X-Terra vs Explorer II

[daggerdave]

After much research, I have narrowed down my list to 4 detectors (T2, CZ-3D, X-Terra 70 & Explorer II). Any help in finalizing the decision would be appreciated, especially between the 70 and Explorer. Do I gain/give up anything by going with multi-frequency as in the Explorer. I'm ready to pull the trigger, but want to make sure I have the right target. Appreciate any insight. Thanks.

 

[Steve(MS)]

What type detecting you do and how much you are willing to spend, another to consider is if you want a lightweight unit or heavier unit. Your answer to these questions will help eliminate some. I am partial to the Explorer but haven't tried the others on your list, so some of the ones who post here can give you more advise. Good luck,
Steve(MS)

 

[Mike Bearden]

Well these are just my opinions so take it with a grain of salt.
1. CZ3D can be used almost anywhere with good results,good stability, very good depth, doesn't have to be hunted slow, a tad rough on batteries for my liking but I still rate it a 8 out of 10 overall performance wise.
2.The T2, I've ran 3 different units including one yesterday that had the software revisions that had just came back from being done, it was still to NOISY for me. I did get it to quieten down but at the expense of losing a LOT of depth. You may NOT have this problem where you hunt but I've ran them in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, and in Virginia and got the same results unlike what others are posting about them. LOVE the feel of it though, when I can get one to run stable without turning down the power to much "it's impressive" on depth and separation. I rate it a 7+.
3.The X-Terra series (all of them) have been good performers right out of the box for me and I hunt in some extreme areas most of the time. Well ... except for yesterday. My 70 has to make a trip to Vegas for repairs. It has lost patterns 3 mode and killed a fresh set of batteries pretty quick too. Replaced the batteries, set everything back to factory default modes but still no patterns 3 mode and it also became very unstable. I have over a 400 hours on it though. Called Minelab and they said send it in, can't beat their customer service. It rate the 70 a solid 9.
4. The Explorer II is a hard act to follow once a person gets acquainted with it. It has to be hunted slow, doesn't like disturbed ground and is a tad bit heavy to hunt with all day long but overall is the BEST electronics on the market today among the heavy hitters.
The price is steep but I'm a firm believer in the old saying "you get what you pay for" ! I rate the Ex II a 9+ because there is NO perfect detector .... or so it seems.
My overall favorite out of the 4 you listed is the X-Terra 70, it doesn't give up much depth to the Explorer (maybe an inch or two depending on the site) but is lite enough to hunt with all day long and X-Terra's will run 40 plus hours before the battery gauge even moves. It offers a lot of information for the hunter that knows how to use it, just wish they would bring out some small coils soon.
So it all boils down to price,weight,abilty, and overall stable performance for me .... so my vote goes to the 70.
H.H.
Mike

 

[Digger]

The only exception I have to your "ratings" would be on the CZ3D. Personally, I think the CZ-5 was a better unit. I have had a couple CZ3Ds and always had trouble hitting nickels and similarly conductive jewelry. Good review. HH Randy

 

[daggerdave]

Mike,
Thank you for your insight and reviews. With so many products on the market and the associated hype surrounding all of them, it makes it tough to come to a decision. Price is not a factor in this equation, because like you I believe you get what you pay for. I also believe in quality and do not want to have to trade-up in the near future. I am fairly new to my area (San Antonio, TX), so I am not familiar with the ground/mineralization. My main detecting will be for older coins, jewelry, and the beach once in a great while. Parks and playgrounds will also make my list. I can always use spending money I find these forums very helpful and the folks most knowledgeable. Thanks again for your time and input.....Dave

 

[Mike Bearden]

You are welcome buddy, we all depend on the forums somewhat. Never be shy about asking, there's some fine talented folks that visit here and it's a RARE event when a question can't be answered
The X-Terra 70 will do a fine job in your neck of the woods and so will the EX II for that matter. If you're the kind of guy that likes to take it slow and easy while detecting then I highly recommend the Explorer II with a X-1 probe. But ... if you think that you might want to hit a few competition seeded hunts for prizes then I would pick the X-Terra because it has a nice recovery speed between targets.
And Digger is right about the 3D, it throws a lot of things into the high tone silver range that most other detectors do not, just takes some getting used to. I did find a gold coin and a bunch of nice goodies with one though.
Again, just my opinion.
H.H.
Mike

 

[Joe of South Jersey]

As Mike has hit a lot on the points I will keep it short.

