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

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

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.

So, I've been a hobby detectorist for years. Whites, Garrett, misc machines, all just for poking around fun with friends in the hobby. I received this and gave it a charge, fired it up without even reading much of the manual, and went out to explore my backyard, where I "thought" I'd find nothing but some nails and bottle caps, because in the past, with other machines I had done the same, and was confident I'd not find any coins, etc. Well, I was wrong. In a span of about 15min I dug up a quarter, several dimes, a nickel and a penny! A few were around 8" or deeper. It gave off such a solid tone I had to give it a dig just to see, and sure enough, it was accurate in telling me to dig! I'm sure other newer machines on the market would have also hit these targets as they appeared to be present filtering through the different frequency options on the 800, but what I can say is the new technology on these machines works. Very clear "dig" tones, great weight and balance, and easy to use for an absolute beginner getting back into the hobby after a ten year hiatus. I'm really glad I did my research before buying a new metal detector. This one checks off all the boxes for me personally.

I've been detecting for about 4 years and this detector is great! Great at noise canceling and ground balancing. This thing can be tuned to your specific needs/preferences. Works great at the beach, so it handles water and salt water very well. I would recommend this to anyone that has experience with metal detecting due to its somewhat complex features. Only recommendation is, I would buy a coil ear brace to help sturdy them up. I've seen where people have broken the ears on the coil. Maybe because of weight or misuse? Not sure. But, I bought a cheap 3D printed brace from Amazon to be safe. Haven't had any problems.

My first detector. I love it.

There is a learning curve to using this, but that's the same with any detector. Easily learned, though. It's preset programs are on point, and you can customize the way you want them. This thing is light weight, making you swing longer without tiring out. And it is so compact when shaft is slid up into its 3 sections. I upgraded from a Whites XLT and a V3i. I thought I loved that V3i, but found a new connection with this Equinox 900. I've only just begun to use it, and found 3 dimes and a quarter in my yard that I missed with the V3i. Looking forward to many hunts with this Nox900.Update...This detector hits hard on silver! 11" deep dime and 8" deep half dollar, among more dimes. Loving it.

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.