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Minelab Explorer XS for $300

J

J_w73

New member
I can get a used Explorer XS that comes with an extra coil, carry bag, head phones and some other accesories for $300. I have read some mixed reviews about this model.
How does it compare to some other units out there... like the xterra 70 or 705... or the F2 OR F4.. or the Garret ACE 250..??
I'm just getting into the hobby and have been researching all weekend on what unit to buy.
Any help is appreciated..

I can also get a used xterra 70 for $400 ... comes with a stock coil, 6" concentric coil, and carry bag..

what is the better deal .. or better machine..??
 
J_w,
That is a pretty low price for an XS. I would have someone check it out that knows the Explorer. You know the old adage... If it looks like it's too good to be true - probably is. Hopefully you can meet up with the seller and see the unit in action before you buy.

One concern is that Minelab has quit repairing the XS model (at least that is what someone posted on this forum). You may want to check into that too.

The XS is a very good machine. Not sure what you have heard but in reality the XS, the EII and the SE are very similar. I think each upgrade boasted a quicker processor, the digital numbers are different, but for the most part the XS has everything you need to compete with the big guys.

Hope this helps, good luck and HH - BF
 
The coin biter offers some good advice...and would take heed as its at least 10 years old but at a very good price if it works well...Two versions of the XS...1999...and 2000 which read 99 and 00 on the screen..99 had plastic problems and some audio problems so would prefer the 00 and hope its a 00 version unless the owner had it refitted with new plastics which Minelab did to refurbish its first Explorer the 00 XS. I realize from the second version XS 00 thru 11-SE and E-trac improvements have been made but a good working XS well learned is certainly a good unit.
Do keep in mind the XT 70 is a good unit in its own right with a small learning curve and lightweight as the XS is heavy with a long learning curve for many. I would visit a Minelab dealer and try both on for size to give yiou an idea and good luck in your decision...
 
If your new to the hobby, the Xterra 70 is a great detector for you. The learning curve is a pretty simple one, and its a pretty good detector and has fast response. I had one before I felt I was ready to take on the big learning curve served its purpose well! the XS is a great old coin detector! and can get them deeeeeepies. unfortunately very slow feedback and more weight and takes alot more time to learn. i think you should get a Xterra 70 because i think the XS with frustrate you, and make you give up on detecting(maybe not i could be wrong, but it will disappoint you in the beginning!. i have an SE now have had it for a few months, and its a very hard detector to learn i think i've learned about 5% if that of what it can do! plus the XS is on the chop block for Minelab, so that means its going off the repair list. which means if your XS breaks you are SOL!

Weston
 
Thanks for the info.. the XS is local so I will be able to check it out..
I was looking at both of the manuals and it looks like the XS uses a display method that isn't used anymore.. or isn't too popular.. i don't see any of the other units halving it..

a half and half with a cursor locator for what type of metal it is.
There is also a number screen with 1 -32 for conductivity...
I don't see that the XS uses an id interphase (1-100) where the number tells you what the item is.. This seems like it is very useful as pull tabs and certain wanted items come up as the same.. but from what I have read pull tabs will always come up 36 but the wanted items are 32-34..
Is this a feature that is worth having.. and how outdated or odd is the XS display method..
 
I'm also seeing a brand new xt 705 with the kellyco package(extra coil and all accessories ) $850 package for $675
 
I disagree that the Explorer is a confusing machine...it very straight forward when set up right and you know what to listen for. Another forum sponsor Detector Depot has some great packages as well and the owners of the company will give you guidance in choosing the right machine. The screen format has been basically the same on the XS, II, and SE. The axes have been transposed on the E-Trac and the find curve straightened - that's all. SmartScreen is the way to go rather than the numeric digital screen on these units as far as I'm concerned. The Explorers are superior to the Xterra in my opinion.
 
I have looked at the other explorers.. what is the difference between the XS, II and the SE or SE pro..(I think I saw a SE PRO) ??
 
Each one is a little faster than the next, depth is comparable, SE has a new pinpoint system, and SE Pro is the SE with a Pro coil on it. The E-Trac has new programming which some like and some don't. I like my SE Pro quite a bit and have had a hard time switching over to my E-Trac which is Minelab's newest machine in this line. You'll need to get an X-1 probe and you should carry a supplemental Vibra-Probe as very fine pinpointing with the X-1 (a dirty coin in a pile of dirt) can be very frustrating and time consuming. The Vibra-Probe will zero right in on a target that's right there in front of you somewhere and save time.

If you have the money - go with a new SE Pro as the E-Tracs are back ordered.
 
Erik is correct as usual :)

There's nothing confusing about the Explorer series.

I have yet to see proof that Minelab is stopping support for the Explorer XS. The only document I saw was for other machines.

I'll give you $400 + half of the shipping. That will give you about $90 to put toward another machine.
 
Shambler said:
Erik is correct as usual :)

There's nothing confusing about the Explorer series.

I have yet to see proof that Minelab is stopping support for the Explorer XS. The only document I saw was for other machines.

I'll give you $400 + half of the shipping. That will give you about $90 to put toward another machine.
Click to expand...

So I guess you are saying this is a good deal..???
 
Yup. If you decide to take a different route, I'd be happy to buy it from you or the guy selling it for that cheap.
 
For $300 you can hardly go wrong, if the thing works right. The display is the same on the XS, EII and SE. It is a fair indicator as to what you might have. I think of the screen as a secondary indicator; the sound is the primary indicator. This is nice because you do not have to be constantly looking at the screen. On thing that explorer users have asked for since it came out is a stable visual ID system. It must be too hard with this machine, because they never changed it (maybe they fixed it on the eTrac?).

The display is a joke. I run mine a little on the hot side so that makes the cursor dance around some. Add that to the fact that the cursor will not move to the "target indication" until a threshold sound is heard again. It works ok in clean ground - worthless in junk/iron ground. This applies to all versions of the Explorer.

With that said, the XS will still out hunt almost all detectors on the market today. I don't think any to the newer Explorer versions will have a depth advantage. The EII may have a slight advantage in junky sites since it is a bit faster. The SE in my opinion is not as good as the EII.

Hope this helps and HH - BF
 
I agree with Erik, the XS machines are really good and not that hard to learn. I think some people out think themselves and then get overwhelmed with the various ways the machine can be set, and thebn mentally defeat themselves. Just read these posts and Andy Sabish's book on Mastering the Minelab, and you should be fine. Another note here: My detecting partner uses the XS he bought about 8-9 years ago. I would say 80% of the time he has more silver, best coin, and often the oldest penny at our monthly club meetings. And he still uses the factory large coil that came with it. All he added was the Sun-Ray pinpointer. My point is, the XS machine can and will find a LOT of nice items, you just have to be patient and use the machine. As time goes you'll get better and better with it. Myself, I own an Etrac and use my 9 year old XS as my backup, both very good machines. ....Good Luck if you decide to go with the XS
 
guess I should have jumped on the deal cause the guy sold the unit already..
anyway.. thank you for all of the device..I learned a lot
 
XS is twice the machine any of those are. Go for it!!!!
 
See Shambler was right! :biggrin: Well you can give Lynn a call at Detector Depot (all sales help this fine forum!) and get yourself a nice new SE Pro or something. Buying used is a gamble as far as I'm concerned. Lots of machines at different price points......let us know how you make out!
 
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