metal detector advanced technology detector with large lcd display for sale

I got this for my granddaughter for her birthday. She was very excited and found coins I had buried in the yard for her to try it out. It isn"t a White"s or Tesoro, but it is as good as SOME of the Garretts, Fishers, and Bounty Hunter"s out there: which, by the way, are all made by the same company. For the beginner, it is a great way to enter the hobby without a huge investment. It discriminates pretty well, and was always right when the coin was dug up. Of course, pull tabs, buried aluminum cans, and rusty metal gave false signals, as will happen even on the most expensive units. I am very satisfied and may have myself a new detecting partner!

QUICK SHOOTER Metal Detector Advanced Technology 3 Modes Large LCD Display NIB. OLETOOKS BOOKS & MORE "The Little Bookstore Behind Bag End" Reasonable Shipping - Quality Packaging - USPS Delivery Amazing Quick Shooter Special Order Advanced Technology METAL DETECTOR W/ Large LCD Display Up for consideration is a new sealed special order lightweight, full-feature advanced technology Metal Detector with big LCD display and double ID indication sold by Home Depot. Detector has three (3) tones to indicate different types of metal. Features full information read-out. Operates on two 9-volt alkaline batteries (not included). This is an amazing detector for the price that has many features found only on metal detectors selling for much, much more. Original retail: $149.95. Very similar to the advanced models Bounty Hunter & Teknetics detectors and the Barska Elite 200 detectors (see photos for additional information). Please visit the Home Depot Website for comparison of these advanced metal detectors. A great bargain at this low price. Thank you for visiting OleTooks eBay Store. Details Discriminates between metals Ignores undesired targets Three operation modes: All Metal, Disc and Notch Displays type and signal strength of target Sensitivity: Up to 20 cm depth for a quarter sized object Three tones for different metal types Target and Disc numeric indications Low battery indication 10 inch waterproof search coil Become a detectorist and learn to find lost treasure, coins, relics, jewelry from times long ago. Since this item is new, we can only except returns if the box has never been opened. Please review our photos for additional information. Thank you for visiting OleTooks eBay Store. Shipping USPS Parcel Select Mail or Fed-ex 6 pound (includes packaging) anywhere in the U.S. By placing a bid on this auction you agree to the sellers terms and conditions and payment options listed below. Please e-mail us with any questions you may have before you bid. We want you to be happy with your purchase. TRANSACTION TERMS, PAYMENT AND SHIPPING INFORMATION: Buyer prepays and pays appropriate postage within 3 days of end of auction. Payment may be made by Pay Pal. Shipping is normally USPS Priority Mail (heavy items may be shipped USPS Parcel Post, UPS Ground or FED EX Ground (UPS and Fed-Ex do not ship to P.O. Boxes). In case of multiple buys we will be happy to combine them to save you money . Fragile merchandise is always packed with bubble wrap and peanuts. Thank you for your cooperation. HAVE FUN BROWSING EBAY AND VISIT US AGAIN...

The Teknetics T2 is a new high-performance multi-purpose professional grade metal detector. It utilizes the latest advances in electronic technology, and its functional design represents the leading edge of the metal detector engineering art. The T2 is easier to learn to use properly than other comparable metal detectors. Its combination of light weight and balance provides comfort unmatched by any other detector in its price range. Its most popular uses include coin-shooting, relic hunting, and gold prospecting. The T2 has a Large LCD Screen with Target Identification Display, giving youa Straightforward Menu-Driven User Interface Menu System which is Always Visible.

An easy to use metal detector ideal for beginners or well practiced treasure seekers this device comes with a large LCD display, dual operating modes and 3 modes of sensitivity. 3 audible tones for iron, mid range or silver can be heard via the inbuilt speaker or connecting headphones to the 3.5mm jack. The unit has a maximum sensitivity depth of up to 18cm and requires 6x AA batteries (not supplied).

For most of us, the fantasy of finding buried treasure faded away along with other childhood passions, like making it into the Guinness World Recordsfor building the world’s largest pillow fort. But that doesn’t have to be the case. With the right metal detector, a little patience, and some knowledge of history, anyone can dig up centuries-old jewelry and long-lost coins — or at least have a better chance of finding a lost earring in the grass.

Before you go hunting for artifacts, think about where you plan to dig and whether you’d be disturbing a site that should otherwise be preserved. “There are places that people can metal-detect and kind of scratch that itch to find things,” says Matthew Reeves, director of archaeology at James Madison’s Montpelier in Virginia, noting that beaches are a good place to start. But he also explains that there is “a tense relationship between metal detectorists and archaeologists” stemming from incidents of theft and destruction of historic sites throughout Europe and the U.S. With that said, there are instances in which the two can cooperate. Reeves works with detectorists at Montpelier to recover and preserve the stories of the enslaved Americans who lived and labored on the 2,650-acre plantation. Before ever putting shovel to the ground, they carefully survey the land, looking for evidence of labor sites (usually a concentration of nails). If not properly handled and recorded, these sites and the stories of the people who labored there would be lost both to their descendants and to the world.

The general rule of thumb for using a metal detector — according to Reeves as well as Emily Chambers, a detectorist living in southwest England, and Artur Kropiwiec, a U.K.-based detectorist — is if you’re not digging on your own land, you need to make sure you have the landowner’s (or the state’s) permission first. When it comes to public land, laws differ from country to country and state to state. So it’s best to do a little research before you go treasure-hunting in your nearby park. And no matter where you’re digging, it’s a good idea to document and photograph where you find things, just in case.

We asked Reeves, Chambers, Kropiwiec, and five other experienced detectorists from the United States and Europe about the metal detectors they recommend.

Price:According to Brad Martin of Green Mountain Metal Detecting, the more expensive the machine, the more it can discriminate between trash and treasure. So while you shouldn’t spend thousands on your first metal detector, you don’t want to go too cheap, either. Martin says that “spending more than $150 from well-known brands like Garrett, XP, Minelab, and Fisher will save a lot of time and disappointment in the field.” To help you get a quick sense of the cost of each item, we’ve included a dollar-sign ranking for each product below: $ for a metal detector that costs less than $500, $$ for one that costs between $501 and $1,000, and $$$ for a price tag of more $1,000.

