Can anyone help me compare these two metal detectors... apples with apples! The Garrett Infinium LS and the Minelab Excalibur II. The manufacturers don't seem to be talking the same language, so as a newby I'm finding it difficult to compare the two. For example one claims to have 96 frequencies(Garret), and the other claims it operates at between 1.5kHz – 25.5kHz (Minelab). What does this mean and how many frequencies would I need? I do plan to use this on the beach for at least 80% of the time (searching for lost valuables), and the rest diving offshore at depths approaching 15 meters. Our beaches are mineralised, so I think a pulsed machine may be better, which brings me to the questions... is the Minelab excalibur II a PI machine. Any advice would be appreciated... thanks!
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Infinium LS and Excalibur II
- Thread starter Gustav
- Start date
The Infinium is a PI unit...the Excal a VLF unit. Two totally different designs and how they operate. The Infinium cannot discriminate out targets...the Excal can.
Bottom line is, if your beach is mineralized and you plan on digging everything, the Infinium may be the better option. But if there is loads of iron trash, be prepared to dig A LOT.
If you can tune the Infinium to run at the optimal pulse delay setting for gold, and run it stable, it will beat the pants off the Excal in the gold finding department....but it will also beat it in the iron trash finding department.
As far as the frequencies go, don't read too much into that. It's not that important in the scheme of things, and is more a marketing ploy than anything else.
If you want to compare apples and apples so to speak, comparing an Excal to a CZ21 is more like it. Both VLF units. And both run neck and neck with each other, one being multi frequency (Excal), and one being 2 frequency (CZ21). Both not as good on gold targets in a salt water environment than the Infinium but like I stated earlier, you have to tune the Infinium ( via pulse delay...labled discrimination on the unit, the threshold setting and going through a frequency check to get the optimal frequency for the area. This mitigates EMI).
Having run and use all 3, in clean areas with not a lot of iron trash, I use the Infinium with the 10x12 mono coil. For all other salt water hunting I use the CZ's. I used an Excal for awhile but I prefer the 3 tone option on the CZ's, the manual ground balance option it has and the use of concentric coils. Just my preference.
Bottom line is, if your beach is mineralized and you plan on digging everything, the Infinium may be the better option. But if there is loads of iron trash, be prepared to dig A LOT.
If you can tune the Infinium to run at the optimal pulse delay setting for gold, and run it stable, it will beat the pants off the Excal in the gold finding department....but it will also beat it in the iron trash finding department.
As far as the frequencies go, don't read too much into that. It's not that important in the scheme of things, and is more a marketing ploy than anything else.
If you want to compare apples and apples so to speak, comparing an Excal to a CZ21 is more like it. Both VLF units. And both run neck and neck with each other, one being multi frequency (Excal), and one being 2 frequency (CZ21). Both not as good on gold targets in a salt water environment than the Infinium but like I stated earlier, you have to tune the Infinium ( via pulse delay...labled discrimination on the unit, the threshold setting and going through a frequency check to get the optimal frequency for the area. This mitigates EMI).
Having run and use all 3, in clean areas with not a lot of iron trash, I use the Infinium with the 10x12 mono coil. For all other salt water hunting I use the CZ's. I used an Excal for awhile but I prefer the 3 tone option on the CZ's, the manual ground balance option it has and the use of concentric coils. Just my preference.
Hello therover. Thanks for this. I've been trying to get someone to explain this to me for two weeks now. I didn't want to go to the manufacturers because of the possible bias. I think the Infinium makes a lot more sense given the black sand beaches we have here on the Natal coast. I'm happy to dig too. We have a local Garret distributor in Durban which the other suppliers don't, and that may prove useful when it comes to service an repair. Thanks again - Gustav.
OldBeechnut
Well-known member
I would recommend going out and watching the locals before you buy anything...Saltwater and the LS don't get along real well in my one location. The Bay and brackish water it purrs like a kitten, at the ocean just in the saltwater she is a SOB. And the Hi/Lo Lo/Hi can drive you crazy also, I have both the 8 in mono and the larger mono. Good Luck
the rover gave you an excellent answer. You're in Africa, right? While I'm sure you're sincere that you're "willing to dig junk", yet .......... I don't think the average beginner is really aware of how many nails , bobby pins, etc... can occur on a beach. So .... good luck on getting the pulse. Maybe it's touristy clean enough that this is true. But if they allow beach bonfires (which introduce nails), or if there's any industrial/commercial type past there, you *may* be in for a rude awakening.
And as far as your thinking you need a pulse d/t you say your beaches are mineralized, well ...... here's a test of this: What color is your beach sand ? White? off-white? Light tan? medium tan? dark tan ? grey? gun-powder black? The lighter the color of the sand, the worse the minerals (so "white" would be like detecting through thin-air almost). IMHO, the only color sands that truly *need* a pulse to cut, is the grey or black beaches.
And bear in mind that if you're seeing grey or black strictly in gully-washes/drains, that's not the same thing. For purposes of this question, it's the color of the regular water's edge averages , up and down your beach.
And as far as your thinking you need a pulse d/t you say your beaches are mineralized, well ...... here's a test of this: What color is your beach sand ? White? off-white? Light tan? medium tan? dark tan ? grey? gun-powder black? The lighter the color of the sand, the worse the minerals (so "white" would be like detecting through thin-air almost). IMHO, the only color sands that truly *need* a pulse to cut, is the grey or black beaches.
And bear in mind that if you're seeing grey or black strictly in gully-washes/drains, that's not the same thing. For purposes of this question, it's the color of the regular water's edge averages , up and down your beach.
dewcon4414
Well-known member
All that said ..... the LS is a good machine with a low uS, changeable coils and headphones with manual GB. If its trashy the 8" is a better choice of coils since a PI coil unlike the VLF dont loose depth. So its more about coverage. Having a repair place is a HUGE advantage and im not aware of a LOT of repairs..... we do have them with the Xcal. If you are going to use a PI i like the LS advantages over most. Not knowing its a tuff decission for a first water machine since you really dont know how many targets you may have to sift thru. BUT.... either machine will find gold and pay for its self. Id guess the LS will take a little longer just because of the digging required..... but we all know there is advantages also to NOT having to constantly ship a detector for repairs.
Dew
Dew
Hi Tom. Our beaches aren't that clean I must admit. We're not allowed bonfires, but people do randomly use the ocean as their rubbish bins, especially the fishermen. Our beaches are quite rich in black ilmenite (titanium and iron oxide) and red brown rutile (titanium oxide), and I think this is where the LS may come in handy. Mineral composition gets a lot worse the closer you get to Mozambique (way north). All in all I don't want to dig, but more than that I don't want to miss a good find. - Gustav
WaterWalker
Well-known member
I have used both the Excalibur and Infinium for many thousands of hours in the mineralized beach waters off of the New England coast (USA-north-east). Since buying the Infinium, that "sees" through the mineralized ground, my Excalibur gets very little use. I use both the 12" DD and 8" Mono coils, depending on the sand depth and rocks. I do use the Excalibur for recent losses and faster area coverage as it has a 15" WOT coil. Otherwise I would swing the Infinium, and now the ATX. Note: the ATX is only "waterproof" to 3 meters which will not fit your needs of 15 meters.