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The X-terra 70 is the flagship of the Minelab X-Terra Series and offers the flexibility of three frequency coil options to convert the machine to hunt Relics, Coins and Gold. Key to its outstanding performance is Minelab's proprietary VFLEX technology, which utilizes digital signal processing with highly calibrated analog circuits, creating a new class of single frequency detectors. This approach yields superior sensitivity, stability and improved immunity to electromagnetic interference. For the X-Terra 70 user, this means you'll have the best machine available for your target choices, taking your passion for discovery to the next level.
Specifications/Features
Field Tests
Testing the all-new X-TERRA
by Nenad L
As an experienced detector operator working at Minelab, I have the fun job of field-testing new detectors, and with the brand new X-Terra series, you can put rings around the word FUN!! From putting the detector together, turning it on, swinging the detector, hearing a signal, pin-pointing and recovering the first of many coins - all of the attributes of the machine revolve around simplicity, ease-of-use, and best of all great performance. The weight and balance of the detector is brilliant, and you can swing it for hours without any fatigue. Both X-Terra’s come standard with a padded armrest with adjustable arm strap, and the 3-piece locking shaft feels very solid when detecting, yet is easily broken down for compact storage.
When it comes to Coin & Treasure detectors, I am a long time Sovereign user, and have had some experience with the Explorer and more recently with the Quattro, so swinging a low-cost digital single frequency detector was a whole new experience, but once I picked one up, it was difficult to switch off! Putting the detector through its paces at parks and playgrounds within walking distance of the Minelab factory, I quickly began to appreciate the easy to read LCD, as this was a great aid in identifying good vs. bad targets. When discriminating, good targets will lock on and provide a positive ID reading, whereas Iron targets will give either no signal or a clipped signal followed by a “- -“ reading on the meter. In the case where multiple targets are present, a quick change to All-metal will allow you to isolate the good from the bad targets with ease.
The 4-tone audio is great (X-Terra 30 has 3 tones), and when using the all-metal mode, Iron not only gives a negative ID number, but also a very low audio tone as well. What this means is that you can search in All-metal and see all the targets that are present, but only dig up the targets you want. The pinpointing function is the best I’ve used on any detector. As you sweep over the target the signal will sharpen up and the visual pinpoint graph fills up when you are directly over the target. As you dig closer to the target, the volume and pitch of the pinpoint audio increases. This is a great tool, as you can predict the size and depth of the target, which helps with the speed of recovery. I found that in grassed areas I was able to probe shallower coins within seconds, and could pop them out of the soil without any digging.
During field-testing several targets were located, including a 1914 half penny, a 1917 one penny, and 3 modern Chinese coins in the same hole! The sensitivity was much better than expected, as I found several small bullets, brass buttons and various other trinkets (see photo). On the beach the X-Terra works great; on the dry sand the sensitivity can be set quite high, and wet sand conditions are easily dealt with by lowering the sensitivity to suit. Being well before the big summer crowds, targets were few and far between, but a few coins did see the light of day proving that the X-Terra will find the goodies at the beach.
The X-Terra features many new and intuitive features which I don’t have the room to mention here, so contact your nearest Minelab dealer and request a copy of the detailed four page brochure. You can also check out the rest of the new X-Terra website which will be updated with information, field tests and advanced user tips.
Ready or not here it comes......I am ready to start answering questions. But I will start with what everyone has been talking about.
A little over a week ago I was asked to field test a new detector from Minelab, the X-Terra 50. The idea of testing a new machine sounded great to me so I said “yes.”
As all of us know, any time a new detector comes out we are all craving information on its performance, features, etc. And it’s tough to wait until the machine finally is released before you hear any field test info on it.
Well, not this time. Minelab gave me permission to share my thoughts on the new X-Terra with anyone that I choose to; in fact, I have been encouraged to do so. Very cool.
So, here goes:
First a few notes on prices and availability. I do not have price information on either the X-Terra 50, which I am testing, or the X-Terra 30, which lacks some of the features of the 50. If you want pricing information, please contact Minelab USA. Also, I do not know of the specific release date but have been told sometime in mid-November.
Next some tech info on the X-Terra series. According to Minelab, the X-Terra series of metal detectors utilizes a new type of single frequency technology called “VFLEX.” I’ll spare you the technical stuff that Bruce Candy no doubt understands better than anyone (since he invented VFLEX) and tell you the basics as I understand them. Essentially the frequency of the detector is determined by THE COIL. Yes, that’s right, the coil. In the case of the X-Terra 50 there are two coils, the standard 9” concentric that operates at 7.5 khz & a smaller coil that operates at 18.75 kHz. When the coil is attached to the detector a digital data link is established between the control box and the coil.
According to Minelab, a number of coils will be offered for the X-Terra’s. To me this is a truly innovative concept as it will allow us as users to adjust our detectors to the type of hunting we want instead of having to go to a different machine entirely.
Now that I’ve covered that information, on to my experiences with the X-Terra 50. My test unit came with the standard 9” concentric coil.
SET-UP AND INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
When I opened up the shipping box from Minelab I was surprised to find a much smaller, very lightweight package inside.
After unpacking the contents I couldn’t believe that this was all that I had to deal with; hardly what I unpacked with my Explorer XS II when I received it.
Assembly was a breeze. Three parts to the shaft, standard coil attachment, detector stand and arm cup with strap on the end. Even Velcro straps are included to secure the cable tightly around the shaft. The shaft, stand & arm cup have several adjustments to suit various sizes of operators.
The control box snaps into the handle, and you are offered the option of attaching it permanently with a provided screw.
