Just for fun. Some say the Deus costs to much well.........

[woodchiphustler]

Based on frequency alone lets see?????

XP Deus Popular current US Brands

18 khz- AT Gold, Goldbug Pro, G-2 all similar in cost around 750.

12 khz- T2, F75, F70 from 650 to1095


8khz- Garrett models, Tek Omega, Fisher F5, Fisher 1270 X 300 to 900


4khz- DFX in one frequency mode, V31 in one frequency mode , detector pro water machines. model 600 to 14000

Frequency to me is the key feature in the metal detectors I would select for the days task. Higher frequency is sensitive to small low conductive metal but looses some depth, mid frequency is good for low to mid conductors, the buttons and other artifacts I seek, lower frequency is good for the highest conductors being silver coins but is also hot on iron targets deep in the ground..
So if I had to buy one detector for each frequency I use and I only like multiple frequency at a salt water beach, I think I just purchased a 21st century detector at a bargain price. How to fund it?????? Loose a few of the vast fleet I own that it has replaced.

 

[Ism]

Doesn't the E-trac have 17 frequencies?

 

[Andy Sabisch]

The fact that XP in essence packaged multiple detectors into one 3.5 ounce control unit, eliminated all wires and cables and provides the capability to upgrade the software that drives it as new ideas come forth or features are to be added goes a long way in justifying the cost. It is not an entry-level priced detector but as detectorists go, if a machine performs price becomes secondary to many of us . . . . there are a large number of relic hunters that have opted to spring for the Minelab GPX 5000 which sells for much more than the Deus yet use it only once or twice a year in the highly mineralized ground of Virgina when attending organized hunts.

Your post sums up one way to look at the purchasing decision that one looks at making whenever any new detector comes out.

Andy Sabisch

 

[Andy Sabisch]

There is no denying that Minelab's BBS and FBS circuits took detector design in a whole new direction and in doing so have unlocked valuables in sites around the world. I have used Minelabs since 1988 as most of you know and have not sold off any of my detectors that bear that monicker so don't read my posts about the Deus to insinuate that.

The Deus is simply taking a different path and that will in turn offer detectorists with another choice which may further reveal valuables in sites that have been pounded by another make or model.

I do not think that anyone is saying that the Deus (or any new detector) is such a marked improvement to anything on the market that one needs to dump their Minelab Explorer or E-Trac, White's V3i or MXT, Teknetics T-2, Fisher F-75, Garrett GTI 2500 . . . . . add your detector here . . . . and buy a Deus. But if you are an avid hobbyist that is interested in trying something new for 2012 then the Deus is probably a detector that should be added to your "consider" list. It may be for you or it may not be but there is a level of performance that it offers which can help you find things that other detectors have missed. I know that sometimes a different detector - even one costing less than what the rest of us might be using - finds targets are fairly shallow depths that leave us wondering how we had missed it on previous trips . . . . . . different circuit, different way of processing signals, different coil design all blend together to give one a new way of seeing into the ground . . . . .

Andy Sabisch

 

[mudpuppy]

I like how your thinking Woodchip...justification excersize! Toss in the recharge capability to save on battery purchases and you are almost there! Why, you are losing money every day you dont have this machine! Seriously, Nice work Andy...I've been reading your site, and watching your videos...Andy,
would you recommend the larger coil for a fast beachsweeper like me? I like most all of the features of the Deus, but need to know just a little more about wading/rain capabilities...how deep can a fellow wade, and how well do the earphones like rain? Minor but important issues. I think a fellow would certainly want the car recharge kit, and the little emergency charger too, at least I would...As far as price, if this thing will do the job of several machines, last me the rest of my life, then its worth it..I hate to have to learn something new, but it seems the Deus is an intuitive pick up and go?
Mud

 

[rellikusmc]

HI all and thank you for your time user friendly would be like the Minelab x-terra which you can swap coils for the 3 freq most likely which the Deus mimicks and since the x-terra are not a all in one coil or circuit it may and can help trouble shoot a detector and if my 7.5kHz is faulty i still have a 3 kHz to go to plus how long is the turn around for repairs going to be? do you send it to France? as it is my belief that when a machine first hits the market it is usually the user that finds and must contend with the bugs and problems! I welcome a new kid on the block "so to say " if it keeps the other companies on there toes and advances our hobby..... Pat Bidding

 

[woodchiphustler]

Mud, It did say for "Fun"

 

[Andy Sabisch]

Pat,

You are right that the X-Terra line offers a great deal of flexibility in that you can pick up a wide range of coils (design and frequency) to tune the detector to meet a wide range of applications and ground conditions but there is a cost associated with that . . . . .

