i am a dfx user and usually post on the whites forum .i noticed a lot of talk about dfx depth and ability to identify deep targets. minelab detectors keep being mentioned in these post. i was wondering how many of minelab users switched from whites and what your thoughts are on this.
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switch from whites DFX to minelab explorer
- Thread starter diggeroof
- Start date
I still use a dfx and have for 5 yrs now, but my brother has a minelab explorer so i guess i can help you a little bit. Both machines are great machines, It all depends on how you learn the machine i would say, I can go along with my brother and get coins just as deep as him though. I think most of it has to do with the hunter swinging the coil.
One thing i know is better on the minelab is with the dfx on deep iron (7-8 inch range) sometimes you'll get a high pitch tone like silver dime or quarter, and it turns out to be a nail. I don't know why this happens but it does. Minelab has a great iron mask feature which helps alot with this.
Minelabs are heavier with the stock coil, so prepare your arm for that, However there are lighter coils that can make it just as light as the dfx. Personally, i feel the minelab is a better machine because of all the frequencies being used at once. It's a little tougher to master the ferrous and whatnot but when u master it it's deadly. It's always better to have the extra frequencies helping you in ANY situation. But like i said, i think alot of what you find depends on location and the hunter involved. I still outhunt my brother with my dfx alot of times. Most of it has to do with luck of where u swing ur coil. But i think Minelab has a advantage on the on edge coins cause u got those extra frequencies helping. So in closing, i would say go with ur gut and pick which u want.
One thing i know is better on the minelab is with the dfx on deep iron (7-8 inch range) sometimes you'll get a high pitch tone like silver dime or quarter, and it turns out to be a nail. I don't know why this happens but it does. Minelab has a great iron mask feature which helps alot with this.
Minelabs are heavier with the stock coil, so prepare your arm for that, However there are lighter coils that can make it just as light as the dfx. Personally, i feel the minelab is a better machine because of all the frequencies being used at once. It's a little tougher to master the ferrous and whatnot but when u master it it's deadly. It's always better to have the extra frequencies helping you in ANY situation. But like i said, i think alot of what you find depends on location and the hunter involved. I still outhunt my brother with my dfx alot of times. Most of it has to do with luck of where u swing ur coil. But i think Minelab has a advantage on the on edge coins cause u got those extra frequencies helping. So in closing, i would say go with ur gut and pick which u want.
I bought a DFX when they first came out. Within a few weeks I bought the XS. At first, I much preferred the DFX. It was lighter. I knew how to find things with it. It was easier to pinpoint. I liked it's build quality. The shaft slid out of the Explorer. It had a head start (with me) over the XS. I even put the XS up for sale for a short time.
But there was something about the XS that I liked. To be honest, I wasn't finding more with it. To this day my best coin find is with the DFX. Another thing I was noticing on both sides of the debate at the time, was that although some arguments were valid, most were exaggerated.
The weight thing is one. The XS is heavier and is not balanced as well as the DFX. While this is true that the DFX is lighter and better balanced, I found that I could still swing the XS pretty much all day.
Depth is another. While the XS does get better depth than the DFX, it didn't overwhelm the DFX. Most of the time, it was minimal to nil. I have to qualify that with the disclaimer that the dirt here kills the depth on pretty much all detectors. So in some areas the depth difference may be greater.
At any rate, the hype of both detectors from both camps while for the most part truthful, didn't really factor in to what the detectors performed like for me.
Now 5 or 6 years later, I can say that over time the XS won out for most of my detecting time.
Sadly, I now feel that although I like the DFX, that it will probably go down as perhaps a small disappointment for Whites. I say that now, not because of Explorers, but because the MXT, and the XLT in it's time, out performed the DFX dollar for dollar. I' not saying the DFX was a disappointment for sales, but for competing in performance.
Why did the XS win out with me? I think it just matched up better with where I was at with my experience and skill set. Also another reason is the Findmall forum for the Explorer. I was always going on to see all the great find others had made and shared their settings, etc.
I don't think it should ever be underestimated how much these forums help those that are getting started with detecting, or learning a new machine. For me, the Explorer forum was the best there was, and still is.
When it came down to finding things I felt like the XS was my best choice. Of course many of the things I found the DFX would also have found. I never stopped trying other detectors. I have or have had the CZ3D, Nautilus IIBa, XLT, Excalibur, and others. I always fell back to the XS.
Until now...
For the first time in 5 years, I'm now using a different detector more than my Explorer (now an SE). I love the new F75 for the hunting I do in my area. I tried it last week on the dry sand beach of Florida and I think I prefer the SE still in that environment. But here in East Tennessee the F75 is performing well in the iron and is getting great depth for our mineralized soil. It is the lightest and best balanced detector I have used including the DFX. It has a very deep all metal mode and will ID in that mode. It is very fast and it reports on every target.
