I have shoulder/rotator cuff issues and tried the equinox much of last year. It's a great machine, and there's something to the multi frequency thing, but it's balance, weight, and grip are not at all designed well, especially compared to the deus. After months of using the equinox and aggravating my shoulder pain, I returned to the deus in the Fall and it was such a relief! Like returning to an old friend- suddenly I could hunt an extra couple hours without the resulting pain, and as far as performance, it's equal to or better than the nox in most situations. The only thing I think the multifrequency may help with is certain objects which are shaped funny, like a crumpled up spur or a bent coin- seems to see the odd item better than the deus every once in a while. All in all, though, the balance and capabilities of the deus, when it comes to my shoulder issues, makes it being my main detector a no-brainer.