...not in my opinion.
In ferrous sounds sure you can hear a silver sound...but it is blended in with the barrage of all the other sounds as well...and you have to pick it out of all those other sounds.
In conductive sounds the "silver warble" I always speak of in my posts is very clear and much more distictive...especially when you have your iron mask set precisely to filter out the high iron shrieks while still allowing for that sweet silver warble to sing through.
It's much easier to concentrate for me personally without hearing the barrage of ferrous sounds.
I am 100% strictly a coin hunter. I don't hunt for relics and I don't dig many lower conductors. I have spent a gazillion hours training my ears for one thing...deep coins.
In conductive sounds with some iron mask...I can be cruising along at a snails pace...even experiencing some nulling...and if my coil passes over a deep silver coin...the sweet silver warble will stop me dead in my tracks to investigate.
The silver dime I found under the big nail and posted recently was nothing but a jumbled mess of sounds when I switched over to ferrous/all metal to experiment (which is something I do often when I locate a deep, previously masked target). NO WAY I would have dug that dime if I would have been in any settings other than conductive sounds/iron mask.
Could I hear the silver sound in ferrous/am?..sure...somewhat at best... but it was NOT a sweet silver warble. it was just a short, high shriek blended in with a low grunting sound.
In conductive/iron mask it was a clear and distinctive, short "silver warble".
My truthful suggestion to you because I don't want to see you get frustrated.....LEAVE it in the factory preset conductive sounds settings.. while hunting in the smartfind screen for at least 5 to 10 full hunts.
Don't mess with anything for some time. Those preset settings are there for a reaon...and that reason is to help new users adapt to the language the SE speaks.
IMHO the WORST thing a new explorer user can do is switch anything at all...especially switch back and forth between conductive and ferrous sounds.
That will completely change what you hear and how you hear it over deep coins....and probably confuse you at this point.
Take your time...swing very slow...and do NOT worry about anybody's settings right now. There is a crucial time frame where you have to spend some quality time with your new friend...the SE...and nobody else. That time is the first few hunts.
Pay close attention to the barrage of sounds you hear...the nulling...the instability...etc...and don't get frustrated.
ONLY 2 things I would even consider changing from the stock factory learning settings which is pretty much a coin program....
1) possibly set the iron mask at -22 on the SE while continuing to hunt in smartfind screen.
2) The only other thing I would consider changing would be to put the sensitivity in semi auto and set it at 26 which will GREATLY cut down on the falsing and chirping..
Both of those change suggestions do not even need to be made IMHO...but if you must tinker...then tinker with only those two things.
Everything else....I strongly recomend leaving alone for a few weeks...and leaving it in the factory preset settings.
Do NOT try too much too fast...just have FUN.
These Explorers are more than capable of hitting 8"+ deep coins right out of the box in the factory preset mode.
Once you have quite a few hours on it...and have familiarized yourself with the "language" it speaks...then you can start to piddle with settings if need be.
You might even decide at that point that you want to give ferrous sounds/AM a shot. That is a proven method as well.
For now though...trust me...leave it as I suggested for a few hunts...then when things start to click a little...you can start piddling and tinkering
Of all the things I get asked about through messages...this is the number one thing...and my advice never changes.
I think it's a big mistake for new users to get caught up in what other's settings are and they try too much too fast...then get discouraged and sell the Explorer.
Just take your time...enjoy...and get a "feel" for the explorer before taking big leaps...and the learning curve will lessen a bunch.
After a few weeks or 5 to 10 full hunts...whichever comes first....then start pickin' the brains of everyone on this forum for tips...suggestions...advice...settings to try...etc. This place is a wealth of knowledge and there a ton of talented hunters here who will help you in whatever way you need
Here's the link to my field test post containing over 60 different hunts of various coil tests...comparisons...nicer finds...etc..: http://www.findmall.com/read.php?19,1055627,1055627#msg-1055627Been swingin' the coil since 1972Here's the story of my BEST FIND EVER.:
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?19,876944,876944#msg-876944"Metal detecting is an escape for me and allows me to find some much needed peace and solace.
Being able to clear my head...even if only for that short while...is much more meaningful than any amount of finds that end up in my pouch"
"Quote ME"
Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 03/25/2011 09:06AM by Bryce-IL.
Minelab Explorer SE and ctx3030
Hopefully, this will change things a bit -- why don't you leave a few for me, eh?