Wich detector to buy?

[Uzziel]

I'm new to detecting and have done alot of reading the last weeks, trying to decide wich detector to buy.
I'm going use it for coins, relics, beaches and whatever i might find. It's hard to decide wich one to buy since there are so many different opinions,
so i was hoping maybe some of you guys have some tips and experiences that could help me decide?

The detectors I'm considering:

Fisher F75
Minelab Explorer SE
White's DFX

Wich one would you buy?
Excuse my bad english.
All help would be appreciated

R

 

[Joel-Winnipeg]

Welcome to the forum.
As I am a Whites detector user I would recommend the M6 or the new prizm as there learning curve is not to steep.
The DFX has a higher learning curve if your new to detecting.
I'm not familiar about the other two.
Those two Whites are not as expensive for a beginner as the top end machines.
Start slowly and upgrade if you find the hobby will be to your liking..

 

[mascard1]

SE ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BarberBill]

Joel's giving you good advice. One advantage of the M6 is it uses the same coils as the DFX so if you add the higher end model later, you have the coil compatibility.
BB

 

[1859large]

I went for an x-Terra 70 for that reason. An easy to use machine. My buddy has the Ex SE and it took him a lot longer to master it, if that is the right word. He can find stuff with it, I have seen him miss artifacts but then he is a coin shooter exclusively. I hunt all non-ferrous and some ferrous.

A search of "which detector" on this site will probably get you a lot of info and opinions.

HH

1859

 

[sumrtym]

Minelab SE (I say this as a DFX user).

1) SE depth is going to better than DFX.
2) Less interference problems in town than the F-75.
3) Decent job on relics -- not as good as F-75, but it gets knocked out because of point 2 and....
4) You need multifrequency for the saltwater beach for wet sand.

 

[Idaho-Marke]

n/t

 

[Boris]

I will have to agree with 1859large, I too own an Xterra-70 and it is a great machine. It is easy to learn and very flexible. You may at least want to read up on this one.

 

[Shambler]

Minelab SE (I say this as a DFX user).

1) SE depth is going to better than DFX.
2) Less interference problems in town than the F-75.
3) Decent job on relics -- not as good as F-75, but it gets knocked out because of point 2 and....
4) You need multifrequency for the saltwater beach for wet sand.

YEP!

If you're even considering hunting wet sand or in a metropolitan park ask some questions in the F75 forum before buying one. It's a blazing fast machine but along with that comes some issues. Also, the Fisher tones are abrasive and if in a trashy area or one with interference - it can be maddening.

All three of these detectors CAN be difficult initially and may take a lot of digging to figure out. Good luck!

Oh yeah, I love my EX2 so my vote goes to the SE.

 

[SteveP(NH)]

All anyone here can tell you is which detector would work out best for them (especially since none of them has asked you any of the questions necessary to even begin to answer your question.

One thing you should know is that buying the most expensive or feature rich detector isn't going to help you find targets easier than buying a cheap one. In fact even if you buy a $1000 detector someone who has lot of experience with a $200 Ace 250 is going to be able walk in your tracks and find good stuff you left behind. Metal Detecting is a sport that takes experience with your equipment, whatever it is, to get good at. It is also important for you to realize that the target ID meters, even on the most expensive detectors, are going to be wrong a lot so when you new detector indicates that there is a silver dollar under your coil and you dig up crushed can or a bottle cap don't be surprised.

There are several questions you need to answer in order to pick the the best detector for you - what type of detecting are you going to mostly be doing? looking for coins in parks?, hunting for relics in farm fields? prospecting for gold in the tailings piles of old mines? hunting for jewellery at beaches?

How do feel about learning new technology? When you get a new piece of electronic gear do you read thru the manual, cover to cover, before getting the device out of the box?, or get a knowledgeable friend or installer to hook it up for you?

When undertaking a new activity do you need positive feedback right away to keep at it, or can you plug away at it even if it doesn't turn out as easy as it looked at first?

Are you big and strong and in good physical shape, or do you sit behind a computer all day long? The weight of the detector is going to make a big difference to you in latter case and be less important in the former.

The answers to these questions and others are going to determine which detector would probably work best for you and it might not be an expensive one. Metal detector manufacturers design and build high end detectors for experienced detectorists, they often contain features or subtleties in their target feedback that make a difference to an experienced detectorist but that just confuse newbies. Meanwhile the entry level machines are designed with new detectorists in mind and are often more straight forward to operate and designed to provide easy to understand target feedback.

Go look at the used detectors for sale in the classified section of this website, or on Ebay - there are often ads up that say something like like "new (fill in the brand of any high end detector) only used for 20 hours over the last year, 12 months left on warranty." Most of these are cases of someone who thought spending $1000 on a detector was going to instantly turn them into the greatest detectorists in the world, then they went out and dug up 20 pulltabs and 15 zinc pennies (cause their target ID said they were gold rings and silver dimes) or they went to a club hunt and someone with a 15 year old beep and dig machine cleaned up while they got skunked even with their latest and greatest digital wonder machine and then they got discouraged and never went detecting again.

I don't know the answers to the questions above so I can't recommend any detector to you, but my guess is that none of the 3 models you named would be the best bet for you to start with. I'd recommend that you start with a more simple (and less expensive model) and use it for at least 100 hours. If you still are into detecting then you will be better informed about which high end detector would best suit your hunting style and you can keep the lower end machine as a back up or sell it and use the money towards a higher end machine.