Ground type: Wherever you plan to search for buried treasure, your metal detector should match that type of ground. According to Martin, someone searching for gold jewelry on a saltwater beach should choose a different machine than someone searching for old coins in a park: “My advice is to visit a local hobby shop and have a chat. They will know what’s best for your area.” If you don’t have a local hobby shop, this guide will help get you acquainted with the top metal detectors on the market right now, some of which can handle all types of terrain.

No matter the ground type, your dig location will be a major factor in what you find. Branko Barisic, a Croatian detectorist who posts about his discoveries on his Instagram page, Metal Detecting Croatia, including a huge Roman coin depicting Alexander Severus, says location is more important than the fanciness of your metal detector. “In great locations, you can find amazing things with a cheap metal detector, but in a bad location, even with the best detector in the world, you’ll find nothing,” he says.

Both Martin and Chamberssay the best spots are those where the ground has remained relatively undisturbed for a long period of time. “Crop fields are plowed and turned, making some items too deep to detect,” says Martin. Most metal detectors can detect objects between four and eight inches deep, but more advanced or specialized machines can find metal up to 18 inches or more below the surface. Many detectorists look at old maps to find the ruins of old homes or ask permission to look for treasure at old houses that are about to be demolished. There is also “a very big difference between detecting in Europe and detecting in the United States,” says Barisic. “Most of the coins I see people find with detectors in America are a few hundred years old, but in Europe, it’s common to find Roman coins that are 2,000 years old.” Still, there’s cool stuff to uncover Stateside, too.

Level of experience:As with any piece of technical equipment, metal detectors are available in a range of complexities designed for every level of expertise. There are metal detectors meant for everyone from absolute beginners to world-champion treasure-hunters and archaeologists. If you’re just starting out, you’ll want to stay away from machines made for experts, as they come with a pretty steep learning curve. That said, some detectors are more intuitive than others and can easily be used when you’re starting out as well as once you have grown into a more experienced detectorist.

Barisic started his own detecting career with a Garrett Ace 250, which he says isn’t too complicated or heavy to carry. “For the money, it’s great because it has notch discrimination” — a function that allows you to choose which types of metals to target — plus “five search modes and a host of other features,” he says. This model has a search coil (the flat, round part at the bottom of the detector that does the searching) that is waterproof to a depth of nine inches, which, according to Connecticut-based detectorist Jessie Thompson, who has been passionate about metal-detecting since he was 14 years old, makes it great for practicing on sandy beaches. If your budget doesn’t accommodate the 250, the Garrett Ace 200 has a lot of the same features for a slightly lower price.

According to George Streeter, a detectorist with over 50 years of experience who hosts annual group hunts in New Hampshire and underwater hunts in the Caribbean, the Minelab Vanquish 440 has everything a beginner could need. It’s lightweight and collapsible, and it uses multifrequency technology, allowing you to search for silver, gold, jewelry, and more. It gives you both ID readings (the type of metal it detects) and depth readings to spare you the time and heartache of digging deep only to end up with nails. And like the Garrett Ace, it has a waterproof search coil (submersible up to three feet) so you can explore beaches, streams, and riverbeds. If the price of the 440 is too steep, Kropiwiec recommends the slightly cheaper Vanquish 340 for beginners.

Chambers, Kropiwiec, and Streeter are all fans of the Minelab Equinox 800. Streeter describes the interface as intuitive and says it can detect deeper and has more options than the Garrett Ace and the Minelab Vanquish. Kropiwiec says it’s a fairly simple detector to operate and that all you need in order to use it are some YouTube videos and field practice. He also adds that you can often find a used model in great condition for a lower price. The Equinox 800 uses Minelab’s multifrequency technology for supersensitive detection and lets you choose from four detecting modes: park, field, beach, and gold. It has a battery life of up to 12 hours, is waterproof up to ten feet, and, depending on which version you buy, can also come with wireless headphones (to help you hear the search tones without ambient distraction) and a pinpointer to help you find your target close up and through mud.

Three of the experts we spoke to — Martin, Barisic, and Kropiwiec — love this metal detector for its high frequency, which allows for greater sensitivity to small items and items with low conductivity, like alloyed or very thin pieces of jewelry. According to Barisic, who recently switched to using the XP Deus, it’s more precise and can detect items at a much deeper range than his previous Garrett AT Max. And Kropiwiec says the Deus will last a long time and retain its value. It’s an expert-level metal detector with tons of customizable functions that can be used on any terrain, including search modes for wet sand, dry sand, relic, and coin-hunting. It has a battery life of up to 27 hours and is fully waterproof up to 60 meters. Plus, the company updates its software often and offers free downloadable software upgrades for life.

Thompson has used the Minelab CTX 3030 throughout the Northeast and on detecting trips to England. “Minelab is a manufacturer of military-grade metal detectors on battlefields, and they’ve been making metal detectors for quite a while,” he says. He considers the CTX 3030 to be one of the deepest detectors on the market and says he has used it to find Roman brooches, Spanish silver reales coins, gold rings, necklaces, bracelets, and much more. Like the XP Deus, this metal detector has tons of customizable settings and is fully waterproof up to ten feet. It has a full-color LCD screen that allows you to detect multiple objects underground at once (displayed as dots on a grid) so you can distinguish the good stuff from the junk. And it comes with wireless headphones and a built-in wireless speaker that you can clip to your belt.

If you’ve got a kid who is 8 years old or younger and dying to start digging for treasure, Martin recommends this easy-to-use waterproof metal detector. “I have a 6-year-old myself and bought him a Nokta Makro Mini Hoard, which is very lightweight, short, and has a display that shows a thumbs-up smiley face or thumbs-down frown face to indicate if the metal is worth digging up,” he says. Because the detector is waterproof up to three feet, kids can get used to digging in loose sand on the beach before moving on to more difficult terrain. It also has a retractable wand that makes it easy to pack for traveling, plus it comes with a sand-sifter, a sand scoop, two sets of stickers, and a two-year warranty.

