There you can see me use the detectors that I rate below. Each one of the detectors are owned by me and have been used for at least 50 hours. The rankings are my honest opinions and I am not currently sponsored by any company. I am an avid metal detectorist and I collect metal detectors. Anybody who metal detects wants to know which metal detector is best and which one fits their needs and budget perfectly. This website will evolve over time (THERE ARE A LOT OF METAL DETECTORS ON THE MARKET) and I will rate the experience with each detector so that you can make an excellent and informed choice. Please keep in mind that metal detecting has a LONG history! Alexander Graham Bell invented the first one in 1881 (in an attempt to save President James Garfield's life). Portable metal detectors were first commercially produced in the 1930's and started to become a popular hobby product in the 1960's. This website will focus on metal detectors that are still in production in the year 2023 as well as detectors that I have owned before going out of production. This project is intended to be long term and my budget will dictate how quickly I can acquire all of the metal detectors listed below to review. This site was founded by Merrill Kazanjian from Metal Detecting NYC.
Criteria
Depth: How deep does a given metal detector go relative to other metal detectors? (Note: We use the stock coil while measuring all detectors). Depth is worth 10 points and is factored in to Overall Rating and Capability Rating.
Separation: How well can a given metal detector differentiate multiple targets in close proximity to one another? Separation is worth 10 points and is factored in to Overall Rating and Capability Rating.
Sound Inference: Can the sound emitted by a metal detector help the user infer characteristics about a target such as size, shape and conductivity? Sound inference is worth 5 points and is factored in to Overall Rating and Capability Rating.
Target ID & Visual Inference: Can the Target ID and the data on the detector's screen help the user infer clues about the target that the user is swinging over? Target ID & Visual Inference is worth 5 points and is factored in to Overall Rating and Capability Rating.
Ergonomics: How easy is it to swing a given detector? Will its weight fatigue the user? Can the screen be seen and understood easily? Can the audio be heard? Ergonomics is worth 5 points and is factored in to the Overall Rating.
Build Durability: How has the design of the detector lasted over time? Have there been issues that have negatively affected the reputation of the detector? Build Durability is worth 5 points and is factored in to the Overall Rating.
Battery Life: How is the battery life of the metal detector, relative to other metal detectors on the market? Battery Life is worth 5 points and is factored in to the Overall Rating.
Swag/Add Ons: Is there an inventory of add ons available on the market for a given detector? (example coils) Swag/Add Ons is worth 5 points and is factored in to the Overall Rating.
Pinpoint Quality: How useful is the given detector's pinpoint function? Some pinpoints (such as on the XP Deus and Minelab Equinox) are designed to give extra information to the user. A user should be able to trace the edges of an object with a good pinpoint on a metal detector. This gets more difficult when an item has depth or other metal objects around it. Pinpoint Quality is worth 5 points and is factored in to Overall Rating and Capability Rating.
Navigation: How easy is it for a user to navigate all of the menus and functions that a metal detector offers? Navigation is worth 5 points and is factored in to the Overall Rating.
Handles EMI: How well does a given metal detector do with Electromagnetic Interference? Are there ways to mitigate the effects of EMI? Handles EMI is worth 5 points and is factored in to Overall Rating and Capability Rating.
Utility In Water: Can the control box be submerged? How well does the detector function underwater or in the wet sections of a beach? Utility In Water is worth 5 points and is factored in to Overall Rating and Capability Rating.
Saltwater Beach: What are the capabilities of a given detector on a saltwater beach? Saltwater Beach is worth 5 points and is factored in to Overall Rating and Capability Rating.
Trashy Park: What are the capabilities of a given detector in a trashy park? Trashy Park is worth 5 points and is factored in to Overall Rating and Capability Rating.
Handles Iron: How can the given detector help you inference that a target is iron? Does the detector have modes/programs that help the user avoid digging iron beyond notching out numbers? Handles Iron is worth 5 points and is factored in to Overall Rating and Capability Rating.
Relative Value: How is a given metal detector's price point relative to the uses/functions that it offers versus all other metal detectors? Relative Value is worth 15 points and is factored in to Overall Rating and Capability Rating.
Note: Every detector is given an Overall Rating and a Capability Rating.
Overall Rating Is a sum total of all of the categories listed above. The highest possible Overall Rating is 100.
Capability Rating is a total rating of the categories Depth, Separation, Sound Inference, Target ID and Visual Inference, Pinpoint Quality, Handles EMI, Utility In Water, Saltwater Beach, Trashy Park and Handles Iron. The highest possible Capability Rating is 60.
