Rating metal detectors is very hard and will always stir up Great conversations, including some arguments! ha ha

While most people are brand loyal and very biased to what they own personally, some machines are clearly better than others, price and availability should always be taken into consideration while ranking metal detectors, that's why for this year, our top 5 list will cover all bases in all price groups. If you are interested in any of the machines listed or want up-to-the-minute pricing and bundle/promotional offers, please don't ever hesitate to contact us or call us for the best deals! 405-206-9010 We are always happy to help! Now, Read on to see our top 5 Metal detectors for 2023!

Please give us your feedback and review of your best metal detectors, we welcome any and all conversation!

Number #5: Nokta Legend $509- $679

Coming in at number 5 the Nokta Legend for the best affordable multi-frequency detector of 2023.

This is a multi-frequency machine that allows you to hunt in salt or freshwater up to 10 ft. For the money you just cannot beat this machine for all the features it has. It has audio and visual vibration for targets for the hearing impaired. Still a very lightweight machine right around 3 lb that has great target ID instability no matter where you hunt it due to the multi-frequency. Absolutely great machine everywhere and anywhere. For sure the best bang for the buck!

Number #4: Minelab X-TERRA PRO $259

Our number four pick for the best beginner-budget-friendly metal detectors is the Minelab X-Terra Pro.

It is a lightweight machine that can change the frequency but still only run a single frequency at a time. It has a beach mode that allows it to saltwater beaches fairly decently but is still a very accurate and great beginner with an easy setup. Has a huge display and easy-to-adjust features. Can't recommend it enough for the money!

Number #3: Minelab Equinox 900

Our number 3 pick for the best all-around metal detector for 2023 will be the Minelab Equinox 900.

Minelab had an absolutely stellar machine in the Minelab Equinox 800 a few years back. They started from there and fixed all the issues and made the Equinox 900 a much more powerful and better-built machine. They added carbon fiber rods to the machine to make it stiffer and fold up much faster and easier. They added a new and better design to the waterproofing to make the machine not have any getting dunked. They also fixed the carbon fiber shafts to allow the arm cuff adjustment very easily. Beefing up the coil connection to where you have no issues of breaking is another added plus. This machine has more power than the old 800 and definitely a game changer with the added 6-inch coil that it comes with in addition to the stock 11-inch coil. You can handle any situation with those two coils right out of the box. It is a very good iron and trash machine and still can hit small gold nuggets when asked to. Weighing in it right at 3 lb so it's a very lightweight and easy-to-use machine. We can't recommend this machine enough for all-around Metal Detecting

Number #2: XP DEUS II $799-$1449

Our best iron and trash, discrimination, and great all-around Metal Detector!

The XP Deus II is by far the best all-around iron and trash machine and my personal favorite! We love the speed of the machine in any heavy iron and trash, especially with the 9-in coil they offer. It does a very good job at sniffing out good targets hidden in iron that other machines will miss.  If you want a machine to take to your pounded-out sites and still produce, this is the machine to get. It will make all your old sites new again! If you hunt old homes, in parks, or for relics this is the machine to do it!

The new multi-frequency and being waterproof to 63 ft really makes it dominate the saltwater and freshwater beaches. It will hit small women's gold chains which are HUGE! My personal favorite machine is the XP DEUS II!

Not to mention that it weighs 2 lb and is much lighter than any other detector. That really helps after a long day. You can get it price range anywhere from $799 to $1449 depending on the setup currently on our website. Be sure to ask about the current special deals we have running on it to save you $$$!

Number #1: Minelab Manticore  $1599

Coming in at number 1 for our best all-around premium/top-end metal detector is the Minelab Manticore.

This is by far the best all-around machine we have on the market right now. It is waterproof to 16 feet and has a multi-frequency detector. with a 2D screen, it allows you to see the possible target ID numeric value and where it hits on the ferrous scale showing you iron and non-ferrous targets in the ground at the same time. This allows you to be much more confident before you dig. Great way to identify coin spills. This machine has over 50% more power than the Minlab Equinox series with still a very fast response. Also has enhanced discrimination to allow you to accept or reject targets much more quickly. 

