Finding better places is better than finding a better detector.

Yep picketwire you are right about that and Im begining to think that finding new ground may be easier than finding the perfect upgrade. I decide on one for sure but read another post and swap to another. I then try to buy that choice but cant get closer to swinging it than getting on a waiting list for it to be in stock. Then I drop back to my second choice but read that it's probably too high tec for my brain and there is another one that beats them all but then read that that one is probably outdated with the new technology........the bass are hitting the plugs here now so I wonder if I should just go fishing.....

Hello Fanger, just a question beside...- what coils do you own for your MXT's??

I have several coils for the mxt. Have the whites super 12, and the 9 inch spider ,and the 10 inch eclipse DD , eclipse shooter DD, detech S.E.F. 6x8--10x12 and 12x15DD's......I am a man of many coils....

A question here, We pretty much hunt the same soil type spots every time,on an average hunt would I be adjusting the frequincy much??? Im wondering how big of a game changer the frequency settings would be??

I have been swinging a White’s Spectrum XLT for about the last 30 years, and I too am looking at an upgrade. In my case, my kids sometimes want to go detecting with me. So when I get a new detector, one of them could take the Spectrum. In my case, I narrowed my choices down to the Minelab Manticore, and the XP Deus 2. If you are considering either of these detectors, check out the threads started by Rattlehead on some other detecting forums. I do not see his posts on this forum. If you are on any other detecting forums, look up his threads titled “My thoughts on the Minelab Manticore after 50 hours” and “My thoughts on the XP Deus 2 after 50 hours”. The threads contain a lot of information pro and con and are not meant to sway people towards buying one or the other. Since you were looking at two detectors, one thing to consider may be the option of the XP Deus 2 full (comes with the remote and the WS6 standard headphone). You could then buy the WSA2 XL headphones and a second coil and operate one coil with the WS6 and the other with the remote (from the full unit) and XL headphones. Essentially two XPs for a cheaper price with two headphone options. Depending on your soil conditions you could even get two different sized coils. But definitely read those posts regarding EMI.

A lot of new detectors may be considered complex. But these forums contain plenty of posts for various programs/settings so you don’t have to learn it all from scratch. You learned how to operate your old detector, I am sure you can learn a new one - especially with your wife to help.

Any way you dice it, it’s great that you can go to detecting together!

Hay Geologyhound I pretty much am trying to choose between the manticore and deus 2 also. I had about decided for the manticore but am having trouble getting my hands on two of them, every place Ive tried have been out of stock. I will check out the videos and see what they say about them.I had about decided to go for the deus 2's and still may do that. The only thing slowing me down on the duces is that I understand they are a little aggrivating to charge up and a little more high tec to setup (for an old dude ) the videos may clear up

Ohhh and I will throw this in,I know it seems like I am being overly slow about deciding on the detectors but I am deciding for me AND my wife and its super important that I get detectors that SHE approves of. I will boil it down like this, there are a lot of things I could do that would make her really mad and cook bad for a while but if I mess up her detecting there would be a divorce......so Ive got to get this right.....

I was thinking about the ML 900 or Manticore myself, money is getting tight so decided on the 900, then i had a knee replacement. Detectors on back burner for now. Manticore stock programs seem beginner friendly and most experienced users say most common reason people have trouble at first is running sensitivity too high.

Well I made the move, I ordered 2 Duse two's, they arr on the way. The best I could do on the mandicore was get on waiting list so I now need tec advise on first time setup. I talked to 2 differant people who run the Duse II and both were impressed with them and both of them were detector dealers who pretty much have a bigger choose range than I do so I dove on in.

As for slow deciding, I started looking a year ago, but locked bearings in an air conditioner and a split heat exchanger in the furnace slowed things down a bit.
From what I have heard you may have a hard time going wrong with either of those detectors. If you are interested, here are the pros and cons I was considering:

Maticore pros:
Target trace screen appears at least remotely similar to the XLT’s graph screen
Rechargeable battery appears easier to replace
Shaft is reportedly more sturdy than D2
Charge connections reportedly easier than D2
Wider ”good” VDI range
Manticore cons:
Battery life reportedly shorter than published
Heavier than D2
Lack of true program save slots (this is a big issue for me). I understand you can save some settings within the 3(?) groups of preset programs but not globally.
Flip flop of some VDI #s (perhaps more issue of adjustment and than a true con, but it’s odd pennies can be a higher VDI than some silver targets)
Issues with service (rushing other detectors, shortages of accessories, major European vendor severed ties with Minelab due to poor service, etc.)

