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I bet i have to take a lot of heat for my answer on the minelab forum: Minelab X30 or Ace 250
There Will surely be some bruising on that one 
...deliver the straight story, my friend! You will probably be crucified for that one - if you even get any response.
Those Minelabbers can be an elitist bunch, sort of like the Tesoro devotees. They may not even stoop so low as to respond to someone so obviously addled as you are.
Thanks, pal, for your usual cutting clarity.
Those Minelabbers can be an elitist bunch, sort of like the Tesoro devotees. They may not even stoop so low as to respond to someone so obviously addled as you are.
Thanks, pal, for your usual cutting clarity.
Dick from IA
New member
So far, Andy, there haven't been any real grenades thrown and it may be the reason is many of the MLab forum regulars are busy:
1. Lurking on the Garrett Forum to see what all the Ace 250 fuss is all about....
2. Toruing the Garrett website to see what the Ace 250 is all about.....
Good Job of comparing the two.
1. Lurking on the Garrett Forum to see what all the Ace 250 fuss is all about....
2. Toruing the Garrett website to see what the Ace 250 is all about.....
Good Job of comparing the two.
Hi, the Ace 250 is $200.. The X-30 is $424.15.. I have borrowed both units and find very little difference in the application between the units where I am park hunting. Thus, in a year of regular hunting will the X-30 find $224. more than the Ace 250? I doubt it. And, will the X-30 save me the effort of digging enough non-productive holes to offset the cost? I doubt it. I am an average person(not a tech-geek) out to have a little fun and maybe find something interesting.
Thanks, Jazzy
Thanks, Jazzy
Now I don't know nuttin about the X-30 and I rely on the expert opinions of such folks as Andreas (Andy-NM) for such things. Maybe that is unwise on my part to not try it out, but at the costs involved, well, I have always done well listening to Andy 
But any other comments aside, either from Andy or any of the other luminaries hereabouts, I can speak for the Ace 250 - since I own one.
I have posted my comments before on the little Ace, and while I am something of a tech-geek, have always tried to keep them in simple terms. If I may, please allow me to do so again:
"First impressions; The Ace 250 is:
1. Solid. I read the griping from some folks that the 250 was flimsy and felt cheap, like plastic junk. I have to disagree. It has a solid feel to it, a weightiness, that I didn't expect.
There is some minor lower rod "wobble" and some made a fuss over this, too. The lower rod is a just a slide fit into the S-handle, since there is no locking collar. Every detector I've ever owned that went together that way had the same "non-problem" - there is a little wobble at the connection. I'd like to see a locking collar on the rod. I wont cry for lack of one.
2. Functional. In initial testing on my slab floor, it does good enough, 4-5 inches on a zincer with SENS set at only half level. This slab is mineralized, and GB's slightly negative, compared to the usual soils around here. That should be good enough, if previous experience is anything to go by.
3. Complete. Opening the colorful box is fun! 2 Garrett books, an instruction manual, a detector bag, a coin apron, 4 AA batteries AND a set of digiphones were in there. Only thing missing was a trowel! I'm heading out the door to try the 250 within fifteen minutes, including my functional testing - no kidding.
Now, after I've used it for awhile, here's what I'd add:
Light weight - easy to swing, all day.
Functional discrimination - Being a notch arrangement, it is as accurate as you need it to be.
Better than adequate target separation abilities.
Uses only 4 AA batteries
Very nice tone ID - three tones are all you really need;
One for lower range targets: iron, foil, etc.
One for midrange targets: Nicks, gold, pulltabs screwcaps
One for high range targets: Coins, silver
It is very sensitive. VERY (see note below).
And here's some con's:
The headphone jack is oddly placed, on the offside rear of the control housing. I relocated mine.
The external speaker is LOUD. I never use it, but that sucker would draw a crowd in the Sahara.
The pinpoint is sort of vague, not real sharp. However, it offers a quick focusing (detuning) ability with just an off-target punch of the PP button.
The response is very broad. It signals across a broad area over a target and you have to really focus on the response to get a "minds eye pinpoint". It isn't difficult to master, but for a newcomer, it could be disconcerting.
The display is peckish, ie, small and lacks a nite light. For less than 200$, whaddaya want? - it still has all the data you need. But, it ain't real big. Oh, and if it's too dark to see the display, GO HOME for dinner!
NOTE: Enough warning should be given to newcomers about the sensitivity of this baby. I'd call it barely restrained, especially at high SENS settings and it WILL false plenty if you crank her too high and get into the trash.
(It's best if you use the higher SENS settings to help define deep or 'iffy' targets, while sweep scanning in the midrange settings).
