Find's Treasure Forums
Welcome to Find's Treasure Forums, Guests!
You are viewing this forums as a guest which limits you to read only status.
Only registered members may post stories, questions, classifieds, reply to other posts, contact other members using built in messaging and use many other features found on these forums.
Why not register and join us today? It's free! (We don't share your email addresses with anyone.) We keep email addresses of our users to protect them and others from bad people posting things they shouldn't.
Click here to register!
Need Support Help?
Cannot log in?, click here to have new password emailed to you
Changed email? Forgot to update your account with new email address? Need assistance with something else?, click here to go to Find's Support Form and fill out the form.
I thought I had posted this? Does anyone have experience with AKA detectors made in Russia?? Your honest opinion would be greatly appreciated.
- Thread starter bulletman
- Start date
This my opinion ----very good machine -----I would still have it, The ID numbers to small for me and I could not handle the glare --Having (1) good eye does not help,most likely a big part of my problem with the screen ------I don't think you will be sorry if you buy one ---------------------------------------------after1---------------------------------The graph is right on ------------------
azsh07
Member
This has been asked before on this forum. You might try doing a search and just use AKA as the search tool.
But...they are very good detectors. I have not heard of anyone having one fail on them here in the US. They are well made machines.
They are deep seeking machine with a good recover rate. I would put them in the category of some of the deepest ID machines I have used....not they they are deeper than anything else rather as deep on average.
Recovery rate in trash is good. I say good but not the absolute fastest...there are a few ID machines that are a bit faster.
The hodograph is a very unique and useful ID feature and IF you learn it then it is the most useful ID function I have used. It will take a while to "get it". It is especially useful in iron trash.
The ability to change frequency by changing coils is another very useful feature....very useful!!!
The many options for different tone modes is the second most useful option. Very similar options on the Sorex and Signum but completely different or very different on the Berkut. The Sorex and Signum are very simil;ar and the Signum you might say is the Sorex with more options. However I still think the Sorex is the best bang for the buck of the two.
The Berkut is different in many ways then the others two. Stull based on the same setup but has way more menu options as well as many different options compared to the other two models. SOme like it better for relic hunting but I did not as much...I thought the Sorex was better suited but again it is a personal choice. You would have to be familiar with the machines to understand..if I just explained the difference and you are not familiar with the AKA machines it would not help you make a decision.
But you asked if they are good machines and they are. However they are different than most other machines in some ways especially how they display the graph as well as tone ID management....plus things like the different filter options. So some like it..some don't. Takes getting used to.
I would always suggest a person start with the Sorex Pro...honestly it is as deep as the Signum is in most ground. Yah the Signum has a turbo mode but it never actually made it deeper in most ground. Works great air testing but unless you hunt in mild loam it does not gain much and drains the batteries real fast. I rarely used Turbo on my Signum...it just did not make a difference on deep faint targets other than making them slightly louder. Again in mild mild loam then it would gain an inch or so....but so what.
The Sorex is easier to learn..and as deep as any of them.
But...they are very good detectors. I have not heard of anyone having one fail on them here in the US. They are well made machines.
They are deep seeking machine with a good recover rate. I would put them in the category of some of the deepest ID machines I have used....not they they are deeper than anything else rather as deep on average.
Recovery rate in trash is good. I say good but not the absolute fastest...there are a few ID machines that are a bit faster.
The hodograph is a very unique and useful ID feature and IF you learn it then it is the most useful ID function I have used. It will take a while to "get it". It is especially useful in iron trash.
The ability to change frequency by changing coils is another very useful feature....very useful!!!
The many options for different tone modes is the second most useful option. Very similar options on the Sorex and Signum but completely different or very different on the Berkut. The Sorex and Signum are very simil;ar and the Signum you might say is the Sorex with more options. However I still think the Sorex is the best bang for the buck of the two.
The Berkut is different in many ways then the others two. Stull based on the same setup but has way more menu options as well as many different options compared to the other two models. SOme like it better for relic hunting but I did not as much...I thought the Sorex was better suited but again it is a personal choice. You would have to be familiar with the machines to understand..if I just explained the difference and you are not familiar with the AKA machines it would not help you make a decision.