Deus 2 pros:
VDI reportedly more stable than Manticore
Amount of information conveyed by tones more informative than Manticore
Weight (very light and can go lighter still if you operate without the remote on the shaft)
12 user save slots!
Reportedly longer battery life
5 year parts and labor warrantee
Potential of having 2 detectors for the price of a second coil and headphones (can purchase a remote separately later if desired)
Deus 2 cons:
Shaft is not as sturdy
Remote reportedly can pop off shaft mount and should be tethered for safety
Tight range of silver VDI #s (this may be more of a matter of getting used to, and may be tied to the more stable VDI readings)
Charge connections a bit of a pain
Detector tends to fall over when you set it down. Some user modifications may be necessary to keep it upright.
Need to have antenna wire attached if you plan to immerse the coil.

I actually ordered a Deus 2 this morning. The save slots were a big factor. I plan to grab a copy of the settings spreadsheet someone posted and find the Silver Slayer and Relic Reaper programs posted by others. That should give me a good starting base.

Good luck with your choice, and I hope it brings you many a good meal!

Fanger said:

Well I made the move, I ordered 2 Duse two's, they arr on the way. The best I could do on the mandicore was get on waiting list so I now need tec advise on first time setup. I talked to 2 differant people who run the Duse II and both were impressed with them and both of them were detector dealers who pretty much have a bigger choose range than I do so I dove on in.

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Ah! I see you posted while I was in the middle of writing my last post. Congrats, and it looks like we are in the same boat.

Thankyou for the info Geologyhound Im anxious to get the detector in my hand and try it out. Maby we can compare notes when we get them going, I am posative I will need coaching on setting the thing up so any where to look for tips will be a big help

No need to set anything up. It will work well in any of the 12 original programs as is. People smarter than dealers and new users designed them and experienced detectorists tested them before release. It will be nice that you and your wife can compare settings if you decide to change anything. I don't think setting up like someone else does is a good idea unless they detect the same ground and look for the same things you do. The way to see if an adjustment helps is to find a fringe target and try different adjustments, not to ask someone else. I think your wife using the same detector will help more than any of our suggestions as she will be at the same place, at same time, and over the same targets as you are. The biggest advantage, in my opinion, is the weight difference which is considerable, a much greater difference than in depth. Good luck with your purchase, you have a great new machine, but you have a great older one too.

I appreciate that and I believe you are right. The lighter weight will be a big deal because I have a bad shoulder......the average man would be in I.C.U.

I am thinking I may want to print off a crib sheet of default settings so I can compare programs in the field and narrow down what settings may be responsible for differing reactions between different programs. I don’t want to confuse myself by loading in a lot of different programs right off the bat. But I have heard good things about the “silver slayer“ program and I have also heard the “relic reaper“ program frequently mentioned. I figure I will look up the settings for those programs just as additional options to check targets under field conditions (since I have sites where both programs may be beneficial). I know there have been discussions about both, and there are pros and cons which may not suit the history of your hunt site. There has also been discussion about beneficial modifications (like opening up the top notch of the silver slayer program another point or two to pick up IHPs). At the very least, I have found those discussions educational.

I am excited, our detectors are out for delivery today geologyhound when do you think you will be getting yours??? I probably will be checking with you on setup tips after you swing yours a little bit.

Fanger said:

I am excited, our detectors are out for delivery today geologyhound when do you think you will be getting yours??? I probably will be checking with you on setup tips after you swing yours a little bit.

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I am trying not to get too excited yet. The dealer told me mine should be dropped shipped to me by tomorrow. So I am hoping to get it in time to get it set up and charged Friday night so I can take it out on Saturday. The big question is where should I take it on its maiden voyage?

Im sitting on the porch now stairing up the road waiting for a glimpse of the UPS truck.......I hope to do some presets and tear out down the road to a place in a field of mine where I have found a little bit of stuff and give it a try. Its probably going to look about like The Christmas Story show when the kid was tearing open the Chriatmas gifts looking for the Red Rider bb gun.....

Fanger said:

Im sitting on the porch now stairing up the road waiting for a glimpse of the UPS truck.......I hope to do some presets and tear out down the road to a place in a field of mine where I have found a little bit of stuff and give it a try. Its probably going to look about like The Christmas Story show when the kid was tearing open the Chriatmas gifts looking for the Red Rider bb gun.....

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Hopefully yours arrived. No additional updates on mine. The dealer said he’ll check the status tomorrow.