MXT vs Garrett 2500

[scrap iron]

I recently called a dealer about the Garrett 2500, as I thought I might be interested in buying one, my first. They immediately tried to switch me to the MXT, saying it was cheaper and did more. Since I have no experience with either one, is this true? I know the price difference, but nothing else.

 

[robocoin]

I guess it depends on what type of detecting your going to do. I have owned the Mxt, it's a very versatile machine. It's easy to use. Somewhat noisy too some. It never bother me though. It has a large coil selection. Can't help you with the 2500. My father-in-law has the 2000 model. I have only play with it. I thought it had a slow processor. Some like the target imaging for hunting coins. The Mxt might go deeper not sure. There are many used 2500 and MXT on forums and ebay. Good luck.

 

[brobox]

I have the MXT and a GTI 1500. I bought the 1500 as it was lighter than the 2500 and glad I did.

The MXT is a super machine as is the GTI. The GTI is a little better balanced, but the MXT does go deeper. The GTI is a little easier to learn, but not by much. I like the relic mode on the MXT and it is very sensitive to small gold.

Depending on the type of hunting you are going to be doing it is a toss up which is the better machine. I like both, but for the type of hunting I do I find myself grabbing the MXT more often.

Chuck in Cape Coral

 

[willy]

Had the MXT for 2 yrs and a GTI 1500 for about as long. Currently, I have a GTI 2000, which is basically a GTI 2500 sans stickers & backlight. From what I've seen, there's not much difference depth-wise between the 2. The GTI's won't get the really small low conductors like the MXT will, but the reverse is true of the high conductors. The Disc. mode seems to run a bit smoother with the GTI and the imaging does work. Yeah, it won't work to full depth, but the detector does let you know that something is too deep or small to image. All the other tricks a person can use for shaping a target in AM still work with the GTI. Having the continuous imaging grid on while detecting is pretty cool & informative. Both detectors will ID in AM mode, with the added benefit of depth & size with the GTI. The AM mode on the MXT is much more flexible than the HTI, though the GTI is no slouch. For coin/ring hunting (and possibly relic), I'd take the GTI 2500 over the MXT in a heartbeat. The tone ID and full range notch, plus real time depth & size, make for an almost unbeatable package in the right hands. I also find that, when the coil is switched over to non-imaging, the detector "speeds up" significantly, which makes sense since there's less information to process. Changing over to prospecting, on the other hand, the MXT will deliver a royal whupping to the GTI. This makes sense 'cause the electronics platform that the MXT is built on is that of the GMT.. a hard-core nuggethunting detector. It just has a lower frequency & more bells & whistles. That's not to say that the GTI can't be used to prospect, it will pick up a 3 grain or less nugget, it just can't pick up the tiny low conductors that the MXT will. The ground handling on the MXT is also better, being designed for some pretty nasty mineralization, it just has more tools in the chest for dealing with said ground. What it comes down to is what you plan on doing & where. ...Willy. BTW. These are my experiences in my hunting grounds, others can (and probably will) differ in what they've experienced.

 

[Richard@BackwoodsDetectors]

The MXT is a great machine, especially relic hunting...good depth, handles ground easily, simple, mixed-audio with audio tracking discrimination, up or down, etc. just a good machine...The 2500 is also a very capable machine...great depth in AM with good ID, imaging is good, talk feature, I like.. just a fun machine.. both have good warrantys and support.... I would give the MXT a very slight edge but after a couple of months of detecting with either machine, both would be "neck and neck." Best to you, Richardntn

Backwoods Detector Sales
Tesoro, Garrett, and other Brands

 

[Rick(ND)]

I feel your dealer gave you some good advice as I have used both plus the GTI 2000 and the GTI 1500 of Garretts and feel the MXT got me more depth, better ID and was easier to use. The GTI does notch out target you dont want, the MXT dont.

Rick

 

[ohio fred]

i have a mxt it will surprise some times.But mine were iam at doesn't work so well and is terrible at the beach.I have had it in for tune up and know how to use it.Also use the mini dd coin shooter and is a very good coil for trash and general hunting.I also have a idx and ace 250 and had some other machines,out of all ace 250 is the one i like best,not top end machine but man it can find stuff and is a lot of fun handles ground here better and works at the beach better than the mxt.May be tell everyone which state your in and try search engine.Hope this was some help.

 

[Sparks2887]

I have YET to see a Garrett outperform a White's in the same price class. Not talking about the specialty detectors here.

(Flame proof suit on)

Tom in GA
White's MXT
Fisher 1235-X

 

[DPW]

That is the first time I've ever heard of someone opting for an Ace 250 over an MXT. Sounds like you're quite the rebel Fred. Happy hunting.

 

[Anonymous]

I wouldn"t go for the GTI 2500 here. I agree with your dealer because the MXT has some advantages over the GTI 2500.
They are:

1. Better weight and balance.

2. Faster recovery speed and target response.

3. Better depth on low conductive targets.

4. Easier to use.

5. Lower price.

6. Better ID resolution.

7. Better ID accuracy.

8. Better ground tracking.

But is you thinf now the MXT is great for the money....take a close look at the new Whites M6.

