I have used the Vortex VX9, tested it for over a week. I own a Whites VX3 and have owned the V3i and DFX, all of the MXT models including the MX5 and MX7, I own a Whites Goldmaster 24k and I have owned the Whites TDI and TDI SL.
It's a fact that Garrett released their own version of the Whites Goldmaster 24K. It is still one of the premier gold prospecting VLFs in the world. Garrett thought so too and they reworked it to their own specifications and released it as the Garrett Goldmaster 24K. It still has some Whites markings in honor of Whites.
Folks, that is the extent of what Garrett has done so far with all of the patents and intellectual property that they obtained from buying Whites.
Like I said, I have used and tested the Vortex. It is a Garrett detector through and through and bears no resemblance to any Whites VLF simultaneous multi frequency detector that I have owned or used. That's a good thing in my opinion since the V3i, VX3 and DFX while feeling, looking and often detecting like a Cadillac, they don't detect half as well as the Vortex where I detect even with it's current software imperfections. The Vortex target ID accuracy on a wide range of target sizes and conductivities are actually superior to the V3i, VX3 and DFX. So is the Vortex target separation, ability to handle EMI and bad mineralized ground conditions. The Vortex is fully waterproof, has better and more accessible controls, better wireless audio, and way better ergonomics and the Vortex series is online software updateable and upgradable which is something Whites promised for the end users but never followed through on with the VX series. Don't get me wrong, I love my VX3 and still use it sometimes. But if you asked me to choose between the two for most types of detecting, I would choose the Vortex because I saw enough of what it can potentially do while I was using it compared to my VX3.
The same can be said for the Garrett Axiom compared to the Whites pulse induction detectors. The Axiom is an improvement on the Infinium and ATX and thankfully bears no resemblance to any of Whites pulse induction detectors which were single channel ground balance with very limited sensitivity to a wide range and size of targets compared to the dual channel Axiom that can easily hit sub 0.1 gram targets and even smaller, has better ground and EMI handling, has more overall depth and is one of the most ergonomic pulse induction detectors ever made. Plus, it is a really well made, well balanced and beautifully designed detector.
Whites made some great detectors during the time they were open, that's for sure. Garrett has made some great detectors too and even though the Vortex has had some birthing and growing pains, it is still a very good detector that Garrett has built from scratch, not from a Whites design.