This machine allows you to hunt a saltwater beach in the morning and go over and hunt a local iron-infested park on the same day without making any big adjustments. This machine can do it all and be the best in the field at it! Definitely our favorite go-to machine for 2023.

If you want THE best metal detector on the Market the Minelab Manticore is the ticket! YOU will never look back with regret and wish you didn't get the best with the Manticore!

Please give us your feedback and reviews of your best metal detectors, we welcome any and all conversations! For the best deals on any of these Metal Detectors, or any of the ones we sell please call us at 405-206-9010 or email us at Bart@BigBoysHobbies.net

We love getting stories and pictures like this from our customers with success on their detectors. I thought we would share this with you on how good the Minelab Manticore is on the beach!

Bart,

We had a 3-foot cut in the beach last night and got a 14k gold chain with a cross and a silver bracelet. Other junk jewelry and clad.  I thought I'd share with you my latest finds. In less than a month my Manticore found me enough to pay off my machine and buy another if I needed. Thanks again!!!

N. Dave E.

SOFTWARE UPDATE LINK: MANTICORE Software Update (minelab.com)

 
Minelab is pleased to introduce a software upgrade for MANTICORE with major new features to enhance your detecting experience.

WHAT IS NEW?
Stabilizer Setting: A new Stabilizer feature has been added to All Terrain Search Modes, significantly enhancing useability in iron trash. It improves the overall stability of the audio and Target IDs at sites where iron falsing may be experienced and adds nuance to better distinguish good targets from iron. Adjust from 0 to 12 and make false detections a thing of the past.
Enhanced Goldfield Search Mode: Take advantage of greater sensitivity to small gold with the power of MANTICORE.
Soft Key Shortcuts: Take charge of MANTICORE with soft key shortcut functions added to control Search Mode, Flashlight, Display Brightness, Sensitivity Boost, Clear ID Map, Speaker Mute, Recovery Speed, and Frequency.
Customizable Ferrous Target ID: Make it personal by highlighting Ferrous Target IDs in red.
Underwater Headphone Boost: Enhanced audio awaits with Underwater Boost to increase headphone volume when using Minelab Waterproof Accessory Headphones (sold separately).
Language Customization: Access the user interface in your choice of language from English, French, German, Czech, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Hindi.
General Stability Enhancements: Including improvements to Beach Mode Ground balance on dry sand, Search Mode default settings, wireless audio connection stability improvements, and more.
 

VIDEO INTRODUCTION
Mark Dayton (@BrassMedic on YouTube) has been helping Minelab test the new software and has put together a great video outlining the key elements of the upgrade.

Link: https://youtu.be/kTyPeaLyGb4

MINELAB UPDATE UTILITY (MUU) DETAILS
Both the MANTICORE detector and ML 105 Headphones can have their software upgraded by using the Minelab Update Utility (MUU), which automates the update process for the user. There are separate Minelab Update Utilities (for Windows and Mac OS) for the MANTICORE and ML 105 headphones.

Minimum System Requirements:

USB 2.0 port
MANTICORE USB Charging Cable with Magnetic Connector

Windows 10

50 MB of hard drive space

MAC OS

85 MB of hard drive space

Note:

Only one device can be connected to the computer at a time during an update.
The MANTICORE must be ON during the software update.
Any detector user settings will be preserved while performing the update.
An internet connection is required to download the MINELAB Update Utility to the computer; however, an internet connection is not required to update the MANTICORE or ML 105 Headphones and this can be done offline.
The MANTICORE coil must be connected to perform the update.
Important: Ensure the USB Magnetic Cable is securely connected between the PC and the detector before commencing the update. Make sure the magnetic connector contacts are clean, dry,  and free of debris, and that the magnetic connector is seated properly.
 

Do not turn off or disconnect the MANTICORE or ML 105 Headphones during the update process. Any interruption to the update process will always be fully recoverable by restarting both the detector and the MUU. However, there is a small chance of loss of user settings if the update is interrupted at certain times in the update process.

