I have a 1874 IH cent that I dug while using my 705. It read 26 on the TID. That same coin registers a 12/24 on the E-TRAC. Coincidently, I dug a square pull tab with the E-TRAC that registered a 12/24. And it registers a 26 on the X-705. Two completely different targets with the exact same TID for each detector. The point is, the metallic content of some "crap" targets are going to register the same as coins no matter what detector you are using. If you understand your E-TRAC well, you know that the audio response of a target can tell you as much about it as the TID numbers. Same holds true with the X-705, when using multiple tone mode.
The X-705 has 24 conductive numbers available. That may lead you to think the E-TRAC can "discriminate" twice as good as the X-705, since the E-TRAC has 50 conductive numbers available. But when you look at what actual target numbers are for silver coins, they don't vary that much between the two detectors. In fact if anything, the 705 will categorize them more closely than the E-TRAC. For example, a silver 3-cent piece reads a 24-26 on the 705. On the E-TRAC it will typically come in as a 12 / 28, 29, 30, 31 or 32. A silver half dime will read a 30 on the 705. The E-TRAC will show it as 12 / 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 or 39. A silver dime reads 36, 38 or 40 on the 705, depending on the year of the dime. On the E-TRAC, it will read a 12 / 43, 44, 45 or 46, again depending on the year of the dime. A silver quarter will read a 40 or 42 on the 705. On the E-TRAC, it comes in as 12/46 or 47. A silver half dollar will read 44 on the X-705 and will vary from 09, 10, 11 or 12 ferrous, combined with a 44, 45, 46 or 47 on the conductive side. A silver dollar will register a 46 on the X705 and will and jump up to a 01 / 41-45 on the E-TRAC. One might think that, if you are confident that most US coins will read around the 12 ferrous number, with the exception of the US silver dollar, what is the point in knowing the ferrous value? And that answer is...... Lots of junk targets might provide the same conductive number as a coin. But the ferrous number can sometimes help make that decision as to whether you want to dig or not. So while I don't believe the E-TRAC will find more coins than the X-705, the ferrous properties can sometimes help you dig less trash.
And as far as gold jewelry is concerned, since each piece might vary due to size and purity, all bets are off. Again, if you follow the baseline of 12 ferrous being the "good stuff", you will likely dig less trash using the E-TRAC compared to the X-705. But on the other hand, there have been a lot of posts made about good stuff being found with E-TRAC ferrous numbers all the way from 01 to 27. So don't assume that following that baseline of 12 is always in your best interest.
In my opinion, there is one main reason that E-TRAC users are able to find stuff that many other detectorists have missed. And that is because of their sweep speed. We all hear that the FBS units require a slow sweep speed. Therefore, when we turn one on, we hunt slow. Besides that, when you drop $1500 on a detector, you feel the need to prove to yourself it is worth the investment! On the other hand, not much is discussed about the sweep speed of the X-TERRA. I have commented that I can cover more ground with the 705 in any given period of time, compared to the E-TRAC. But part of that is due to the quick response of the 705, as well as a faster sweep. Actually, what I should say is that it has a very forgiving sweep speed. Since it is a motion detector, you have to keep the coil moving to detect targets. But those who have become complacent with their X-TERRA might be surprised how much they would find if they just slowed down their sweep and became more methodical about their approach to a target.
I go back to what you said about your E-TRAC......you said it is very easy to learn but thought it is like killing deer with a cannon. So you know how to use it, but think it is an overkill? Frankly, if you already know how to use it, and you already own it, don't think of it as an overkill. Think of it as a detector that will allow you to rehunt areas where most other detectorists have given up. Places where they left much the deep - good stuff behind. You could likely do that with an X-705 as well. But you already own the E-TRAC and know how to use it. So if economics is not the driving force behind your initial post, I'd say keep the one you are familiar with and find more time to hunt those sites that others have given up on. If you do decide to sell or trade the E-TRAC, don't hesitate to consider the 705. It is an excellent detector. JMHO HH Randy
The X-705 has 24 conductive numbers available. That may lead you to think the E-TRAC can "discriminate" twice as good as the X-705, since the E-TRAC has 50 conductive numbers available. But when you look at what actual target numbers are for silver coins, they don't vary that much between the two detectors. In fact if anything, the 705 will categorize them more closely than the E-TRAC. For example, a silver 3-cent piece reads a 24-26 on the 705. On the E-TRAC it will typically come in as a 12 / 28, 29, 30, 31 or 32. A silver half dime will read a 30 on the 705. The E-TRAC will show it as 12 / 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 or 39. A silver dime reads 36, 38 or 40 on the 705, depending on the year of the dime. On the E-TRAC, it will read a 12 / 43, 44, 45 or 46, again depending on the year of the dime. A silver quarter will read a 40 or 42 on the 705. On the E-TRAC, it comes in as 12/46 or 47. A silver half dollar will read 44 on the X-705 and will vary from 09, 10, 11 or 12 ferrous, combined with a 44, 45, 46 or 47 on the conductive side. A silver dollar will register a 46 on the X705 and will and jump up to a 01 / 41-45 on the E-TRAC. One might think that, if you are confident that most US coins will read around the 12 ferrous number, with the exception of the US silver dollar, what is the point in knowing the ferrous value? And that answer is...... Lots of junk targets might provide the same conductive number as a coin. But the ferrous number can sometimes help make that decision as to whether you want to dig or not. So while I don't believe the E-TRAC will find more coins than the X-705, the ferrous properties can sometimes help you dig less trash.
And as far as gold jewelry is concerned, since each piece might vary due to size and purity, all bets are off. Again, if you follow the baseline of 12 ferrous being the "good stuff", you will likely dig less trash using the E-TRAC compared to the X-705. But on the other hand, there have been a lot of posts made about good stuff being found with E-TRAC ferrous numbers all the way from 01 to 27. So don't assume that following that baseline of 12 is always in your best interest.
In my opinion, there is one main reason that E-TRAC users are able to find stuff that many other detectorists have missed. And that is because of their sweep speed. We all hear that the FBS units require a slow sweep speed. Therefore, when we turn one on, we hunt slow. Besides that, when you drop $1500 on a detector, you feel the need to prove to yourself it is worth the investment! On the other hand, not much is discussed about the sweep speed of the X-TERRA. I have commented that I can cover more ground with the 705 in any given period of time, compared to the E-TRAC. But part of that is due to the quick response of the 705, as well as a faster sweep. Actually, what I should say is that it has a very forgiving sweep speed. Since it is a motion detector, you have to keep the coil moving to detect targets. But those who have become complacent with their X-TERRA might be surprised how much they would find if they just slowed down their sweep and became more methodical about their approach to a target.
I go back to what you said about your E-TRAC......you said it is very easy to learn but thought it is like killing deer with a cannon. So you know how to use it, but think it is an overkill? Frankly, if you already know how to use it, and you already own it, don't think of it as an overkill. Think of it as a detector that will allow you to rehunt areas where most other detectorists have given up. Places where they left much the deep - good stuff behind. You could likely do that with an X-705 as well. But you already own the E-TRAC and know how to use it. So if economics is not the driving force behind your initial post, I'd say keep the one you are familiar with and find more time to hunt those sites that others have given up on. If you do decide to sell or trade the E-TRAC, don't hesitate to consider the 705. It is an excellent detector. JMHO HH Randy