Set-up took barely a couple of minutes. Right away I noticed two things that I had never noticed in a Minelab detector before (and I’ve owned the Sovereign, Excalibur, Explorer I & II). It was lightweight AND balanced. It weighs about 3 lbs. with batteries. I could hold the detector on one finger with not trouble. Try that with your Explorer sometime!
The X-Terra series of detectors are silent search, metered machines that feature LCD displays. The X-Terra has a series of nine buttons on the control panel, all easily reachable with the operator’s thumb except for the power button. They are: POWER, Menu Select (for adjustments to Sensitivity, Noise Cancel and Volume), Pinpoint/Detect, +/- (for adjustments), Patterns, Accept/Reject, All Metal and Ground Balance.
The meter provides a large amount of information including numerical target ID, depth and visual pinpointing (more on this unique feature later).
The headphone jack is on the left side of the control box and is covered by a rubber “door.”
The detector uses 4 AA batteries that slide into a compartment on the right side of the control box.
Before I went out I did a number of air tests, not to check depth (because tests in air are baloney in my opinion) but to check target response. The results are as follows:
| Target Type | Display Reading | Tone |
| 14K band | 12 | Medium |
| Clad dime/Copper penny | 36 | High |
| Round Pull Tab | 16 | Medium |
| Zinc | 32 | High |
| Nickel | 12 | Medium |
| Silver quarter | 40 | High |
| 2004 Dollar coin | 40 | High |
| Silver Roosevelt dime | 36 | High |
| Silver Mercury dime | 36 | High |
| Bent pull tab | 12/16/20 (wouldn’t lock) | Medium |
| 14K Ladies wedding ring | 8 | Medium |
| 14K Charm/fine chain | 8 (with Sensitivity at 10) | Medium |
| 10k ring | 6 | Medium |
What especially liked here was that nickels gave a distinctly different reading from tabs.
FIELD TEST
I used the X-Terra in two environments this weekend: parks and a saltwater beach. Since I was new to the detector, I did what I think most users do with a new machine, which was to use it in the factory presets except for Volume, which I cranked up to 17 from the preset of 15. The preset discrimination patter was for coins/jewelry and I wore headphones.
A. Parks
The X-Terra performed very well in what turned out to be an extremely trashy park. The tone audio ID was very helpful in initially recognizing what sort of general target I had located. However, the meter was invaluable here as the numerical values were vital in determining probably target ID. What I found was that I used audio to get “good hits” that determined whether or not I would dig. Then I would turn to the meter for a more specific ID.
I dug all targets and found the combination of audio/visual target ID to be very accurate. Good targets were repeatable in both directions (as they should be); trash targets often broke up/sounded clipped. Visual ID on trash targets often jumped between numbers while good targets generally locked on a number.
Depths were good, with my deepest recovery being a 1947 wheatie at a measured 8”. Outside of numerous clad coins my best finds were a silver ring (read 27) and two wheaties, a 1944 & the 1947. The wheaties really impressed me since this park has been heavily hunted.
A note here on depth reading, which is indicated by a series of arrows on the right side of the screen. I found it be helpful, with the arrows each representing approximately 2 inches, give or take. The depth reading, along with the strength of the audio signal gave me a pretty decent idea of how deep the target was.
Let me address one feature of the X-Terra at this point that I thought was just terrific: its pinpointing feature. It was of enormous help in locating the target. Here is how it works: Once you locate the target in normal discriminate mode, you move the coil off and press the Pinpoint button which activates pinpoint mode. Moving the coil back over the target produces a tone that increases in volume and pitch until the center of the coil is over the target. But here’s the best part: as you are doing this, a circular graphic is displayed on the LCD. As you near target center, a second circle appears within the first graphic. It fills in segment by segment until you are directly over the target, at which time the inner circle is now complete. It worked just great and was dead on every time.
B. Saltwater Beach
I spent the afternoon at one of our local ocean beaches, hunting both the dry & wet sand. Targets were sparse (as has been the case lately). The X-Terra was stable on both dry & wet sand with no falsing. I did try increasing the sensitivity from the preset of 12 to 20 & found that I could work the dry sand fine but had to back off to a high of 14 in the wet sand. The coil was submersed numerous times and did not false at all when the saltwater washed over it.
I did try the all metal mode on the detector but didn’t notice a discernable difference in performance. What is cool about this mode is that the detector still provides both audio & visual target ID.
Several clad coins were found at very acceptable depths, again at a maximum of 8”. Didn’t dig any nickels (at the park, either, for that matter), but every tab reading that I got was a tab. I also found a nice 14K ladies ring with a small diamond in it about 4” down in the dry sand that read a 6.
Again, I dug all targets, including those that sounded “clipped.” These turned out to be bottle caps; I was impressed that the machine didn’t fool me into thinking that these were good targets.
Also, the combination of audio & visual target worked very well for me here. I hunt the beaches a lot and have had for years. The X-Terra delivered what I felt was very acceptable performance for a general use machine.
C. General Impressions
All in all I was extremely impressed with the performance of the X-Terra 50. It performed very well in two radically different detecting environments.
There are numerous pluses to mention here, but none more than this: I suffered no arm fatigue whatsoever. None. I can honestly say that I have never said that about any of my previous Minelab machines before. Other things I liked: ease of use, target ID system, stability.
The X-Terra 50 does have a ground balance control. According to the manual, if you start seeing meter readings of -9 then you are experiencing false signals. At this point they recommend adjusting the ground balance. I did not encounter any such readings and therefore did not see a need to adjust the ground balance.
