Treasure Screamer AMP/Excalibur Findings

[seahunter34]

This is what I found bench testing a Treasure Screamer AMP on both an Excalibur 1000 and Excalibur II 800 in AM mode, using a medium size 18 K gold ring and Koss headphones. The AMP really does make target responses jump out and louder. Close targets very loud! But with that said the AMP did not seem to provide any extra depth capability with either machine. At maximum Excalibur sensitivity I passed the ring towards the coil bottoms until I got a response. Then I shut the AMP off and still got a target response. If the target was out of range with the AMP off, it was also out of range with the amp on. As a matter of fact I could actually hear a target response breaking threshold a bit further with the AMP off. I tried different threshold and AMP adjustments with the same results. In discriminate mode the AMP only made responses louder. At a certain point the Excalibur threshold went into the null. That was as low as I could take it while trying to up the AMP. I even tested with machine threshold way into the null. That changed nothing.

So, unless targets in the ground respond differently with the AMP than on the bench, I see little advantage using the AMP. But if one is hard of hearing the AMP will make target responses louder. The AMP did seem to enlarge the coil field a bit. Just to repeat, when I had a beautiful steady and low adjusted/balanced AMP/threshold settings, the gold ring jumped out. But turning the AMP off, I still got a decent target response at the same distance.

So far with the Excalibur I get the best target response with my custom made MGM (Mr. GoldMaster) Peltor headphones. They are much louder than stock, so one can hear target responses better. At this point I do not see encasing the AMP in a waterproof box for Excalibur use. I was hoping the AMP wold provide a serious depth advantage. That is yet to be seen and I may try some in the field testing. If enlightened, I'll report. I briefly tried the AMP on my Explorer and as expected it just degraded the audio. But, perhaps the AMP might work wonders on a Sovereign GT in AM mode? If anyone has tried that combo, what are your findings? I could see how an AMP might bring out of hiding small gold nuggets, but I'm not so sure with a water machine and gold jewelry. If there is a secret I'm missing here, please let me know.

 

[OldBeechnut]

Thanks seahunter, first I have found it only works in AM with the excal. Never done any air test just in the wetsand only in the rushing water it goes crazy most of the time like the infinium. Amp does not work with any other detector, other then the Miinelabs Gold detectors, which is what it's made for.

As a matter of fact I could actually hear a target response breaking threshold a bit further with the AMP off.

You should hear no threshold with the amp off..threshold was to loud still

try this, turn the threshold down, as faint as you can hear it with the amp off, then with the thresholds just audible, on the edge...then turn the amp on and at half volume..threshold should increase, turn the thresold down again, then continue to step down the threshold as you are turning up the amp till full volume....it took me several months to figure it's like letting a clutch out, giving it gas.....It's the very slitest of turn of the threshold also.......................the threshold does not fall off the table...suddenly gone, it is a sudden decline like a steep mountain.......I know it works because I have done several side by sides for the past two years and many hunters cannot hear the targets I get.............On the beachs I hunt, depth will vary from beach to beach also...some will be several inch's, others will be just a few.......take it out and give her a run on the beach..it took me several months to get the settings right...and you did right...run it Hot... I have a trip this thursday if anyone wants to show...OC, MD thursday and friday..send me a PM and I'll meet you on the beach.......Got two Amps installed now....trying out my Mel parker hookup also..........Good Luck, I want ot hear more feed back from several others...I know Doc sold alotta Amp's....

 

[synthnut]

Hi Joe,
Did you ever order that amp that I showed you on Ebay ? .......Hope all is well ....Jim

 

[OldBeechnut]

Unfortunate been putting it off, but I've been watching the different kinds that are available....thinking the more they cost, the better..similar with, the bigger the coil syndrome, I guess.... Been working on several projects also, along with the daily routines. Have you had any luck with yours? I would like to get more feed back on all that have the amp's, I'm 100% sure it works, maybe not to the point of serious depth advantage...but from my 2 years of using on different beachs, the only place I had the worse results,......... the west coast of florida..........Anyway, I'll Be out thursday/friday ...I'm hoping to get some good video of shaun's amp to see how it fares on the beach. Gotta get back to work, these forums will eat up your time, quick..............