For Minelab depth but with analog style simple dials/switches, I second the Sovereign GT notion. The tones are the longest, richest, smoothes, "like butter", most detailed in target traits...That I've ever used on a detector. Many guys use it without ever putting a meter on the audio is so descriptive, and you've still got the numerous fanastic Minelab tone alerts. It's like the tone alerts of a Minelab, but with the rich long detailed target traits of the best of the old analog machines.
I'm adding Explorer #4 back to my line up, but the GT isn't going anywhere. On some days I miss that mesmerizing Explorer screen. One big issue for me is I was never a big fan of the 10" Explorer coils, but I'm going to remedy that by putting a 12x10 on it. I know that coil has done wonders for my GT in both giving me a bit more depth and a bit easier (more like laser like) separation, but even the stock 10" Tornado on the GT is a great coil with really good depth and excellent separation far above some stock coils I've had on machines. I've dug 11" coins with that coil. It's just I feel the 12x10 is a step in further up in performance in all respects. That's why my Explorer will be getting one too when I bring one back into my line up down the road here.
The Sovereign don't have much "flash", and is very unassuming in it's looks, but there is a digital wonderland with all kinds of raw power running under that hood.
But as for your Explorer. I for sure wouldn't get rid of it. Why do you think I had 3 over the years, and why do you think #4 is coming here? This way I've got a Minelab for whatever mood the day strikes me. When I want to do a few extra tweaks or am in the mood to day dream and be mesmerized by that fantastic screen, that's when the Explorer will come out. It won't replace my GT, it will compliment it. Both will sit *side by side*, and neither will sit in front of the other. I know, because I've used them both enough to know that they both have equal place in my arsenal, both doing there own "Minelab thing" in their own special unique ways.
One more thing...With the price of used Explorers these days and the cheap aftermarket coils even used, it'd be insane not to add one to somebody's line up of machines. Same deal IMO of the Sovereign. Plenty of older Sovereign models out there for sale used at very good prices, and they are very deep machines almost as deep as the current GT (as has been said by others). Just do yourself a favor and if you get an older model strap the newer version of the 10" coil on it (The Tornado), or better yet a 12x10. Same deal for the Explorer, as I wasn't a big fan of the 10" coils on them in my soil, but have high hopes the 12x10 will unleash more of it's potential, as the 12x10 did for my GT. But, as said, the stock 10" Tornado on the Elite/GT is a very fine coil for stock IMO.
PS- One more perk to the Sovereign. The 180 meters are fantastic in target conductivity detail. Foil (around 60), all the way up to a copper penny (180), gives a super high resolution on targets in that conductivity range. But, be warned, all coins above copper penny read 180. Not a big deal for me, as when I'm old coin hunting if I come upon a deep coin or one shallow but is mixed in trash, I don't care what kind of coin my machine thinks it is 'cuz I'm digging it. Dug too many silvers over the years that a machine said was a penny that turned out to be otherwise (due to minerals, being worn, being on edge, masking etc.). The only coin I really care to ID is zincs, and the 180 meter will do that. Far as nickles, with it's super high low/mid range resolution, never dug so many in my life. Because tabs start about 4 or 5 digits above where the highest nickle reads. That, combined with the unique smooth "warm" "round" sound of a nickle versus most junk, makes digging them almost a sure bet. I've dug a ton at dead spots because of the high resolution VDI and the distinct audio detail that tips me off to "round" targets and such. Foil *usually* reads much lower than the nickle range, but of course there are exceptions.