Recognizing that actual prices differ from list prices, take a look at the retail pricing of the X-705 with a few extra coils to cover the three operating frequencies you can run the unit at.

• X-705; Retail price = $950 (comes with either the 7.5kHz or 18,75kHz coil)
• 18.75kHz coil (depends on design selected); Retail price = $160 - $245
• 3kHz coil; Retail = $240
• Package consisting of X-705 + 3 coils (3 frequencies); Retail price = $1350 to $1435

I have some friends that tun the X-70 / X-705 and have 5 or 6 coils . . . investing more in the coils than they did in the detector itself but each one fits a niche that they benefit from. That is the beauty of that detector's design - its flexibility and ability to customize it to a wide range of needs . . . . . my daughter's primary unit is still the X-50 unless she is in the water with me.

As we have said in other posts, buying the most expensive detector out there may not be what one needs to be successful in the type of detecting one is interested in exploring . . . . . for others, the features, performance and the simple fact of having the "latest toy" is what tips the scales.

As far as repairs, no - that was what kept the Deus out of the American market other than people that ordered one from Europe for the past few years . . . . . not enough product to supply the US market based on the existing demand overseas and no repair facility in the US . . . all repairs on the Deus purchased from a US XP dealer are being serviced in the US.

You mentioned the Deus being a "new kid on the block" . . . . just remember that it is the "new kid on the block" in the US and has in fact been in in production and extensive use elsewhere for a few years now hence the version 2.0 of the software (several of the videos on the web are older ones and show the 1.X versions that had issues addressed and new features added in the 2.0 version currently available . . . but the older ones could download the 2.0 version from the XP website which is pretty cool in my book )

Andy Sabisch

 

[jmaryt]

all this is accurate,however at around $2,000.00 a copy one definitely
has to think loud and long,before pullin' the trigger.everything is preliminary
at this point in time,of course,and requires extensive field testing,however if it
is determined there is no "clear' advantage over and above the present "high end"
units on the market,then one would be "hard pressed" to justify the cost!..my two
memorials!

(h.h.!)
j.t.

 

[Rob (IL)]

The V3i can give you 3 single frequency machines if you choose, 2.5, 7.5, and 22.5 kHz so using your thinking it does the same thing plus it has the ability to hunt in 3 multi frequency. That's four machines also.

 

[Andy Sabisch]

Rob,

Yes, the V3i allows you to select a single frequency as well as 3 at the same time plus it has many other "cool features" that have proven to be useful in the field . . . . heck, even the color screen offers readability that others could only hope to achieve.

As I said in another post, the Deus is not being touted a as replacement for every single high-end detector out there . . . simply another option that buyers can consider when making plans for what they will be swinging this year.

It is sort of like when Nissan and Honda got into the full size pickup truck market . . . there were those that had been long time Ford / Chevy / Dodge buyers that switched horses and went in that direction and then there were those that were satisfied with the brand that they had and stuck with it . . . as they say "Variety is the spice of life!"

Andy

 

[Andy Sabisch]

But a few points in response to your post:

1) There has been extensive testing and in fact use over the past two years - it is NOT a new detector but just fairly new to the US. As a matter of fact, there have been a number of people that bought them directly from Europe here in the US and posted videos on what they were finding going back nearly two years . . .and yes, they were finding targets that other detectors could not hit.

2) At $1899 it is not an entry level price but there are detectors costing more and selling quite well . . . . . price out the Minelab GPX units and see how many XP's you could buy for one of those . . . and it is not just gold hunters that buy them - relic hunters are using them and in many cases, only a few times a year at the organized hunts.

But again, everyone has to look at what is out there and decide if it is for them . . . . .

Andy

 

[jmaryt]

key is "'extensive" testing.to be more specific,my interests
are it's performance as a 'coin shooter",especially in "trash laden "
parks! i admit i do NOT possess the 'courage" to purchase one ,WITHOUT
the benefit of 'field testing"over a period of time HERE in the (u.s) strictly
by experienced coin hunters! as i am NOT a gold hunter,or a relic hunter,
those two pursuits have little interest to me.(f.t.p) also will be introducing
a new unit this year,and i look forward to reading at some point, about BOTH
of these units with "breathless anticipation!" just sayin'

(h.h.!)
j.t.

 

[Andy Sabisch]

A myriad of factors come into play when you try and base your buying decision on a field test . . . . . what might work super for one person may in fact not work worth a damn 50 miles away and when hunting sites that say are littered with iron or the targets are super deep - it depends on what each person is facing at their sites. When I do field tests for the magazine or directly for the manufacturers, I try to visit a wide range of sites and try it under a wide range of applications . . . . . you are not interested in relic hunting but guess what, there is a large segment of hunters that are and could care less about discrimination of pull tabs or target ID capabilities.

