Garys Detecting.co.uk
 Whites DFX + Tesoro Lobo+Laser Rapier, Minelab Explorer,1236 X2 Metal detector field tests and reviews by independent users
Metal detector field tests
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Whites DFX personal review
 This is a very brief field review on the Whites DFX aimed at those folks who are thinking about a purchase in the near future.
Although I have owned this machine for 6 months I will keep it brief and hit on what I think are the things you should know.
If you need more technical info the manual can be downloaded from the Whites metal detectors web site here.

The Whites DFX is exactly the same size and weight as the XLT with many functions still remaining, although Whites insist it is a completely different machine to set up and use.

The first thing I noticed was that it had the ability to swap between 2 frequencies 3khz or 15 kHz, and a best data mode which is supposed to use both at the same time.

It was not long before I realised that the 15khz was the frequency to use here in the UK and the single 3khz and best data was somewhat of a dissapointment, although very stable the signals were far and few between, when searching in 15khz the machine had the ability to find tiny items like 22 air rifle pellets however with a trade off…it was very unstable even with the pre amp and AC turned down, the false “ticks” are something you will have to live with.

 This metal detector loves hammered and small Roman coinage when in 15khz, but not so sensitive to the larger targets like crotal bells and artefacts, if you are hunting for these I would suggest using Best data but you will loose some sensitivity, I have found this to be true by checking signals in both modes.

The Whites DFX is not as deep as the XLT but more sensitive, deeper targets can sound broken, the meter ID has a tendancy to be very unstable, once again great on shallow coins…Pin pointing was very reliable, the VCO is a real help, the Tone ID worked well on some sites combined with the Elliptical coil.
The sweep speed and filter adjustments on the whites DFX  make a real difference to its performance(providing you get them correct), I have found the machine needs to be adjusted for different sites and no program works the same on every trip, even walking through a gate into another field, the Whites Dxf may need program adjustments..

Summing up the Whites DFX

Having read a comissioned glowing magazine review about the DFX over and over again I belived this machine was to be a step into the future, claiming that it was as deep as a pulse machine, 12" depth on a sixpence and virtually eliminated the losses associated with ground mineralisation I was off to the dealers with my £650.00

The Whites DFX sounded great on paper but in practice it lacks simplicity and honesty, the DFX is more of a side step to the XLT rather than a forward leap in technology.
 I personally believe Whites can bring out a better machine than this.
I would choose a whites XLT over the DFX

Rate 7/10

Likes

Many good features within the set up
Well balanced
Excellent after sales service
Good build quality

Dislikes

Price
Deep targets sound broken
Unstable numbers on display
3khz mode very quiet needs to be 6Khz(like XLT)
Hard to learn
Basically  I found the DFX rather hard work

TESORO LOBO Super Trac FIELD TEST

 You either love it or hate it, but  one fact will always remain….the Tesoro Lobo st finds small targets in bad soil.
I have been using this machine for a number of weeks now...And now I have developed an ear for it my finds rate has gone ballistic...
Originally it was designed as a Gold nugget seeker running at a very high 17 kHz which makes it very sensitive, early models were released with mainly the 8 inch widescan coil but now the web coil has become popular,I have found the 10x5 elliptical to be my favourite.

A word of warning this machine is finely tuned and a change of coil may reqire the unit to be re-calibrated,contact Dave at Pentechnics if you have any doubts

In the field the tesoro Lobo ST is simple to set up discrimination rejects iron at 2, anything below will increase depth but also accept the iron. Sensitivity can be turned up very high without falsing. I did find it to be a little heavy but a simple tip is to slide the control box off the stem, remove the arm cup, place the control box under the arm and replace the arm cup, this will make accessing the controls a little difficult but balances the machine perfectly.

In discriminate mode the audio has a vco which does not give a bleep more of a zip, deeper signals give a lower zip, iron on the surface will scream, this takes a little getting used to but when mastered can prove deadly in the right hands.

The batteries are 8 aa type which is good , it  gives a more steady drain than the single 9volt.  There is a switch on the front panel which allows you to search in either black sand ,alkaline or normal soil modes, next to it is a pin point / all metal / discrim toggle.

