is it that good?

[topknocker]

it was said on this forum that an ace 250 is a $800 to $900 dollar metal detector in a $200 dollar package. is it really that good! if it is why are people buying minelab explorers, white dfx's for a $1000 dollars. why don't they just buy an ace 250? i have an ace 250 and for the money it is a good detector, but the same as a $900 dollar detector. i don't know about that.

 

[John-Edmonton]

With the large coil, it gets better depth in most soils then some machines costing 2-3 X as much. It has a much faster response time the detectors costing 2-3 X more. It is much lighter then machines costing2-3 X as much. Four "AA" batteries last much longer then machines costing 2-3 X as much.

Why are people buying more expensive detectors? Because do they want to, can afford to and (sometimes) get more bells and whistles.

But, the bottom line is, learn your machine well, and the good finds will follow.
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[Wisconsin Pete]

n/t

 

[BigCatDaddy]

I've got $1000 detectors gathering dust. The thing is, they forgot to install the "fun" in them. The 250 has an ample supply of "fun" built in. Oh, I still drag the big boys out now and again, but you can bet the 250 is always in the car when I head out for a hunt, ready to supply the needed "fun".

 

[AndyNM]

1. Build Quality

The Ace is one of the best made detectors. Small posts hold the rubber rings in place where the lower stem and the coil connect. Which 1000$ detector has that ?

2. It runs on just four AA batteries so you can buy a cheap charger with NIMH rechargeables for just 10$ and save on batterie costs.
Which 1000$ detector has that ? (OK Minelab X-Terras and Tecnetics T2 but Ace 250 was the first that had it.

3. Lightweight with display.
Whites Prizms are like that too, but if you want the same features as the Ace has you have to pay much more. Then the X-Terras are next for much more money, but again the Ace 250 was first.

4. Available coils
You can buy a larger coil or a smaller one (4.5 sniper). Many 1000$ detector companies don't even a small coil for their "top of the line" detectors.

5. Depth
Yes some detectors can detect deeper than the Ace buy how much more do you have to pay for the 1 to 2 inches more depth ?
I know one deep detector for over 1000$ that has to be swung real slow to get the depth. You can swing the Ace fast and cover more ground in a given time and have more finds than a slow swing deep detector.

6. Notch system
Which detector has a notch system ? Yes Minelab has it now for much more money, but the Ace (or other Garrets) had it first.

Are their better detector out there ? It depends what you want to do.
For 212$ the value of the Ace 250 is awesome. Compared to the Ace some 1000$ detector raise the question in me: " Where is the 800$ more value compared to the Ace?"

I wonder what would happen if Garrett makes an Ace 450 some day for 400$ ? With ground tracking, true all metal mode, multi frequency ?

That would be the end for some other 1000$ detector companies.

Ace 250, not the best but really good for the 212$ price tag.

HH,
Andy,NM

 

[Uncle Willy]

The fact that the 250 probaly outsells all the others ten to one, and Garrett can't keep up with the orders, should be your first clue. Ask all the oldtimers like myself who own all the top dollar machines yet walk out the door with the 250 90% of the time. When I field tested the 250 I told Garrett they had better be geared up for some serious production. They weren't.

Minelab and the others can only dream of sales figures like the 250 generates. FRom these sales Garrett is buildin a large addition onto their factory that will employ another 120 people - double their current work force. End of story.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

Some opinion - mostly fact.

Bill

 

[khouse]

How about a multi-tone detector. Fixed ground balance. No coil smaller than a 8 inch. 8 target segments. Non true notch system. Runs on 2 expensive 9 volt batteries for $500.00 Would you buy it? Maybe? I just described the Prizm 5 detector.

Now how about a multi-tone detector. Fixed ground balance. A 4.5 inch coil available. 12 target segments. TRUE notch system. Runs on 4 AA batteries for $212.00 Would you buy it? Yes! I just described the Ace 250.

If you didn't know any better and you had $500.00 in your pocket. You would lay the $500 down on the Ace 250.

I'm not saying the Prizm's are a bad detector - they are not. But the Prizm 5 would have to sell for $200.00 before you could even start to compare the two.

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

G'day Topknocker.
The Ace is a great machine. It is definitely the best buy for the dollars you spend, but it is no top end machine. You get what you pay for. Machines like the Explorer would be hard to beat for discrimination and depth.
If you only want to hunt shallow clad, then the only main difference would be discrimination. The Explorer would kill the Ace in this department. The Ace also has a much faster recovery speed than the Explorer, which means that you can generally swing it faster, mind you, I've seen people swing an Explorer fairly quick (if you're not worried about target masking or depth).
The Ace is a lot easier to swing and learn fully than something like the Explorer, and like Bill said, that comes down to the fun factor.
All machines have there place, regardless of brand,; it's just a matter of choosing what works for you.
Mick Evans.

 

[John D.]

I bought an GTP 1350 and I enjoy it very much. I also have learned to use it well. Later I bought an ACE 250 as a loaner and for my Grandchildren to use. To be perfectly honest, if I had bought the 250 first I would not own the 1350. I can go out and find just as much with the 250 and it is much lighter, which is very important to an old man like myself. That is my 2 bits worth.
Have a Blessed Day,

 

[topknocker]

[I wonder what would happen if Garrett makes an Ace 450 some day for 400$ ? With ground tracking, true all metal mode, multi frequency ?

That would be the end for some other 1000$ detector companies.]NOW THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!

 

[AndyNM]

N/T

 

[NM5K]

[quote Andy,NM]1. Build Quality


I wonder what would happen if Garrett makes an Ace 450 some day for 400$ ? With ground tracking, true all metal mode, multi frequency ?

They would have to add an even larger factory, and workforce
to keep up.. I ain't joking... They would fly out the door.
But...I bet most sales would be from previous 250 owners that
wanted a steroid version. Compared to what is out there, a "450"
with all that would be a good bargain if at $400.. If they did
that, I would suggest they use the same pro-formance coils as
the 250 and 150 use. That way, no retooling on add on coils..
I guess the only glitch in that plan would be if multi -freq
required another type coil.. Myself, multi-freq means less to
me than say manual/auto ground balance, etc. I could easily live
without that feature to be able to use my current ace coils.
MK