I had used a 1500 until about August of this year. I used the machine for about 10 years and absolutely loved it. The imaging was fantastic. However, I picked up an AT Pro and haven't looked back since. In pro mode, the audio gives you so much more information than you get with the 1500. The DD coil on the pro gives you much better target separation and much faster response. I have been hunting in my sister in-laws yard off and on over the years. She owns a house built in the late 1800's. I had recovered some interesting relics and some clad over the years, but not any silver. I found three silver quarters (1925 Standing Liberty, 1943 Washington, and 1944 Washington) in her yard my first two hunts with the pro. I was hunting in an area that I had gone over many times with my 1500 but had missed those quarters. The 1500 is a great machine, but the technology is old and the processor is slow. I am very happy with the AT pro.