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Ace 250 v.s. XT 70

G

gbortnick

New member
I love both of these detectors and especially the Xtera 70 for it finding gold. I like the simplicity of the Ace and am wondering if I could use it for shallow streams to find gold concentrates with the sniper coil. I find that when either of these machines says there is a coin down there, you had better dig because it is there. About the only thing they won't tell you is if they are heads or tails. I would just like some feedback on both machines.

George
 
In moderate soil hunting for coins the 250 would hold it's own with an experienced hunter. It's when your in difficult soil where the gap would widen. That's pretty good for a $600 price difference. I wonder what a $800 Ace 250 would do? It scares me to think about it!
 
I've used the XT 50. I think you get a much smoother detector with more features in the Minelab. I suspect that with some experience, you also get a deeper detector.
Is it worth the cost difference, as Kenny suggests? I'd find it hard to answer "yes" without reservations. I would prefer to see a newbie with one over the Ace 250, as the Minelab is smoother in operation. But, make no mistake; I wasn't smitten by the Minelab, either... it was okay, but I also found it an "odd duck" and overhyped.

Finally, I would not buy one new. I know I have beat this drum to death, but I will do so again - any profits you fork over to the company that makes it, leaves this country. No American companies, communities or workers are aided by your expenditure. That oughta count for something, in my book.

But you are really asking for an unfair comparison, in my book - apples to oranges.
What I would like to see YOU do, gbortnick, is an unbiased, side by side analysis. I did that when I tried the XT 50 and posted it on the Minelab forum, if you care to look.
But, I couldn't compare it to anything, as I took it on it's own merit.

So how about it?
 
It's a fair comparison to pair the Ace 250 with the XT30. The Xterra's are smoother with a modulated tone in the disc mode over the 250. Also the XT30 has a volume control. But that is all it has that the 250 doesn't. But the 250 will tell you more about a target in the PP mode over the Xterra's. The Xt30 is twice as much money as the 250. Both have 12 notches,fixed GB, tone ID, TID, sens, depth and notch. The Ace 250 coils are a lot less money than the Xterra's too. The Ace pinpoints better than the XT30. Made in the USA ! Here is an example of where the 250 beats a detector costing twice as much.
 
The 250 is hot on gold if the mineralization ain't too tough. You might do well with the Sniper. Keep us posted.

Bill
 
George.
Both of these machines are very good and have their own areas of excellence. With the Ace, you have a very easy to learn machine that has first class pinpointing abilities. In my opinion, I haven't seen a detector on the market that can give the level of target information in pinpoint, as well as being brilliantly accurate. There are others, but for me, the Ace really sings. Also, from my current experience, I haven't seen a detector that can hunt around metal play equipment as well as the Ace. It's ability to both get close as well as detect metal objects while placing the sniper coil directly under parts of metal structures, is just amazing. Also, when it comes to detecting smaller coins, the Ace does it better than an X-Terra that is in discriminate mode.
But like Kenny said, when listening to signals on the fly, the X-Terra's tones are far easier to work with. I have noticed that smaller coins can give a weaker tone, so you need to be aware of it, or you'll walk over some good targets. I own an X-Terra 30 (which is on a par with the Ace) but have used an X-Terra 70 on a few occasions now. If you want to hunt for gold in a creek, then I would strongly recommend that you get the High frequency 6in DD coil for the 70 and use the prospecting mode. In this mode, it's like the 70 is on steroids as far as sensitivity goes. We had an article over here in Oz a couple of months ago, in the local detecting magazine, about a fellow that used an Ace 250 on the Victorian gold fields. He used is Minelab GPX 4000 to find the worst ground that he could, then turned it off and pulled out his Ace with the standard coil on it, and fired it up. He cranked up the sensitivity to the max, used his ears to discriminate out the false signals and found gold with his Ace! Yes the ace will find gold, even though it has a fixed ground balance, but you are far better off with a detector like the X-Terra 70, armed with a high frequency coil, if you want to hunt gold.
I've dribbled on a bit, but you get the idea.
 
I own both machines, and I can tell you the the X-70 is an extremely easy to use machine. I can also tell you I prefer the X-70 over my ace 250 In fact I prefer it so much that I have not touched my Ace since I got the x-70 several months ago.

If the ace could be ground balanced it would be so much better. And another thing about the Ace I do not like is it has 12 segments. When the ace says nickel, it could be a pull tab, could be a nickel, maybe a gold ring???

On the x-70 if you get a reading of 12 95% of the time it is a nickel. I am also convinced the X-70 is a deeper detector, I have went back to sites that I have grided wih the ace, and find a lot of items that are in the 6-7" range, I think the ace simply missed them.