Gripes thus far? Not many. I’ll admit that having been a Minelab user for a number of years I wasn’t thrilled about having to use a concentric coil again. The pinpointing feature certainly helped, but I’d prefer a double D and will be anxious to try one of those out someday.
Also, it would’ve been nice to have a backlight option for the meter since I often hunt after sundown.
After one weekend I would definitely give the X-Terra 50 a “thumbs up.” It is not an Explorer, nor is it a Sovereign. And it wasn’t meant to be either, in my opinion. It is a well-thought out mid-range, general use detector that offers the user an extremely easy to use, powerful machine. Will it replace my Explorer XS II? Nope. Would I own one? Yep. It was really fun and easy to use and I was finding good stuff. That works for me.
First of all, I want to thank the folks at Minelab for allowing me to be part of the Field Testing team for this new detector. It is an honor. And, I would like to thank Findmall for responding so quickly with this new forum.
As many of you who read the forums know, I am a BIG FAN of the Minelab single frequency machines. Especially those 5kHz units! As many of us have stated over the years, "if they would only incorporate a meter into the Musky"! Well, they didn't add a meter to the Musky. But, I think you are going to like what they have come up with. I won't bore you all with the specifications, as there are many sites that are offering that information at this time. What I would like to share with you is how it has been working for me the past few days.
The first thing I did with my X-Terra was to take it outside and pass a couple hundred old coins under the coil. My findings have been a bit different than some of the others in that I get a wider range of readings on certain coins. For example, silver dollars and half dollars hit a hard, constant 45 on the meter. Quarters hit a hard 42. Seated, Barber, Standing Liberty, Washington. Mine were all the same.
Some of my dimes varied. I passed about 50 Seated, Barbers and Mercs under the coil and the readings were 33, 36 and 39s. No certain type of coin seemed to make a difference. In other words, one mercury might come in at 33 and another at 36. The next one might be 39. But what I found was that, if a certain dime read 36 one time, it would always read 36. All the nickels I tested read a solid 12. Shields, V-nickels, Buffaloes and Jefferson’s. I guess I forgot to test the 40% silver nickels. Indian cents ranged from 27, 30 and 33's. I suppose it has to do with the metallic makeup. I didn't compare certain dates to get a fix on that.
Yellow gold rings read from the smaller ones at 12, to the middle sized ones at 18 and the larger ones at 24. I'm sure size and carat will make a difference on yours, so check them before you leave home! What I have determined, at least for the type of hunting I do, is to remember the trash instead of the coins and just don't dig the shallow trash numbers. Pull tabs are 21 and 27. Screw caps are 24 and 27. I know, some of you are thinking that I will miss some surface gold jewelry and you are probably right.
Some of you are thinking, why don't he just notch out the numbers for the trash? Let me tell you why. I went to an old fair grounds yesterday. I have an old picture postcard that shows an old set of grandstands and a horse track, circa 1890. The field is bean stubble now and I have never been able to find exactly where the grandstands set, on previous trips. I imagine that is because I ran my other detectors with enough discrimination to avoid the nails. Fortunately, the X-Terra allows us to run in all-metal mode, and still provides the 4 tones and the digital read out. So today, I wandered across the fields in all metal, and knew exactly when I reached the area where the grandstands were because of the nails. Low tone and 6, 6, 6, 9, 6, 9, etc. Iron. Then it hit the high tone and read 36. Was it going to be a dime?
Before I dug it out, I switched to discriminate mode, preference 1 and it still read 36 and was at between 6 and 8 inches deep. Switching to preference 2, it stayed at 36 and the same depth reading. Using the pinpoint mode, I narrowed down the target center. I dug the target very slowly, taking away one layer of soil at a time, to make sure the depth was accurate. Sure enough, it was a 1903 O Barber dime at 7 inches. The all-metal mode worked like I had hoped. The discrimination worked in both preference modes and the depth was right on the target.
I wanted to try a place with more modern trash, just to see how the X-Terra would handle it, so I went to a nearby park. I hunted in preset preference 2 and hadn't taken 3 steps until I got a 33 at 2 inches. And, to no surprise, it was a memorial cent. A few steps later I got a solid 42 at 2-4 inches. Clad quarter on the nose! 90 minutes and a handful of clad and memorials later, I decided I needed to trust the depth indicator and not dig until it was a deep one. (not a big fan of clad or memorials) I soon got a 36 at 6-8 inches and dug an 1882 IH cent. Across the sidewalk by an old tree stump, I got a solid 27 on the meter at 6 - 8 inches. Figuring it was too deep for a screw cap or pull-tab, and thinking it might be another IH on the low end of the scale, I was surprised to find a solid gold cuff link at a depth of nearly 8 inches. Loud and clear, with no hesitation.
Separation and meter accuracy.
I think that, for a 9 inch coil, this concentric does a pretty good job. Especially when operated in all-metal and you listen for the actual tone separation. I have a tendency to sweep too fast for most machines and I am finding that this can happen with the X-Terra too. By running in all-metal, I can hear every tone and "tune" my ears for the higher ones.
I was in an area today that had so much iron and low tone trash that I thought I had this X-Terra had developed a threshold sound! If I keep it in discriminate mode, and sweep a bit too fast, I find that I get a high tone on the "back side" of trashy items. Kind of like falsing. When I run in all metal, I still get that burst of high tone, but I know it is trash because I also get the low "grunt" directly on each side of the high tone. If you pay attention to the numbers, you can see them vary when you sweep perpendicular to the initial sweep.
