Excal or Infinium

[JoeinMemphis]

I posted on the Garrett forum, and got no answer about the Infinium, so I will try here. I am looking for a new salt water machine since I had less than stellar luck with the Tiger Shark in salt water. I want a machine that is reasonably deep seeking, and easy to use. The Infinium has features I like and don't like, but so does the Excal. I LOVE the idea of the iron mask, but wish I could change my own coils and headphones. Being able to get an AA pod is a plus. As to the Infinium, I can change coils, headphones, etc.and talor it for different tasks, but it sounds like it is a monster to use, and the iron check is less than perfect, plus it is heavy and doesn't lend well to being waist mounted due to coil wire failure. I have bad elbows, and am looking for a way to lighten it. Anyway, I am looking for insight from anyone that has experience with BOTH machines. Which one wins out in the depth department? Which one is easier to use? Which has lower maintenance and which fails most often? In short what am I going to be the happiest with??? Unfortunately the only MD shop in Memphis that I know of went out of business years ago, and I cant try them for myself.

 

[ejudasf]

If you get rid of the Tiger Shark, I want first dibs!

 

[plugger]

I have been hip mounting my Sovereigns for years and never had a single proble withthe connectors. Why? Because I have the cable attached to a dewalt's work belt, which also carries my control box, in such a way that any strain is on the belt, rather than the cable or connector. I use a snap ring attached to the belt and a cable tie loop attached to the cable so the strain is on the snap ring and the connector never gets any stress. I'll try to show a picture here:

 

[JoeinMemphis]

Great idea I will have to come up with something like that for my Tiger Shark. Thank you!! HH Joe

 

[JohnA]

I have both and hip mount them with cable relief as noted below. No problems. The Excal is everything that you read. The Infinium can be set up to run relatively quiet and with the 8" mono coil surprisingly light. It is an underrated machine. Can't go wrong with either one although if you hunt mostly in iron or trash the Excal is the choice.

 

[JoeinMemphis]

Thank you John, I think I am leaning toward the Excal. Everyone seems to say the same thing, that it is a stable workhorse. HH Joe

 

[Jason in TN]

Just sold my Infinium but still have my Excal. It was a good detector just not for me.

 

[JoeinMemphis]

Hummm That says a lot! I ordered a couple of books on the Excal by Clive James Clynick Good reading, and sounds like a great machine. HH Joe