Cortes v.s. x-tera 70

[midmich]

I was wondering if anyone here has had experience with the both of these and would compare the two.
Thanks

I should add that while I would like to have them compared across the board, I would mostly be coin shooting. So far, I have a little experience with the silver umax, tiger shark, and a little more with the cibola. I don't hear the best and was thinking a visual ID machine would help me. One person on the site has suggested I just keep using the same machine(s) a while longer, but I was still curious.

Thanks again

 

[Digger]

Opinions vary, but some of the reasons I like the X-70 over the Cortes are:

the X-Terra display (as well as the information displayed) is much larger than the Cortes. Due to the much smaller display, as well as it being quite reflective of sunlight, I have difficulty seeing the Cortes display without bringing it up toward my eyes.

The Cortes' control knobs are located in such a manner that I seemed to keep bumping them when I would stop to dig a target. The pads on the X-70 are easily accessible and since they are flat, they are not prone to getting bumped.

The X-Terra offers Auto GB, Manual GB, Tracking, Beach mode and each of these are fully adjustible so you can tune the detector for any particular site. The Cortes offers Auto and manual GB in the all metal mode. But you will have to hunt with their factory preset GB in the discrimination mode.

The X-Terra allows the user to program the audio response for one tone, two tones, three tones, four tones or multi-tone mode.

The X-70 offers notch discrimination with two digit notch segments. Any notch or combination of notches can be set as accepted or rejected in any one of the three Pattern modes. The Cortes has variable discrimination with a single adjustible "notch window".

The X-70 TID provides different number information on a variety of coins. The Cortes lumps all silver and copper coins in at a TID of 95. But it does add a block display to help ID targets and has a Sum Mode that "averages out" the target's identification with multiple sweeps. TID Stability on the X-70 allows a more stable TID in highly mineralized soils.

The X-70 The Cortes' audio level in all metal mode is not as "loud" as in discriminate mode. The X-70 offers separate volume settings for use with or without headphones.

The X-70 will operate longer on it's 4 AA cells than the Cortes operates with it's 8 AA cells.

The Cortes operates at 10 kHz. The X-Terra 70 can operate at 3 kHz, 7.5 kHz or 18.75 kHz.

The Cortes has 8 coil options available. Different sizes and shapes. However, they are all the same 10 kHz. The X-70 has 8 coil options available. 6-inch concentric at 7.5 kHz, 6-inch DD at 18.75 kHz, 9-inch concentric at 3 kHz, 9-inch concentric at 7.5 kHz, 9-inch concentric at 18.75 kHz, 6 X 10 DD at 18.75 kHz, 10 -inch DD at 7.5 kHz and the 10-inch DD at 18.75 kHz.

The Cortes offers VCO audio in the all metal mode. The x-70 offers programmable audio frequency in their Prospecting mode, with adjustible Iron Mask.

Everyone's soil and hunting syles are different. But based on my comparisons, and due to many of the reasons listed above, the X-70 is at least 20% deeper on coin sized targets. JMHO HH Randy

 

[midmich]

Wow! That was a lot of information. Thanks for the reply. I was hoping someone would throw their 2 cents in.

 

[Shenandoah Digger]

Well, I love Tesoro's as much as anyone. Their HOT line is as good as it gets. But the Xterra 70 is state of the art and very well thought out. Tesoro is in dire need of a new TID machine. The Cortes, while a good machine, just doesn't compare favorably.

 

[Digger]

It seems they have most of the technology at hand. Just in different models. If Tesoro would combine the Hign Output Technology as used in the Vaquero with the audio tones of the Golden, implement notch discrimination and support it with a larger display (more like the DeLeon), it would be a huge improvement to their current TID lineup. JMHO HH Randy

 

[David]

That is very good comparison Randy !! Yes I have said that many times in general that the Tesoro has their eggs in different baskets unfortunately. If they would just put them all together in one basket, in one unit, they would have a great detector. Why spread all this technology around as they did. Also do not forget the true ground tracking, SuperTRAQ technology on the Lobo that they should put on the outdated manual GB technology machines like the Vaquero, Tejon, Tiger Shark, and Cortes as well. I like analog turn knob machines better than push pads as a personal preferance but the MXT has that but is too heavy and bulky.

The XT-70 has most all of its eggs in one basket and the closest to a perfect machine as it gets. There is room for a little improvement.. I wish it had many more true surgical discrimination notches, at least 2 or 3 times the amount, and the dual discrimination like the SE, added on as well. Also have a second model available and put the XT-70 in a waterproof housing will add more weight I know.

I wonder if Minelab has ever thought of making a VLF and Pulse Induction(like on the GPX 4500, Garrett Infinium, and Whites "new" PulseScan TDI) machine, with both technologies combined in one machine, if possible, with different coils.

Pulse Induction is deeper but has poor discrimination. The VLF has great discrimination but will not go nearly as deep in mineralization.