 SUMMING UP the Tesoro Lobo

Unlike other Tesoro models you really have to work slow with the Lobo, the high operating frequency  is ideal for tiny Sceats, Celts,Hammered.etc

Likes

Very responsive to small targets
Good build quality
Deep
Very good second hand value
Service and repairs(pentechnic) excellent

 Dislikes

Price
Can give you an ear bashing on junky sites
Can not be manual ground balanced
Requires time to learn

RATE 9/10

Fisher 1236x2 field test

The Fisher 1236 X2 is a very well made metal detector it has a a solid robust 8 inch spider coil, the controls are solid and have a smooth action, the box can be removed and hip mounted.

The older Fishers have a reputation for finding unwanted iron but with this machine you can still hear it but you know what it is (big help)not to say you wont totally ignore iron like the Minelabs but it is acceptable. The discrimination can bet set to a preset iron reject or a user position like most other machines, I set mine at exactly 3 ¾  this way you can hear the ground chatter but a good signal will sing above this, many others prefer to use 4 or 41/2 to obtain a quiet search.

The silencer switch is a real bonus switched “on”  will give a positive 2 way response on good signals, during my tests a one way signal has always been iron.

The pin point button is a VCO type and is far to loud with no way of making it quieter I have found pin pointing in discrimination mode to be very acurate.When searching  with this machine you can hear the depth of the targets by the audio which is great, a deep target sounds deep and believe me it does go deep, The 1263x2 has the ability to find good targets in amongst iron, I have even dug coins and have found small nails in the same hole.

The battery’s are 2 x 9v which the machine drains quite heavy, we have found that giving the machine a rest for say 10 minutes every hour, will keep performance at a peak. cheap supermarket batteries can be very tight in the pods we recommend Energizers, they do not swell when exhausted.

Audio is very much like a tesoro but can have more depth on certain types of ground, great all round machine it even works on the beach, brilliant on contaminated Roman sites, with the ability to find tiny bits like cut ¼ s,value for money a bit of  an unknown hero, wait till word gets around about this machine.

Likes
Very easy machine to learn
Solid build quality
Great performer
Good Iron rejection

Dislikes
Pin Point audio to loud,
batteries are a bit of a pain to remove
    9 volt battery system
Rate 8/10

Laser Rapier Field Test

 The Laser Rapier is very much like the original Tesoro Silver Sabre plus, although this machine is powered by a 9 volt battery which is reported to give 16 hours of use, for optimum performance we have found it must be changed after 8 hours or less.

The machine is very light and strips down into three parts so it can be carried in a small rucksack,as with most modern Tesoros. A simple turn on and go set up with a pin point button which is hardly ever required. The audio response on the Laser Rapier is  sharp and honest even on very small targets. Depth is good but not earth shattering these machines work very well on loose dry soil where many other machines fail this is the last of Tesoro- Lasers analogue machines.

 Rate 8/10

Like's
Lightweight
Good value for money
Excellent after sales service
(Pentechnic)
Honest little machine for all ages
Fantastic for finding small coins amoungst Iron
Easy to learn

 Dislikes
Can be fooled by deep Iron when searching on pasture
Not happy with 9Volt battery system

Tesoro Cortes field test

 The Tesoro Cortes is a machine made mainly for the American market,the meter is very small and in dollars and dimes, the notch is fixed so it will eliminate hammered coins, the ground balance only works in all metal, the tone ID only works in pin point,Perhaps the next model will be better value for money.

Rate 6/10

 I have given this machine a low rating,because of its features  not suited for the UK market,I must point out the performance is on par with any other mid range Tesoro/Laser model

 Likes

See Laser Rapier

 Dislikes

You pay a lot of extra money for American features which have no use to us over here in the UK and Europe...I would avoid the Cortes for UK searching

The new Laser Hawkeye sounds like it will be better for the UK market

The Whites Prizm IV
Readers field test Andy Bristol

I went out today to try the new Prizm IV which I bought for my wife. This detector is the top of the range Prizm, Whites also do the II, III.

To set the machine up I turned it on, I then pushed the disc pad down once, leaving one disc icon on the screen to knock out iron, I put the sensitivity up to maximum and off I went, I couldn't believe how stable this detector is, no chatter and no false signals, it ran very smoothly.
 

I tried the tone ID too, first I turned off all the disc icons on the screen to run in all metal, turned tone ID on, sensitivity at max, I had a little bit more noise now as it was picking up all metal and there is plenty of iron where I was detecting, I had a few bits of lead and odd shaped bronze and copper, I never know what these bits are and where they came from, strange, all good signals at good depth.

10 / 10 Excellent value for money.

Thanks for your field test Andy,appreciate readers input.
 I will send you a free goodie in the post.
Gaz