Minelab Equinox 800 Review

Minelab Equinox 800 Review

If you are looking for a high-performance, waterproof metal detector, you do not need to look any further than the Minelab Equinox 800. This treasure finder comes with multi-frequency technology, up to eight custom search profiles and the goal to make you reevaluate all-purpose detecting. Read on to find out how to improve your metal hunting with one of the best detectors on the market!

Sensible Metal Detecting for Versatile Hunters

Minelab Equinox 800 is a reasonable improvement of previous models from Minelab, and specifically of Equinox 600. It is a lightweight device that weighs little over 1.3 kg and has an ergonomic design that favours long hunts without feeling heavy in your hands. It comes with an 11″ round coil that attracts most of the weight and a sturdy armrest made of high-quality plastic.

This metal detector has a user-friendly menu with easy, intuitive settings that help you enjoy effective metal hunts straight out of the box. It features 4 search modes – field, park, beach, and gold – and each of them has two sub-modes, so you get to enjoy 8 different detecting programs.

Each mode comes with a specific tuning setting and tone pitch. The beach mode also features an underwater program that lets you, scout, for lost jewellery and coins at a maximum depth of 3 meters.

Experienced detectorists will appreciate the long battery life of Minelab Equinox 800, which can stretch to up to 12 hours on a single charge. This device can function on high, simultaneous frequency 24 / 40 kHz that you can change at a push of the button without experiencing any interruptions in your search.

Special Features

One of the best features of Equinox 800 that is also a major improvement of the 600 series is the presence of a wireless adapter and a set of headphones that work with Bluetooth technology. These niftily designed over-the-ear headphones have a low latency signal and allow you to connect them to your smartphone to make and take calls while hunting for metals.

Another special feature of the Minelab Equinox 800 is its ability to bypass false signals. While looking for lost metal pieces, you will rarely experience interferences from power lines or electronic devices in your vicinity.

Things You Need to Consider

While this metal detector is affordable and highly-convenient for seasoned metal hunters, it might require some learning time from beginner detectorists. Nevertheless, if you are passionate about treasure hunting and eager to start your new search, the Minelab Equinox 800 should top your wishlist of metal detecting devices.

The Minelab Equinox 800 is a reliable metal detector that you can take on long trips to the beach, park or artefact-laden fields. It has a special mode solely for finding gold, and it should not disappoint you especially when you consider that it works on high, simultaneous frequency.

Besides being lightweight and waterproof, this detector also comes at an affordable price when you consider its high-performance ability. If this is your first metal detecting tool, and you don’t mind spending some time learning how to use it, then this is one of the best metal detectors you can find.

Minelab equinox 800 vs GarrettAT MAX

Minelab equinox 800 vs GarrettAT Max, Getting a suitable unit for your metal detecting prospects is vital. Minelab and Garrett are two of the most popular metal detector brands in the market. But which one do you buy? Which one is easier to use? Here’s what you need to know about the Minelab Equinox 800 vs. the Garrett AT MAX detectors.

The Minelab Equinox 800 is a superior choice compared to the Garrett. The Minelab Equinox 800 offers better performance, modern features, and better results. Regardless of its battery life, it is a formidable unit.

The Minelab Equinox 800 and the Garrett AT MAX are massive contenders for an adept prospector. From Minelab’s Multi-IQ technology to the AT MAX’s maximum depth detection, the numerous features built into the progressive nature of these units.

The battle between the Minelab 800 and the Garrett AT MAX has been legendary for quite some time. Experts highly regard these detector units, making it difficult for users and potential buyers to pick between the two.

In our opinion , none is better than the other. The units each have their unique highlights. However, there are some differences between these two units, whether it lies in their sensitivity, depth, ground balancing, etc.

So, let’s find out what makes these two units great and what trade-offs you get when choosing either of these detectors.

Easy To Use Detectors

Firstly, let’s put across that neither of these metal detecting units is beginner-friendly. There is a huge learning curve when it comes to handling these units. Fortunately, other beginner-friendly models are in the market to help you get started.

Both Garrett and Minelab offer beginner-friendly metal detecting models for sale in the market. So even if the Equinox 800 and the AT MAX aren’t in your skill range, you can get other models from the same brands. You can always count on Minelab and Garrett to provide customers with a quality metal detecting unit.

Here are some beginner-friendly options that you can check out:

• Garrett Metal & Gold Detectors
• Minelab Products

With time and experience, you can slowly build up the skill required for an advanced metal detector.

On the other hand, if you’re a seasoned professional looking for a new unit, something that will serve as an upgrade, then these metal detectors are an excellent choice for you.

The Advantages of the Garrett AT MAX

The Garrett AT MAX offers a variety of advantages to its users. These benefits improve its performance and enable user prospecting. Here are the advantages:

• The Garrett AT MAX is known for its maximum depth detection. A frequency operation of 13.6kHz is decent. Thanks to that, many experts turn to this unit when they need increased depth detection for prospecting.
• Another exciting advantage of the AT MAX is using this unit in salt and fresh water environments. Not only that, but it’s waterproof up to a depth of 10-feet or 3 meters.
• When you buy the Garrett AT MAX, you get the unit with headphones included in the pack. It helps save a lot of money, and you get quality headphones to boot. Not only that, but you can spend that money on buying complementary accessories for your prospecting.
• The Garrett AT MAX offers a 20-40 hours battery life.

The Disadvantage of The Garrett AT MAX

• One problem you may encounter with the Garrett AT MAX is that for deeper targets, probably 10-inch targets and at 0 discrimination, the AT MAX may give an iron signal. It might not be the case all the time, but you have to be on the lookout for that.
• A steep learning curve. The AT MAX is an incredible unit, but the learning curve can be discouraging for both new and advanced users.
• It’s not beginner-friendly. The AT MAX is not suitable for beginners. It has numerous features that most beginners would have difficulty trying to toggle. It would be in a beginner’s best interest to test the Garrett ACE Series.
• It’s a bit on the heavier side. The metal detector weighs 3.03 lbs. (1.4 kgs).

The Advantages of The Minelab Equinox 800

• The Minelab Equinox 800 does exceptionally well with hitting high-conductive targets.
• Minelab is a well-known brand known for its quality and high-performing products. Thanks to the Minelab brand image, buyers have the assurance that they are buying a quality metal detecting unit.
• The Multi-IQ feature. It’s an all-in-one feature that makes prospecting more effortless and efficient.
• Minelab 800 offers five adjustable frequencies with the Multi-IQ feature: 5, 10, 15, 20, 40 kHz. The Minelab 600, on the other hand, provides three frequencies with the Multi-IQ feature.
• The Equinox 800 is also a waterproof metal detector with a depth of 10 feet or 3 meters.
• The unit has multiple detect modes for different environments.
• Fast and accurate target identification.
• It comes with a gold detecting mode with a range of 20 kHz or 40 kHz to detect gold nuggets.

The Disadvantage with the Minelab Equinox 800 

• The main problem with the Minelab Equinox 800 is the battery life. It offers approximately 20 hours of battery life. Thus, making it challenging when users want to have longer prospecting times.
• There was no iron bias during prospecting. The Equinox 800 would pick up targets like metal bottle caps.
• The Equinox 800 would also have a hard time with mid-conductive targets. So it would pick those up; most of the mid-conductive targets were the pull-tab on cans.