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E-Trac vs Spectra V3

B

Battleborn

New member
Does anyone have experience with both machines and can give an opinion as to which would be
best to buy for the casual detector user? Thanks...
 
I had a V 3 for several months and got rid of it for an E-Trac. Best decision I've ever made. But, for a "casual" hunter, I wouldn't necessarily recommend either one. Both have a pretty extensive learning curve, even for most experienced detectorist IMHO. If by "casual" you mean your new, or relatively new to detecting, you might want to try a more middle of the road (money-wise) detector. If you have a pretty good knowledge of how detectors work, then the E-Trac would be a best bet for coins. Good luck with your decision, and feel free to ask questions.

jimmyk in Missouri
 
I own both detectors..............Personally, I like the E-TRAC much better. I believe the E-TRAC is a better choice for me and although many have said it has a long learning curve, I found it to be easy. I do believe the V3 has it's place, and will go very deep. I just wasn't patient enough to learn it. My deepest measured coin was a shield nickle at 13 inches. I believe there is a lot of potential there. Battleborn, If you decide that you want a V3, PM me. I will make you an awesome deal on one.
 
I am a newbie to the Etrac and this forum and I am by no means talking trash about the V3. I have been a White's user for 25 years and now love the Etrac and the learning curve wasn't too difficult for "me". But, look at the V3 forum vs the Etrac and tell me who is finding the silver and other good stuff. Maybe Etracer's are braggers maybe NOT.
 
etracmick said:
But, look at the V3 forum vs the Etrac and tell me who is finding the silver and other good stuff. Maybe Etracer's are braggers maybe NOT.
Click to expand...

Battleborn,

Amongst other things to use as a measuring stick, etracmick makes an EXCELLENT point and I will second this motion. Fancy, cool, complicated and technical is all nice, but when it comes down to it ask yourself, "Does that dog hunt?".

I've had a bunch of detectors over the years that have all found stuff, some better than others. When I sit down and look at my finds, I clearly see that my Minelab has found stuff better than ALL the others. :minelab:

JMHO

Rich (Utah)
 
Can them Dogs HUNT you Bet YA!........Any Great Musician like THE Rev....from ZZ or Jimmy Page ta Roy Clark....will tell ya

PRACTICE.... PRACTICE... PRACTICE......They can pick up some ole Pawn shop Special and make the devil PAY DUES...

Casual .......Hmmm Get a ACE 250 and do the above and you will hand THEM their rear on a PLatter!

Now I will go back to Changing the Tubes in My Black face fender amp with RCA 50's ladder tubes!( drive my neighbors Crazy)

Gotta have that TONE !

Happy Trails
jimpugh Yes I still have Em all and if you think i do not know how to use Em .....Better think AGAIN!

Original Soverighn
original Sea Search Excal
Excal blue 10inch
red heat micro XD17
red heat big Box
2 red heat Tornado
original silver sabre
silver sbre Plus
toltec
toltec2
GMT1650
King cobra
Aqua STaR
2 Barracuda's
etrac
SE pro
stringray
stingray2
Garret 500VLF/TR
waterproof sov X2 with15 WOT
Fisher F75 LTD
TEK T2 LTD
Classic IDX (Mr Bill's MODS:beers:)
Whites V3
XLT
 
etracmick said:
look at the V3 forum vs the Etrac and tell me who is finding the silver and other good stuff. Maybe Etracer's are braggers maybe NOT.
Click to expand...

That's my advice exactly. Look at all the forums and see what detectors are getting the kinds of finds you'd like. Especially if they are in the same area of the country as you (different soils = different results).

Look at the other recent post with video, two detectorists one has 400 silver the other had almost 300. I am close to 300 and my buddy has around 270 and we are mainly hunting parks and schools that have been hit for years, no magic virgin sites. I am not seeing any kind of results like that over in the V3 forum (or any other forum/brand with the exception of the Explorer).

My personal opinion, the E-Trac is the way to go unless you like tweaking a million settings to try to find something that works. The White's are for tweakers. I'd rather be detecting than fussing with my machine.