X-terra-The X-terra is a step in the light weight detector market. It will perform and may I say out perform the mentioned detectors in certain situation, Ploughed or disturbed ground, gold detecting(small items), can be swing at a more rapid pace(it can be used in seeded hunts). frequency choice by coil change.

Explorer_ As mentioned it is tops in Electronics. It has to be operated slower, but the depth can make-up for the speed. It can be used in place's where other detectors can not handle the high mineralization. It also makes find in those old hunted out places due to the iron masking and multi-freq.

Hope this helps...Again great post Mike

 

[Farmercal]

Dave, I have both the EXII and the XT-70. I prefer the EXII because it gives me more information about what I am recovering BUT I won't give up the XT-70 because it's lighter and has a faster recovery time. Both can go deep and come up with winners it's just a matter of preference. Just the other day I took the EXII over a school yard I previously hunted with the XT-70 and found a mercury dime only 5 inches down that I missed with 70. The difference was I had small coil for the EXII and thats how I separated the dime from the junk in the yard. You really can't go wrong with either choice.

 

[Monte]

The X-Terra 70 and the Explorer II, and it's not because this is a Minelab X-Terra Forum. I'm not hesitant about commenting on any make or model on any forum when an honest opinion is requested.

I can guarantee you that the X-Terra 70 is one of the most versatile "multi-purpose" detectors on the market today It is lightweight, well balanced, and it provides the operator with ample adjustment functions that are easy to understand, and it can achieve some very good depth of detection. The quick response and recovery makes it a joy to use for many applications. The only thing lacking with the X-T 70 isn't really it, but the fact that they need to get a smaller coil released for working trashier sites, but that should be soon .. we hope.

As for the Explorer II< is is not what I consider to be a "multi-purpose" unit. Definitely not my pick for a competition hunt, or for prospecting, and really not what I would pick to work typical gold jewelry producing sites. It is heavy, poorly balanced, and requires an ultra-slow sweep speed and is not very forgiving if you get sweeping too quickly.

However, in my opinion, for what it's worth, I believe that the Explorer II is the best detector on the market today for the detectorist who wants to put in the time and effort to do some serious $ilver $hooting. The Explorer II's strength is that it will give better Target ID info to a greater percentage of its overall detection depth, and for working old parks, schools, courthouse lawns and similar sites to go for the older and deeper coins, it is tops. Period.

So, in the end, you have to decide which application(s) you plan to use a detector for. Keep in mind, too, that most serious detectorists eventually have at least two detectors to compliment each other.

Monte

 

[daggerdave]

Monte,
Thanks for your feedback. Part of my problem is I do struggle with exactly what type of hunting I do plan on doing. I'd like to do it all, but in reality, that's not possible at this time. Based on all of the feedback, the top 3 contenders are the Xterra 70, Explorer II and T2. Slowly but surely narrowing the field. Now I have to do some soul searching and decide what my priorities are. I really appreciate everyone's response to this thread and will let you all know where I land. Feel free to keep the opinions/insights coming.
Dave

 

[RLOH]

Monte, I totally agree with you. I have not owned a 70, but I have 100's of hours on the XS and 11. Keep up the good work. Your opinions can save many dollars to the unwary buyers. R.L.

 

[Reader]

I too am seriously looking at the X-70. I have an Ace 250 now. My question is how does the X-&0 compare with the White Dxt and the Garrett top deterctor, don't know the exact number. Thanks for all your help. Lewis

 

[jackintexas]

Dave: You should check with the parks department before hunting public parks. They can be hunted but San Antonio has very strict laws regarding metal detecting in public parks. You must get a written approval. My understanding is you are allowed to hunt only three parks at a time. In three months you apply again and can choose those three parks or three others. But you may only hunt those three parks you have written permission to hunt. Best not be caught in a park you do not have written permission to hunt. Maybe things have changed since I learned this. Best check with the parks dept.