As a result, it can be chattery over time. After a few hours, your ears go into overload and I switch back to the SE. But, to me this is the closest thing I have used to challenge the SE to date. I wouldn't be without my SE however.
On the other hand, I'm pretty much ready to put my DFX up for sale anticipating the release of the new White's top of the line detector.
I said all of that to say this. The DFX is a great detector that will make great finds. It may have been the wrong detector for it's time in terms of being competitive with other top of the line machines. Although, it might have done well in terms of sales, it might have hurt Whites a little down the road. The sad part of that is that the DFX is still a great detector and is right there with the best units around. Somehow it did not have that intangible something that some detectors have that make them a classic like the Explorers now enjoy.
In view of the new F75, and the continued success of Minelab, the next release for Whites better be a major performer for them to maintain the respect that they have built up in the hobby. I hope they prevail in being the competitor they have been in the past. This hobby needs for Whites to succeed as well as the others who struggle with this very tight market. The competition has been very good for all of us.
But, no matter what is released, I think the DFX era is nearing start of something new. I'm looking forward to trying out it's replacement. I would be more focused on that than the DFX.
In any event, the Explorer will still be a good choice, and will be until Minelab (or anyone else) can come up with some way to improve it. Yeah - I know it could use an improved screen and all, but I'm talking about performance in making finds.
Good luck with whatever you decide to use.
HH Alton
But there was something about the XS that I liked. To be honest, I wasn't finding more with it. To this day my best coin find is with the DFX. Another thing I was noticing on both sides of the debate at the time, was that although some arguments were valid, most were exaggerated.
The weight thing is one. The XS is heavier and is not balanced as well as the DFX. While this is true that the DFX is lighter and better balanced, I found that I could still swing the XS pretty much all day.
Depth is another. While the XS does get better depth than the DFX, it didn't overwhelm the DFX. Most of the time, it was minimal to nil. I have to qualify that with the disclaimer that the dirt here kills the depth on pretty much all detectors. So in some areas the depth difference may be greater.
At any rate, the hype of both detectors from both camps while for the most part truthful, didn't really factor in to what the detectors performed like for me.
Now 5 or 6 years later, I can say that over time the XS won out for most of my detecting time.
Sadly, I now feel that although I like the DFX, that it will probably go down as perhaps a small disappointment for Whites. I say that now, not because of Explorers, but because the MXT, and the XLT in it's time, out performed the DFX dollar for dollar. I' not saying the DFX was a disappointment for sales, but for competing in performance.
Why did the XS win out with me? I think it just matched up better with where I was at with my experience and skill set. Also another reason is the Findmall forum for the Explorer. I was always going on to see all the great find others had made and shared their settings, etc.
I don't think it should ever be underestimated how much these forums help those that are getting started with detecting, or learning a new machine. For me, the Explorer forum was the best there was, and still is.
When it came down to finding things I felt like the XS was my best choice. Of course many of the things I found the DFX would also have found. I never stopped trying other detectors. I have or have had the CZ3D, Nautilus IIBa, XLT, Excalibur, and others. I always fell back to the XS.
Until now...
For the first time in 5 years, I'm now using a different detector more than my Explorer (now an SE). I love the new F75 for the hunting I do in my area. I tried it last week on the dry sand beach of Florida and I think I prefer the SE still in that environment. But here in East Tennessee the F75 is performing well in the iron and is getting great depth for our mineralized soil. It is the lightest and best balanced detector I have used including the DFX. It has a very deep all metal mode and will ID in that mode. It is very fast and it reports on every target.
As a result, it can be chattery over time. After a few hours, your ears go into overload and I switch back to the SE. But, to me this is the closest thing I have used to challenge the SE to date. I wouldn't be without my SE however.
On the other hand, I'm pretty much ready to put my DFX up for sale anticipating the release of the new White's top of the line detector.
I said all of that to say this. The DFX is a great detector that will make great finds. It may have been the wrong detector for it's time in terms of being competitive with other top of the line machines. Although, it might have done well in terms of sales, it might have hurt Whites a little down the road. The sad part of that is that the DFX is still a great detector and is right there with the best units around. Somehow it did not have that intangible something that some detectors have that make them a classic like the Explorers now enjoy.
In view of the new F75, and the continued success of Minelab, the next release for Whites better be a major performer for them to maintain the respect that they have built up in the hobby. I hope they prevail in being the competitor they have been in the past. This hobby needs for Whites to succeed as well as the others who struggle with this very tight market. The competition has been very good for all of us.
