Why do you like your x-terra better than your previous metal detectors?

[bigtim1973]

I believe I love my x-terra metal detector better than any of the other machines I have used. I now have the X-terra 505. I have had some pretty good top ended models also and several mid range detecors from all the major brands. The other Minelabs I had were 2 of the Musketeers plus a Minelab Sovereign Elite. It just seems I have had more fun with my Xterra than other units. I liked the MXT I had as I found a couple of pocket spills and some nice civil war bullets but to me the MXT is over priced(I believe several of the other detectors available these days are this way also.) I really enjoy the simplicity of the xterra. With a good signal and just a number I seem to find more neat relics and stuff than I did with other VID machines. Also I really like the tone options available on the new 505 compared to the older 50 I used to have. I like the 3 tone setting and I also hunt in all metal when in very trashy areas. The large VID number is awesome and real easy to see even in the sunlight. I seem to dig less iron it seems with the x-terra than I did with my other top end machines. I primarily coinshoot but also do some civil war relic hunting to boot. Only 4 AA batteries as opposed to 8 AA which most other high end machines seem to take. Seems like my battery purchases are not so frequent too and that saves me money also. Very light weight and user friendly. I hear alot of people do not get good depth out of their x terra. I have not had any issues with that. Anybody feel free to post your thoughts about your experiences with their previous metal detectors and why you choose the x-terra over your other detectors, I would like to read them. Tim

 

[wal.ellison]

Hi Tim
I'm in the same boat as you, mate. Doing it for many years, had other Minelabs, Fisher, Whites and Garrett. When I retired I looked long and hard at several other detectors to find an ideal allrounder. The sheer number of features on the X-Terra 705 I eventually bought was what swung me. The build quality is first class and it seems to run for ever on 4 AA's. Accuracy of information given to the operator is top line. I reckon it's the world's best for these and other reasons.
Wal

 

[David]

Yes I also feel the X-Terra's are top notch in the field, I also have a Musketeer Advantage. My second choice is a Fisher F75/Technetics T2 Ltd and I also want to look at a Garrett AT Gold as well. I also really liked my Compass Judge I Automatic TR in 1975-76, maybe because of the virgin ground and less modern trash back then too, and I could tell by tone if I had a good solid coin with that machine and I made some good finds. I found nothing of good value that I can remember with my Bounty Hunter III BFO in about 1973-4 with no discrimination, I bought it on a dream not realizing the amount of trash I found but later on the Compass delivered the goods. And boy did I ever have long hair in 1975 and listened to much better music than is played today. I really loved the early-mid 1970's as a great time with great music and great cars. My 1974 Z-28 Camaro was blueprinted, hot, and a riot.

 

[morelic55]

Well, I've tried just about every machine out there, including Minelabs FBS machines, Fishers F-75 & LTD, T-2 and Whites machines. Hands down in the relic fields that I hunt, the Xterra 70 will out hunt any of them. I use the 10.5DD med freq coil, my stock 9" coil hangs on the wall. I have yet to use my WOT 15" coil much, but it seems to give me just as much depth as the 10.5 with alot more coverage......MO

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

Simplicity, tones and lightness. I've had detectors from most of the leading companies. The most recent was an Omega 8000. Unimpressed with it. Still got an SE Explorer which I consider to be a better detector than the X-Terra, mostly because of it's audio. The ferrous indicator is also another bonus is the FBS technology, however the lightness of the X-Terra often wins out over the SE. I still have a GTI 1500 which has it's advantages, but again, the lightness and tones of the X-Terra are hard to knock. I very much like the Garrett AT Pro, however, having played around with the AT Pro International, it's not as good (due to the high tone range going down as far as it does and the AT Pro seems to give a much better audio response than the International can do. With the AT, you can tell what's under the coil just by the audio).
I may actually sell off my Explorer and GTI next year and just keep the X-Terra. It would be perfect if I could get a 305 with a prospecting or sizing pinpoint mode as I find the the 70 has an unstable TID, which in my books makes it only marginally better than the 305.(I do use it with the TID stability turned on, which does improve things. That said, for the X-Terra's flaws, I still consider it to be one of the most enjoyable detectors that are on the market today. Simple yet well able to tell you what's in the ground.
Mick Evans.

