Generally they were quite favorable. I have been enjoying this great sport for quite some time and when the White's Prizm 6T came out several years ago I picked one up to add to my arsenal of detectors. At that time it included the White's XLT, and XL Pro, an M6 and MXT [size=small](original)[/size], a modified IDX Pro and a Tesoro Bandido II µMAX. I lived in a larger size populated metro area and had a lot of frequent-use schools and playgrounds to search.
My main preference is to find urban renovation projects in older sites because I like to find older US coins and Trade Tokens, but I also enjoy going after the modern 'flash money' and jewelry, so whenever I have the opportunity I like to get away from urban society and head out to more isolated rural and out-of-the-way places, such as homesteads, stages stops, old encampments, ghost towns, etc.
Through the years my desired to find old stuff and enjoy the hobby more has improved and increased, but my physical health has taken the opposite route. So, to try and make the pain ease up while I have fun, I found myself looking for a handier and maybe lighter and better balanced detector. I didn't care for the delayed response and preset Ground Balance of the rest of the Prizm series, but along came the Prizm 6T and I just had to check it out.
It was okay in more open areas but I didn't have a smaller coil available for I at first as only the 950 and 9" spider [size=small](measures about 9¼" across)[/size] were available, and I used the 9" Spider Concentric coil the most. I found that I got decent depth of detection when coin hunting open grassy areas, but the circuitry design made the detector quite responsive off from the side of the coil when hunting closer to metal fences and metal structures in the playgrounds. I could reduce the Sensitivity and that helped, but I really wanted a smaller coil.
Later they were making a 4X6 Prizm Shooter Double-D coil and I worked with a prototype on my Prizm 6T and found that to provide much better performance in trashier areas and when working closer to metal structures. However, the suggested retail of the Prizm 6T was $699.95 and that was the same as the M6 which I already owned, and the M6 had more search coil assortment and ... for the dollar ... I preferred my M6 and ended up selling my Prizm 6T. I also would suggest the M6 to the Prizm 6T when curious people shopping for a detecting in that price bracket asked my thoughts.
But $699.95 is still out of the price range of many consumers who are looking to get into the hobby and are most likely going to me more like the 'average' or 'typical' Coin Hunter and only get out on occasion and hunt grassy parks and schools, so they shop for a lower-cost detector. Then along comes the Coinmaster GT and a lot of things about it just made sense to me and I immediately got one to check it out. The Coinmaster GT IS a Prizm 6T in different clothing and rod system. Instead of being black plastic housing it is in the more attractive burgundy color. And in stead of having the 3-piece rod system, in order to control the budget on this 'new' model they went to a simpler 2-rod design. Otherwise, the Coin GT IS a Prizm 6T with one very big difference .... Price!
The Coin GT has a suggested retail of only $399.95 and that's $300 below the listed price for the 6T. So, if you are on a shopping budget and it is pretty tight and you're stuck at that $400 or less price range, give the Coin GT some consideration. For general Coin Hunting, it isn't a bad choice. It is simple, has ample features for the dollar investment, and it will serve you well and they are very reliable.
Now, for the negative things as far as I am concerned. You're mainly limited to the stock 9" spider Concentric coil or the 4X6 DD Prizm search coils. Also, while they work 'OK' for some day-to-day Coin Hunting, they do not provide quite the performance level I like to have for the types of trashier sites I usually search, and since I already have models that give me the performance I need in my personal arsenal, I parted with my Coin GT. There is no 'perfect' detector out there so we have to pick what works for us and our site selections and goals.
So, if you're on a more limited budget, the Coin GT isn't bad. I like the configuration a lot as it is very comfortable.
Now, if you can flex your buying dollars a little, then my suggestion would be to check out the White's M6. It is on the same rod configuration as the Prizm 6T with 3-rods and rod-locks, and the plastic housing color is a soft gray that I also find pleasing. Suggested retail is $599.95, and the MX5 is based on the MXT platform and provides in-the-field performance closer to the MXT's and M6, PLUS it shares all of the same Eclipse search coils. If you like the 4X6 DD Prizm coil, you can get a 4X6 Eclipse DD coil, but for me one option is better ....
I like the stock 9" spider Concentric coil, and have it at-the-ready for hunting more open areas. Since I usually hunt trashier place or brushier or with building rubble, I prefer the 6½" diameter Concentric coil [size=small](the 5.3 Eclipse)[/size] and that leaves me with an attractive and well-balanced detector and a search coil that I use a good 90+% of the time, and the retail price is very competitive for the performance and features it provides.
So, just review your shopping budget, and try to visit a local White's Dealer and check them out so you can make a purchase you'll enjoy.
Monte
