NOX or CTX

[unearth]

OK, FIRST...not trying to start an argument here, there has been enough of that. Just want some answers.
I've read that Minelab wouldn't shoot themselves in the foot by producing a $900 machine that would be better than the E-trac or CTX. I get that. But, what I want to know is...what whistles and bells does the E-trac or the CTX have that the Nox doesn't have, AND, what might be the difference in cost if the Nox had these extras OR the E-trac or CTX didn't have these extras?

 

[silvercoinboy]

From what I'm seeing in the videos, it looks like the Nox is better than the CTX or Excalibur, without the GPS

 

[mtwolf2270]

As along time ctx3030 user since day 1 I decided based on the legnth of time the ctx has been out. When you considering advances in technology that just maybe the nox could outperform ctx in some circumstances. This is appearing to be what the case will be. I traded in the ctx not because I think the ctx will be better but much better for what I need. I need better performance in hot soil ctx not good for this scenario. I need better separate in thick iron and heavy trash not Ctx due to slow recovery speed it struggles. So for my needs the nox is the winner. Now as for bells and whistles ctx is different technology so it's hard to compare that if you have really good soil and coin shoot or beach hunt mostly and learn the ctx is a good machine. If you are like me hunt relics in moderate to hot soil, coin shoot and water hunt then the nox is a better fit imho. The bells part with ctx gps, co and fe target I'd, target trace feature etc. From my perspective there is not enough extra to buy the ctx over the nox and again that's me as a ctx fanboy saying I think it is now more of a niche machine.

 

[Architex]

The one thing that the CTX has that stands out for me is the ability to show and usually ID two targets on the screen at the same time. I don't know of any other machine that does that. The fact that is is slower than the newer machines does have a benefit. With my Deus I can get going along too fast and have probably missed targets because of that. Not so with the CTX, you know you have to go a little slower. I have a Nox ordered but won't be selling my CTX.

 

[jas415]

I have both machines and after two hunts the EQ, my impression is that it is a really nice machine, but, I traded an F75 in on it and in many ways it compares very favorably with the F75. Very fast, lightweight but nose heavy with the 11" standard coil, I dont see the depth yet, but may have somthing screwed up on the settings, I get the feeling with the EQ that the target id at depth is off a tad as it seems to be bumping the numbers up a tiny bit.

Now, keep in mind I am as new to this machine as most everyone else, so my first impressions may not be valid after 50-100 hours of use.

The things I really like are the wireless and the quickness of the pairing. The overall light weight of the machine, the build quality appears to be good but the arm rest may be a tad flimsy in plastic. Ability to quickly change to several programs with a push of the button. I see users possibly altering the programs so thay have 8 of their own that they can quickly bring up for different sites. Noise cancel is quick and easy. Screen, to me, is light years ahead of the CTX in brightness and readability in bright daylight. Pin pointing is super quick and easy. Target ID stability up to 5-7 inches deep is great.

Some of the things I am still out to lunch on: depth, and target ID at depth. Just not seeing that yet but that may be because I have not had the coil over a deep target. Did get a silver western belt tip with a small gold flower on it today at about 7" and it rang up 27-28. While the charging of the machine is really simple and a great idea, having to have 3 wall chargers somewhere near the machine storage place is a pain in the rear. Before I just took the battery off the CTX and the wireless module in and set them on the desk, plugged both in and charged them at the same time from one plug. Now I need 3 USB chargers and three outlets, or a USB bank charger that has about 1.8A on each outlet.

There is the ability to keep using the machine with it plugged into some sort of portable 'power bank'. That means a portable power bank with a female USB port??

 

[Bryan V]

Jas415 try slowing down your Recovery Speed.. I’m snowed in but my testing inside shows that the Recovery Speed
had a big difference in air testing depths. The default Park 1 setting is a fixed ground balance too.
Might try tracking or ground balancing manually if you haven’t already...

Bryan

 

[RandyNorthridgeca]

Come on dude, I've seen you in action at Santa Monica, you don't need the NOX. I'd wait if I were you innochio,

 

[Ben Town]

I have a CTX and used to have a Safari.
The nox from what I’ve seen in all the available videos is just a “fast” Safari.
The proseser on the nox is by far faster than the Safari , the nox has single digit VDIs like the Safari and the Discrimanation is simaler to the Safari and no where near what the CTX has, and the nox only has 4 programs so simaler to the Safari. Those are all the reasons I went to a CTX.
The weight of the CTX is not an issue to me , I can swing it all I want in a day , the nox is lighter in weight and also lighter in detecting capabilities compared to the CTX
It’s too early to know everything but to me the nox is just a souped up Safari, I’ll keep my CTX.
If ML is just bringing out new technology with the nox I’m banking on the next new detector that truly challenges the CTXs capabilities , that’s the one I’ll buy.
One more thing, if the nox shines in gold nugget hunting it could be on my radar , but that would be the only reason.
Just my opinion

 

[Bryan V]

It’s more complex then the Safari Ben Town and is very hot on tiny gold.
It picked up the smallest sub gram nuggets that I found with the Gold Monster this summer..
Pieces so small I can barely pick them up.
The Advanced settings and speed of the Equinox give it a much different feel.
The days of a Nul fest in heavy trash are over with the new Equinox..

Bryan

 

[unearth]

-- moved topic --

 

[vlad]

You are wandering into a hypothetical; the EQ must be seen as is-not as you wish it....might be. Adding those bell/whistles makes it maybe a, near-trac @ higher cost, but still lesser.
ML did a cost analysis and put the max possible in the 800 for the price they aimed for. (I would think there is a good change a higher level unit is a distinct possibility
--see how these models go, and what the public might go for in an upgrade @ a higher cost. Just don't expect them to admit it. Enough turmoil already.) Probably on the drawing board now.
Removing the added features from the two top guns would unmake them into lesser units (which probably exist now in earlier models.)
It almost begs the question to say which one--if they offered a CTX at the EQ price (I think it would be a unanimous decision were that the case.)
Let the EQ stand on its own unique merits, with the ability to hunt wet salt and nuggets both.
Look at it like this: you sit down to a strip steak; its not filet mignon, but its not bad.
(To paraphrase mtwolf2270....an Equiniche)

 

[TN Mike]

Xterra - 13 years old..
Etrac - 10 years old..
Safari 6?
CTX 6 years old... In this day and age thats almost ancient, technologically speaking for a top of the line anything (cell phone, computer ect..).

To think that the Xterra line went on for 13 years as a mid range metal detector is amazing. If you consider the Nox line its replacement, I can only image that Minelab is going to bring current technology to the table with its next couple detectors that would replace the Safari, Etrac and CTX.

 

[Trashfinder]

I have both the CTX and NOx,,, the nox is more like a deus hybrid safari rolled into one. I have been using park 2, recovery 6 , multi freq and i have found a lot my safari,etrac, ctx missed, but only to about 7 inches. Still have not pulled anything deeper. But for the nox to sift through trash like it does with the stock coil is amazing. I found a really hard squeeker tone with my impact and 5 inch coil , then ran the nox across it and it toned off on it better than the impact, but impact Id was 71 where the nox was 13, probably due to all the trash under the big coil. But it still let me know there was something there. Maybe i will try park 1 and lower recovery for more depth.