The search coil that comes included with the Minelab Equinox 800 metal detector is 11 inches in diameter. But as you gain more experience in the field, you may want to upgrade to a larger coil. “I have a new 15-inch coil from Minelab that gives me more coverage, and the results are surprising. It can find really small pieces of silver, gold, and bronze, even with fast settings,” says Kropiwiec. The larger coil also allows you to increase the depth at which you can detect small pieces of metal. Like the smaller coil that ships with the Equinox 800, it is waterproof while also being excellent for searching in fields and parks. Not all metal detectors allow you to switch out different coils, but most of the expert-level machines do. This particular search coil is only compatible with Equinox-series metal detectors.

All of the experts we spoke to said that, in addition to a metal detector, you will need a pinpointer to help locate your treasure once you start digging. Thompson likens it to a smaller version of a metal detector that helps prevent him from digging unnecessarily big and messy holes. “You want to dig what looks kind of like a trapdoor. Basically, you cut three sides and you tilt the dirt over. That way, when you put everything back in, it’s like you never were there,” he says. Both he and Dominique Ivy, a detectorist in the Northeast U.S., use White’s Electronics TRX Bullseye Waterproof Pinpointer. Unfortunately, that particular model is sold out everywhere online at the moment, but Martin also recommends this one from XP.

Are you looking for the best metal detector for your treasure-hunting adventures? With so many options available, picking the right detector can seem daunting. With advances in technology and affordability, there’s now a wide range of options for finding out what lies beneath. Whether you’re metal detecting to find coins, jewelry, relics, or gold, we’ve got a recommendation that fits your needs.

Prospecting machines can range from $500 all the way up to $10,000. Most of these machines will be PI and should be used in areas where gold is known to be found. If you want the best gold prospecting detector, go with a Minelab. They can’t be beaten. Read our complete guide on the best metal detectors for gold.

All the same rules above still apply when shopping for children. The only real difference is going to be weight and probably budget. Depending on the age of your child, you might want to start with a detector that’s not super heavy. You may also want to get a machine that’s relatively easy to use with not a lot of settings. Stick to the basics.

For young treasure hunters, I typically recommend starting out with Bounty Hunter. Read our complete guide to choosing the best metal detector for kids. You may also be interested in the best metal detectors under $200.

This buying guide will explain what to look for when choosing your first metal detector. It’s meant to take the guesswork out of your buying decision. But first, some hard truth. There is no universal “best” detector. The question you should be asking is, “what is the best detector for the type of hunting I want to do, where I live, my experience, and my budget.”

To answer that question, there are a few factors that may or may not affect your decision-making process. The purpose of this article is to break everything down in real terms, so you have a much better idea of which detector is best for YOU!

First and foremost, let’s talk about your experience with metal detecting. Have you ever detected before? If yes, you skip this section and move on. If no, then you’re probably going to want to start with a beginner metal detector that’s easy to use. There’s no quicker way to become frustrated with the hobby than buying a complicated detector with too high a learning curve.

All metal detectors detect all types of metal – like all cars drive down the road. What makes one detector better than another (like cars) is the additional features and enhancements. Features like notch discrimination, custom search modes, audio modes, enhanced tones, GPS function, etc, make a detector cost more. Look for a beginner or mid-range detector in the $150-300 range with a focus on user-friendliness. I don’t consider anything below that to be a real detector. I consider it a toy.

This may be the biggest factor of them all, especially when you’ve never tried a metal detector. Not everyone has $800 to drop on a hobby they aren’t sure they’ll even like. Most new hobbyists tend to spend $150-$300 on their first detector. Luckily, that buys just enough machine to get you hooked.

The type of hunting you plan on doing makes a major difference in what machine you buy. Manufacturers design most detectors as all-around detectors for coins, jewelry, and relics. However, there are also special machines for different uses.

Most machines are designed for coin and jewelry hunting – especially those priced under $600 or so. One thing you want to make sure of here is that you do not buy a machine with too high frequency like one designed for gold prospecting (you can read our guide here on the detectors for gold nuggets). As long as you stay under 15 kHz, you’ll be just fine for coin shooting (both silver and clad). Frequency and depth have an inverse relationship, so the higher you get, the less depth you’ll get on coin-sized targets.

You’ll also want to avoid a pulse induction machine – or PI for short. These are built more for saltwater hunting and gold prospecting. For all-purpose coin and jewelry hunting, stick to a single frequency VLF detector when first starting out.

The same rules apply to relic hunting. Most all-around machines will do just fine for relic hunting. If, however, you’re looking for a more advanced machine for the job, you’ll want to look for features like these:

If you plan to do most of your hunting in and around saltwater, you’ll need a specialty machine. Note that you do NOT need a specialty machine if you’re hunting on the dry sand of a saltwater beach. If hunting in the wet sand, surf, or water, you’ll need a machine that’s either PI or multiple frequency. Do NOT buy a single frequency machine for saltwater – despite the marketing material of the company! Will they work? Sure. But you’re depth will be severely limited to the point where it’s not even worth it to detect. While either PI or multi-frequency will work, there are some pros and cons to each. See our complete guide on the best metal detectors for the beach.​

PI machines are not designed to discriminate; a major downside. So if you plan to hunt beaches where there’s lots of trash, go with a multi-frequency. Metal detector makers build most PI machines for diving, so they are heavier. So you’ll also want to buy something like a chest/shoulder harness to bear the weight. The major benefit to PI machines is their superior depth in highly mineralized areas like saltwater beaches. You just can’t beat it. Most serious beach detectorists use PI.

When choosing any detector for the beach, it goes without saying that you want a machine that’s fully waterproof and submersible – which most detectors are not. Almost all detectors have a waterproof coil and shaft, but the control box is not. All you need is to be hit by one wave while digging your hole, and the machine is toast if it’s not waterproof.

The benefit of using a multi-frequency detector in saltwater is that you can discriminate out unwanted junk iron targets or pull tabs. You can also use the same machine for all of your hunting instead of the PI, where you should only really use it for beach hunting. The only real con to using a multi-frequency machine on the beach is that you won’t get the type of depth you would with a PI – although it will still be excellent.

Freshwater hunting is a MUCH easier beast to tackle. The only factor you need to consider here is that you get a fully submersible machine with good discrimination – that’s it.