But you asked if they are good machines and they are. However they are different than most other machines in some ways especially how they display the graph as well as tone ID management....plus things like the different filter options. So some like it..some don't. Takes getting used to.
I would always suggest a person start with the Sorex Pro...honestly it is as deep as the Signum is in most ground. Yah the Signum has a turbo mode but it never actually made it deeper in most ground. Works great air testing but unless you hunt in mild loam it does not gain much and drains the batteries real fast. I rarely used Turbo on my Signum...it just did not make a difference on deep faint targets other than making them slightly louder. Again in mild mild loam then it would gain an inch or so....but so what.
The Sorex is easier to learn..and as deep as any of them.
metalpopper
New member
azsh07 said:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
White's V3i series, has a similar facility. Target phase angle.......'Power factor?
It's just been re-named as 'hodograph'
That simply the mathematical term for the function implemented, to do the job.
In my opinion. these continental machines are basically CLONES of the Whites principles.....(not clones of the actual machines.).....matt
p.s. Don't own one, but I like to add add one to my collection.
azsh07
Member
Tom_in_CA said:
Actually AKA had the hodograph long before WHites came out with the V3i so.....
They have machines much older that have the hodograph prior to the release of the V3i. So maybe Whites copied AKA......
However I have no care what machine a guy swings....I am not stuck on only American made machines...I think the statement to stick with only domestic brands is shortsighted and I think XP Deus users as well as Deeptech and Makro etc etc....would prove that fact.
However there is some validity in issues with buying eastern European units simply due to poor US distribution only. Deeptech for one was iffy until a US distributer came along as well as Makro. So it is more distribution level issues. The AKA machines are well made..very deep and nicely balanced. But...no US distributor..which makes it a pain.
Do I care if anyone buys an AKA machine...nope. But are they great machines...yep...if it fits your style and your willing to deal with ordering from Russia or Bulgaria. If not...whatever.
got my berkut-5 today version 5.17 its a 2nd hand detector in great condition with the Russian faceplate and both English & Russian menus .
how do I put this as to not offend
shaft is very low gauge and the cams are crap and well nothing against the Taiwanese but in this case they sure made some low grade shaft and cams remember this is an initial out of the box finding without turning the detector on, so needless to say the shaft wobbles like a drunken sailor and nothing against sailors either 
so light gauge metal and I mean light the shafts have 2 holes to the sides but only one pop through from the adjoining shaft spring so really don't need to be Einstein to work out its going to wobble.
so in short this is not good enough for me lucky I had a spare Tesoro shaft and with a few new holes I now have a wobble free detector, all photos are with the detector on the Tesoro shaft and the side by side is with the old shaft with nothing on it. the Tesoro lower pole works fine on the AKA coil.
so that fixed I put some battery's in to see if it would fire up to see what I would call a push in Chinese 4 x AA battery holder starting to get worried about right now and to add the battery door when closed has a small gap at the top.
the headphone jack is 3.5mm or 1/8" so if you use "standard" detecting headphones you will need an adaptor or do as I have done as I don't want that extra join in my audio and made a pair with the right sided jack.
so some good news??
the coil and connectors are well made, the rest of the control box seems to be made of quality plastics as does the arm cuff, but 1st glances can see where corners have been cut, and that begs the question and one would hope that the money spend on R & D went on quality circuit boards & parts and tech that is cutting edge for its price range, after seeing some of the outside I would be remiss to think inside is better, but that part has yet to be established at least for this tester.
granted it fires up but that's as far as I got today, have read great reports about the electronics and software produced by AKA so my testing of that will take some time I am sure as this detector has more options than most and I am also sure it will take some time to master.
so being in that mid to mid/low price range if it can do as some have said I can forgive the flaws on the shaft and move forward, but if it falls down on its ability to detect then I will be very disappointed, but alas I am not even near making a diagnosis on how it performs but for me its been purchased with a large 13" low 3 kHz coil to see if it can pick off any left over silver coins and a higher small 6" 14 kHz coil to see if the hodograph can help dig less rubbish in the hunt for park gold.
all of which will be taking place over the next year or so, and I will share my findings as I go, and just to end I pay for all my detectors and give my honest findings as they are perceived by me and my expectations from previous experience and my needs from a detector after reading about its features.
hope it may help someone else make a choice in what they might need in a detector.