One thing that I have found is that good targets are consistent in digital reading AND location on the ground. When I get a good signal, I make a mental note of a blade of grass or a clump of dirt, in relation to the center of the coil. Then, when I sweep perpendicular to the initial sweep, if the numbers change, the tone changes or the location changes, you can bet it is not a keeper. I had one today that read 36 swinging left to right, and when I turned 90 degrees, it read 6,36,6. I pushed the all metal mode, swept over it more slowly, and heard three distinct sounds. A low grunt, mid-high tone and another grunt. The mid-high tone repeated the 36 I had from the other direction and told me that it would be a dime between trash. Sure enough, there was a dime and a nail not 3 inches away. I have to think that the two 6's I got were one from each side of the concentric coil.
In doing my field tests, I have dug many, many targets that I knew were going to be bad, but wanting to learn all the tricks and tweaks, I dug them and noted what they were. I believe it is fair to say that, when I hit a target and get a 21 or a 24 from one direction and a different number from the other, it will be a pull-tab, screw cap or can slaw. Also, I have noted that when you get a solid coin reading (33,36,39,42 or 45) AND you get a 21 or 24 bouncing back and forth along with it, it has always been a scrap of aluminum can or an old screw-on bottle lid. No coins. But again, if you go in all metal and sweep slower, it definitely separates the sounds for you. I have not figured out a way to eliminate the tops of aluminum cans yet, (some read as 45 and others as 30) but I am sure once I get use to the sounds of pinpoint, I will be able to figure them out by depth and size. I will keep you posted.
And digging that trash is exactly what I wanted to do with the X-Terra 50 in order to further see how the machine ID’s good versus bad targets. I took the X-Terra 50 to a very trashy park here in Los Angeles this morning and came away favorably impressed. Here are my observations on a variety of subjects:
DISCRIMINATION
The combination of meter & audio discrimination on the X-Terra 50 continues to impress me more & more. Today I once again decided to dig everything and came home with clad coins, a ton of various tabs and several screw caps. The one nickel that I dug read a solid 12. Every tab bounced around from 15 to 18 to 21 on the meter; the audio was clipped as well. I hit one beaver tail that bounced between 9 and 12. It appears that the X-Terra will be very good on separating nickels from tabs if the one I dug + my earlier air tests are any indication.
Quarters are a breeze as they read a solid 42 & are the only high tone that I have found thus far. Dimes and copper pennies hit in the 33/36 range for pennies & 36/39 range for dimes. Both give a mid-high tone.
Zincs for the most part read 27 and every screw cap read 30. Both gave mid-high tones.
Basically I am finding that the combination of audio & visual discrimination on the X-Terra is quite good in providing accurate information on targets.
STABILITY
For someone like me who has scrubbed the ground with the coil for years initially it was a bit of an adjustment to scan 1” above the surface as the manual suggests. Now I don’t even have to think about it. And for whatever technical reason, the detector runs smoother when you scan this way.
MISC. OBSERVATIONS:
Over three more hours of use and NO ARM FATIGUE. How will I ever go back to my Explorer?
The meter is very easy to see, even in direct sunlight.
The detector stand is a bit on the small side. You have to make sure that you set the detector down on level ground before you dig as it can tip over. This was more of an adjustment than a problem in my view.
I am still on the original set of Costco alkaline batteries. The battery icon still shows full power after about 16 hours of use.
The pinpointing on the X-Terra is terrific. Super easy to use and dead-on. The more I use it the more I like it. Minelab should make this type of pinpointing standard on all of its metered machines. It is the best that I have ever used on a detector, period.
Depth was again impressive. My deepest find was a dime at 10” with a sensitivity of 12. I was able to run at 20 with no noticeable false or loss of stability.
| Farm Field: Condition - (1) Recent plow iron infested (soft) and (1)no till Set-up – Pattern 1 and All Metal Results Found 2 musket balls Id 27, 30 (1) about 8” and (2) about 10”, 3 buttons all Id 9 (1) cuff (small), Quarter size 1 piece flat button, dime sized button. Two bottle caps. Targets found next to Iron. Iron jumps up to +6 in Pattern 1, flipping in to all metal gives mixed constant tone. Good target lock on. Small Playground / School Yard Competition / Pay hunt |
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Good morning fellow hobbyists and detectorists! It's 3:38 AM as I start this "part" of my time a field with this pair of new Minelabs. I know I won't finish it in time (thus the "Part #1" post) because my oldest son & I are headed out shortly to travel to some different sites and a day of detecting together.
I am one of those who got an early-release X-Terra 50 and have posted many times about my favorable experiences with it. I can assure you that the X-Terra 50 impressed me from the moment I opened the box, and I continued to be pleased with the overall package Minelab created as I assembled it, did a little in-field time with it, and read the operator's manual. The X-Terra 50 very quickly became a model that I knew was going to 'fit' into my personal detector battery!
After a few weeks with it now, and having the opportunity to take it along on our vacation to Utah & Nevada earlier this month, has given me even more reason to look forward to the release of the 18.75 frequency coils as well as a smaller coil or two for my X-Terra 50.
I was initially going to offer up a post on my field testing and review of the X-Terra 30 and simply respond to any discussion about it. After my first three or four hours with my X-Terra 30, and doing some quick comparisons with it's bigger brother, I came to the realization that in all fairness I had to put in an ample amount of time to really find fault with the X-Terra 30. I knew it was just not going to impress me all that much because, quite frankly, I don't have a "turn-on-and-go" detector in my functional battery because I prefer to have more manual control.
Since I had the few weeks in with the X-Terra 50 I was well aware of the appealing physical design, the solid rod lock-up without wobble, the comfortable handgrip and excellent grip angle, the performance with the 9" concentric coil, and I had almost instant-reflex actions to quickly access and adjust the well laid out control panel.
