual in-ground testing has not found a significant difference between an E-Trac and CTX3030, though the CTX may have the edge in mildly mineralized soil. But, considering the price-point, that's a significant cost for a fractional increase in depth, and that depth is gone in highly mineralized soil.

You'd have to compare things like target separation - which tested much more superior on the CTX than the E-Trac - this is the bigger selling point. Depth isn't everything especially where unmasking targets can be crucial.
 
I can say that i had the E-Trac and was always completely happy with it.
If there was something in the ground, i was sure that the E-Trac will find it!

Now i changed to the CTX because he has a faster ARM CPU and therefore a faster recovery time.
He also got some new toys, and a smart coil that makes it more resistent against magnetic noise.

Then he has FBS2 that will add few inches on depth as i see it.
He just scans more frequencies then the E-Trac. Its a fact.
It may not help with any target. But there will be targets where it help a lot.

Anyway. the E-Trac got so deep that i had to leave a lot of holes in the past.
I just switched to the CTX because its a nice toy and because i already knew every switch on the e-trac and it got boring :).

Let me say some PRO's and CONS:

PRO:
- the CTX has target trace and he shows two targets when in "Iron Coin" Mode.
- the Batterie holds a full day
- the design is so well done that you just want to stick it on the wall instead of take him into the dirt
- FBS2 makes it more sensitive
- SmartCoil makes it noise resistant

there are not much CONS:
- the User-Interface/ UI would need more buttons to be easier to use..
The CTX has more functions with less buttons. Means that you have to press more often and go through menus to get where you want.
- the display, there is a foil on it that you can easily scratch with you nail (happende to me)
- the price is so high that it will hardly pay out (but which hobby pays out?)
- he's a bit more waterproof, while i would not use it really for diving and rather get an excalibur for this.

PRO/CON ?
- If you use Exchange 2 and the GPS then it will uploads your search history to Minelab-server. Means you can access them from anywhere in the world - its like they are in a cloud.
Do you like clouds? If you do not like it, you can switch that off anytime.
- Its very stable material and a good battery, which together make it a bit more heavy and large on the other side.
 
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