You may want to see this thread as well from the Explorer forum... http://www.findmall.com/read.php?19,1097537
 
I also bought the V3 when it first came out and used it for about 6 months. I bought the E-Trac about 2 to 3 months ago. I sold the V3. In the 2 months or so of using the E-Trac I have found about 30 silver. Thats more than I have found with all the other detectors put together. Really like the E-Trac
 
Ya I just sold my V3. Now tonight I called Kellyco and I am the owner of a E-Trac. I have come to the dark side Yes that right "I'm your farther". I hit deeper things with my DFX then I did with my V3.
I have seen how deep a E-Trac can go. I could not even touch it with the V3 And that 10" DD coil never could get it to pinpoint right. White's makes a well billet MD and the serves is outstanding. I am going to miss those wireless headphone. All in all I think White's has a good V3 thing going here. But they have a few bugs to work out on it. Give it 2 years and it will be one hell of a MD. I just don't have time to be a tester for White's maybe if they payed me. I want to hunt and find thing. Also who is having the problims ? check out the V3 forums and check the E-Trac forum. I have been with White's for 35 years now and it's time to move on now. I should have keep my DFX that is one sweet MD.

Eagle 1
 
The E-Trac is far easier than the V3 to obtain amazing depth, but the V3 is quite capable of great depth as well, it just takes more effort.

I have used a DFX for the last 6 years and when I see say the DFX didn't perform well, I know they just didn't take to time to understand it. I've had my E-Trac longer than my V3 but I can say the V3 is far deeper than the DFX. At least it is for me. I also owned a Minelab SE and have seen people make the comment that the SE is deeper than the E-Trac. Again I say it simply says they didn't really understand the E-Trac. Without any doubt the E-Trac is far deeper and more stable than the SE. Again, at least for me.

If you take the time and honest effort to understand your detector, you will get great performance.
 
I can tell you that I have personally dug nickels and pennies on salt water beaches up to 18 inches deep with the E-Track and the stock 11" coil. I found 14 rings and lots of junk jewelry while on vacation July 2009, and that was my first beach hunt. The E-Trac will put the rings in your pouch beach hunting.
 
I am new to this forum but have been a MDing hobbiest for 37 years. I have agonized over this very subject for the past month and maybe more. You see our club has about 114 members and most swing a Whites. After 2 years with the learning curve of the DFX I was really trying to decide how much of the V3 was hype and what was the actual function limits on depth on the two machines and telling the difference between those pesky pulltabs and the Gold rings. That's where the money is
Over the years I have had many different brands. I called the Minelab factory in Las Vegas and asked to talk to an engineer to help me make a decision. I had already purchased the E-trac book by Andy Sabbisch as I did the book on the DFX by Jeff Foster and read it as well as read many others opinions on different forums on the 2 detectors. I figured out that I didn't want to take another 2 years to get handy with the E-trac.

Anyway I downloaded the E-trac Emulator that is available on line and played with it a little after loading with a coin and jewelery pattern and noticed how it reacted to pulltabs vrs. Rings and jewlery. I was able to discriminate the pulltabs out with minimal effect on most rings.In a few evenings I ordered a used E-trac and am awaiting anxiously it's arrival. Even though the E-trac's warranty isn't available on used machines. The roughly $500 I saved over a new one will come back to me as soon as I hit the field. Oh yes the one ID is better as it uses a completely different method of discriminating (Ferrous and Conductivity). Now if that darned mailman would just deliver it before it snows too deep, GREAT Topic. HH:clapping:
 
Welcome aboard, Jaybird. You made the right decision. I went from a Vision to an E-Trac and couldn't be happier. The E-Trac is a coin hunting Beast. It won't take you long to get the hang of it. You went the same route I did. Amdy's book and the Emulator. Plus, I went through every page of posts on this forum and made copies of al the hhelpful hints peppered throughout. The forum is a wealth of information.

Good luck, and keep on diggin'

jimmyk in Missouri
 
Asking about an etrac on the etrac forum is like going to a Chevy dealer and asking what kind of car to buy Chevy or ford. What did you expect to hear? Ask on the V3 and you will predictable get a different opinion. As for looking at forums to decide what detector to buy I know some whites guys with 50,100+ silvers this season and they don't even know what a metal detecting forum is. A little research and persistence goes along way with any detector.
 
I've been asked this question a lot lately since I own both. All I will say (at least publicly :rolleyes: ) is that both machines have their strong and weak points and I simply choose the right one for the job at hand. Everyone has their own preferences. I tend to remain manufacturer-neutral...both companies make fine machines. Whatever you're swingin', knowing your machine, getting out there and putting your coil over a good target is 90% of the battle.

Beep
 
n/t
 
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