The x-70 costs a LOT more but to me it is just a LOT better machine. I run mine in all metal all the time, 2 tones, one for ferrous and one for non ferrous. It really helps at old farm houses when you can get a nice high tone right beside a low tone. I have gotten several old coins right beside iron using this method.
 
It's true that the 250 lacks a ground balance feature. But in most soils it's not needed. In difficult soils you really need it. We have to be fair to the Ace. The XT70 is 4 times the cost of the Ace. I have some more expensive machines but still grab my Ace for most of my hunts. Yesterday I was hunting a very trashy site from the late 1800's. There were rusty can lids everywhere. Most just under the leaves. All I had was my 9x12 coil with me. I really needed the Sniper coil. I put the Ace in the all metal mode with the sens at 2 bars. This will still go 6 plus inches in the ground. All I listened for was any beep other than iron. If you sweep slow the medium and bell tone will sneak in there amongst the iron tones. I found 4 coins and one old coat button. I will be back with the sniper.
 
It is a funny comparison, but the Ace has it attributes. I own another brand detector that cost much more than my Ace. It can't do near as good as the Ace next to and under playground equipment with the sniper coil. It all depends on the type of MD'ing you want to do. I have the Ace, but needed a detector that could go deeper. I could have gotten the xt-70, but I paid less and know my detector goes deep. Some field tests say deeper than the F-75. I never heard that said of the xt-70.

I don't need a deep powerful detector for tot lots. Although the Ace gets pennies routinely at 7" for me. I hear of other forums where they say that their higher priced detector can go 7". Wow, the lowly Ace does that. I don't know if there is any detector that can beat the ace in the tot lots. Just like Khouse said, it can separate iron from good. What's nice is the Ace is American made. If we would only buy American, there might be less jobs lost.

This is one of my iron, silver finds. It is a class ring with a pop cap fused to it. The ring cleaned up nice.

[attachment 111933 3-26-08Bcapring.jpg]
 
What's nice is the Ace is American made. If we would only buy American, there might be less jobs lost.

Thank you. I been poundin' that drum for ages, now.
 
A person makes his choices, whatever those are. I don't dislike a man for his detector choices. I may not agree with them, but I don't exclude him because of them. This is a hobby and is not the SOLE measure of a man. Your fine character has surpassed such a simple measure long ago, Mick.

Interestingly, this came up elsewhere. Some Aussie had introduced himself on one of the Whites forums and mentioned that he used several instruments, at least one of which was NOT A Whites model. He was summarily told to desist with the mention of any other BUT a Whites device and to not commit that infraction again.

That is censorial presumption. It is petty and controlling, and someone needs to get a life if that is all they have to fuss over. One of the reasons the Garrett forum is such a great one is the tolerance by the moderator for tasteful discussion.**

What you use and where you get it is strictly up to you and I defend your freedom of choice. I would agree that an Aussie ought to spend Aussie dollars with Aussie companies, just as Yanks should do the same at home. I also stand by the right to give one's opinion, as long as it is clearly and politely stated... and thank you for doing so.

As I said up front, you pays your money, and you makes you choices. I respect that.

** On a side note, our beloved Bill is an undisputed curmudgeon. The fact that he IS tolerant says much about his lifetime of good character.
 
I've seen folks slam-dunked for making similar comments on other forums before like that. I've even been bagged out for commenting on the Ace before on anther forum on this site, even though I was responding to a specific question in regards to the Ace. Folks can get pretty funny about brand loyalty.
As far as being patriotic goes, that's a very healthy positive attitude to have and I would always encourage it in folks, regardless of country. After all, what a great thing to boast about and give folks like us a friendly opportunity to have bragging rights or some other form of friendly rivalry. Just think; if you lived in Australia, then you too could find Lot's of our $1 and $2 coins too! but alas, a quarter, is as big as you are going to find!:poke::rofl::ausflag: I could mention many more, but I would be having too much fun.:poke:
I actually like what the Australian manufacturer makes. They are great detectors. Over here, they also completely dominate the local market with at least 90% of the market buying from them. Most of that is for gold hunting though. I would say that 70 to 80% of all detectors sold over here are used primarily for that purpose. On top of that, apart from the grey nomads that now roam the country, detecting is a much smaller hobby than you have in the States. So we get 2 bites at the cherry. Lots of higher value coins and not as many people looking for them (per head of population) than you have in the States.:jump:
I do prefer to look beyond just one brand though, as it can limit the performance of what you buy. Yes, it mostly comes down to the operator, but there are detectors that will do better at certain tasks; but you already know that.
I've always enjoyed reading your posts as well, and it's nice to have ones ego stroked on occasion. Thanks.
Mick Evans.
 