So what do these things mean? Much of my observations are my own preference, not any real lacking of the detector. The Ace 250 works and does what you'll need it to do, at a value price that is nearly untouchable. It has a language all it's own, as do all detectors. It's up to you to learn it."
But, for you Jazzy, you hit the logic that possibly works the best:
"I am an average person(not a tech-geek) out to have a little fun and maybe find something interesting."
And if it don't cost you an arm and a leg in the process, well, as Bill Revis says: "That's why they're selling a ton of them."
But any other comments aside, either from Andy or any of the other luminaries hereabouts, I can speak for the Ace 250 - since I own one.
I have posted my comments before on the little Ace, and while I am something of a tech-geek, have always tried to keep them in simple terms. If I may, please allow me to do so again:
"First impressions; The Ace 250 is:
1. Solid. I read the griping from some folks that the 250 was flimsy and felt cheap, like plastic junk. I have to disagree. It has a solid feel to it, a weightiness, that I didn't expect.
There is some minor lower rod "wobble" and some made a fuss over this, too. The lower rod is a just a slide fit into the S-handle, since there is no locking collar. Every detector I've ever owned that went together that way had the same "non-problem" - there is a little wobble at the connection. I'd like to see a locking collar on the rod. I wont cry for lack of one.
2. Functional. In initial testing on my slab floor, it does good enough, 4-5 inches on a zincer with SENS set at only half level. This slab is mineralized, and GB's slightly negative, compared to the usual soils around here. That should be good enough, if previous experience is anything to go by.
3. Complete. Opening the colorful box is fun! 2 Garrett books, an instruction manual, a detector bag, a coin apron, 4 AA batteries AND a set of digiphones were in there. Only thing missing was a trowel! I'm heading out the door to try the 250 within fifteen minutes, including my functional testing - no kidding.
Now, after I've used it for awhile, here's what I'd add:
Light weight - easy to swing, all day.
Functional discrimination - Being a notch arrangement, it is as accurate as you need it to be.
Better than adequate target separation abilities.
Uses only 4 AA batteries
Very nice tone ID - three tones are all you really need;
One for lower range targets: iron, foil, etc.
One for midrange targets: Nicks, gold, pulltabs screwcaps
One for high range targets: Coins, silver
It is very sensitive. VERY (see note below).
And here's some con's:
The headphone jack is oddly placed, on the offside rear of the control housing. I relocated mine.
The external speaker is LOUD. I never use it, but that sucker would draw a crowd in the Sahara.
The pinpoint is sort of vague, not real sharp. However, it offers a quick focusing (detuning) ability with just an off-target punch of the PP button.
The response is very broad. It signals across a broad area over a target and you have to really focus on the response to get a "minds eye pinpoint". It isn't difficult to master, but for a newcomer, it could be disconcerting.
The display is peckish, ie, small and lacks a nite light. For less than 200$, whaddaya want? - it still has all the data you need. But, it ain't real big. Oh, and if it's too dark to see the display, GO HOME for dinner!
NOTE: Enough warning should be given to newcomers about the sensitivity of this baby. I'd call it barely restrained, especially at high SENS settings and it WILL false plenty if you crank her too high and get into the trash.
(It's best if you use the higher SENS settings to help define deep or 'iffy' targets, while sweep scanning in the midrange settings).
So what do these things mean? Much of my observations are my own preference, not any real lacking of the detector. The Ace 250 works and does what you'll need it to do, at a value price that is nearly untouchable. It has a language all it's own, as do all detectors. It's up to you to learn it."
But, for you Jazzy, you hit the logic that possibly works the best:
"I am an average person(not a tech-geek) out to have a little fun and maybe find something interesting."
And if it don't cost you an arm and a leg in the process, well, as Bill Revis says: "That's why they're selling a ton of them."
A
Anonymous
Guest
but i just like to tell it like it is. I would buy the Ace 250 over the X30 anytime. No, not because it is a Garrett......it is a great working detector with a good selection of available coils for an awesome price. Who can beat that ? Nobody right now !
Yes, i use other detectors too (Whites M6, Tesoro Vaquero, Troy X5).
But money vs value the Ace beats them all.
To jazzylady : welcome in the Garrett family. We going to help you here to have a good start with your Ace.
HH,
Andy
Yes, i use other detectors too (Whites M6, Tesoro Vaquero, Troy X5).
But money vs value the Ace beats them all.
To jazzylady : welcome in the Garrett family. We going to help you here to have a good start with your Ace.
HH,
Andy
Uncle Willy
New member
You have made a wise choice. From someone who has spent 42 years behind a detector.
Bill
Bill