I will add I have not thrown out the baby with the bathwater here I still have high hopes for this detector.
photos added in no particular order but hopefully you can add the description to the photos yourself.
AJ
how do I put this as to not offend
shaft is very low gauge and the cams are crap and well nothing against the Taiwanese but in this case they sure made some low grade shaft and cams remember this is an initial out of the box finding without turning the detector on, so needless to say the shaft wobbles like a drunken sailor and nothing against sailors either so light gauge metal and I mean light the shafts have 2 holes to the sides but only one pop through from the adjoining shaft spring so really don't need to be Einstein to work out its going to wobble.
so in short this is not good enough for me lucky I had a spare Tesoro shaft and with a few new holes I now have a wobble free detector, all photos are with the detector on the Tesoro shaft and the side by side is with the old shaft with nothing on it. the Tesoro lower pole works fine on the AKA coil.
so that fixed I put some battery's in to see if it would fire up to see what I would call a push in Chinese 4 x AA battery holder starting to get worried about right now and to add the battery door when closed has a small gap at the top.
the headphone jack is 3.5mm or 1/8" so if you use "standard" detecting headphones you will need an adaptor or do as I have done as I don't want that extra join in my audio and made a pair with the right sided jack.
so some good news??
the coil and connectors are well made, the rest of the control box seems to be made of quality plastics as does the arm cuff, but 1st glances can see where corners have been cut, and that begs the question and one would hope that the money spend on R & D went on quality circuit boards & parts and tech that is cutting edge for its price range, after seeing some of the outside I would be remiss to think inside is better, but that part has yet to be established at least for this tester.
granted it fires up but that's as far as I got today, have read great reports about the electronics and software produced by AKA so my testing of that will take some time I am sure as this detector has more options than most and I am also sure it will take some time to master.
so being in that mid to mid/low price range if it can do as some have said I can forgive the flaws on the shaft and move forward, but if it falls down on its ability to detect then I will be very disappointed, but alas I am not even near making a diagnosis on how it performs but for me its been purchased with a large 13" low 3 kHz coil to see if it can pick off any left over silver coins and a higher small 6" 14 kHz coil to see if the hodograph can help dig less rubbish in the hunt for park gold.
all of which will be taking place over the next year or so, and I will share my findings as I go, and just to end I pay for all my detectors and give my honest findings as they are perceived by me and my expectations from previous experience and my needs from a detector after reading about its features.
hope it may help someone else make a choice in what they might need in a detector.
I will add I have not thrown out the baby with the bathwater here I still have high hopes for this detector.
photos added in no particular order but hopefully you can add the description to the photos yourself.
AJ
yes have a makro and the berkut control box is miles better nothing is perfect and my review of the shaft is as real as I could make it I have bought some double spring pops to put on the berkut shaft and it will get used on something maybe a compadre for super light work with the small coil.
2 hunts under my belt with the berkut and while its a challenge and different to most detectors out there I think it has potential with only 2 hunts it has pulled several old coins from ctx and etrac ground but there is a heavy learning curve from most US branded detectors.
but its a keeper after sorting the pole out ended up using Tesoro upper and whites middle and lower and its a goer now for large coils.
more as I go .......
AJ
nothing is perfect and my review of the shaft is as real as I could make it I have bought some double spring pops to put on the berkut shaft and it will get used on something maybe a compadre for super light work with the small coil.2 hunts under my belt with the berkut and while its a challenge and different to most detectors out there I think it has potential with only 2 hunts it has pulled several old coins from ctx and etrac ground but there is a heavy learning curve from most US branded detectors.
but its a keeper after sorting the pole out ended up using Tesoro upper and whites middle and lower and its a goer now for large coils.
more as I go .......
AJ