In short, I figured it would be quite easy to grab the X-Terra 30, assemble it, go use it a little and be able to report on it, and then have to try and decide what I was going to do in the end with a "turn-on-and-go" detector that was basically a simplified X-Terra 50 that lacked some of the features I like about my '50.' Let me tell you, I was wrong .. wrong .. wrong! This wasn't going to be an easy field test to whip through and be honest.
By "be honest" I am not just referring to being honest with you, my fellow hobbyists, nor being honest with the folks at Minelab, either. No, what I am referring to here is being able to reach some conclusions about the X-Terra 30's true in-field performance and what it offers for the dollar compared with the competition, and in the end be honest with myself!
Often it is easy to take a little bit of pre-conceived notion, add a little nit-picking, a dash or two of ego or personal preference, put a few hours drain on the batteries and cook up some batch if ideas why we don't like, don't want, or don't need a particular make or model. This time, it wasn't easy to do. Matter of fact, it was an impossible mission! So, realizing that I wanted to get serious with these two models I have devoted the past five days detecting when I could during daylight, and doing some bench-testing after dark.
I could offer up positive-only impressions but that would seem like some of those screened magazine 'field tests' and I prefer to be able to voice my opinions about a product's weaknesses as well as its strengths. So, while I ask you to forgive me bringing up one or two topics again, I have to because I am posting results of my field tests of a new product. Field tests that have included: visiting a variety of sites, hunting in varying ground conditions, comparing some competitive models, and .. my favorite .. including others in the field work because I value hand-on impressions of others in order to make sure there isn't something (good or bad) that I might overlook or just take for granted.
X-Terra "short-comings" as I see them, going from tip-to-tip:
Searchcoil: No problems. The standard 9" concentric coil proves very good depth and target separation for a coil of its size.
Searchcoil/Rod mounting: No major problems, but one annoyance for me is that the rubber grommet should be more 'rubbery' to provide a more snug fit. This would help retain coil position and eliminate coil 'flop.' Minor? Yes, but I do not care for loose, floppy coils.
Lower Rod/Middle Rod/Upper Rod: Finish is appealing and appears to be very durable. Rod colors are pleasingly 'different' from the norm these days. Alignment is excellent (I detest a detector that has a canted coil or housing, etc.), and the rod locks help keep everything snugged up quite well. Gripe? My only issue with the new rod design is that they do not provide ample adjustment for shorter people.
I stand about 5' 11½" now (old age shrinkage) and need to use the X-Terra's with the rod at it shortest length. I prefer to hunt with the rod at a comfortable distance yet close to my feet. maybe 12"-18" in front. This provides me with better operator control, a better balance, less fatigue, and makes it much easier to hunt in and around brushy sites. Rods that are extended out too far can be fatiguing and two problems can arise. One is a tendency to sweep too fast which impairs performance of slower-motion models, and it can induce poor sweep technique w/o good overlapping.
My 5' 8+" older son found them to be just a wee bit too long for comfort. My 5' 0" to 5'4½" female hunting companions all enjoyed using the X-Terra's (especially the 30), but were not comfortable with the rod length and lack of ability to shorten them. Also, most felt the upper rod could have about 1"-2" removed. Those in the 6'± range liked the arm cup in the third (from the handgrip) arm cup position, but when shortened up for the gals they did not care for the extra length of rod sticking out the back.
They ALL stated that none of this affected the detector's very good performance, and it was the only real drawback they could find to call to my attention. So, I would personally prefer a shorter lower rod be available. In my case, I will simply shorten the lower rod on the X-Terra 30.
Handgrip: No complaints, from me or others. An excellent grip angle for comfort and control without wrist stress. The foam grip is not too 'squishy' like some grips and it fit nicely in all sizes of hands.
Control Housing: No complaints about this well conceived design. Many positive compliments regarding Minelab's choice to use AA batteries in a drop-in compartment, and only 4 of them! Everyone who I have had use these with me generally hunt with models using 8-AA or 12-AA batteries, so using only four and getting obviously long battery life is impressive!
Large easy-to-see display complimented by handy-to-reach and adjust controls added to the pleasant appearance. Gripe? Most folks I hunt with use headphones. I didn't see a real need for the rubber headphone door cover and, while my X-Terra 50's cover is more 'pliable' than initially and noticeably less rigid than the newer X-Terra 30, it is a feature that I see possibly wearing quickly and separating.
Arm Cup: Other than the rod length maybe being a little too long for some people, the design of the arm cup is very good. Easy to position and the single screw attachment is very quick. The incorporated stand works fine for me, but I never set a detector down while hunting during recovery. I am a bit picky and pamper my detectors. As such, the detector stays in my right, operating hand which usually stays clean. My left hand does all the dirty work of recovery and I just squat/bend down and hold my detector during the recovery process.
I like the flexible arm cup to fit bare arms, shirt-sleeved arms, sweater-covered arms or accommodate a coat in this colder weather we're having. I also like the arm strap. Gripe? I know this might seem minor to some, and is in the overall picture, but as I said, this is a product report. An honest offering of personal opinions. I would like to see a longer arm cup strap.
Let me sort of pick up where I left off with Part #1. In my earlier post I stated that one thing I wanted to do was be honest with myself with regard to the differences in features and the field performance of these new X-Terra models. Well, I made sure I included about five or six models from other manufacturers which I like a good deal in order to pick-apart both of the new Minelabs, especially the X-Terra 30. I mean, why would I want to have a "turn-on-and-go" X-Terra 30 when I already have the more-featured X-Terra 50? I was able to reach that conclusion rather easily by simply comparing it with a few of the low-to-mid priced models that are also quick to get into action. These are the Garrett Ace 250, and White's Classic ID, Classic 5-ID, and my favorite, the IDX Pro.