There are a few types of metal detectors you should familiarize yourself with when choosing which detector to buy. I will summarize each below very broadly:

Very low frequency (VLF) is the technology built into most detectors – pretty much any machine under $1,000. These are signal frequency machines used for coin, jewelry, and relic hunting. If you’re just starting out, get yourself a VLF.

Pulse induction (PI) is a technology used in specialty machines for areas of high mineralization – i.e., saltwater beaches and gold country. These machines will punch through ground minerals like salt and iron and will report on all metal objects without the ability to discriminate.

Multi-frequency technology detectors typically go for over $1,000 and are most commonly found in the high-end Minelab detectors. These are best if you’re serious about metal detecting and have the budget to back it up. They’re also great for doing both saltwater and all-around detecting without having to buy two machines. I use the Minelab CTX 3030 for this very reason.

As a rule of thumb, the larger the coil, the better the depth and the greater the search area. So common sense tells you to buy the largest coil, right? Wrong.

There are other factors to consider. First, ground conditions and mineralization play a huge role in which size coil to use. While large coils get better depth, they also see more of the ground. That means your detector has to process more signals in mineralized soil, leading to very bad falsing, poor target ID, and missed targets. When that happens, you’re forced to reduce your sensitivity settings, and thus reducing your depth. A smaller coil would see less of the ground and process fewer ground signals. They also allow you to increase your sensitivity to the point where you could be getting the same depth as you would with the larger coil in neutral ground.

There are several types of coil configurations – the most widely used being the concentric and the double d (DD). Without getting into too much detail, DD coils will get you better detection depth and deal with ground mineralization better than a concentric. Concentric coils are typically more cost-effective. The only real advantage it has over the DD (in my opinion) is that it can be easier to pinpoint your target. Pinpointing with a DD coil takes more practice.

Alternatively, if you’re looking to cover large, open areas like beaches and farm fields, a larger coil might be a better option. Just remember, larger coils will be a lot heavier, so you may need to get a harness if you want to detect more than 30 minutes.

Most experienced hunters detect largely by sound, but an LCD screen (VDI) comes in handy. Depending on the detector, a screen can tell you things like target depth, target ID, detector settings, battery life, and many other things

Some folks think it’s silly to own a machine without a screen, while others are just fine with a Tesoro-type detector that features only knobs. The Fisher F5 integrated both of those worlds. It has a screen and knobs. For those who like the best of both worlds, that may be a detector worth looking into. Metal detectors without a screen are commonly referred to as beep and dig machines since there’s no display telling you what the detector thinks it has found in the ground

Some metal detectors are light as a feather, while others are built like bricks and can be quite heavy. If you have elbow or shoulder problems or another ailment limiting physical activity, buy a lighter detector. Fisher and Tesoro have reputations for being the lightest in the industry. Mid and high-level machines like the AT Pro are quite a bit heavier but still not a monster. When considering your first machine, pay close attention to how much it weighs, especially if you plan on treasure hunting for several hours at a time.

Once you have narrowed your choices down to two or three detectors, watch them in action on YouTube. There is nothing like seeing them and hearing the owners talk about them to give us a great idea of what the machine is like and how it works. YouTube features everything from consumer reviews to testing to actual hunting scenarios and everything in between.

This one may sound obvious. Still, you’d be surprised how many people purchase a detector ‘completely blind,’ so to speak, having never read a single review on the machine. So, if you are thinking of the Fisher F22, for example, type Fisher F22 reviews into your search engine and read as many as you can find. They truly do help.

Whether watching youtube videos or reading online review sites, take everything with a grain of salt. Don’t let a negative review affect your buying decision. Most negative reviews are a result of someone buying the wrong detector. Remember, the ‘right’ detector depends on factors like skill, budget, use, location, etc.

Another example is when people try to use an entry-level detector in areas like the pacific northwest where the soil is extremely mineralized. It’s not that the detector is bad, it’s just the wrong application.

The best metal detector brands are Bounty Hunter, Fisher, Garrett, Minelab, Nokta Makro, Teknetics, and XP. I typically recommend you stick to models from these top brands for their quality and customer support.

Finally, you might also want to consider any accessories that might come with your detector – especially if you’re trying to stay on budget. If you’re new to the hobby, some accessories you’re going to find yourself buying at some point are:

Don’t be fooled by some retailers who include cheap accessories with their detectors – especially with pinpointers and diggers. We call these ‘dollar store accessories’.

Metal detecting is a hobby you can grow into over time. There’s no need to buy the most expensive top-of-the-line detector right away and have no idea what you’re doing. Don’t overthink your first purchase. This article talks about many factors to consider, but it’s not intended to scare you away from your first purchase. The bottom line is to stick to your price point with one of the major brands, you really can’t go wrong. The best metal detector is the one that works best for your budget, skill-level, and intended use.

Over 30 hours of hands-on testing with seven top products priced under $250, we found theGarrett – Ace 250 to be the best metal detector in every category we tested. The Ace 250 is superior when it comes to locating coins, relics and gold, both in the sand and in the water. It also has the best look and feel when it comes to ergonomics. TheBounty Hunter – Tracker IV came in as our runner-up.

The Garrett’s automatic ground-balancing feature adjusted itself to the mineral content and found every coin, relic, and piece of gold — in sand, underwater, and even buried a few inches deep. It only missed one item during the discrimination test, so it is safe to say that this metal detector is your best bet when it comes to finding those treasures.

As far as the ergonomics on this unit go, it was definitely the most comfortable of any of the detectors. The model is solidly built and sturdy. The foam on the handle and armrest, along with the Velcro strap on the armrest, provide a very secure feel.

The LCD display is also in a class of its own. Along with the standard discrimination, sensitivity features and headphone jack, this unit comes with a pinpoint feature (which is also found on the New Home Innovations – Starter Kit) and many other pre-programmed modes for searching for different types of metals. The screen is easy to read and also displays the estimated depth of the metal it finds. No other detector can compare to this Garrett – Ace 250 in terms of ergonomics.

Coming in second place is the Bounty Hunter – Tracker IV metal detector. In two of our tests, this metal detector actually tied with the Garrett – Ace 250 for top place. That is, in both the general detection test and the depth test the Bounty Hunter – Tracker IV found every single item. As for the discrimination test and underwater test, this metal detector came up only behind the Garrett. Perhaps it is for this reason that the Tracker IV has also been voted as one of the best beginner metal detectors on some other review sites.

