No, I didn't get another MXT. While I wish there was more like a $150 difference between the Matrix M6 and the MXT (because only $100 makes it a tough sell for some dealers to promote the M6, or consumers to decide between the two, I think), I weighed the advantages FOR ME to own a Matrix M6 and went and got a new one.
Decisions, decisions, decisions ... but here are some of the reasons I concluded the Matrix M6 would work for me (for those who might be wondering):
1.. Through the years I have always tried to make sure I have a detector with me that is easy for a landowner to use, and one that has the apparent performance and quality as what I would use. So many places have been hunted to death. The "good ol' days' are all in the past.
You can't just go pop silver and other older coins with the regularity and in the quantity that we used to. Additionally, more and more public sites have seen a pronounced increase in modern-day trash. So, I continue to seek out locations that have not been hunted heavily, or detected at all. These are usually all private property sites and while I usually have a very high success ration for gaining permission, I have found that it never hurts to invite the property owner to 'join in the fun' and offer them the use of a metal detector.
John & Jane Q. Public seem to be a bit sharper than they used to, however, and they need to be offered the use of a unit that is a quality-known name brand, and while easy-to-operate it has to show performance potential such that they feel they have an equal chance to find stuff. The Matrix M6 is an excellent choice that they can use, or that I can use. It's also one that my family and friends can enjoy using.
2.. On the plus side it IS an MXT in most terms of performance and behavior, but the main difference (aside from lacking the Prospecting and Relic modes) is that the Tuning level is set just slightly below the audible Threshold point. This eliminates a high percentage of the scratchy noise one has to contend with. Sure, and MXT just needs to be set a little lower, but I've let people use and MXT in the past with that suggestion only to find that they turned it too low .. down to minimum .. and that does affect performance.
It has the similar fast, but not too fast, Ground Balance circuitry and it handles my bad ground just fine.
3.. I am especially fond of the physical package White's used ..
.. that being the same set-up as my Classic III SL & IDX Pro. Oh, I like the stand-up grip of the XL Pro and MXT and XLT, but I prefer the easier toggle trigger access of the 'Classic-al' rod design with the forward trigger-pod.
Not only do I like the rod/toggle trigger design of this system, but I like the forward-mounted control housing for two reasons. One reason is that it gets the coil cable connector a little more in front of my side so that I don't hit the flex-point of the cable against me (I wish they wound have center-located the connector instead of off to the side), and two, it places the headphone hack more to the front. Now, this might seem a little minor to some, but often I will let my detector 'ride up front' on the seat beside be when I am doing some quick hit-and-run detecting of playgrounds and such. With the XLT or XL Pro or MXT, the bottom and back edge of the control housing rests against the seat-back and, when using headphones w/o a 90
Decisions, decisions, decisions ... but here are some of the reasons I concluded the Matrix M6 would work for me (for those who might be wondering):
1.. Through the years I have always tried to make sure I have a detector with me that is easy for a landowner to use, and one that has the apparent performance and quality as what I would use. So many places have been hunted to death. The "good ol' days' are all in the past.
You can't just go pop silver and other older coins with the regularity and in the quantity that we used to. Additionally, more and more public sites have seen a pronounced increase in modern-day trash. So, I continue to seek out locations that have not been hunted heavily, or detected at all. These are usually all private property sites and while I usually have a very high success ration for gaining permission, I have found that it never hurts to invite the property owner to 'join in the fun' and offer them the use of a metal detector.
John & Jane Q. Public seem to be a bit sharper than they used to, however, and they need to be offered the use of a unit that is a quality-known name brand, and while easy-to-operate it has to show performance potential such that they feel they have an equal chance to find stuff. The Matrix M6 is an excellent choice that they can use, or that I can use. It's also one that my family and friends can enjoy using.
2.. On the plus side it IS an MXT in most terms of performance and behavior, but the main difference (aside from lacking the Prospecting and Relic modes) is that the Tuning level is set just slightly below the audible Threshold point. This eliminates a high percentage of the scratchy noise one has to contend with. Sure, and MXT just needs to be set a little lower, but I've let people use and MXT in the past with that suggestion only to find that they turned it too low .. down to minimum .. and that does affect performance.
It has the similar fast, but not too fast, Ground Balance circuitry and it handles my bad ground just fine.
3.. I am especially fond of the physical package White's used ..
.. that being the same set-up as my Classic III SL & IDX Pro. Oh, I like the stand-up grip of the XL Pro and MXT and XLT, but I prefer the easier toggle trigger access of the 'Classic-al' rod design with the forward trigger-pod.Not only do I like the rod/toggle trigger design of this system, but I like the forward-mounted control housing for two reasons. One reason is that it gets the coil cable connector a little more in front of my side so that I don't hit the flex-point of the cable against me (I wish they wound have center-located the connector instead of off to the side), and two, it places the headphone hack more to the front. Now, this might seem a little minor to some, but often I will let my detector 'ride up front' on the seat beside be when I am doing some quick hit-and-run detecting of playgrounds and such. With the XLT or XL Pro or MXT, the bottom and back edge of the control housing rests against the seat-back and, when using headphones w/o a 90