Menu
What's new
Find's Treasure Forums

Welcome to Find's Treasure Forums, Guests!

You are viewing this forums as a guest which limits you to read only status.

Only registered members may post stories, questions, classifieds, reply to other posts, contact other members using built in messaging and use many other features found on these forums.

Why not register and join us today? It's free! (We don't share your email addresses with anyone.) We keep email addresses of our users to protect them and others from bad people posting things they shouldn't.

Click here to register!

Need Support Help?

Cannot log in?, click here to have new password emailed to you

I have the Minelab Excalibur 1000 in mind. What would you say to persuade me to get the Infinium?

K

king-ghidorah

New member
I had posted this in the Infinium Classroom but traffic is very slow over there so ...

"I have been thinking about getting the Excalibur 1000 from Minelab. What are the pluses & minuses of the Infinium LS over the Excal?

This has been talked about a little bit in Beach hunting forum of which the majority are Excal men:

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?26,825049,826546#msg-826546

I want to see what the other side has to say."
 
Probably not much that will matter. Its your thousand dollars. In the end it's about six of one, half dozen of the other.
I like the Infinium because she seems easier to swing and better balanced - the Excal is sorta clunky by comparison.
The Infinium might have the edge on raw depth, too being a PI.
There is probabably a greater learning curve with the Inifium, but the Excal takes a bit of learning, too.
The one compelling reason, if it were me, would be that the Infinium is made in Texas, as in the Good Ol' USA. :usaflag:
Minelabs are imports, as in you send your dollars overseas when you buy one.
 
I would say the Infinium can punch through the saltiest, mineralized soil...better then the Excaliber. I would also give the Infinium a thumbs up for greater depth, using the same coil size. The Infinium was designed to find gold, so it is tweaked in that direction to maximize it's potential. It loves gold rings. The Excaliber is a general all around detector to find a variety of finds including gold. The audio discrimination on the Infinium remains accurate to it's maximum depth, the Excaliber loses it's conductivity accuracy at a cut-off point.
 
This is what I have surmised so far with this:

1) The Infinium does go deeper as it's a PI machine. That I already knew.

2) Discrimination to me seems more accurate on the Excal but of course like you said it does have a cut-off point unlike the Infinium.

3) It does look better balanced than the Excal. Most Excal users spends the $120+ for a lightning rod shaft to give it better balance,

4) The Infinium does not come with water-proof headphones. You have to buy those in addition to BUT the Infinium is about $130 cheaper than the Excal so you'd still be showing a plus in the wallet after buying a waterproof headset.

5) It does not come with a coil cover BUT I'd be using Marine Epoxy with a bed liner spray to protect the coil. This makes it easier as it gets rid of falsing which I am not sure if that is an issue with PI but it was with the Excal with sand getting in between the cover & coil and having to continually clean it all the time. Plus it is cheaper than a coil cover.

6) Both machines can be used on Land. The Infinium weighs a .4 lbs. more but is better balanced.

7) I am not confident in the discrimination system used by the Infinium. It doesn't seem as thorough as the Excals. I will have to read the Infinium manual some more.

Eight) 10x14" is the largest you can put on the Infinium. The Excal is not interchangeable BUT I learned today from ML representative that any SEF coil could be hard wired by ML technicians at their tech shop. Not sure about the price. Still waiting to hear about that.

9) Both machines have their nuances with the tones and it will take time to learn them.

10) Garrett has a 2 year warranty whereas the Excal has a 1 year plus the 2 year ESP plan to give you a total of 3 years.

That's about all I could think of for now.
 
Minuses.
Well, there is a logical and practical reason to why some detector models are more popular for water and beach use than others.
Pluses.
However the Infinium LS will do better in black sand and highly mineralized area where VFL units have difficulties, but only when all of its 96 frequencies are fully operational.
The control housing of the Infinium LS is easy to chest mount.

As for detection depth; it is entirely in the hand of the user/operator.
 
ivanll said:
Minuses.
Well, there is a logical and practical reason to why some detector models are more popular for water and beach use than others.
Pluses.
However the Infinium LS will do better in black sand and highly mineralized area where VFL units have difficulties, but only when all of its 96 frequencies are fully operational.
The control housing of the Infinium LS is easy to chest mount.

As for detection depth; it is entirely in the hand of the user/operator.
Click to expand...

I think the Excal are more popular because Minelab has gotten a good reputation and people have looked at that brand more so than the Infinium. This of course does not mean that the Infinium is an inferior machine. It just means the Excal is more popular.


What do you mean when all 96 frequencies are fully operational?

The detection depth is dependent on the operator but if you take an experienced operator on each perspective MD the Infinium would go deeper. Even the Excal forum admitted that. Even the lower end PI machines go very deep. I always hear the phrase,"Bring a shovel"
 
Aside from three-speed ground tracking, adjustable frequency, audio tone ID, iron check, salt elimination, full range discrimination, and a host of other features, this might help you.