I have often said that no company builds a bad detector - if they did they would be out of business and the wrecks on the road over teh years are from companies that could not build what users wanted to needed.

I own a number of detectors and some are 20 years old yet still do the job when called upon under specific applications . . . . . I did the book for Fisher on the CZ's and that is still a powerful detector in the field nearly 20 years since it was introduced. The reason I have a pile of detectors is that each serves a specific purpose and each excels at specific applications . . . there is no "perfect detector" for all users - if there were, the rest of teh companies would be out of business.

All of the manufacturers are working on the next "mouse trap" . . . . . waiting until the perfect detector comes along may make sense on one hand but there will always be something better under development so when do you pull the trigger? As far as the Deus or any of the new units under development or recently released . . . . . lay your hands on one and see how it works for YOUR type of hunting . . . no field test will give you that information.

One person's perspective

Andy

 

[jmaryt]

you are correct andy,however with a "cross section " of users all over the country
using the detector in different ground mineral conditions will,in my view, give me "enough"
information to make an "informed" purchasing decision,but to also acknowledge your sentiments,
yes! there is absolutely no second,or third person field test that will substitute for you,yourself
using the detector under your own unique field conditions.ideally,if it was possible,the "smart play"
would be to acquire one and field test it yourself,however,this may prove to be difficult,if not impossible,
hence,the "reliance" on future field reports. in any event,as stated,i look forward to future reports,as i will NOT
"discount" or "minimize" any ,and all info presented by others,as i believe it to be all "relevant!"..
(b.t.w.) i have read all your books,and i consider them ''valuable" resources for any one
interested in becoming more proficient with their respective detectors.

(h.h.!)
j.t.

 

[woodchiphustler]

Yeah. Multi freqs can suffer in some ground conditions in my experience but nothing better on wet salt.

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

Great point! I REALLY like the 12 khz for general hunting. VERY sensitive!

Based on frequency alone lets see?????

XP Deus Popular current US Brands

18 khz- AT Gold, Goldbug Pro, G-2 all similar in cost around 750.

12 khz- T2, F75, F70 from 650 to1095


8khz- Garrett models, Tek Omega, Fisher F5, Fisher 1270 X 300 to 900


4khz- DFX in one frequency mode, V31 in one frequency mode , detector pro water machines. model 600 to 14000

Frequency to me is the key feature in the metal detectors I would select for the days task. Higher frequency is sensitive to small low conductive metal but looses some depth, mid frequency is good for low to mid conductors, the buttons and other artifacts I seek, lower frequency is good for the highest conductors being silver coins but is also hot on iron targets deep in the ground..
So if I had to buy one detector for each frequency I use and I only like multiple frequency at a salt water beach, I think I just purchased a 21st century detector at a bargain price. How to fund it?????? Loose a few of the vast fleet I own that it has replaced.

 

[Barry NY]

Here is my mock 2 tone custom program which works great with the large coil in plowed fields - give it a try..

Disc 4.9
3 tone. Tone 1 is for everything up to the disc point 4.9 at 200hz. Tone 2 set at 40 conductivity at 202hz. Tone 3 is everything over 40 conductivity at 780hz. What this does is give you a low tone for all items under 40 conductivity (most all non ferrous junk) and high tone for everything else. This works on old farm fields where there are good non silver relic finds. You can set the break point higher if you only look for coins. Setting the break point does not alter the disc so you don't lose depth. If you set it at 70 you will only get coppers and silver.
Sens 95 (soil permitting)
TX Power 3 (transmit power)
Freq 12k (great all around freq for silver, gold, small thin items and good depth. found 2 thin half reales and find tons of tiny cuff buttons at 6")
Iron Level 2
Reactivity 2 (this is the reaction speed for how fast the signal reacts. most machines on the market are operating in the 0 to 1 range. I heard that switching to 1 will get more depth but I will have to slow the swing down. in iron infested sites you would use 3)
Silencer 2
Audio Resp 3 (this is an enhancement for deep targets. going to 5 makes deeper sound better but not as sweet for normal depth items)
GB Manual 90 (I am playing with this as my fields are coming in at 75. at 90 it's real quiet with no falsing but I may be losing some depth for the stability)

Save this into program 9 and rename it 2 tone - you will never use the stock program 9 but can reset to factory spec anytime...

 

[skezix]

n/t

 

[targets]

lets pin down this argument about possible repairs and sending back to France .
since it out came out complaints about faults and repairs on the UK forums are negligible .
2 years and going strong .
its built to last for sure .