 

[rellikusmc]

got permission to hunt the first house built in my town.somewhere around 1870's it burnt earlier this year and is next to a school so i started with the x-70 multi hits in the all over the range. dug a lot of modern pennies wanted to search a little deeper and be more selective' not really chew the yard up the town has had some flooding that left sediment fine dirt not a rock bigger than a dime a hunters dream after about 25 minutes with no luck on oldies i went to the explorer and smart find mode i picked deeper soft pings and got a Indian from about 7" a barber dime about the same depth, a token cooper with a 25 on both sides at about 9 or ten but what really got me was a Lincoln penny cut on all sides like a square at the same depth but sounded so clear maybe i just knocked it loose and it fell in the whole what am i saying just no one detector is suited for every job but i started with the x-70 and late this fall I'll finish the yard with the same good luck and hope this doesn't sway you from getting what you want Rellik

 

[DiggerDave69]

I have the pleasure of owning a Teknetics T2, Teknetics Mark I, Fisher 1260x and an Explorer II. ( I have been digging since 196.The Explorer is HEAVY. It seems to have more problems with iron nails, BUT IT IS A TRUE "DEPTH CANNON". The sweep speed is much slower then most other detectors. The T2 is also good on depth and is more sensitive to Gold. It does however require some ground balancing and the Explorer does not. Someone else's post about what type of detecting you want to do is really the question that needs to be addressed. For coins, if weight is not an issue, I personally would choose an Explorer II. The neat trick with the Explorer IS THAT YOU CAN PROGRAM IT TO PICKUP OR DELETE ANY SIGNAL. I have mine set up to detect Indians, Wheaties, Barber Silver , Merc's etc.... Only coins!, and thats all it detects, but I still go over the areas I detect with a different detector (T2) because it picks thru the iron (nails etc..) better. Hope this helps.--good hunting

 

[Jackpine Savage]

Lewis,

I have not use the top of the line Garrets. Did you mean the MXT or DFX?? If you meant the MXT then I can confidently say go for the XT-70. With the stock coils in my ground the 70 bests the MXT easily for depth and ID at depth. When and if ML comes out with the rumored 6" coils (I hope they are concentrics) the 70 should do better in trash as well.

my 2 corroded zincs

Tom

 

[Reader]

Thanks Tom
This x-70 seems to be the hot machine right now. From what I've researched, the Exp. is a tad better for coins? than the X70 but the x70 is lighter which for me is a must (bad back). But I want a machine that I can grow into (challenge me) and not do ALL the thinking for me.
I have only been exposed to the 250 and a white mxt. But it seems the dfx is a very good machine as well. And i know all will find treasure, all have to be learned, and we each have different preferences.

I like the boink of the ace, but i prefer the tone generation and tones so I can decide what it is, comes from a musical background i suppose. All you guys have been really helpful and i have enjoyed reading your posts Hope to be able to give help one day too! thanks lewis

 

[Mike Hillis]

Hi,

Haven't gotten to use the CZ3D yet. Intriguing concept and I like the way disc acts like a notch. Just haven't had the money free to try it out.

Anyway..between the other three:

I'm still learning the Explorer. Love the notch discrimination power. If you want a great notch discriminator the Explorer is the top of the heap and I recommend it for that.

The T2 is a great multipurpose machine. But like Mike B mentioned down below, its is noisy in certain ground conditions. There is a lot of capability inherent in it. I guess the biggest drawback of the T2 is that you don't have any accessory coils yet.

The Xterra 70 is an ok detector. The build quality isn't quite up to par with the price tag, but the machine functions nice. Great clad hunter. The freq/coil thing was a great marketing strategy. Much better money generator than an extra button on the pod. You got to stay on your toes with the coils or you'll be wondering where your money went. What is it, 6 coils now at 125-149 a pop and still not a small one.

oops,

HH