We would definitely recommend this unit to anyone looking for an excellent all-around unit that is inexpensive. Like the Garrett, the calibration feature on this model is automatic, and it had no problems adjusting itself to the soil we were searching. Bounty Hunter is perhaps the most trusted name in the business when it comes to metal detectors, and this Tracker IV is our pick for their best model.

If you are deliberating between getting this model or the Garrett – Ace 250, there are two main points you should consider. On one hand, the price of the Bounty Hunter – Tracker IV is much lower than the Garrett: around 50% cheaper. On the other hand, this Bounty Hunter – Tracker IV does not compete with the Garrett when it comes to ergonomics.

The sensitivity feature, discrimination feature, headphone jack, target indicator, and three-position toggle on this Tracker IV are more than enough to detect most items. However, the lack of an LCD screen is worth noting. We think that the variety of extra options that come with an LCD screen would have helped this Tracker IV in the trickier underwater and discrimination tests.

If you plan on detecting in places where there will be metallic trash that might interfere, or you plan on searching for items underwater and you want the absolute best performance under these conditions, you may want to spend the extra cash and go with the Garrett.

If you are more budget-minded and are still looking for an excellent metal detector, the Bounty Hunter – Gold Digger is a good option. Bounty Hunter is a quality product that dominates the market of metal detectors. While other review sites picked the Bounty Hunter – Tracker IV as their top budget pick, we think the Gold Digger deserves this honor, as it is priced lower than the Tracker IV and functions almost as well.

In our general detection test, the Gold Digger missed only one item. Likewise, in the depth test and underwater test this detector failed to locate only one item per test. This Gold Digger is therefore very reliable when it comes to locating treasures – both above ground as well as underground and underwater.

Like the top two detectors, the Gold Digger’s calibration feature is automatic and self-adjusted as needed. Also, this detector comes with a pair of headphones that can be plugged into the jack, but we must note that they are on the small side and the quality is not great.

We were pleasantly surprised to find that, overall, the Bounty Hunter – Gold Digger came in third place in our test results, and yet it is the second cheapest model out of all seven detectors we tested. We admit that this detector does not look special (with only a power level, trash eliminator, and sensitivity meter on the display), but it gets the job done. When all features are adjusted properly, this budget unit finds treasures with the best of them.

Power level, trash eliminator, and sensitivity meter features work very well together on the Gold Digger, and it was the only one to come with headphones.

The Treasure Cove – TC-3020 had an all-around good score on our five tests, making it worth considering. When we first got our hands on this unit we were excited about the sheer number of options and features on the LCD display. We have to note that this is the second best display of all our seven models, only behind the Garrett – Ace 250.

The options on the LCD screen include a sensitivity meter, discrimination meter, notch adjuster and metal adjuster. Besides these, the display also has a meter displaying what type of metal it has found (such as gold or silver) and even attempts to specify what it is that it has located (such as a nickel, quarter, or trash). It is also noteworthy that this metal detector came with high-quality headphones to plug into the jack.

Because this detector came with such an excellent range of options and features on the display, we were disappointed that it did not score more highly on some of our tests. In particular, this Treasure Cove struggled a bit on our depth and underwater test, so it might not be the greatest at finding metals that are several inches below the surface.

The New Home Innovations – Starter Kit metal detector was a bit low on the overall score for our tests, but the cheap price tag on this unit somewhat offsets that. If you are looking for a budget metal detector outside of the Bounty Hunter name brand, this one will treat you well. There were no glaring defects on this metal detector; on the other hand, there were no amazing qualities about it either.

Overall, we consider this a nice middle-of-the-road unit. It scored somewhere near the mid-range in most of our tests. This means that while using this detector you will be able to find most treasures, including those buried underwater and amid trash, but will likely miss out on a few that other higher-rated detectors would find.

The features on the display include the standard discrimination, sensitivity, and target indicator, along with a headphone jack. Beyond this, the display also includes a pinpoint feature, which is a nice touch on such a budget-friendly model. We do have to note that ergonomically this unit feels a bit on the cheap side due to its weak build and the flimsy forearm rest.

As far as functionality goes, the BARSKA – Winbest Pro metal detector operated about on par with the New Home Innovations. In our tests to locate metals, this unit scored around the middle of the road, not doing too poorly or too well on any test. It is comparable to the New Home Innovations in this regard: It will find most treasures but will miss out on a few that other higher-rated detectors would have located. Therefore, if your only concern is finding a decent amount of treasures, this unit will be alright and will save you a bit of cash as well.

Again, as far as ergonomics go, this metal detector did struggle. The display only includes a discrimination feature, sensitivity feature, headphone jack and target indicator — leaving a bit to be desired here. Moreover, the feel of the unit was below our expectations. The forearm rest is small and flimsy, making it feel loose in the hands. The unit itself would also fall apart on us during testing since it did not screw together very securely.

The Ground EFX – MC1 Youth metal detector is made specifically for children, so it’s shorter and lighter than the other detectors we tested, weighing only two pounds with an adjustable length between 26 and 36 inches.

While the Ground EFX does have the weight and length to match a child treasure-seeker, the functionality of this unit was poor, scoring last on four of our tests. In the general detection test, discrimination test and depth test this metal detector had the poorest performance, which suggests that it just cannot find those relics, coins, and gold with any consistency.

Its display only offers the most basic features: a power knob, eliminator knob, and target indicator meter. Also, there does not seem to be a headphone jack, while all of our other detectors had the option to plug in headphones. Moreover, we were not able to verify whether the calibration feature on this unit was automatic, but we suspect that it comes preset, which might explain why it was not able to locate treasures very well.

If your child is very small, then this metal detector may be the only one to fit them, but you might want to consider looking for a non-youth unit that is lightweight and can be shortened down to size. The BARSKA – Winbest Pro will be your best bet here, as this detector weighs only two and a half pounds and can be adjusted to be as short as the Ground EFX.

In deciding which metal detectors to test, we did online research and found out what people are normally using metal detectors for. In particular, we combed through metal detecting subreddits to see what people are concerned with, read articles to learn from more experienced detectorists such as Michael and Daniel Bernzweig, and also drew from other ‘real testing’ review sites.