 

[aussie]

I find this post so interesting because there are always so many ads for different machines which all sound so good. I have a 705 which is tops, especially on fine gold etc. I also have a basic Bounty Hunter Pioneer 505 which on coins is about as good as the xterra so that is my back up(by the way they are about $200 and will blank out iron completely as well as pulltabs if needed, naturally with a slight loss of depth). Mick in Dubbo you must have been very disappointed to spend up on a detector such as the Technetics 8000 to find it is not so hot in Australia. I look forward to further posts on this topic

 

[Furious T]

I have several detectors, including the X Terra 70, and I like them all. I need to use lighter detectors, and at one time had an Explorer II, and a Sovereign, but due to their weight I had to part with them...they are good detectors, but I just couldn't use them much. The lightness of the X Terra was a real bonus for me (I traded my Sovereign to get the 70), and I find the tones are wonderful. The various coils which give options for different detecting frequencies are another feature which make the X Terra an interesting machine to use. I love using the X Terra and think I do ok with it, but I also love using all my other detectors and do ok with them too (including the Omega 8000). HH,Pete.

 

[bigtim1973]

I guess after reading some of your post and thoughts on the Xterra, I see alot of similiar thoughts as mine are. I have had some real good luck with other units like I said previously and I am not going to bad mouth any name brand at all. I guess it boils down to preference for me because going into a computerized menu and resetting a level and then having to rebalance was just a pain in the butt. I like to turn on a machine press a setting and take off and I do not mind manually ground balancing either. Just taking time and digging all good repeatble signals no matter what the screen says can give some very interesting finds and that is another reason I like the number the Xterra has instead of a probable discription of what the item may likely be. Tim

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

Minelabs are hard to beat for sure!

 

[KurtB]

The X70 strikes a happy medium between the lightning fast response detectors and the low and slow detectors. It is very forgiving in that it can be used by people with different hunting styles and still performs very well. If Minelab would replace that big fat 10.5"DD coil with a slim line I could stop trying other detectors.

Kurt

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

Yeah it was Aussie. Bought it from the local importer too. Don't know why though, I ended up sending it back to the States myself in the end for repair. May as well have bought from there in the first place and at least saved a few dollars. Aussie dealers don't show any loyalty at all.
It did have some good redeeming qualities, however, it's flaws were too great to keep so I sold it back to the dealer at half price ( I didn't consider it to be a marketable product). Makes you appreciate the X-Terra.
Mick Evans.

 

[7centsworth]

I had a couple of bounty hunters and a micronta. Before i bought the x-terra 50 after i learned it I sold it and bought a x-terra 70. I find things in so called hunted out yards all the time that others missed.

 

[tjhoosier]

As a relative newbie I find this question to be extremely interesting and thought provoking. I started with the Xterra 505 and learned on it. I've since upgraded to the 705. The ability to switch coils and use the same detector for different applications is what drew me to the Xterra's in the first place. I have not been disappointed. Thanks to all who have posted here and given their opinions of other brands or detectors. You possibly have saved me hundreds!

 

[Spursky]

Hi guy's, what an interesting topic as stated before. Well I'm new to Minelab, got the xterra 705. I've been playing with it a little bit. I admit it's different than my White's mxt Pro. I figure I have a pretty good pair to draw to though!!
I've been detecting since the 70's and the electronics today are truly amazing. If anyone has any tips on the coin #'s I'd appreciate it. Awesome forum keep up the good work am proud to be a member., Rick.

 

[7centsworth]

are on the faq faq post at top of page. Digger put them together for us.

 

[Digger]

Welcome to the X-TERRA forum. 7centsworth is correct, there is a US coin TID chart posted in the FAQFAQ section near the top of these posts. In addition, I included one in the FREE eBook I wrote, "Understanding your X-TERRA" which also has a link provided at the top of these posts. All you have to do is go to the Minelab website, log in and download the book. I may be a bit biased, but I think you'll find it informative! JMHO HH Randy

 

[T.A.L.LasVegas]

I like my exterra 705 better than any other MD I have used because I find more with it than any other. I credit some of that success to the detector but much of my success comes from digger's ebook and this forum, they are the reason I love my MD from day one.
Thank you digger and the forum for making the exterra 705 my best experience ever.
HH
Todd

 

[hotrod53]

I have owned several other brands of detectors in my 39 years of detecting (I started early, lol), my last I used for 10+ years. After my brother purchased a 705, it quickly became the friend and family standard, 5 units and counting! IMO, the advantages are the light weight, the audio tone is much more tolerable than my last machine (using headphones), the collapsible shaft is nice for transport, interchangeable coils, easy ID system, and without question, my find ratio has improved. Up until a year ago I was using a heavier machine with a larger concentric coil and an analog ID meter, it almost had to be pried out of my dirty hands. It took me a while to feel comfortable with the transition, but now, no regrets.