Which manufacturer is the leader in metal detector technology today?

[lovepulltabs]

I would like some unsolicited opinions here on this subject. If you would be so kind as to explain your thoughts or reasoning for your opinions. Also who do you think has made the most improvement in their technology over the past 10 years and who has lagged behind? I know there will be a lot of loyal users of certain brands here that will post and that's great, just give your reasoning without being biased toward a certain brand just because you have a lot of hard earned money invested in the machine, most know what I mean here. The members here that have used different brands of detectors over the past 10 years and still own different brands and regularly used and still use them or have upgraded or tried the "new improved model" may have the best insight here, I don't know. Also please do not try to compare a high tech, high cost detector from one brand to a low cost or entry level machine of another brand. Just an overall opinion of who's been doing the best job out there for us, their customers!

 

[GRAY GHOST]

n/t

 

[rifleman]

I would have to say Minelab is the leader. It will be interesting to see how the Whites PI units work next to the Minelab PI units. Minelab also has a Real winner with the X-Terra 70, it is causing quite a sensation with those who know and use detectors. The SE continues to be as good or better than the best from other manufactures. The detector that is well known to it's user will still beat the best detector in the hands of a person who does not know how to use it. There are several great brands out there and if you have confidence in your ability and machine, then it just may be the best one for you.
As to the company that seems to be lagging, I would say it it Garrett. Doesn't seem to be much new except for packaging from them.

Good hunting, John K

 

[lovepulltabs]

Unbelievable! It's a free country and you can voice your opinion. One person did, rifleman and I thank you for your insight sir.

 

[rifleman]

There are quite a few great detectors on the market today. I'm hearing the Fisher F75 is a pretty good machine for depth also. I'm waiting for the comparisons between the new Whites PI machine and the Minelab 4500. One thing is for sure, the better they get, the more hunted out areas become viable again. So many detectors, so little money:veryangry:

Good hunting, John K

 

[EZrider]

It really comes down to features, alot of the top end machines out today and getting depths of 8in+ on coins. Target separation, speed, function all play a part.

 

[UK Brian]

Most manufacturers haven't moved an inch in the time span you mention.

Minelab continues to tweak up their old design without sorting the painfully slow recovery speed of their multifrequency machines. Pity you don't ask about weight/balance their other big failing. Their Pulse machines remain as patched remodels of the old 2000 with one step forward, one back.

Whites haven't done much either. No improvement on the many drawbacks of the DFX that should have been replaced by now. The Surfmaster has gone back in technology in the last few years. The new P.I. is more Pulse Technology GS5 than anything else so again a development out of an old design.

C-Scope continue to re invent their old designs and not always for the better.

Fisher had a burst of new machines with some good features near the end but are effectively gone being more Bounty Hunter then Fisher.

XP has dropped the ball recently but took a huge share of the European market in a very short time with features such as multi-tone discrimination in all metal, Wireless headphones with the transmitter built into the circuit board, upgrade by swapping a (low cost) chip out, 50 hours + running time, optional on board charging and super fast recovery speed combined with extreme sensitivity to small items.

So the winner is.....Pulse Power Technology. Battery life has been improved dramatically, sensitivity improved, balanced sensitivity to all metals improved. Coil design improved. Addition of SAT control for better handling of severe ground conditions and helps in target I.D. Ability to use both mono and double D coils and with some models even use Minelab coils. Considerable increases in in-ground depth, which is where it counts and a massive step forward in I.D.'ing ability.

This could all change if the Pulse Devil does as well as hoped in the tests in Australia but again its pulse thats advanced, not VLF or multifrequency.

 

[GRAY GHOST]

hello all, i must agree with ukbrian, it looks like pi units are on the way up. it's new tech, and as yet still fuzzy, but it holds great promise. but i also must agree with the other fellas too... minelab does make a good machine. and so does white's...and fisher... it goes on and on. i feel as though lovepulltabs has asked the hardest to answer question i've heard in a while. and i just don't have a good answer. theyr'e all good to me. hh,