Sovereight XS versus Elite verus GT

[go-rebels]

It appears that the Sovereign XS comes available once in a while but the used GT's are tough to find online.

What are the important differences between these machines? The GT has "Iron Mask" but isn't that already in place on the XS when set at zero discrimination? If you want to relic hunt using an XS, don't you just shift to "All Metal"?

I've done a search back in time but still couldn't find a summary of differences.

Sorry for my ignorance.

 

[Rick(ND)]

The XS is the one I started with back in 1996 and used all the models since then. I use the GT now and it has some features none of the other ones have, or some features like the silent search the noise cancel and now the iron mask that can be turned on or off.
My opinion is the XS with the 8 inch coinsearch coil is one of the best ever built and a great performing detectors you will find. The original that was made before the XS had a toggle switch to turn the iron mask on or off, but most never used it and wasn't put back on the XS or any other one until the GT which I never turn off anyway. The iron mask feature is on when you are hunting area where there can be iron in with good targets as the Sovereign can see a good target in with iron more than when it is off. The bad thing is you can get some more falsing and maybe not as stable threshold. With it off you will get more nulling in area where there is more iron and not as much signals of good targets that can squeak by.
Now for performance the GT will ID deeper targets better than the XS if you really know your Sovereign, if not some may not see the difference and may find the GT to false more on iron. The GT is more sensitive and with the slimline Tornado coil will do a better job than the older Sovereigns. The GT has a toggle switch for silent search which I felt was a waste on money and space, but see where it can come in handy in the area targets are far and few, then go back to threshold once you get in a area where targets are deeper so you hear them. The GT as I said has the toggle to turn off the iron mask and on the XS it was either disc or all metal pinpoint. with the GT when you switch to all metal you have another toggle that is active only in all metal that is not active in disc and that is the track/lock/pinpoint so the GT can be used for some prospecting or if you want to run all metal and dig everything like when you are relic hunting and dig everything.
In disc the Sovereigns hate iron, but you will get some bigger iron and some iffy one that you will learn to tell the difference in with experience. The Sovereigns hate air test so this is also true when working areas where the ground has been disturbed and you wont get the great depth many are posting. The Sovereign also to get depth you have to swing the coil slower and once the Sovereign can see the target and by working the coil over only this small area back and forth a little faster will give you a better signal on that target.
The best of the Sovereigns is the GT, but I would use a XS or a XS2 and do just as well in most places plus all the Sovereigns are built like tanks (weigh it too) and have the best track record of dependability so most of the older ones are still going strong and never been repaired, that is if no one has opened up the control box and messed with the setting.

Rick