But, no matter what is released, I think the DFX era is nearing start of something new. I'm looking forward to trying out it's replacement. I would be more focused on that than the DFX.
In any event, the Explorer will still be a good choice, and will be until Minelab (or anyone else) can come up with some way to improve it. Yeah - I know it could use an improved screen and all, but I'm talking about performance in making finds.
Good luck with whatever you decide to use.
HH Alton
Tony N (Michigan)
Active member
I have made great finds with both.
I still have a hard time selling my DFX even though I've had the Explorer much longer.
I trust my Explorer for depth and my DFX for finding stuff in trash.
I still have a hard time selling my DFX even though I've had the Explorer much longer.
I trust my Explorer for depth and my DFX for finding stuff in trash.
Charles (Upstate NY)
Well-known member
I was the first in our area (Upstate NY) to buy an Explorer. Ed, Butch, and Dave Z continued to use their DFX's for the first couple of years. The DFX has its place and there are things I like about the machine but when it comes to which machine is deeper and which machine is more accurate at those deeper depths...in our soil with our rusty iron the Explorer kicked the DFX around like a mangy dog.
Dave Z was the best with his machine in the DFX camp. We marked and swept each others signals quite a number of times, on the deeper stuff the DFX ID'd the coins as iron where they were clearly coins on the Explorer. On one test the DFX said silver, I think Dave said it was the best silver signal he had gotten in a long while. My Explorer said it was lead...target was lead.
Ed and Butch can provide the best comparison as long time whites users who switched to the Explorer then watched their finds go up considerably. Ask Ed about the large cent and the silver quarter he swept with his DFX that ID'd as iron, I think that was the day he decided to buy an Explorer.
I'm not dissing the DFX, for example I wonder how it works in freshly plowed fields versus the Explorer which does not like disturbed soil. Also for more shallow targets I'd take the DFX's ID and pinpointing over the Explorer. The DFX is certainly more comfortable to swing than the bucket of bricks heavy Explorer.
Charles
Dave Z was the best with his machine in the DFX camp. We marked and swept each others signals quite a number of times, on the deeper stuff the DFX ID'd the coins as iron where they were clearly coins on the Explorer. On one test the DFX said silver, I think Dave said it was the best silver signal he had gotten in a long while. My Explorer said it was lead...target was lead.
Ed and Butch can provide the best comparison as long time whites users who switched to the Explorer then watched their finds go up considerably. Ask Ed about the large cent and the silver quarter he swept with his DFX that ID'd as iron, I think that was the day he decided to buy an Explorer.
I'm not dissing the DFX, for example I wonder how it works in freshly plowed fields versus the Explorer which does not like disturbed soil. Also for more shallow targets I'd take the DFX's ID and pinpointing over the Explorer. The DFX is certainly more comfortable to swing than the bucket of bricks heavy Explorer.
Charles
Mike Bearden
Member
n/t
Relic$Hunter
New member
I started out with the DFX about 4 years ago,since then have tried several detectors for depth.
Where I hunt In Port Hudson it requires 10-11 inches depth to find most bullets and buttons. In saying that me and one of my best friend hunt together there a good bit and with the DFX right next to him I was finding a third of the relics he was with a explorer 2.
Several targets he had strong signals on my DFX would not even pick up. Believe me I tried reseting the sensitivity and custom settings but could never get the readings he was. Even tried bigger coil no consistent results.
Don't get me wrong I loved the DFX and would put it up against any other machine! But the Explorer 2 is like a vacuum cleaner when it comes to deep relics....
I will never forget my first Pelican button the DFX did give me that but only 4 inches deep.
Coin shooting the DFX would tell me and show me what I was digging before I put the shovel down;-}
The Explorer is my choice a depth killer with a big learning curve that is worth the time and effort.
Not sure about the SE but I will be getting one soon and giving it a whirl.
Where I hunt In Port Hudson it requires 10-11 inches depth to find most bullets and buttons. In saying that me and one of my best friend hunt together there a good bit and with the DFX right next to him I was finding a third of the relics he was with a explorer 2.
Several targets he had strong signals on my DFX would not even pick up. Believe me I tried reseting the sensitivity and custom settings but could never get the readings he was. Even tried bigger coil no consistent results.
Don't get me wrong I loved the DFX and would put it up against any other machine! But the Explorer 2 is like a vacuum cleaner when it comes to deep relics....
I will never forget my first Pelican button the DFX did give me that but only 4 inches deep.
Coin shooting the DFX would tell me and show me what I was digging before I put the shovel down;-}
The Explorer is my choice a depth killer with a big learning curve that is worth the time and effort.
Not sure about the SE but I will be getting one soon and giving it a whirl.