I don't think I have ever seen a detector get so many mixed reviews. Some absolutely hate it and others say it is the best made. I am somewhere in the middle. I used one for ten years and found lots of coins and relics with it. I have found dimes at 10 inches, (with the stock 9.5" coil), so it is certainly capable of going deep. This was the first high end detector I ever owned so I had nothing to compare it to, and I have never used the AT so I can't help you compare the two. The graphic target imaging is impressive. It is usually right on as far as depth and size, a feature I really miss on the White's VX3 I now use. Some say it is heavy, but I never really noticed that. I never had any problems with it and sold it for $200 less than I paid for it brand new. I got my money's worth. However I must say that even after 10 years I never got it to perform like many say it is capable of. I have found more silver in the last three months with the VX3 than I found in 10 years with the 2500, hunting the same sites. Much of that though may have to do with how much effort I have put in to learning my machine. I did not have access to forums such as this one, and had no hunting buddies to learn from. Now I know much more about the science of detecting and have made an effort to really learn my machine. I think if you are willing to do the same you will enjoy the 2500.