Folks can get pretty funny about brand loyalty.
Indeed they can. Folks can gwt prwtty funny about a lot of things.

As far as being patriotic goes, that's a very healthy positive attitude to have and I would always encourage it in folks, regardless of country.
I go one step further than mere patriotism, however.... that is a requirement, as far I am concerned.
No, unlike many of todays citizens, I guiltlessly admit that the USA should be the best country in the world. Not "middle of the pack," or "just one part of the greater global commmunity" - that is minimalist claptrap.
What I mean is this: I feel we should do all in our power to be top of the heap... THE greatest country in the world, by all standards.

There are many good countries, like Australia, and I've been to more than handful of them. I knock no one for their nationality, either. It is what it is.
But, you are either first, or somewhere in the back. I am one of the last American Imperialists, I suspect.

Teddy Roosevelt was right, in my book.

Just think; if you lived in Australia, then you too could find Lot's of our $1 and $2 coins too! but alas, a quarter, is as big as you are going to find!
Yeah, you got me there! We have our lovely $1 coin, but no one spends them. Until we withdraw the paper $1 bill, that won't change. Im always in awe of your totals, same for those that John and some of the other Canucks pull out.

I actually like what the Australian manufacturer makes. They are great detectors. Over here, they also completely dominate the local market with at least 90% of the market buying from them. ...So we get 2 bites at the cherry. Lots of higher value coins and not as many people looking for them (per head of population) than you have in the States.
I've tried the current X-50 and liked it. I thought it was a bit lackluster for the money, but it was a sharp enough instrument. I could stand for a few less people detecting myself, although locally there arent really all that many to contend with.

I do prefer to look beyond just one brand though, as it can limit the performance of what you buy.
Me too. I currently have at least one from each of the major Ameircan makers. They each have their strong points.

I've always enjoyed reading your posts as well, and it's nice to have ones ego stroked on occasion. Thanks...Mick Evans.
Ditto and thank you, sir.
 
It's up to you as to how you consider this thought, but to consider oneself to be the best country, leads to blindness. You'll be less inclined to learn new knowledge that isn't US centric, it will cause your armed forces to get a "bloody nose" when you underestimate your enemies (in war games between the US and Australia, we are constantly kicking your butts.). It essentially stops you from learning due to the attitudes that come along with thinking that you are the best, and technologically, the rest of the world will leave you behind in their collective wake.
Like I said at the top of the post; it's up to you how you consider these thoughts. They are not intentioned to cause a stir, but rather, to show the flip side of that coin.
Mick Evans.
 
No problem, Mick. You are right.

I recall when I was in Naples, Italy in the Navy. I was approached by an old man, wanting to know if I was from the USS John F. Kennedy, moored just offshore that day. I said I was. That old fellow clapped me on the shoulders, shook my hand and bought me a Cinzano.
He went on to say, with a tear in his eye, that the greatest day of his life was when the Americans liberated Italy. He told me, in very bad English, that America must never falter or fail; we are the example for everyone else to follow. That moment stuck with me....

We gained a hedgemony in the global arena by these things, plus innovation, a bit of strategic butt kicking and the belief that we should invest in excellence, both ours and others. It isn't about pure and blatant military might... heck anyone can do that. Just look at the Russians or Chinese.

Rather, it's about a national awareness of reward and achievement, motivated by the moral sense that we are accountable for being the one others look up to.
In return, we prosper and so do others within the global sphere. I never meant that we should be blinded by conceit. Not at all.

There is always a top spot, as nature abhors a vacuum. Someone must always win.
You don't become the front runner by accepting second best.

I simply believe it's high time we Yanks stop doing so.
 
What the both you you have said has great merit in the realms of mans thinking.

At the start of ww2 the US. was weak militarily. Some of our greatest military victories were from blunders. Sometimes our government process seems chaotic. The world has flocked to the US. We are a sample of every country on earth. I believe our faith in God has been the point that has made us great in the midst of our blunderings. Sadly that is waning. God said honor me and I will honer you. History has proven that great empires fall from with in.

Our county is no longer a justice system. It is caught up in a legality system. Our freedoms are slowly eroding away.

Sorry, I have said enough. I wish the snow would melt and the temperature would get above freezing so I can go tecting. It's 19 deg. F out there and the wind is 30 miles an hour. Can anybody tell me why they call this a Alberta clipper on the weather channel? In Alberta, do they call it an Alaska clipper? Instead of dust devils, the snow devils look cool. Just got rid of a virus on the computer that has lasted over a week. Couldn't post much. I have had a virus that I can't seem to shake and I ain't going out there. Am I rambling?:rofl:
 
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