MINELAB Equinox 900 Multi-Frequency Collapsible Metal Detector for Adults with EQX 11" & 6” Waterproof Double-D Coils (Option for 6 Single Frequencies, 4 Detect Modes, Wireless Headphones Included)

This review is for the Minelab Equinox 800 metal detector set, which includes the control unit, 6 inch coil, 11 inch coil, wireless module, headphones, and arm strap. I am giving this a five out of five. For the price, this machine genuinely bridges the gap between novice level detectors and professional grade detectors. If you are brand new to metal detecting but know you want a serious machine that you will not outgrow quickly, this is one of the best options available. The Equinox 800 uses Minelab’s multi frequency IQ system, meaning it emits multiple frequencies simultaneously. This allows it to handle different soil conditions and depths extremely well. It performs consistently across parks, fields, beaches, and even gold prospecting scenarios. The preset modes make it very approachable for beginners. You get two Park modes, two Field modes, two Beach modes, and two Gold modes, all selectable with a simple button press. You can turn it on, noise cancel, ground balance, and start hunting immediately. As your skill level increases, the deeper controls are there when you need them. You can manually adjust ground balance, recovery speed, iron bias, sensitivity, threshold, noise cancel, and frequency selection. You can also choose between two tone, five tone, or full fifty tone audio, which provides an incredible amount of target information once you learn to interpret it. The LCD screen is bright and easy to read. Battery life is strong. I typically get ten to twelve hours per charge. In colder northern Indiana winter conditions, I lose roughly one to two hours, which is expected for lithium batteries. Depth capability is excellent. I have personally dug targets approaching two feet deep with lower recovery speed settings in favorable soil. This detector absolutely has professional level performance when properly tuned. The wireless module is worth using. It provides extremely low latency audio and is noticeably better than standard Bluetooth headphones. I believe Minelab is no longer actively producing the Equinox 800, but it is still widely available and well supported. Minelab equipment is ubiquitous in the hobby, and parts and accessories are easy to find. I have been metal detecting since 2017 and have owned several detectors. The Equinox 800 is the machine that truly locked me into the hobby. Even as I upgrade to higher end units like the Manticore, this detector will always remain in my arsenal. Pros: • True multi frequency performance • Excellent depth and target separation • Beginner friendly presets with deep advanced controls • Strong battery life and fast charging • Bright, readable screen • Very low latency wireless audio Cons: • None worth noting for its class Bottom line: If you want one detector that can grow with you from beginner to advanced without holding you back, the Minelab Equinox 800 is an outstanding choice. It remains one of the most influential and capable detectors ever released, and it earns a strong five out of five.

Love this machine. Very accurate and easy to use. I have had great luck with it and it is my go to. This is my second Minelab Detector and the upgrades from the 800 are so worth it. The seller was awesome. Love buying from them.

I was gifted the vanquish 340 Loved it. Soon I upgraded to the 540 vanquish I love it even more.. Because I consider myself a professional now, I use the equinox This is by far the best detector I own I only need this one. At first the extra features can seem overwhelming, but quickly become automatic to use and are useful . I just gotta say soda can tabs always sounds so good. Dig them all dirt fishers!

I love this machine. I used a Garrett at max for a long time and it's a great machine. The equinox 900 is definitely an upgrade. It didn't take long at all to learn the machine. It is light and balanced very well. I love the display layout. I found so many treasures already with this detector and I've only had it for a week. I definitely recommend the Equinox 900.

I love this machine so damn much. Price is steep but worth it compared to what I was dinking around with for a decade ($400-Bounty Hunter Landstar...which was nice at the time but stone ages compared to the Nox). Love the rechargeable lithium battery, lasts a long time. Backlit screen, wireless headphones, lightweight, water proof and powerful. Easy to use after a bit of practice. Solid and stable after putting 70 hours on it. I can’t speak to its target discrimination abilities or depth strength compared to other machines, but it seems to perform very well (speaking from my 12-years of experience). I recommend the 600 vs 800 if you’re being honest with yourself about the fact that you’ll likely never go gold prospecting....but maybe you will??? There is one an annoying thing with the pinpoint mode occasionally being quite after first switching over. Sometimes its quiet and then I move away from the target and back again then it’s louder. Weird and doesn’t happen a lot. I’m thrilled with this Nox 800! I’m in heaven when out tecting with it. ...You might even catch me sauntering around the park in a display of euphoria treasure hunting. Hahaha

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.

Love my detector. I have had it for a while now and the battery lasts a long time. Good Bluetooth headphone connection. Pinpoint accuracy, durable, multiple sounds with volume control.

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.