I would rather buy an Ace 250 than the GTI. If Garrett would put some good ground tracking and a true All Metal Mode in the Ace 250 it would make a good detector even better.

HH,
Andy

 

[Anonymous]

before the Whites M6 hit the market my number one was the MXT. I own an Ace 250 too and can see why someone would buy the Ace 250 over the MXT. No, not for performance !

The Ace is lightweight, has silent search, is easy to use, has tone ID and performance is great for the 199 $ price. Additional coils cost just half of what MXT coils cost. There is not to much difference in depth on silver coins. Yes the MXT will do much better on low conductive targets (Rings, Nickels). But that does not mean the Ace can't find them.
I borrowed my MXT with the 4x6 DD coil to a friend and i was using the Ace 250 with the sniper coil. He didn't find more coins.

After all the detectors i have tried, the Whites M6 and the Garrett Ace 250 are the ones i keep.

HH,
Andy

 

[DPW]

You wouldn't be so fast about what?
I just reread my post and I don't see where I said anything condenscending. I don't see where I said I disagree with him, call him crazy, or stupid or any such thing. The rebel remark was meant as humor. If you were offended by it I don't know what to tell you.It is truley the first time I've read where someone picked an Ace 250 over the MXT. But yes I'll admit it to the world that I don't think the Ace 250 is any where near the detector the MXT is. That's my opinion.

 

[willy]

The problem with comparing detectors is that there are so many different hunting situations that, generally, one detector can't "do it all" and be the best. There are situations where the high dollar detector comes in a poor second to the cheapie. There are a number of people who will use a Tesoro Amigo with the smallest coil in nail piles, and claim to get superior performance over almost every other detector. Does that make the Amigo a better detector? For that application yes, but others no. I haven't owned an Ace 250, but having owned an MXT I can see some situaions where the Ace would be a better choice. It seems like the detecting world is rife with blanket statements & grandiose claims that fall far short of reality. Just read through some of the Minelab & Tesoro forums. Wading through the hype is often an exercise in mental fortitude. ..Willy.

 

[DPW]

I agree with you Willy. Some detectors are better in certain situations. Other detectors will be better in other situations. And I admit that I have never owned or even used an Ace 250. All I know is if I won a prize at Joe Blows metal detector shop and had my choice between an Ace 250 and the MXT I'd pick the MXT. And I wouldn't even hesitate in my choice.
If other people would rather have the Ace 250 I have no problem with that. I don't mind offering an opinion on a subject but I don't remember ever having tried to force my opinion on others. To each his own, live and let live and all that.

 

[willy]

I'd also take the MXT. But, then again, I prospect and relic hunt a lot. For those pursuits the MXT is, in my opinion, a superior detector. ...Willy.

 

[ohio fred]

No offense taken. I still have my MXT and I know how to use the factory ground system as Monte explained this to me and I have had it since they came out. In this area, the MXT does not work that well - it chatters alot, even with all sorts of adjustments. Even though it gives alot of information, like somebody said maybe it gives too much, because it stops you from digging sometimes because of the number system. Yes, I still use it. If I think there might be a chance of something really deep,I will use it wide open and sometimes in the relic mode and sometimes in Prospecting mode to check things out. So, don't get me wrong...it is a good machine and will surprise you sometimes, but at the beach here, near Lake Erie freshwater, using factory defaults grounds or ground tracking or locked ground, you can't cut it at the beach...no matter what coil I use. Whereas the Ace 250 is factory ground balanced and I can go right to the beach and immediately begin pulling coins up to 9 inches deep. I have all three coils for it. It is a Notch system, which I tend to like better now. The reason being, you can pick the targets you want to hunt and block out stuff you don't want to hear. Example: if I just wanted to hunt nickles, dimes and quarters with the 250 I can do that. With the MXT dial up system, if I dial up to dimes and quarters I will lose everything behind it. The 250 you can use wide open (all metal). The MXT has alot of features for the money which do help, but the Ace 250 - for a $200 machine - will give alot of top of the line machines a run for their money around here in Northeast Ohio. With the large coil on the Ace 250 I could hit a Hot Wheel in the ground at 11 inches, pennies 9-10 inches, quarters 10-11 inches, dimes anywhere between 8-9 inches. It varies with the soil. The Ace 250 is alot of fun and features for the money. Swing and go and pull alot of stuff. I like the pinpointing on the MXT better, and I do like the number system on the MXT but it tends to bounce alot. I am not saying anything bad about the MXT or the Ace 250. But I think the Ace 250 all coils and the machine for $340 is great for beginners, intermediate and advanced metal detectors. My brother in law has one and he seems to do quite well with it. Two great machines that can be used for different purposes in different parts of the country and can both bring alot of joy to someone who enjoys metal detecting. P.S. I also like the bell tone on the 250 because it alerts me that there might be a valuable object nearby. It just seems that I use my Ace250 more than my MXT right now. Thats all I have to say. Happy hunting and good luck!