We found that the top uses for metal detectors are coin shooting, relic hunting, and gold prospecting, which we will describe below. We also found that the top areas people are concerned about while doing their detecting are beaches and water. We therefore looked for metal detectors that specialize in these areas.

Keeping this information in mind, we then went to Amazon and other online retailers, such as Walmart and The Home Depot, in order to find which metal detectors not only met the above criteria but were also reviewed positively by consumers. Of course, the more reviews each metal detector has, the more reliable the information will be. Because of this, we only tested those metal detectors that had a large number of reviews and a positive customer review rating.

Once our seven metal detectors arrived we headed off to the beach in order to begin our hands-on testing. Based on our research of what consumers are most interested in and concerned about, we tailored our tests accordingly. We engaged all seven metal detectors in five tests: a general detection test, a discrimination test, a depth test, an underwater test, and an ergonomics test.

The most popular location for metal detecting is the beach, where we tested our seven finalists with five tests. First, we set up a general detection test in which we searched for relics, coins, and gold that we scattered on the sand. Second, we did a similar test in which we scattered metallic trash around our test items to see if that trash would confuse the detector.

Third, we performed a depth test in which we buried the coins, relics, and gold several inches deep and then tested how well the detectors sensed them. Fourth, we submitted each detector to an underwater test in which we tested how well the detectors sensed the coins, relics, and gold when they were submerged several inches. Finally, while doing all of the above tests, we also considered the ergonomic look and feel of each metal detector.

For the general detection test, we scattered 12 different objects on top of the sand, separated from one another by several feet. Here, we wanted to test the ability of each detector to find all types of metal. So, we used a wide variety of coins, relics, and gold. In total, we used one yellow-gold ring, two white-gold rings, a silver bracelet relic, a silver belt buckle relic, a silver pocket watch relic, three one-dollar coins, and three quarters.

Once the objects were placed in the sand, we then tested each detector by walking steadily forward, sweeping the detector back and forth over each object one time. We wanted this test to capture realistic results, so we did not pause over any object. Instead, we simply passed over each one time, testing if the detector would alert us to its presence.

Next, we wanted to test the discrimination ability of each of the metal detectors — that is, we wanted to test how well each detector can filter out metallic trash while still being able to locate coins, relics, and gold.

For the discrimination test, we used the above-mentioned general detection test, but first, we scattered several nails and soda can pull tabs throughout the area. We chose these trash items because they seem to be the most common to confuse detectors. We placed these trash objects both next to several of the coins, relics, and gold and in the spaces between them.

We wanted to determine whether each detector was able to accurately locate the coins, relics, and gold, even when metal trash was next to them. Moreover, we wanted to ensure that the detectors would not erroneously pick up a trash item by itself as if it were one of the coins, relics or gold. As we did with the general detection test, for this test we simply walked forward in a steady motion, sweeping each detector back and forth.

All of the detectors that we tested had an adjustable discrimination feature, which we set according to their respective manuals. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the results of this test were very similar to the above general detection test. The Garrett – Ace 250 had the highest score, failing to find only one object. The Ground EFX – MC1 Youth had the lowest score, failing to find several objects and actually erroneously alerting us of one trash item.

For the depth test we wanted to test how accurately each detector could locate coins, relics, and gold that were buried under the sand from between four and six inches deep. We chose this range since we learned that under normal conditions you can expect your detector to read objects with consistency up to six inches underground.

Here we dug six holes, each one between four and six inches. Then, we buried the six following items: a yellow-gold ring, a white-gold ring, a silver bracelet relic, a silver belt buckle relic, a one-dollar coin, and a quarter. We then filled each of the holes with sand. Once all of the items were buried, we scanned the area with each detector, just as we did in the first two tests: walking steadily forward, sweeping the detector back and forth

Again, the results were very similar to the first two tests, so we knew that a pattern was forming. The Garrett – Ace 250 and the Bounty Hunter – Tracker IV each achieved a perfect score by locating all six of the items that we buried. Meanwhile, the Ground EFX – MC1 Youth earned the worst score with a three out of six.

In general, we found that the rings were the hardest for the detectors to locate, which makes sense considering how small they are. Also, we noted that the Garrett – Ace 250 not only achieved the highest score here but that it was also the most intuitive. It clearly and accurately marked on its LCD screen the depth of each object that it located.

Next, we tested how well each metal detector worked when attempting to locate an object that was submerged in water. Here we placed various coins, relics, and gold underwater, each one submerged anywhere from four to 12 inches deep. We chose this range in an attempt to mimic what you would normally experience while detecting in the shallow water at the beach.

In total we placed six objects underwater, the same ones we used during the depth test: a yellow-gold ring, a white-gold ring, a silver bracelet relic, a silver belt buckle relic, a one-dollar coin, and a quarter. We then tested each of the metal detectors by submerging their coils under the water and moving steadily forward over each object one time.

We should note here that all seven of the metal detectors are advertised as having waterproof coils, and indeed, we did not have any problems in this regard. However, you should note that some consumers have had their units malfunction when placed in water. Notably, consumers have complained that both of the Bounty Hunters on this list, as well as the BARSKA, have malfunctioned when submerged. We did not have this problem with any of the units.

Once again, in line with our above tests, the Garrett – Ace 250 had the best score in the underwater test, locating with perfect accuracy all six of the underwater items. Surprisingly, here the Ground EFX – MC1 Youth did not score the lowest. Instead, the Treasure Cove – TC-3020, New Home Innovations – Starter Kit, and BARSKA – Winbest Pro Edition all tied for the worst score, locating four out of the six underwater items.

While testing, we also took notes on each detector’s ergonomics. We considered the feel and function of each detector in our hands, along with the quality of the display for each unit.

We found that when the different components on a detector snapped together, this provided a sturdier frame than those that were screwed together. Also, the component of the metal detector that rests on your forearm should be large and comfortable, as we found that much of the weight of the detector rests on this spot. Detectors that had a small forearm rest often slipped off our arm and were harder to control.

The displays of metal detectors come in a wide array of options, some better than others. In general, an LCD display is preferable over the old knobs and meter layout, as it gives much more information along with more options for customization.

