I'll try to be open minded and un biased in my response, but I will guarantee you that it is almost impossibe to do so, if you have a lot of field time with a variety of makes and models. Also, my views are canted because I live (and detect) in a world with a LOT more mineralization that you do in Florida. Regardless, I'll try to be fair in my comments:
<STRONG>"Id like to know how the Prism rates in comparison to other Whites products not based on advertisements but by field use by actual users, not official dedicated testers or sales hype."</STRONG>... Fair question. I used the Prizm II, III and IV before I purchased a brand new Prizm IV last summer. I sold it very shortly after, yet have given tham all more field time after the Prizm V came out.
I am a fan of the XLT and XL Pro and feel either one has a place in my personal battery as a 'cruising unit' for covering wide-open sites. They each have qualities that make them versatile, and in some cases, 'fun.' For example, Tone ID on the XLT is a feature that I use, but I do NOT use all the time. In my case, I feel I know when the best times are to turn it 'Off' for best performance.
But both of the moderate to faster-sweep models are not very good picks when hunting in trashy environments, such as woodchip or sand-filled playgrounds, super trashy picnic sites, iron littered ghost town sites, etc. In those envirornments, I prefer to use a slow-motion, quick-response (and recovery) model.
For many years (since 1983) that need has been filled by Tesoro models, mainly, as well as some Gold Mountain and Pillar (Tesoro-built) models, and then by the excellent White's Classic series. Especially the Classic III Plus, Classic II SL, Classic ID and the IDX & IDX Pro models.
The Classic III SL, ID and IDX Pro have been my three favorite slow-motion units for almost the past decade (since they brought out the 'SL' version in 1996) because they had a better designed control housing. By that I mean that:
<STRONG><FONT COLOR="#ff0000"><BIG>*</BIG></FONT></STRONG> I prefered the use of the 8-AA alkaline battery tray.
<STRONG><FONT COLOR="#ff0000"><BIG>*</BIG></FONT></STRONG> I have (and continue to) enjoy the 55 hour (minimum and generally 65-75 hr.) battery life.
<STRONG><FONT COLOR="#ff0000"><BIG>*</BIG></FONT></STRONG> The headphone jack location, at the rear of the control housing, eliminates any tugging when using a high-quality set of headphones, such as the Killer B's, and this also keeps the headphone cord close to the body to reduce hang-ups in brushy environments.
But better still, I have, and do, rely on the performance of the Classic series because they have a Tesoro-like very slow motion requirement yet have a very quick-response and quick-recovery. Great for hunting in trashy and/or brushy sites.
To add to the field performance, the Classic models have:
<STRONG><FONT COLOR="#ff0000"><BIG>*</BIG></FONT></STRONG> An easily accessed Ground Balance control.
<STRONG><FONT COLOR="#ff0000"><BIG>*</BIG></FONT></STRONG> A variable adjustment of the Discriminate mode which allows a more precises setting.
<STRONG><FONT COLOR="#ff0000"><BIG>*</BIG></FONT></STRONG> A final strength of these Classic models is that they come with either an 8" or 950 sized coil .. BUT they have a 4" and 6
"> tho...