Hi Ffighter:
I own both the Exp XS and the Exp II. I had to buy the II because the XS has completely fallen apart and is out of warranty. As far as I'm concerned, the reasons to go with the II are structural, rather than electronic. Most of what plagued the XS has been addressed in the II:
Headphone Jack upgraded to 1/4" as opposed to 1/8" (mine had broken)
Lower shaft now made of carbon fiber-old metal one got loose at rivet
and wobbled--and is heavier.
Upper shaft in XS would fall out of control box--rectified in II
Arm rest repeatedly cracked and fell apart in XS--supposedly fixed in II.
II has a rest under the battery housing to keep the unit off the ground (and out of moisture)--XS had none.
Hopefully the coil and coil wire on the II is more resistant to cracking. I've been through 2 on the XS.
The main electronic improvements in the II are: the dual digital readout (as you mentioned) and a faster response time. These are both aspects I thought would have been important to me, but, in fact, have not been all that useful. I don't notice a difference in response time (maybe because I normally don't use any discrimination?) and I'm so used to using the "Smart Detect" (x,y graphical) display, that learning the digital would set me back in my detecting ability for too long. I was always completely satisfied with the XS's electronics.
In short, there are too many potential sources of trouble in the Explorer I (or the Explorer I XS) to consider buying a used one. Mine had been completely overhauled by Minelab (who did a masterful job, by the way) under warranty--but is weakening again. The Explorer II benefits from the engineering lessons learned from the imperfect Explorer I--I'd go with it.
Or, if you're still interested in the Explorer XS, I've got one cheap. I'll even throw in a roll of duct tape!
Just my experience. Hope it helps. HH, Dan
