Hi Everyone I just registered to this great website and am in need of a little input. I have been detecting for about 26 yrs and want to buy a new detector but am unsure of what to buy. My first metal detector was a whites coinmaster 5000 d that i still have and use often, what a great little detector. And I also have a Garrett GTA 1000 that I dont use much because I cant dial it in like my Whites for coins. I want to get either a XL Pro if I can find one or buy a new DFX 300. I hunt mainly around old home sites and beaches once and a while. I want another detector so my wife and daughter can go too. The last 5 years I havent detected much but plan on going every chance I can now. How much better of a detector is the DFX than the XL? All input will be greatly appreciated. Thanks Ron from Michigan.
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What to Buy DFX 300 or XL PRO
- Thread starter Ron M
- Start date
I have a used XL pro for a reasonable price let me know if your interested. I just got an X-Terra-70 and have to get rid at least one of my two other detectors a brand new Garrett ace 250 or my used but just serviced XL pro with an additional $ 250.00 Bigfoot coil. Email me if your interested grantvegas247@yahoo.com I can send picks of either unit. Grant 360-640-0922
clondike clad
Member
Now you are talking about 2 great detectors
I feed the XL PRO for coin is a killer of a detector( quick to set up and a deep coin finder)
The DFX is also a deep hunter but have a longer learning curve( it can be custom for almost any ground)
The DFX and XL PRO would make a killer team.
I hope you can buy a XL PRO and a DFX you would cover over 95% of detecting.
Hope this helps
Now if I only can buy one detector it would be the XL PRO.
I feed the XL PRO for coin is a killer of a detector( quick to set up and a deep coin finder)
The DFX is also a deep hunter but have a longer learning curve( it can be custom for almost any ground)
The DFX and XL PRO would make a killer team.
I hope you can buy a XL PRO and a DFX you would cover over 95% of detecting.
Hope this helps
Now if I only can buy one detector it would be the XL PRO.
Thanks for the input clondike. I have been calling for almost 2 weeks to every detector shop I can find looking for a leftover or used XL pro but cant find one. I just sent Grant a message hopefully he will call or email me later. If I cant find one I think ill buy a new DFX real soon I want to get the family out hunting.
Ron,
I have both detectors and like them both.
The DFX will do better at the beach due to the 2 frequencies. I took both to the beach here in NJ and the DFX worked better in the wet sand. The DFX is NOT hard to set up to start using. If you are going to hunt the older home sites for coins, get the 5.3 coil.
This weekend, I lent my brother my DFX with the 5.3 coil...I used my XL Pro with the 4x6 DD shooter. I had my brother set up with the Coin/Jewelry program with only 1 modification...pre amp gain to 3. We hunted an old fair ground site.
I found 1 wheat penny and a few clad coins.
He found 4 wheat pennies, a 1880 IH, a 1944 Merc dime and a 1912 silver Canadian dime. He hit the right spots...I didn't. We hunted about an hour before the rain came down. He has used my DFX several times, mostly on the beach with some programs I have stored. This was the first land hunt with the DFX in a while, so the pre-set program with pre-amp to 3 seemed the easiest to use. Worked well for him. The first time out with the Super 12 coil on the DFX at the beach, my brother got a nice 10K ring with diamonds and garnets. Needless to say, the DFX is his pal and he will not use any other unit I have...and I have several different ones.
Either detector is great...the DFX IS easy to set up...it's when you start teaking it to try to get the most out of it that you have to learn it's nuances. The XL Pro has less tweaking to it to get max depth. Plus it has several great modes including an easy to use all metal with ID. The XL Pro meter is dead on, but the DFX Signagraph is no slouch either.
To me, you cannot go wrong with either, but the XL Pro is simpler...problem is they are hard to find.
Good luck on whatever you purchase.
JC
I have both detectors and like them both.
The DFX will do better at the beach due to the 2 frequencies. I took both to the beach here in NJ and the DFX worked better in the wet sand. The DFX is NOT hard to set up to start using. If you are going to hunt the older home sites for coins, get the 5.3 coil.
This weekend, I lent my brother my DFX with the 5.3 coil...I used my XL Pro with the 4x6 DD shooter. I had my brother set up with the Coin/Jewelry program with only 1 modification...pre amp gain to 3. We hunted an old fair ground site.
I found 1 wheat penny and a few clad coins.
He found 4 wheat pennies, a 1880 IH, a 1944 Merc dime and a 1912 silver Canadian dime. He hit the right spots...I didn't. We hunted about an hour before the rain came down. He has used my DFX several times, mostly on the beach with some programs I have stored. This was the first land hunt with the DFX in a while, so the pre-set program with pre-amp to 3 seemed the easiest to use. Worked well for him. The first time out with the Super 12 coil on the DFX at the beach, my brother got a nice 10K ring with diamonds and garnets. Needless to say, the DFX is his pal and he will not use any other unit I have...and I have several different ones.