To get an idea of the differences I saw/see and and to better understand the X-Terra's, please allow me to walk through their features, explain some of the control functions, and give you my impressions of them.
Control Housing: Perhaps the first place to start this out would be with the control housing's design. When the thin and light Minelab box arrives in your hands it might be puzzling to figure how such a thin box could hold the large-view display housing. Simple. It is not attached to the rod like many models are, making them wide left-to-right, nor is the display in a cumbersome and big box or housing that take up a lot of room. Instead, the control housing is unattached from the handgrip and laying flat in the box making this a very compact 'packaged' detector.
During assembly the owner has the option of just inserting the control housing's shaft into the handgrip until is snaps into place and leaving it that way. If they prefer, Minelab includes a small screw that can be used to anchor the housing's shaft in the foam grip.
To accomplish this in a neat fashion, Minelab has a circular pre-cut spot on the right side of the foam grip aligned with a hole. There's also a small hole in the housing's shaft. If you want to secure the housing, just gently pry the pre-cut foam piece out and insert the small screw. You're done!
When I first received my X-Terra 50 I wondered about how secure the housing will stay if the owner doesn't secure it with the screw. Now, I am not one for flying, and I am not too partial to bags and such to break-down my detectors. Instead, they travel on the back seat of our vehicles covered with a lightweight white blanket. The white blank keeps them out of eyesight, and also keeps the summer sun off of them. I don't have that worry right now. Anyway, I always have my detectors assembled and ready to grab and get into action.
Since I don't usually break my detectors down I knew that I wouldn't be putting a lot of wear-and-tear on the plastic snap-in parts of the housing's shaft and in the handgrip. Then it dawned on me that I knew when the X-Terra 30 came out I would want to give it a try, and the best way to try it might be to just use my X-Terra 50's rod & coil and just switch out the control pods!
So, for the first 2½ days of my field work I was hunting with the X-Terra 50 or 30, then popping out the housing and switching to the other model 'pod' to rework and check marked targets. Back and forth quite a few times and I discovered that there was absolutely no looseness at all! I liked that. But, because I have been doing a lot of intense detecting and comparisons, I was getting worn out from the time it took out of my detecting and I assembled the X-Terra 30's rod and coil before I continued.
Home-made accessory time!.. While I usually do not travel with a detector broken down nor fly, we did take a flight on part of our vacation. The Minelab's thin-profile box got me to thinking of my Coleman stove. You see, I keep my Coleman stove in a zippered bag that has a handle on top and I have now given a request to my wife to make me a simple, durable bag with a handle for easy carry. Due to the fast break-down of the X-Terra I can easily fit the parts back in the box for easy carry should that need arise!
Better still, if a trip limits the amount I can carry or space, I can just add BOTH the X-Terra 30 & 50 control pods in the box just in case I should experience failure or accidental damage.
Okay, back to getting to know the X-Terra's better. Forgive me if I sometimes repeat a thing or two but I learned in grammar school (for those of us who recall that term before they started using elementary) that repetition is good because it helps us learn and remember. I bring this up because I will make it very clear here and now that I am not saying that the X-Terra 30 or the X-Terra 50 is 'perfect' because such a detector just doesn't exist.
Nor do I want to say that one of the X-Terra's is 'better' than the other because we all have preferences that will influence such a decision. What I am saying that I have concluded that the X-Terra 30, while lacking any Ground Balance capability and frequency change potential, is one heck of a detector! I think it is actually going to appeal to many people who might, like me, often prefer more manual control because there is no real loss of performance. In some ways, it does some things for some people (or people's wants) better than the X-Terra 50!
A few models I compared them with: Let me refer to the Garrett Ace 250, of which I have personally owned two, and the Classic ID (owned 5), Classic 5-ID (1) and IDX Pro (at least on my 6th). While I am at it I will include the Tesoro DeLeón and White's four current Prizm models. This makes a good assortment of "turn-on-and-go" models featuring Target ID to compare features and performance with, and all not too far apart in 'suggested' retail price.
Ground Balance: All of these models, unless modified after-market, rely on a factory preset Ground Balance for best performance. In low, non-challenging mineralization there might not be any GB issues to discern, but in the very mineralized ground I most often hunt in, it is VERY important! I having owned and/or used all of these models and it took very little time to reach an obvious conclusion. Most of them had a terrible factory preset Ground Balance which either caused falsing in the motion Discriminate mode and/or falsing in the threshold-based All Metal Pinpoint mode.
I had the greatest problems with the Ace 250's, the DeLeón's, and the Prizm's. While some might work fairly well in the motion mode in the better ground around here, they didn't fair well in the 'worse' ground nor in the pinpoint mode. Too often you might get a rough PP location, then cut a plug and, upon rescanning the spot that is now a hole, you get a false response caused by the hole or mineralization void. That's because the GB for that mode was too negative to work properly.
The advantage of the Classic series is that you could/can access the single GB trimmer and make an adjustment that would control both the All Metal and GB modes. When an internal GB setting is 'adequate' to deal with most of the worst ground we might encounter, then the detector is good-to-go virtually anywhere.
When I first received the X-Terra 30 I wanted to concentrate on several sites where I knew the GB would be put to the test and it functioned quite well! Maybe too well because for the first time in many years I found myself more than satisfied with the ground handling performance of a pre-set unit and questioned my own desire to have more manual control!
