Minelab Explorer SE vs. Garrett GTI Series. Is the SE worth the extra $$$?

[Neil in West Jersey]

I am in the market for a new high end detector. I have narrowed it down to these two manufacturers, although I have ruled out the White's DFX either. My question is which is a better choice? I know the Minelab SE has greater depth, but it seems that most old coins are not going to be 14 inches deep anyway. I would think it comes down to features, reliability, ground balance and overall performance.

What do you think? Is the Minelab worth the extra money? Even within the GTI family, it seems like the 2500 is much more than the 1500, with the only real difference being the Graphic Target analyzer for an extra $300.

 

[Elton]

It depends on what you are looking for. Garretts are good solid detectors known for their discrimination abilities.
Explorers are known for depth.DFX are know for solid all around ability for hunting everywhere and doing a good job of it.
All you mentioned are a good detector..it may just come down to your preference of "Bells and Whistles" They all detect metal.
I prefer Whites detectors, but that doesn't mean the others are not good.I use an XLt it's light goes deep enough, can hunt just about all areas
Tracks on the ground balance.I can change about all on it for adapting to where I am hunting.I get good results.It is accurate for the most part and it's reliable. The best thing is the preset programs are awsome.Sometimes you never have to make an adjustment just turn it on ground balance, pick your program, and dig the targets.

 

[Rick(ND)]

Just getting a higher price detector may not get you more finds, it getting to know your detector and what it is telling you. Myself i have used many in my 34 years of detecting and for us up here in ND the Minelabs have been doing the best for us. The Garrett's are OK, but they are not getting the depth or separation needed to find some of the finds we are finding. I feel this come down to the fact that the Minelab Explorers and the Sovereigns give you more info and let you decide to dig or not. Most detector make the decision for you with the meters and with the Garrett GTI give you the image size which is not correct all the time. We are able to tell with the Sovereigns and the Explorers the size fairly well after you have some experience with them. With the Explorers or the Sovereign we can tell with the tones and how they read on the meter to what they are. If you have the time to look at the Explorer forum you will see what James up here in ND has been posting from many site that have been considerer worked to death with his Explorer. I have the SE, and the Sovereign GT plus I have a Fisher F-75 plus my wife uses to me the best Whites Made and that is the MXT and she does well with it. I have done side by side comparison with the GTI 2500 I had with a Sovereign XS and the XS got many coins the GTI couldn't get or said it was a trash target. Now you will read where many do real well with the GTI 2500 or the 1500, but for us up here it don't do as well as our Minelab Sovereigns or the Explorers, but which ever detector you use you have to get to know it and what it is telling you in order to do well with it.
At this time our club of around 55 members I bet 75% or more now use a Minelab Sovereigns or Explorers with a few Whites, Fishers and I know of one GTI 2500 with most all the best finds found with the Minelabs.
Check out the clubs in your area and see which detector is the favorite for your area as maybe the GTI are the best for your area.

 

[dfi]

i used mxt,dfx,xl pro,whites 5900,Minelab se if i had choice what detector to use minelab hands down once u get to know the detector it is imo the best out there.

i did not like dfx at all to hard to learn u just find your'e self wasting time trying to tone it. mxt imo best white dectector for all around use made by them and good depth.

I Hunted a yard that 3 white detector went over mxt,dfx, xl pro and guy live their owns dfx for few yr's. my xl pro got 1 indian head penny date 1900 and that was the only coin found. 2 weeks later after selling my mxt "nice detector just not for me" i got minelab Se went back to same yr same place i dectected pull out 6 more indian head penny going back to 1993+, v nickel 1907, and 1935 1/2 dollar at about 9-10 inch with nice clear solid hit. the pennys all were 7+ inches.

Minelab imo is the best detector made right now for the solid hit and depth u get on silver! but i never used garrett gti so i have no ideal how good it is but the minelab se would be a hard detcetor to beat.

I have to add this the 5900 still is one hell of a detector even for it's age. but i still love my minelab se and would not trade it for anything out there.