Either detector is great...the DFX IS easy to set up...it's when you start teaking it to try to get the most out of it that you have to learn it's nuances. The XL Pro has less tweaking to it to get max depth. Plus it has several great modes including an easy to use all metal with ID. The XL Pro meter is dead on, but the DFX Signagraph is no slouch either.
To me, you cannot go wrong with either, but the XL Pro is simpler...problem is they are hard to find.
Good luck on whatever you purchase.
JC
Thanks JC its looks like im going to go get a new DFX i cant find an XL Pro anywhere. Im sure it will be a great detector once i learn it. I do live by a lot of lakes so that will be a plus too. Does the 5.3 coil work the best for coin hunting around old home sites? If it does ill order that at the same time. Im starting to get excited about trying this detector out. Thanks Ron
Ron,
I am not sure but I think the DFX 300 comes with a large coil ( even larger than the 9.5 the original came with. I think this coil is 12 inches...like the Super 12).
I have a Super 12 for my DFX and use it on the beach or large fields to cover lots of area. When you get into areas where there is more trash, or you need better separation of targets, the 5.3 works great. I am not sure how mineralized your soil is, but the DFX can be set up to handle most any condition soil, and with a DD coil too, it works great.
For now, I would say definitely get the smaller coil too. You should be all set for some time. Learn the machine, and my advice is if you are going to start tweaking, only tweak one or two adjustments at first. Don't try changing a lot of the options at first since you will not know which ones are giving you the best performance because you can't isolate them.
Also...ask questions. The guys n gals on the forum are great and love to help out fellow hunters.
JC
I am not sure but I think the DFX 300 comes with a large coil ( even larger than the 9.5 the original came with. I think this coil is 12 inches...like the Super 12).
I have a Super 12 for my DFX and use it on the beach or large fields to cover lots of area. When you get into areas where there is more trash, or you need better separation of targets, the 5.3 works great. I am not sure how mineralized your soil is, but the DFX can be set up to handle most any condition soil, and with a DD coil too, it works great.
For now, I would say definitely get the smaller coil too. You should be all set for some time. Learn the machine, and my advice is if you are going to start tweaking, only tweak one or two adjustments at first. Don't try changing a lot of the options at first since you will not know which ones are giving you the best performance because you can't isolate them.
Also...ask questions. The guys n gals on the forum are great and love to help out fellow hunters.
JC
Ron,
Me personally, I bought the Super 12 for the beach only...I have not tried it on land. I have the 9.5, 6x10 DD and 5.3 concentric for land.
In all reality, I would get the 9.5 and 5.3 if you will be hunting on land 80-90% of the time and at homesites. If you will be going to the beach, or hitting farm fields, then the 12 inch may be a good bet. It is a little heavier too.
I hope others chime in if they use the 12 inch on land. I do know it pin points well and is sensitive to smaller targets based on my use at the beach, but when I hit some trashier pockets on the beach, the DFX did get a little unstable.
Me personally, I bought the Super 12 for the beach only...I have not tried it on land. I have the 9.5, 6x10 DD and 5.3 concentric for land.
In all reality, I would get the 9.5 and 5.3 if you will be hunting on land 80-90% of the time and at homesites. If you will be going to the beach, or hitting farm fields, then the 12 inch may be a good bet. It is a little heavier too.
I hope others chime in if they use the 12 inch on land. I do know it pin points well and is sensitive to smaller targets based on my use at the beach, but when I hit some trashier pockets on the beach, the DFX did get a little unstable.
A
Anonymous
Guest
Hi Ron, Look for a Detector Pro Head Hunter Wader, It is Light weight N will go anywear , You say you Live by Lakes its Water Proof N the Detector is all in the Head phones, But dont Let that fool you it will hold its own in Deepth, Go to finds mall on Detector pro`s forum, I got a new Wader N I Love it, Iv ben hunting for 25 years started in 1986 With a blue Whites Eagle, I still hunt with Whites XL PRO N a Whites PI PRO for Water, Iv found more Rings
in the Water hip hi Wadding in 3 Months then i found on Land in a year??? No fooling!!!!!! If I dident mean it i wouldent be spinding time doing this typing???? On finds mall on the Beach N Water post im MickFin I found a Sparkler with the Wader in 4 Foot of Water and 5" in the Ground , If you try a water hunt youl be hooked!!!!! mic58
mic@rockfan.con Happy Hunting
in the Water hip hi Wadding in 3 Months then i found on Land in a year??? No fooling!!!!!! If I dident mean it i wouldent be spinding time doing this typing???? On finds mall on the Beach N Water post im MickFin I found a Sparkler with the Wader in 4 Foot of Water and 5" in the Ground , If you try a water hunt youl be hooked!!!!! mic58
mic@rockfan.con Happy Hunting