Because it works so well I had to determine what the factory GB setting was, approximately, compared with the X-Terra 50. My '30' GB setting is very close to the '50' when set at about #3 or slightly less towards a #4 setting.
What do I mean by "less?" Humm, it looks like it's time to talk about the X-Terra 50 for a minute, specifically about Ground Balance adjustment. Thirty-one years ago the metal detecting world got a breakthrough when VLF or Ground Balance was first developed. The White's Coinmaster 5 Supreme gave us a lot to learn about new performance and depth, but only after we figured out how to adjust the blasted thing!
That early batch of ground canceling models required the careful back and forth adjustment of two controls in order to establish a good 'balance.' The tuner and another call the Terrainian Attenuator.
Shoot, a lot of people couldn't pronounce it let alone get the hang of making the adjustments, and while very low frequency, ground canceling models have taken over the bulk of the industry since then, there are solidly two camps of followers. Those who want manual GB control, and those who prefer to let the manufacturer set them up with a working preset setting, or maybe opt for a model that has an autotracking circuit to handle it for them. The "let me do it" camp following, of which I am definitely a part of, is the one with far fewer numbers which is evidenced by the vast majority of models by all manufacturers being factory preset or have a tracking type of circuit.
Even today, those of us who are very familiar and knowledgeable about the concept of GB and how to make proper adjustments will encounter many questions from a hoard of newcomers or others who just don't quite get it. So it is, and will be for a while, with some hobbyists who opt for the X-Terra 50 and try to set the GB. I find the X-Terra 50 easier to GB on occasion when the sensitivity is reduced from maximum, where I usually have it, to anywhere from 12 to 16, depending upon outside RF interference, not to mention the ground itself.
if you follow the owner's manual procedures to GB the X-Terra 50, you will find that it is quickly accomplished in a matter of moments. Seconds, not minutes. It is easy to do.
If you have an understanding of ground mineralization changes for the various sites you might hunt, you will know which was to adjust the GB control, + or -, in order to get 'balanced' as quick as possible. With the X-Terra 50, the '1' setting would be the most POSITIVE GB setting you could use, and as you adjust towards '10,' you would be reducing the GB to set it for less mineralized ground conditions. So, if someone understands how to set their X-Terra 50 for a 'spot on' GB and they tell you they have a setting of '8' then you know that they are in more favorable ground than you are if you need to use a setting of '3' for example.
And for those who aren't sure, yes, the GB function of the X-Terra 50 adjusts for BOTH the Pinpoint and the motion modes!
Before I go back to the X-Terra 30 I should add that it was a good decision to provide it with a fixed operating frequency of 7.5 kHz because it is also relying on a fixed GB setting. The X-Terra 50 will see the most action with switching various coil types and sizes, I'm sure, so it is important for it to have the user-adjustable GB feature. The X-Terra 30 should do just fine the way it comes.
Understanding Operating Modes: For many I know this won't be difficult to understand, but for some there seems to be confusion about the labeling of "Patterns" on both models, and the All Metal switch on the X-Terra 50.
I'll try to make this simple in 'Monte-speak' explanation:
The X-Terra's are motion based models in their operating or search modes.
The X-Terra 30 offers TWO motion based modes that are selected by using the "Pattern" touch pad. One is labeled 'AM' for All Metal Accept operation. This is a motion discriminate model without any discrimination or rejection. It accepts all metals, ferrous and non-ferrous. It is NOT a 'conventional', threshold-based All Metal mode. In this motion mode you will accept all metal targets and cannot reject any of them.
The other operating 'Pattern' or Mode is labeled '1'. This mode has a factory preset rejection of the first two discrimination segments (-4 and +4) which will reject most smaller iron targets as well as some small aluminum foil and other lower-conductive non-ferrous targets. This mode IS able to be adjusted as the operator desires to accept or reject any of 12 different discrimination segments.
In operation, the user can press "Patterns' and shift between accepting all metal targets (AM) or rejecting those they have selected to ignore (1).
The X-Terra 50 differs a little because it offers two user-adjustable patterns rather than just one of the X-Terra 30. The factory preset Pattern '1' rejects -9, -6, -3 and +3 and accomplishes similar discrimination as the X-Terra 30's adjustable pattern. X-Terra 50's Pattern '2' is a preset notching pattern which also rejects +6 as well as +15 and +18. This second adjustable pattern option was designed for those coinshooters who often hunt modern-trash sites and it will reject most foil and pull tabs, but still respond to most US 5¢ coins ... considering all conditions to be favorable of course.
In addition to these two 'Pattern' modes, which are each totally adjustable by the operator's acceptance or rejection of 18 segments, the X-Terra 50 also has an All Metal mode. What makes the '50' different from the '30' is that the X-Terra 50 has an additional "shortcut" button to select the All Metal (zero discrimination) motion mode. Pressing this All Metal shortcut button will switch you to or from the All Metal motion mode or back to the Pattern mode (1 or 2) that you were using. This gives you two user adjustable pattern modes and one all metal, non-adjustable pattern mode.
The X-Terra's 'Memory' Remembers Almost Everything, but Presumes One Thing: Some of the multi-segmented motion models on the market today lack the range of user adjustment of the X-Terra's. The Ace 250 has 12 segments and you can accept or reject any one of them. The Prizm II, III, IV and V only have 8 ID segments, but the operator can only select to accept or reject 5 of them. Rather limiting, I feel. The X-Terra has 12 segments and the X-Terra 50 has 18, that can be accepted or rejected to set up a rejection pattern.