Keeping the above pointers in mind, we found that the Garrett – Ace 250 had the best ergonomics. The thick padding all over the detector, the secure forearm rest with a Velcro strap, and the fact that the different parts of the shaft connected by clicking together in pre-made grooves, made this Garrett the most comfortable unit. This model also had the best display of any of the detectors. The LCD display on this unit was easy to read and had the most buttons, options, and customization of all the units.

Interestingly, the Treasure Cove – TC-3020 was a close second place, as it is sturdily and also has an excellent LCD display. We found the BARSKA – Winbest Pro Edition to have the worst ergonomics. Not only was the forearm rest on the BARSKA small and flimsy, but the unit itself kept falling apart due its weak screw support.

Coin shooting: The most common activity metal detectors are used for is searching for coins or ‘coin shooting.’ It is often mentioned that coin shooting, while fun in its own right, will also pay for your metal detector within several months of detecting. If you go to popular places, such as the beach, you are sure to find quarters, nickels, dimes, and even one-dollar coins. On the other hand, you can also go searching for more valuable vintage coins. If you would like to search for these, it is recommended to go coin shooting in less frequented places.

Relic hunting: Relic hunting, or searching for treasures from a bygone era, is another popular activity you can do with a metal detector. Not only can relics be valuable antiques, but they are also interesting in that they provide insights into past times. When searching for a relic you need to consider the type of ground that you will be searching in. Oftentimes, you will be searching in heavily mineralized areas, and so you want a detector that can filter out the minerals while searching.

Gold prospecting: Many people get into the hobby of metal detecting with the dreams of finding a big gold nugget. Searching for gold nuggets or flakes is called gold prospecting.  Enthusiasm for the gold rush is still alive and well for some people, and if this is true for you,  then you want a detector that is especially well adept at locating gold.

It seems that gold prospecting is the most difficult of all types of detecting and experienced detectorists suggest that you master coin shooting before searching for gold. From our tests, we found that the Garrett – Ace 250 was best at locating gold, while the Bounty Hunter – Tracker IV, Bounty Hunter – Gold Digger, and Treasure Cove – TC-3020 all tied for a close second place.

Beach and water hunting: While coin shooting, relic hunting, and gold prospecting are the most popular activities for metal detectorists, the beach and ocean are the most popular locations for detecting. There are two main terrains to consider here: the sand and underwater.

Of course, you can expect to find valuables left behind by beachgoers on the sand, but don’t forget that there will be things in the water too. If you plan on using your detector underwater, the coil needs to be waterproof. We made sure that all of the models we tested were advertised as having waterproof coils.

Calibration: Often, you will be using your metal detector in soil full of metallic minerals. When this is the case, you are going to want a good calibration feature, also known as a ground-balancing feature, on your metal detector.

The ground-balancing feature is responsible for sensing the various metallic minerals in the soil and, in turn, clearing out any possible interference from these. If the calibration strength is too low on your metal detector, you may experience frustrating interference from the minerals in the soil.

There are three different types of calibration features that each metal detector may have, including preset, automatic or manual:If your detector has a preset calibration, it has been set to a particular range and will not change.

Coil: The coil is the flat sphere at the end of the detector that you hold above the ground. It comes in many different styles and shapes, including the double-D, concentric and spider designs. Each type of coil excels at certain things and struggles with others, so be sure to think about what you will be using your detector for before choosing your coil.

Depth indicator: The depth indicator is a rare feature on metal detectors. However, this feature is handy. It will let you know how deep you need to dig in order to pull up your object from the ground. Normally, depth indicators will display how deep the object is on the LCD screen, giving you a range from anywhere between one and 12 inches.

Discrimination: The discrimination feature on metal detectors is used to specify what objects you do and do not want your detector to locate. Most detectors will have this feature, but the options of this mode will vary greatly.

Different types of metal produce different types of magnetic responses and the discrimination feature on detectors is able to hone in on only those magnetic responses which you choose. This allows you not only to search for the types of metals you are after, but it also allows you to ignore other types of trash metals.

Pinpoint mode: Pinpoint mode is an option found on a few metal detectors. It is used to help hone in on the object you are detecting. Whereas all detectors give you a rough idea where the object is to be found, the pinpoint mode helps you determine its exact location. The sensor is placed at the center of the coil, while the button to activate the mode is normally up by the hand. Once you know there is an object in the vicinity, push the pinpoint button, and you should be able to precisely locate the object.

Radar type: While many metal detectors come with a radar that can penetrate the ground, the quality of the radar can vary. Indeed, the quality of the radar technology has a large impact on the total cost of the unit, so if you want high-end technology here, expect to pay top dollar for your metal detector. The better radars can read the density and size of the buried object accurately, so if this concerns you, be sure to get a detector with a high-quality radar.

Sensitivity meter: The sensitivity feature on a metal detector is used for two different reasons: first, to find objects of varying sizes. When the sensitivity is set to high, you will be able to find smaller metal items; when it’s set to low, you will be able to find larger items.

Second, the sensitivity feature is used to find objects buried at varying depths. Setting the sensitivity to high will allow you to find objects toward the top of the ground, and setting it to low will help you find objects that are buried deeper. While nearly all metal detectors have an adjustable sensitivity meter, the sensitivity range of each detector will vary.

Treasure hunters out there know that those coins, relics, and gold can be hiding in a wide variety of places: in the sand, buried several inches, in the water or hidden alongside trash. Finding that treasure or passing it over may very well depend on the model of the metal detector that you are using.

We subjected the seven best metal detectors to five detailed tests and found that the Garrett – Ace 250 is the king of detectors. Not only did this model come in first place in all five of our tests, but its bright LCD screen also boasts a wide array of features and options. In terms of performance, the Garrett – Ace 250 simply cannot be beat.

But if you want to save as much money as possible while still making sure that you get a great unit, we found that the Bounty Hunter – Gold Digger is the way to go. With great performance, a very low price tag, and the Bounty Hunter name, the Gold Digger is our top budget pick.

Bryan is our cooking and kitchen expert, with more than 15 years of experience of cooking and testing kitchen products. When outside of the kitchen, he enjoys woodworking, photography, videography and figuring out how to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle. He thoroughly enjoys discovering the best, whether it’s ingredients or equipment, and finding products that can stand the rigors of daily use.