Bill
 
This is what I have surmised so far with this:

2) Discrimination to me seems more accurate on the Excal but of course like you said it does have a cut-off point unlike the Infinium.
This requires a different mindset. As discrimination goes, the DISC is more traditional on the Minelab, and thus accurate, as you put it. But Garrett chose to offer an identification ability as opposed to traditional DISC. In fact, they could do little else, mostly due to the PI format of the instrument. However, they have broken new ground by doing so, and to date, I believe they are the only maker who has been able to pull that off.

4) The Infinium does not come with water-proof headphones. You have to buy those in addition to BUT the Infinium is about $130 cheaper than the Excal so you'd still be showing a plus in the wallet after buying a waterproof headset.
I've thought that odd, myself. The Inifinium is a "land and sea" detector (thus the "LS" in the name), so you'd think they would accommodate at least wade capable headphones. I'm sure Garrett had some logic behind this, but I don't know what that is.

5) It does not come with a coil cover BUT I'd be using Marine Epoxy with a bed liner spray....
Phooey, get coil covers. Seal them with silicone and then you can replace them when you wear them out.
This isnt a VLF instrument, which creates a field around the antenna, coating or not. It's a PI, which is vastly different. You gotta remember that... this is not your mommas detector. I wouldn't monkey with the electrophysics of thing without precedence, if it were me.

6) Both machines can be used on Land. The Infinium weighs a .4 lbs. more but is better balanced.
I wouldn't remotely consider the Excal a land detector. I'd consider the Infinium only marginally suited to it, and then mostly for prospecting. I'd recommend any number of other instruments for normal hunting ashore.

7) I am not confident in the discrimination system used by the Infinium. It doesn't seem as thorough as the Excals. I will have to read the Infinium manual some more.
Here we go again: The Infinium's DISC is not DISC at all. The Infinium is for the bloke who can think outside the box, as they say. If you want DISC, then you have to go to a VLF instrument.
Before I did anything else, I'd haunt the Infinium specific forums (there's one here on findmall.com) and visit some of the sites dedicated to the Infinium. Here's the best site:

http://www.akmining.com/mine/gagold.htm

Once there, scroll down for more about the Infinium than you may imagine...

Eight) 10x14" is the largest you can put on the Infinium. The Excal is not interchangeable...
The Infinium has interchangeable coils as it can be affected by mineralization, The optional coils may be needed depending on your hunt environs. And at the risk of being redundant the Infinium is a PI instrument - always remember that. The depth of detection is not determined the same way as it is with VLF instruments. By all accounts, the Infinium is as deep as ANY detector available (including the Excal) with it's stock coil AND offers mostly accurate ID at those same depths... Interchangeable coils are a GOOD thing.

9) Both machines have their nuances with the tones and it will take time to learn them.
Like with anything.

10) Garrett has a 2 year warranty whereas the Excal has a 1 year plus the 2 year ESP plan to give you a total of 3 years.
And Garrett has excellent customer service, located in Texas, should it be needed. It's not uncommon to hear people report that Garrett fixes their detectors at no, or little, charge. I've had them send me parts for FREE, too.
 
They are both very good water machines. Probably the best 2 on the market. The Excal has better tones, but you can change coils on the Infinum, which will give you better options.
Mick Evans.
 
The two detectors mentioned are both used for beach and water hunting but in a different manner. One is slow and deep. One is faster more area cover.
Most operators know not to compare a PI and a VLF detector and yet when it come to depth that is exactly what we do.

At a moderate to fast coil sweep speed a multi-frequency VLF detector will outperform a PI detector in depth on a saltwater beach.
At a slower PI optimum coil sweep speed the PI will outperform a VLF detector in depth on the same beach.

Garrett's website have heaps of good info on the use of single and multi-frequency detectors also check the recommendations on Beach/Surf Applications.
The Multiple Frequency Technology - 96 Frequencies is mentioned on page 20 in Garrett's 2009 Buyers Guide.
As can be seen the Infinium LS is indeed a multi-frequency detector.

No persuasion intended.
Just my view, disagreement is allowed.

Chose the detector that will suit your hunting area and style the most.

Often "PI" Pulse Induction detector users are "PI" Patience Individuals.
 
Hi bud. Where ya been? I miss yacking with you. You're an Infinium expert, toss in your two cents and show some of the godies you have found.

BIll
 
These fine specimens were found with an Infinium on the banks of the Yuba River in Northern California by a lady attorney who took prospecting classes taught by my good bud, Parrot, and became quite profecient at her craft and has since found many other choice nuggets and won several awards for her expertise.

Bill
 
Hmm, I was not aware that the Garrett had 96 frequencies like the Infinium but it's ID method is not as good as the LS?
 
Well, me neither. 96 or 596 frequencies, who cares? It's all a matter of operator skill: Give a sophisticated machine to a novice and it's like wrapping a brick in Christmas paper.

