Updated September 2, 2026 by Bart Davis, owner of Big Boys Hobbies Metal Detectors

The Nokta Legend 2 and Minelab Equinox 900 both sell for $999, both use simultaneous multi-frequency technology and both arrive with two search coils and low-latency wireless headphones. That makes this more than a simple specification comparison. Buyers want to know which detector will actually suit the places they hunt, how much adjustment each provides and which complete package gives them the most useful equipment.

The short answer is that you cannot make a bad choice between these two detectors. The Equinox 900 remains a proven, highly adjustable all-terrain machine. However, if I were helping someone choose between them today, I would give the Nokta Legend 2 a slight overall edge. Its lighter and well-balanced design, five dedicated search modes, FerroCheck, 15 customizable profiles, larger-capacity battery and flexible two-coil package make it especially compelling at the same price.

Nokta Legend 2 vs Equinox 900 Comparison Chart

Specifications and packages can change. Check the linked product pages for current pricing, availability and promotional offers.

What Do the Legend 2 and Equinox 900 Have in Common?

Both detectors are designed for the person who does not want a separate machine for every type of hunting. Their simultaneous multi-frequency systems allow them to work across parks, farm fields, freshwater locations, saltwater beaches and mineralized ground.

Both are rechargeable, lightweight, collapsible and waterproof to 16 feet. Each factory package includes an 11-inch general-purpose coil, a smaller coil for tighter locations and wireless headphones. Either detector can serve as a serious all-around machine for an experienced hunter while remaining manageable for a motivated beginner.

The real differences are found in how each detector organizes its settings, handles ferrous information, stores customized programs and feels during a long day of detecting.

Does the Equinox 900 Really Have More Target IDs?

This specification is commonly misunderstood. Minelab describes the Equinox 900 as having 119 discrimination segments. That number includes 20 ferrous positions from -19 through 0 and 99 nonferrous positions from 1 through 99.

The Legend 2 uses a 1–99 Target ID scale and supplements that information with Nokta’s FerroCheck display. FerroCheck helps the user judge whether a response behaves more like a ferrous or nonferrous target.

Therefore, it is not accurate to say the Equinox provides 119 nonferrous target numbers while the Legend 2 provides only 99. Both provide a 1–99 range for nonferrous targets; they communicate iron information differently.

Neither system eliminates the need to listen. Target shape, depth, orientation, nearby iron and soil conditions can all change the identification number. Experienced hunters use the number as one piece of information rather than an absolute answer.

Which Detector Is Better for Parks and Coin Hunting?

Both are strong park detectors. The Equinox 900 offers quick recovery, detailed ferrous and nonferrous identification and a familiar audio platform that many longtime Equinox owners already understand.

The Legend 2 counters with its 1–99 scale, FerroCheck, adjustable audio and multiple profiles that let you save different setups. You might keep one program for a relatively clean schoolyard, another for a trash-heavy picnic area and a third for older ground where you want to hear more iron.

Coil selection is also important. The Legend 2’s included LD21 elliptical coil can work around playground equipment, brush and closely spaced targets while still covering more ground in one direction than a tiny round coil. The Equinox 900’s EQX06 is exceptionally maneuverable in concentrated trash and tight spaces.

Which Is Better for Relic Hunting?

This is where the Legend 2 begins to separate itself. It has a dedicated Relic search mode in addition to Park, Field, Beach and Gold. That provides a logical starting point for old homesites, farm fields and locations containing desirable brass, lead and iron artifacts.

FerroCheck can also be useful at iron-filled sites, provided it is treated as another clue rather than an infallible dig-or-don’t-dig meter. The included LD21 coil gives the Legend 2 an effective factory option for working around foundations, brush and concentrations of nails.

The Equinox 900 is still a very capable relic detector. Its Field modes, adjustable recovery speed, Iron Bias and detailed audio controls can be tuned for difficult sites. It simply approaches relic hunting through the Field platform instead of giving it a separately named mode.

Legend 2 vs Equinox 900 for Beach and Saltwater Hunting

Both detectors use simultaneous multi-frequency operation and include a dedicated Beach mode. Both control boxes and supplied search coils are rated for submersion to 16 feet, making them suitable for dry sand, wet salt sand, shallow surf and freshwater hunting.

The Equinox family has earned a long track record on saltwater beaches, and that history matters to many buyers. The Equinox 900 builds on a platform that beach hunters have used for years, while adding its improved shaft, expanded identification system and faster adjustment range.

The Legend 2 is lighter and brings Nokta’s newer platform to the same job. Its large battery, Beach mode, adjustable audio and two included coils make it a serious saltwater contender—not merely a park detector that happens to be waterproof.

Conditions still matter more than brand claims. Black sand, surf movement, electrical interference and sensitivity settings can affect either machine. A detector that is adjusted correctly will usually outperform a theoretically superior machine running with poor settings.

For more beach-specific recommendations, read Bart’s Best Beach Metal Detectors for 2026 .

Which Is Better for Small Gold Prospecting?

Both detectors include a dedicated Gold mode and access to 40 kHz single-frequency operation. Both also include a smaller coil that is useful for navigating rocks, brush and uneven ground.

The Equinox 900 offers six selectable single frequencies: 4, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 40 kHz. The Legend 2 provides five: 4, 10, 15, 20 and 40 kHz. The extra 5 kHz option does not automatically make the Equinox a better nugget detector, but it does give users one additional frequency choice.