The Simplex+ has versatile features that veteran detectorists prize on pricier machines, yet its affordability and ease of use make it an accessible device that newcomers will enjoy learning on.

If you’ve decided to take up metal detecting, the Nokta Makro Simplex+ is our pick for a great first machine. Usually selling for about $250, it has features normally found on more expensive machines, including one that makes it unique in this price range: It’s fully waterproof. That means it’s safe to use at the surf’s edge, and it can even be submerged in shallow water. By contrast, other similarly priced machines’ electronics are vulnerable even to stray splashes. The Simplex+’s preset search modes allow you to quickly adjust it to the type of site you’re hunting in (fields, parks, and beaches present different challenges to detectors). Or you can customize the settings manually to tailor the machine to screen out or ping only on specific metals (which is handy if you’re searching for an item of known composition, like a lost earring). This model has a large LCD screen that’s easy to read even in bright sun. And it has a large search coil—the ring-shaped component at the end of the shaft—which helps it search deeper in the ground than machines with smaller coils can. Also, the Simplex+ is comfortable to carry for hours at a time, with a rubberized handle and generous forearm rest. The built-in battery lasts about 12 hours on a full charge, and you can extend that by plugging it into a portable power bank. When I told Alan Sadwin that the Simplex+ was going to be our pick, he said, “Good choice. It’s got a great reputation, and I know a lot of people who use one.”

During our testing, the Simplex+’s direct competitor was the Garrett Ace 300—another well-regarded and popular detector, from one of the oldest companies in the business—and they’re priced about the same. But time and again, in a head-to-head comparison, the Simplex+ came out on top.

Not all detectorists strictly need a completely waterproof detector: Not everyone lives near a beach or wants to get into the subculture of river-bottom hunting. But since the Simplex+ offers waterproofness for the same price as the Garrett Ace 300 (which is waterproof only to the top of the shaft), it adds a lot more options for where you can hunt without worrying about ruining your machine. (Specifically, the Simplex+ is rated IP68, meaning it can survive 30 minutes underwater at 3 meters, or 10 feet. So it’s not meant for scuba detecting.) Machines that are partially waterproof, like the Garrett Ace 300, can be used carefully at the water’s edge, but Alan and Sandy both recommended against it. “You lay your detector down to dig a hole and a wave comes up and fries the control box,” Alan said by way of example.

And when it comes to beach hunting, the Simplex+ offers another huge advantage over the Garrett Ace 300: The Simplex+ has an automatic “beach mode” setting. The saltwater and (very often) iron-rich “black sand” found at the seashore can create a huge amount of background interference for detectors, since they work by using electromagnetism to find metal objects. The salt ions and black sand react to the electromagnetic waves, too, and essentially create a wall of static that masks legitimate findings. The Simplex+’s beach mode automatically filters out this static; I had no trouble finding coins, bottle caps, and lead fishing weights, even right in the surf. It’s a really useful feature—one that the Garrett Ace 300 lacks.

The ground-scanning search coil of the Simplex+ is an 11-inch circle; the Ace 300’s is a 10-by-7-inch oval. In general, the electromagnetic pulses from larger coils can penetrate more deeply than those from smaller coils. And larger coils also help you cover ground more quickly, since every sweep of the detector goes over a larger area. As well, the Simplex+’s coil is what’s known as a “double D”: It’s formed of two subcoils, shaped like a pair of capital Ds set back to back. The Ace 300’s is the more-common concentric design, shaped like a capital O with a lowercase o inside it. Double D coils produce a wide electromagnetic field, again permitting more ground to be covered in a given amount of time, while concentric coils produce a narrow field. That can allow more-precise pinpointing of the location of a find. But for first-timers, we think the double D’s advantages in depth of search and breadth of coverage will produce more finds and fewer frustrations. (If you’d like to know more, check out this efficient, articulate summary of coil types and their strengths and weaknesses, from detector manufacturer Minelab.)

One of the most important parts of a detector is its display screen. It’s where you toggle between modes (on the Simplex+, these are beach, all-metal, field, and park). It’s where the machine shows you the frequency of an object that’s been detected—a clue to what type of metal it’s made of. And it’s where you get a readout of the target’s approximate depth, adjust the detector’s sensitivity (sometimes lower is better, such as in an area where the soil is iron-rich and tends to produce “static” or false readings), and do things like manually discriminate against certain metals you don’t want the machine to pick up. It’s the dashboard, basically—and the Simplex+’s is far superior to the Ace 300’s. For one thing, the Simplex+’s display screen is about twice as large, so everything’s bigger and easier to read. And it can be set to various levels of backlighting, from zero to bright, allowing the display to be read in varying light conditions. The Simplex+’s control buttons can also be backlit, and it has a built-in flashlight to help you see objects when hunting in the dark. The Garrett Ace 300 has no backlighting on its screen or buttons, and it lacks a flashlight.

Another important aspect of any detector is how comfortable it is to use—you may be carrying it, constantly sweeping the ground in wide arcs, for hours at a time on a hunt. I found the Simplex+ considerably more comfortable to hold, due to the combination of an ergonomic rubberized handle and a long forearm rest; this provides a counterbalance to the weight of the shaft and coil. The Ace 300’s simple, cylindrical rubberized handle took more hand strength to grip, and its shorter forearm rest gave less leverage. That meant the Simplex+ was less tiring to use, especially after some time.

Both machines can be used with headphones, and these make it easier to hear the beeps and whines that indicate a discovery—especially at the beach, where the noise of the waves can drown out quiet signals. Alan and Sandy (and many dedicated hobbyists) prefer wired headsets for their reliability; the Simplex+ comes with an adapter cable for that purpose, or it can be used with wireless headphones (purchased separately). The Garrett Ace 300 comes with a wired headset and has a built-in ¼-inch jack.

Both also have a useful pinpointing feature: Once an object is detected, you press the pinpointer button and move the coil in a cross-shaped pattern over the approximate location. And by sound and/or display, the machine tells you when you’re more or less centered over the object. The Simplex+, which both rises in pitch and shows a narrowing bullseye on its display as you approach the spot, was more intuitive. (Dedicated hobbyists usually buy a separate p