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Garys Detecting.co.uk
2 Machines have been released this week the
Minelab X terra and the Laser Trident
both about the same money
Minelab x-terra specifications and review
The Minelab X Terra 70 50 30
Review
The machine arrived at 8.30 this morning the delivery driver held my toast
while I signed for it.The unit was well packed and easy to put together.
The four AA's fitted snugly into the screen
compartment
Having fully assembled the machine I stood up to and feel the
balance and weight of the x terra 50, at this point I realised that even on
its shortest setting the stem was to long for me, how could something this
simple be overlooked, this machine is aimed at people of all ages there is
no way my son could use it, and I certainly was not prepared to hacksaw the lower stem on a 1
hour old metal detector, so my only answer was to graft on a Tesoro middle
and lower section on just for today.
Latest news
shorter lower stem's now available !!!!
Detecnicks have the new high frequency coils in stock
!
For those of you thinking I am over reacting look at the pictures below
which shows the Laser Trident and the X terra 50 standing in their shortest
stem positions.
Measurement from coil to top of stem in shortest position
Laser 38"-----X-Terra 48"
Air tests
The x terra performed
reasonably well but nothing gave me the impression it was going to be
anything dynamic, it had great Iron rejection with nice clean looking
numbers on the display.
The lower 2 segments -9 and -6 were enough to reject Iron leaving only -3
accepted in the minus range, which was just as well because testing coins
through the mineralised soil most of them read -3 with a solid repeatable
low tone.
So remember when searching on bad soil keep a look out for that -3
it could be a small or deep coin. (like the c scope 1220R).
 
Above pictured left X-Terra 50 right C Scope 1220 R
Dan arrived home from school and as usual as keen as mustard, we drove over
to the park with an hours daylight left, I had already set the machine to
reject ring pulls and foil.
Yes it worked really well we dug about a dozen coins in the hour some at a
reasonable depth, the pin point button helped locate these particular
targets.
The meter numbers jumped quite a lot on deeper targets but then settled as
the target was pin pointed, every dig produced either a bottle cap, coke can or coins we dug no ring
pulls Iron or foil.
First impressions : I dont think this machine will compare to the higher end
models but offers great prospects for those looking for a mid
ranged coinshooter.
Comparing the X-Terra to other machines in it's class (inland)
The x-terra is a well made package combined with Minelab's reliable after sales service I'm sure it will be very popular.
Having used the new V Flex search system I noticed no major leaps in
technology in fact no differece at all apart from a worrying signal delay
from the target passing the coil to the actual sound in the headphones, peformance is on par with the Garrett
250 ace and the whites Prizm range,
putting technology aside I think its closest
relation is the C Scope 1220 R as it also has a clear bold numeric display.
The X-terra 50 and 70 have the same
performance and will probably be a logical choice
for Minelab supporters who
find the Explorer II and Quattro to heavy or complicated.
I would rate the Minelab X Terra
Performance 6/10
Balance and simplicity 8/10
My thoughts on the x-terra range and v flex technology
Personally I hope this machine is not a sign of things to come, technology
has not advanced despite what magazine adverts and DVD's suggest, I can only
describe it as a case of outsmarting itself, 2 steps forward resulting in
four steps backward.
Other new machines available on todays metal detecting
market are The Laser Trident, Whites Matrix M6,
XP Gold maxx power,
XP ADX 250
If you wish to find out more about the Minelab X terra
70 50 or 30 please click the link
below
This will take you directly to
the Detecnicks
web site where you can rely on
expert advice and friendly service.
Oh ! and don't 4 get to mention Garys detecting
when you call.
Independant Review from Malc
Hi Gary,
In response to your request for first
impresions of the X Terra, here goes.
My only other experience of detecting was
with an ancient C Scope 770, that really got me interested in purchasing a
"better" machine. After reading several report on forums, I
decided that I would try the Xterra 50, even though there seemed to be some
contraversy as to its worth.
I took the link from your site to
Detecnics, and spoke to a lovely and helpful lady called Laura, who made the
whole buying your first real detector a doddle.
When the machine arrived, I read the
simple to read instruction book, and assembled the machine. My first outing
was to an old millhouse, that I had previously searched using the C Scope.
After balancing the Terra, which was almost to easy, I wandered off into the
millhouses garden and was amazed as to how many signals I was getting. When I
checked the machine, I noticed that I had it in All metal mode, and the
signals were predominately ferrous, indicating old nails and trash normally
associated with old houses. When I switched the machine to pattern 1, the
machine became a lot quieter, and I continued searching.
After an hour I had dug several 2 and 1
pence coins, a couple of cans, a lead figurine of a bird, a tin opener!! and a
1942 farthing. Not really what I had dreamt of, but a valuable experience, as
I had started to recognise what sounds were good ones to dig and had begun to
understand the machine a bit more. A plus point for me is having both a visual
and audio reading, as I have found that if the visual ID doesn't lock on a
number, it is usually trash. Coins seem to lock on fairly well, and pound
coins always lock on a solid 30, and are unmistakeable through the
headphones.Just wish I knew what gold sounded like all the time !!
I have since only managed to take it
around my local park, to find, apart from current coinage, a George 111 penny,
a 1944 half penny, a military button and a really worn coin that I cannot
identify. I hope to get to a Weekend Wanderers dig soon, to really give the
Terra a good run out, but so far I am enjoying the experience.
Many people still seem to be putting the X
Terra down, but from the standpoint of a newcomer, I am enjoying the turn on
and go simplicity of the machine, not to mention it's lack of weight.
Hope to see you soon,
Malc.
Fantastic review Malc very informative I'm
sure this will help those thinking about purchasing an X-Terra.
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E Mail
Hi Garry very much enjoy your web site and admire your readers
honest comments i have got a minelab X terra 50 here are my words.
£499 is to much the machine has not got good value or performance all i
can say to people who watch the dvd and read the articles is dont
take it as gospel £399 would been the best price.
Graham |
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X-Terra Technical Features Comparison Chart:
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|
Model Features |
X-Terra 30 |
X-Terra 50 |
| Coil Frequency
options |
1 (Standard 7.5kHz) |
2 (Standard 7.5kHz or
High 18.75kHz) |
| Discrimination
Patterns |
1 + All Metal (Coin &
All Metal) |
2 + All Metal (Coin;
Coin & Jewelry & All Metal) |
| All Metal Shortcut |
No |
Yes |
| Discrimination
Scale (Segments) |
12 |
18 |
| Ferrous |
1 Segment |
3 Segments |
| Non-Ferrous |
11 Segments |
15 Segments |
| Numeric Range
(Target ID Numbers) |
Steps of 4 (-4 to 44) |
Steps of 3 (-9 to 45) |
| Depth Indication
Icons |
5 |
5 |
| Sensitivity
adjustment |
1-10 |
1-20 |
| Noise Cancel
Channels |
no |
3 (-1, 0, 1) |
| Ground Balance
Adjustment |
Fixed |
Manual (0-20) |
| Pinpoint (Audio &
Visual) |
Yes |
Yes |
| Volume Adjustment |
0-10 |
0-20 |
Audio Tone ID's
for Targets
|
3 |
4 |
| Low Battery Audio
Alarm |
Yes |
Yes |
| User Interface
Keys |
6+ Power |
8+ Power |
| Shaft Color |
Wineberry red |
Navy blue |
Minelab X Terra 70 specifications available April 06
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