For either detector, small-gold success will depend heavily on ground balance, coil control, sensitivity, threshold adjustment and the mineralization at the location. Neither replaces a pulse-induction detector for every severe-ground situation.

Weight, Balance and Comfort

The Legend 2 weighs approximately 2.6 pounds with its standard coil, compared with approximately 2.8 pounds for the Equinox 900. A two-tenths-pound difference may not sound substantial when reading a specification chart, but balance and control-box placement can make a noticeable difference during several hours of swinging.

Both detectors use compact, collapsible shaft systems and adjustable armrests. The best fit will always be personal, but the Legend 2 receives the advantage on published weight and is designed to feel well balanced during longer hunts.

Search Coils and Included Equipment

Neither detector forces you to purchase a small coil immediately. The Legend 2’s LD21 is a compact elliptical coil that balances maneuverability with useful coverage. The Equinox 900’s round EQX06 is smaller and particularly useful in dense trash or very confined locations.

Legend 2 owners who want a middle-size option can add the Nokta LD22 9-inch waterproof DD coil . It fits between the compact LD21 and the larger LD28 for hunters who want one versatile middle-ground coil.

Current Big Boys Hobbies Package Comparison

Who Should Buy the Nokta Legend 2?

The Legend 2 is my recommendation if you:

• Want the lighter detector of the two
• Plan to hunt a mixture of parks, fields, relic sites, beaches and gold country
• Want a separately named Relic mode
• Value FerroCheck as an additional iron-identification tool
• Want to save multiple customized programs for different sites
• Prefer an elliptical small coil in the standard package
• Want a larger published battery capacity
• Are starting fresh without an investment in Minelab accessories

If you are deciding between the new detector and its predecessor, read our separate Nokta Legend vs Legend 2 comparison . That article addresses a different question and explains what changed between the two Nokta generations.

Who Should Buy the Minelab Equinox 900?

The Equinox 900 may be the better personal choice if you:

• Already understand and enjoy the Equinox audio system
• Want Minelab’s established Multi-IQ platform
• Primarily hunt saltwater beaches and value a longer platform history
• Want separate ferrous identification positions from -19 through 0
• Prefer a very small 6-inch round coil for concentrated trash
• Already own compatible Equinox accessories
• Want six selectable single-frequency options

The Equinox 900 is not a second-place detector in terms of capability. It is an excellent machine that happens to face an unusually competitive Legend 2 package at the same price.

Final Verdict: Legend 2 or Equinox 900?

The Minelab Equinox 900 deserves its reputation. It is fast, adjustable, waterproof and proven across parks, beaches, fields and gold-bearing ground. Someone who already likes the Equinox platform may have no compelling reason to move away from it.

Starting from a clean sheet, however, I believe the Nokta Legend 2 is the slightly better overall buy at $999. The difference is not based on one exaggerated depth claim. It comes from the entire package: lower published weight, five task-specific modes, FerroCheck, extensive profile storage, a 6700 mAh battery and two useful coils.

I would choose the Legend 2 for the hunter who wants maximum flexibility from one modern detector. I would choose the Equinox 900 for someone who prefers Minelab’s established platform, places special importance on its beach history or already owns Equinox equipment.

There is no honest way to promise that one detector will always go deeper or identify every target more accurately. Soil, target orientation, nearby iron, coil choice, settings and operator experience all matter. The best detector is ultimately the one whose information you understand well enough to make confident digging decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Nokta Legend 2 better than the Equinox 900?

Overall, I give the Legend 2 a slight advantage because it is lighter, includes five dedicated search modes, offers FerroCheck and supports 15 customizable profiles. The Equinox 900 may still be preferable for hunters familiar with Minelab or those who place extra value on its established saltwater record.

Which detector is better for a beginner?

Either can work for a committed beginner using the factory programs. The Legend 2 gets a small advantage for a new buyer who wants one detector to grow into and is not already familiar with the Equinox interface.

Which one is better for beach detecting?

Both have simultaneous multi-frequency technology, Beach mode and a 16-foot waterproof rating. The Equinox 900 receives a slight beach advantage because the Equinox platform has a longer established saltwater history. The lighter Legend 2 remains a serious beach detector.

Does the Equinox 900 have 119 nonferrous Target IDs?

No. Its 119 discrimination segments include 20 ferrous positions from -19 through 0 and 99 nonferrous positions from 1 through 99. The Legend 2 also uses a 1–99 Target ID range and adds FerroCheck to help evaluate ferrous behavior.

Do both detectors include two search coils?

Yes. The Legend 2 includes the 11-inch LD28 and 8-inch × 5.5-inch LD21 coils. The Equinox 900 includes the 11-inch EQX11 and 6-inch EQX06 coils.

Are Legend 2 and original Legend coils interchangeable?

No. The Legend 2 uses Nokta LD-series coils. LG-series coils made for the original Legend are not compatible with the Legend 2.

Can both detectors be used underwater?

Yes. Both detectors and their supplied coils are rated IP68 and can be submerged to 16 feet. Their standard wireless headphones should not be submerged; use the appropriate waterproof audio equipment for underwater hunting.

Where can I get help choosing between them?

Call or text Bart at Big Boys Hobbies. Tell me where you hunt, what you hope to find, what detector you currently use and which features matter most. I will give you an honest recommendation—even if the Equinox 900 fits you better.