for Troy Custom Detectors. Do you currently own and use a Tesoro, or have you in the past? If so, it's possible you have worked with the 'sibling' from which the Shadow X2 was derived.
V3i/MXT Pro said:
I have been looking for a Troy Shadow X2 to try...
Just to 'try?' Curious to know why, unless you're not very familiar with Tesoro circuitry design and performance.
V3i/MXT Pro said:
Does anyone know how it compares to the Silver Sabre µMax?
Yes, and it was made by modifying the Silver Sabre µMAX [size=small](pronounced [size=x-small]
micro[/size]
MAX)[/size], which means it is a "turn-in-and-go" or preset Ground Balance model. Like the Silver Sabre [size=small]micro[/size]MAX, the Shadow X2 features a Sensitivity Control [size=small](for the Discriminate mode)[/size] and a variable Discriminate level control.
Feature and function wise, the in-the-field performance is essentially the same as the Silver Sabre [size=small]micro[/size]MAX with the following control exceptions:
• They removed the external variable Threshold control from the face of the Silver Sabre µMAX and relocated that Threshold adjustment to a trimmer inside the control housing. Most that I handled and adjusted had the Threshold trimmer located on the back-side of the Control faceplate. That adjustment is handy for setting a 'proper' Threshold audio hum for the momentary Pinpoint function.
• The Pinpoint pushbutton was moved from the left side to the right.
• On the left side, where the Pinpoint button was, they have a pushbutton called "Coin Check." This function is controlled by another long, rectangular-shaped trimmer, also usually glued to the back of the control faceplate, and comes adjusted to the stock coil to reject the modern US Zinc Cent.
• Shadow X2's were shipped with a small 'Lady' decal that the owner could apply to their detector, if so desired. The Shadow X2's kind of operated at one of two close frequencies, and you could own a pair operating at different frequencies, and the Gal could apply here 'Lady' decal to identify her unit, regardless of the operating frequency.
• The basic Shadow X2 came equipped with a thin-profile 7" coil that was called the "Super 7 Inch" and it was a Concentric design and much thinner than Tesoro's own labeled thicker 7" coils. There was a "Super 9 Inch" coil that could be an accessory or the Shadow X2 could be ordered with it.
Other than that, it was simply a modified Silver Sabre [size=small]micro[/size]MAX,
which I personally preferred before the X2's release, and while the X2 worked 'OK' most of the time,
I soon learned I preferred the Silver Sabre µMAX.
V3i/MXT Pro said:
Is the Coin Check button on the X2 the same concept as thumbing the discriminator knob?
It is the same 'concept' as having a pre-determined mark on your Discriminate level display where you could adjust to just slightly reject a modern US Zinc Cent. However, neither use of a "Coin Check" button or advancing the Discrimination level is something I personally like to do for several reasons, such as:
1..
Time consumption. If a target, any conductivity level target, produces a digable response, it is much quicker to isolate the object [size=small](aka Pinpoint)[/size], and recover the target and get back to metal detecting, than it is to tinker with the Discriminate setting to try and best-guess what we can't see.
2..
Loss of Mimicking-Conductivity targets, and Lesser-Conductivity, targets. To me, a coin-is-a-coin and when I am out Coin Hunting, I'll gladly take all I can find. I spend most of my time seeking older-use sites to hunt, but there are still many urban locations that we consider as "modern," but they still may have had some past activity or be old enough to hold some more dated keepers.
Knock out the US Zinc Cent and you'll also be rejecting most Indian Head cents, many early Wheat-Back cents from 1909 to about 1920, Seated Liberty Half-Dimes, Flying Eagle and other 'fatty' Indian Head cents, and naturally the US 5¢ coins, the 3¢ coins, many Trade-Tokens, and most gold jewelry and gold coins, too. Nope, I'm just fine recovering Zinc Cents.
V3i/MXT Pro said:
Any issues using other Tesoro 5-pin coils, as the X2 has a preset ground balance?
No real issues using any of the Tesoro 5-pin search coils, Concentric or Double-D, as it is just another Tesoro ...
but ... With most any Tesoro model, the detector needs to be Ground Balanced [size=small](aka "calibrated")[/size] with the search coil in use. With the Shadow models, if it is factory preset, you're at the mercy of which coil it was shipped with, who calibrated the internal GB trimmer, and how close any accessory coil might match up to its setting. I really enjoy my Silver Sabre [size=small]micro[/size]MAX, but I made sure I used both the stock 8" coil it came with and the 6" Concentric coil I keep mounted to it full-time, when I tweaked the internal GB trimmer to make sure they both worked satisfactorily in very low mineral to very high mineral ground, regardless of where the Discriminate control is set.
Note: The Bandido II µMAX and Silver Sabre µMAX and Shadow X2 will experience a small shift in the Ground Balance setting if the Discriminate level in changed between the minimum and maximum Disc. settings. If the GB is set too positive, you might not get a response from a big US Silver Dollar or even a Half-Dollar, and in some cases possible a Quarter! No problem with my Bandido II µMAX, or my Bandido II or Eldorado, as they have external manual GB and I can quickly adjust the GB as needed for any site I hunt, and coil I have mounted and never have a worry.
This design quirk is not as radical as found in the Sidewinder µMAX and that's why I won't own one of those models. It is something to be alerted to, however.
V3i/MXT Pro said:
Any information on the X2 would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Tom (PA)
That's about all I can share with you. The Shadow X2 is nothing more than a somewhat modified Silver Sabre µMAX, shares the same search coils, provides similar performance, and it is just important to make sure the GB setting is functional for all coils used and all settings in all types of ground you generally search.
Monte
my mate looks at me like I am from another planet when I pull out a Tesoro its like what century are you living in 
but cant see him going to a Tesoro but you never know hey.
