MINELAB Equinox 800 Multi-Frequency Waterproof Metal Detector for Adults with EQX 11" Double-D Smart Coil (4 Detect Modes, Wireless Headphones Included)

A few years ago I bought a cheap metal detector that was just junk. Used it once and never touched it again.I picked up the Minelab Equinox 900 recently and right out of the box with no calibration it did a great job. Tested it out at the beach and found several coins, a fishing weight and some small pieces of junk. I'll test it out in other locations but I'm sure it'll do great there too.

My first detector. I love it.

Great machine!Takes sone learning and getting used to but it's a very good detector.

I love my equinox it has made me a lot of money, especially when i found a 3000$ wedding ring. And the countless other things I wont mention

I went through two lesser quality beginners detectors very quickly before realizing that for what I was looking for I needed to upgrade quickly. I don't have thousands to spend, so the price was perfect for me.

I just started metal detecting in 2024 and I am so glad I purchased the Minelab Equinox 900. I have gone out detecting some old farms in Pennsylvania and this detector has impressed me every time. I recommend you watch some online videos to see how others have tested the Equinox 900. There are some excellent videos where the video person digs multiple depth holes and places coins in the bottom of each hole. I stand by their results because I have witnessed similar findings. I love this detector and plan to continue using it for many years to come. I also purchased an optional 15 inch coil so I can cover more ground. I feel it increases my productivity in the plowed fields

I am very happy with the Nox 800 but I am not giving it 5 stars because of two main reasons…The “Nox” 800 at $899 is almost 40% more expensive than the 600 model at $649. They have identical hardware, so you are paying an extra $250 for the 800 to have some features enabled in software. Note that the 600 supports all the same frequencies as the 800, the only difference being the reduced number of selections available. You also get some different/extra accessories with the 800 that, if you are like me, you do not want. These detectors come with a built-in speaker and Bluetooth with aptX low latency. They should just leave it at that rather than bundling a pair of headphones and a Bluetooth adapter which, if wanted, can be had easily for $30 and $20 respectively. Personally, I prefer to use a pair of aptX earbuds. The bottom line is that the price difference between the Equinox models is simply a marketing strategy by Minelab to hit more than one market segment with just one detector. It is my opinion that’s it’s the buyers of the 800 who lose out here.The Equinox has some portability challenges. Minelab know about portability - just look at some of the other detectors in their catalog where they made the effort in the area. The first challenge with the Nox is the length of the carbon fiber shaft attached to the coil. It is about 29” with coil attached which means that it won’t fit in a day backpack. Making that shaft further collapsible would have been my #1 wish. Then there’s the sticky-out handle that also makes the detector more difficult to pack and carry. Making it foldable into the arm rest, or even removable, would have been easy (see options on eBay) but that was a little too much to do for Minelab apparently.Overall, if the 800 addressed the portability issues of the Equinox, that would have been a much more justifiable price hike over the Nox 600 than what we have now.Adding a few tips…The book “The Minelab Equinox 600 800 Metal Detector Hand Book” is a must-have for any new or prospective Equinox owner. It explains the differences (or lack thereof!) between the models as well as explaining how to get the most from the detector.If you are thinking of buying a pinpoint detector, I suggest you try one of the cheap waterproof models readily available on Amazon before paying a premium for a Minelab or Garrett model. I have a cheapie and it works great.Rather than buying a Minelab detector bag for $60, many people report that a tennis bag works well. Just be sure it can fit that 29” lower shaft section as some smaller bags will have trouble with it. Obviously, some tennis bags cost much more than $60 but if you have an old one lying around, or can get one at Goodwill, it should work well.

I have had the Nox 800 for years, and decided to purchase another when it was on sale. This a still a great detector that set the standard for separation, and the newer models come at a much higher price for not enough difference. Overall this thing is well worth it for a beginner to an experienced detectorist.