The Ace 250 will 'remember' your last mode and settings. The Prizm's do not have a memory to go back to your settings at turn-on.
The X-Terra's have a 'memory' so that when you turn the detector off and then on again at your next hunt site, it will start up with all the Sensitivity, Volume*, Noise Cancel (50), GB (50) and Discrimination Patterns you have set.
There is one thing these two models do [i]NOT remember at 'turn-on' and that is to start in the All Metal pattern. I hunt in All Metal a LOT and all I can figure is that the design engineers must have presumed that most X-Terra users are going to be coinshooters or others who generally hunt with some rejection. Therefore, the X-Terra 30 will always turn-on in Pattern 1, and the X-Terra 50 will start up in either pattern 1 or Pattern 2, which ever you had in use last. neither will start up in All Metal. That might be good for a newcomer who wouldn't catch it and might hunt along with signals everywhere from everything and it could cause frustration.
Accept & Reject: Both models have the same handy design that lets the user accept or reject any particular notch or segment they choose. very easy to do, and very easy to see the rejected segment/value.
Menu Adjustments and Comparisons: Both provide adjustment for Sensitivity, but the '30' goes from 0-10 and the '50 from 1-20. When I have been far from any electrical interference I can operate both of these units at full sensitivity without any appreciable noise or chatter. I will admit that the '50' is a little noisier at maximum in many city locations I've used them, but a setting of 18± will usually have me as stable as the X-Terra 30. No, I haven't found anything real deep that one would and the other would not find.
The Volume control on the X-Terra 30 adjusts from 0-10 and the X-Terra 50 from 0-20. This is to set the target volume, or how loud you want the target audio response to be. A unique feature Minelab incorporated in the X-Terra is that you can set the target volume for the speaker, and then when you plug in the headphones you can set it for a comfortable setting for the headphones in use. The X-Terra will remember the setting and use that setting based on the use of headphones or not.
A bonus feature of the X-Terra 50 is the Noise Cancel which is nothing more than a slight frequency shift. It is not like the Explorer's Noise Cancel. Before anyone asks, Yes, I did test the Noise Cancel feature with the X-Terra 30 and X-Terra 50 operating close to each other!
How did it work? Perfect, period! I hunted with my X-Terra 50 with a preset setting of '0' and worked close to the in-use X-Terra 30. The first thing I noted was that BOTH of the X-Terra's started to display a similar-sounding chatter noise at the same time and the same intensity. The options are a Noise Cancel setting of '+1' or "-1' and I tried them both. That was all it took. Either a + or - adjustment and they were both silent running again!
Not only did they remain silent but they continued to stay quiet as we hunted closer and closer until the coils were no more than 44 or so apart. We were all very impressed with such performance!
Discrimination Segments, Audio Tones, TID references, and the Complexity of Learning the X-Terra's: I was pleased to see that Minelab provided a large, easy to view display and big numeric readings. I was also glad they didn't use words and symbols to suggest coins and trash. It is always best if the detectorist hunts a site for 20-30 minutes with little or no discrimination and make mental note of the audio response and compare the TID numeric reading (or erratic reading) of targets at the site. Consider the ground conditions then proceed from there.
I will not tell anyone which is better, the 3-tone audio or 4-tone audio because I like them both. They each have their place.
I also will not tell you which you are going to prefer between the 12 segment or 18 segment discrimination 'patterns' because, again, we all have our likes and dislikes.
What I can attest to is the complexity involved in mastering the X-Terra's. NO, not the X-Terra 30 and NO, not the X-Terra 50. Each of them is easy to learn and enjoy. What I said was mastering X-Terras, plural! It is a self-induced complexity when you have each of them because you spend a lot of time trying to figure out which one of the two is 'The Best' or which one has too many weaknesses. Then, all of a sudden after several days afield it because less complex because I realized that they BOTH will do what I want them to do! I just have to make my own thinking less complex and appreciate what they are, what they can do, and how they convey their information. After I got the hang of the differences in the TID readout (numeric readings) it was just a matter of remembering if I was swinging "Old Blue" or "Big Red!".
In Conclusion ... Depth of Found Targets: Am guess I am fortunate in that I hunt a lot of sites with coins and period artifacts that date from about 1860 thru the Depression Era that are free of civilization sprawl or other activities which can result in a lot of very, very deep coins. Most of these sites hold coins, tokens and other small artifacts in the top 4" or so. Often from on top and in sight to no more than 2"!
But I also hunt sites where I do have to do some plugging or digging and that's especially true when I am after older silver coins in grassy sites. With either/both of the X-Terra's my deepest coins in the most mineralized locations I've hunted came from about 6½"-7". There might be some deeper, but my Explorer II swinging buddy wasn't getting them any deeper, either. In the best ground I have been able to hunt so far I have pulled pennies and dimes, and similar-sized buttons and copper rivets as deep as 8"-9". These are naturally buried and found depths, not planted or table-top 'air test' depths.
What Would Monte Like To See from Minelab Next?:.. Before I was interested in BOTH an 18.75 kHz operating coil for the X-Terra 50 and a smaller coil, preferably concentric, for trashy sites.
Now, however, I honestly feel Minelab needs to get a smaller concentric coil at 7.5 kHz into production ... quickly! I plan to get one as soon as possible and it will most likely spend "full time" duty affixed to the X-Terra 30 for use when hunting woodchip playgrounds and other trashy sites.
My Minelab X-Terra 50 will use a larger coil (stock 9" perhaps) for hunting open areas for deeper silver, and I will enjoy finding out how well the 18.75 kHz coils will help it out for gold jewelry hunting, and even a little nugget shooting.