An Infinium in the right hands is awsome too I suspect, but I wouldn't invest in an Infinium if I was only going to hunt beaches.

The Sea Hunter's Discrim ( for me at least) is superb; Discrete Trash Elim in the dry sand amongst the junk, and Standard Pulse operation out in the surf and wet sand. For me it works. Check out the Bulgari jewellery website. Check out reference 'B-Zero1' ref 'AN850656'.. this ring is 18 carat white gold encrusted with over 24 pave diamonds and worth over $3000 (not that I'll get 3 Grand for it secondhand)

Anyway, I dig everything with only a hint of discrim...it means you'll kiss a few frogs along the way, but hey!

Good luck
 
Chivas Regal said:
Well, me neither. 96 or 596 frequencies, who cares? It's all a matter of operator skill: Give a sophisticated machine to a novice and it's like wrapping a brick in Christmas paper.

An Infinium in the right hands is awsome too I suspect, but I wouldn't invest in an Infinium if I was only going to hunt beaches.

The Sea Hunter's Discrim ( for me at least) is superb; Discrete Trash Elim in the dry sand amongst the junk, and Standard Pulse operation out in the surf and wet sand. For me it works. Check out the Bulgari jewellery website. Check out reference 'B-Zero1' ref 'AN850656'.. this ring is 18 carat white gold encrusted with over 24 pave diamonds and worth over $3000 (not that I'll get 3 Grand for it secondhand)

Anyway, I dig everything with only a hint of discrim...it means you'll kiss a few frogs along the way, but hey!

Good luck
Click to expand...



It is to a degree a matter of operator skill but there is an avenue of diminishing returns. I am sure none of us here would go to Radio Shack and buy a $99.95 MD and expect much out of it no matter how skilled we are. It can only do so much. So giving a cheap machine to a skilled hunter is like wrapping a X-mas gift in used toilet paper.

An Infinium is supposedly Land & Sea. I was just looking at it from the Sea aspect but it does have benefits such as the it's terrific gold seeking capabilities. I was also watching a relic hunter's vid and he was in VA somewhere and the soil was heavily mineralized so guess what he was using, an Infinium and it punched right through as this doesn't affect a PI's performance and he found himself a US buckle. I was only looking at it for it's water capabilities and it does go deep and yes you will pick up everything but it's way of identifying objects in the ground will let you know to dig or not with practice and use as with the Excal as another case in point. You have to learn it's tones as well.

What did you mean by "kiss a few frogs along the way"?

I ask because I can take that two ways from the way I think as an individual.

1)You are kissing a few frogs in that you are finding a few sinkers and other junk OR

2) You are kissing a few frogs but their is a prince behind it.

I looked at the disc method of the Hunter (below) and it states this, "...shows the typical detection responses from metals in both Trash Elimination modes. At a discrimination setting of eight, all metals above NICKELS in Standard (Std) mode, and above PULLTABS in Discrete (Dis) mode, are detected. This example illustrates how the enhanced discrimination power of Discrete mode ensure that you can eliminate pull tabs with little or no rejection of most rings. Another remarkable innovation from Garrett."

That sounds nice but what concerns me is that foil,nickel & tabs are eliminated and of course you eliminate gold too and various other older coins and certain types of gold so that doesn't sit to well with me.
 
Well, kissing frogs means that you'll be digging junk.

The painful truth is that to get the goodies then you must ....dig everything. Use too much Discrim and you'll never know how much stuff you are walking over...Discrim reduces depth penetration. The Garrett blurb is correct up to a point. If you reject pulltabs you will also reject other rings with the same electronic signature, but you will find others. Indeed you should only ever use Discrim (with any machine) as a last resort. Out on the wet sand there's not so much junk anyway...just jewellry. In the dry sand where the people gather is where you find coins galore along with the trash.

I love my Sea Hunter II, tho others equally love thier Infiniums and Minelabs. I have been treasure hunting since 1978 and in that time have used all kinds and makes of detector and in that time only two makes really grabbed me....Tesoro in the early '80's for hunting on Roman habitation sites and areas, and Garrett for almost everything else since.

To my mind an ideal combination would be a Garrett PI for the wet sand and surf and an ACE250 fitted with a 4.5" coil for the really trashy areas and a 9x12" coil for better depth in the less trashy dry sand areas.

Happy hunting. (Feel free to give me an IM)
 
I own an excal 1000 and a infinium LS both good detectors,if you are going to hunt land & sea buy the excal. If you are going to hunt the sea buy the infinium,.I have had my infinium sence April , I have found about 300 grams of GOLD ,and 200 grams of silver. One thing you might want to thank about is the type of detectors everyone in your area is using.You want to use a detector as good or better than what everyone else is using or you might don't find any thing.I have been huntting for 30 years all over The U.S.A. and find that this work find for me ,So happy huntting Ron Lord Naples, Fl.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top