But when this post doesn't dissuade you from dropping your dough on a SE keep me in mind - I might be thinking about upgrading my creaky 10 year old Explorer XS a year from now and I'll buy your SE for half the price you paid for it..........

 

[sqwaby]

I think StevenP pretty much covered what I was going to post . Start simple, ace 250 or maybe a silver Umax. Learn the machine then you can make a informed choice when you move up based on your experience. You'll know better what features are important to you. You can either sell the first machine, or like many people keep it as a backup, or take a friend MDing.

 

[Shambler]

All anyone here can tell you is which detector would work out best for them (especially since none of them has asked you any of the questions necessary to even begin to answer your question.

That's not true. He told us - He's new and he wants to hunt coins, relics, and beaches. That translates to an all-around detector. THEN he said he ALREADY has a list he's considering based on "a lot of reading" over weeks of time. He even numbered them. He's serious about the hobby since he's willing to drop $1000 on a detector KNOWING there are $200 detectors out there - and MANY good detectors in between (since weeks of reading would make these facts inescapable) . Why would you point him to the ever nulling, constant falsing n00b detector? Even my 11 year old quit using the 250 because the TID is a mess - he now uses an F2 with much success. Someone who's serious enough to spend this much money shouldn't be encouraged to waste $200 on an ACE250.

The F75 regardless of its incredibly light frame (to be used by the computer types that have no muscle ) is OUT because he wants to hunt beaches. The other two are heavier but by NO means too heavy for any man I've ever met.

He already stated he's done a lot of reading, but you asked him if he reads the manual....

Your post reads like an elitist slam on those that already replied to a well thought out, complete question from a new member. uke:

 

[sqwaby]

Hey Shambler, you stated "Your post reads like an elitist slam". Come on the guy asked for opinions and people responded. In fact two people recommended the M6 and others recommended the Xterra 70. I started with an ace and learned alot from it and what its short comings were, I got it because I thought its disc circuit and construction was better than the F2. Its all part of the education. My primary machine right now is a Tesoro Vaquero , I hunt plantation relics, coins and wet sand saltwater beaches(even submerge the coil) and I couldn't be happier. Maybe next year I'll get and bigger, badder, heavier, machine and sing praises about it.

 

[Shambler]

Sorry sqwaby - I inadvertantly combined your post with the one above. I think the context you presented it in was well thought out. It was the long post above yours that I took offense too. It was the "everyone's too stupid to help except him" mannerism that got me going. Much appologies. :blush:

 

[Uzziel]

Thank you guys very much for all your replies.

As I've come to learn, there's not one answer to this question and there alot of info all over the internet, but it's hard to
put it all into context and draw a conclusion from it. That is why i posted here, to see if someone could help me with their experience,
and not try to tell me that the product they sell are the best one

My reason for looking at "top of the range" models is for one, that i would not mind putting some extra money into it. The reason
for this being that I'm pretty confident that this is a hobby for me, and if it doesn't work out, it's no problem if i sell it and loose some money. I would
rather do that, than feel like I'm missing out on something after 2 months and would like to upgrade to a more expensive one.

I know i have ALOT to learn, but that's part of the fun. I've done alot of reading so far, and also been thrue the entire manual for the F75 to learn
different functions and some of the detecting lingo.

As for my background regarding different things...
I fix computers for a living and work out in my spare time, love challenges and think I'm a pretty patient guy. (This is starting to sound a bit like a personal ad...

I'm looking for an all-round detector that will produce great results in the long run, and i don't mind putting in the hours to learn, practice and hopefully make it preform
good in my hands.

Great to hear the info about the F75 and the beach, you cant read that in the manual...

Thanks again for all of you replies, I'm currently reading up on the models you have mentioned here

R

 

[Uncle Willy]

If you have never used a detector before I wouldn't start out with any you have listed. They are all professional-grade machines.These all have quite a learning curve and can lead to endless frustration for a newbie. You'd be better of starting out with an entry leval machine, learn the basics of detecting, then work your way up. Detectors aren't magic. You can't just pop one out of the box and start finding treasure. It takes many hours of practice, patience, and perseverance. Upper level detectors are complex and aren't easy to understand and operate by someone who has never used one.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

You were wise in your decision. Newbies are constantly falling for all the ad hype and buying more detector than they can handle and becoming totaly frustrated and dumping them after only a few hours of use.

Bill.

 

[Uncle Willy]

I've been in this hobby for 44 years, field testing for 15 years or so, writing about it for 25 years, and I use an Ace 250 with no problems. You have to be smarter than the detector.. The 250 is the most sold detector on the market ( and I field tested the prototype and production model) and it didn't attain that status by being a falseing piece of junk.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

You've been reading my mail. The fastest way for a newbie to become totally disillusioned with detecting is to buy a hi-end machine and discover what total frustration is all about.

Bill

 

[Shambler]

Willy is on a posting rampage....

The 250 bites regarless of your age or writing experience (??!) - and no one said it won't beep over metal. It's the most sold because of it's price point - and the giddiness of a few talking it up while digging clad at 4". This mindset that metal detecting is rocket science is silly. This man has already read the manuals for crying out loud.... I hope he doesn't listen and waste his time on a $200 detector. My time with the 250 stunk. It wasn't until I got an EX2 that I had a lick of fun, and I certainly didn't need any warm up time on the yellow dinger.