DOWNLOADS
MANTICORE MINELAB Update Utility (Windows)

MANTICORE MINELAB Update Utility (Mac)

ML 105 MINELAB Update Utility (Windows)

ML 105 MINELAB Update Utility (Mac)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Why is the Minelab Update Utility (MUU) not connecting to my detector?
A: Make sure your detector is connected to your PC via the magnetic USB/Charging cable and switched on and make sure there’s only one instance of the MUU running. Check the magnetic connector to ensure it is properly seated on the detector. Clean the terminals on the charge port of the detector. Try restarting the MUU. If you still can’t connect, switch off the detector, close and re-start the MUU, and re-connect and switch on your detector.

Q: What happens if the detector disconnects while installing the upgrade?
A: The MUU can recover the detector functionality after any disconnection during the upgrade. Switch off the detector, close and restart the MUU, and switch on and connect the sensor to your computer. The detector screen may remain blank, but the MUU will see the detector and offer an upgrade. Install the upgrade and the detector will recover.

Q: What happens if I want to downgrade back to the old version?
A: The latest released MUU contains all released versions of MANTICORE software – to downgrade, click on the three dots in the bottom right of the MUU screen, select the version you want to downgrade to, and click install.

Q: Why have I lost my detector settings during the downgrade or upgrade?
A: Detector settings should be saved during the update but there may be some anomalies where the detector might lose some settings. It is a good idea to note the settings you would like to keep just in case they are erased during the update.

Q: Help! My detector is non-functional after an upgrade!
A: Don’t worry, the MUU can almost always recover the detector in the event an upgrade is interrupted. Simply power on the detector, connect to a computer running the MUU and restart the upgrade.

TROUBLESHOOTING
If you encounter an error during the update process, it will be recoverable. The most common cause of errors is intermittent cable connection between the PC and the device during the update. If an update is interrupted, the detector may power up with a blank MANTICORE screen and a fast-flashing green LED. This indicates that the detector is in update mode and is ready to accept an update.

If the Minelab Update Utility (MUU) is not connecting to the detector, make sure there’s only one instance of the MUU running and clean the terminals on the charge port of the detector.  Make sure your detector is connected to your PC via the magnetic USB/Charging cable and switched on. Check the magnetic connector to ensure it is properly seated on the detector and restart the MUU. If the MUU still can’t connect to the detector, switch off and disconnect the detector, close and re-start the MUU, then re-connect and switch on your detector.

If there is a problem during the update, try the following steps:

Disconnect the device.
Restart the MUU application.
Power down the device
Power up the device (note: it may restart with a blank MANTICORE screen and flashing green LED)
Connect the device, checking the cable connection between the device and the PC.
Follow the instructions on the MUU to update.

ATTENTION: Don't buy your XP Deus II until you have spoken with us first. You will be glad you did!

405-206-9010 or Bart@Bigboyshobbies.net

DEUS II v1.0 UPDATE instructions

XP are pleased to announce the launch of our new update platform compatible with PC and MAC for your DEUS II.

Create your account and update your DEUS II to Version 1.0 now and enjoy the latest innovations for free!

(This update platform only works with the following browsers: Chrome, Edge, Opera, Brave)

 
What's new in Version 1.0:

FULL TONES (DISCRI > EXPERT)

DISCRIMINATION=TONE BREAK
Values below the discrimination level, such as the ground and iron, are now audible without having to lower the discrimination to -6.4. The discrimination setting acts as a "tone break," and the Iron Volume setting adjusts the volume of ground and iron below the discrimination level.

OFFSET-FT (FULLTONES > EXPERT)
Shifts the audio frequency to the high tone of the first targets with a signature just above the Discrimination level, in order to easily differentiate them audibly from iron:

0=disabled OFFSET.

5=default setting allowing a first level of offset to the high tone of the first non-ferrous targets.

10 =more pronounced offset.

40 (max) = all targets above the discrimination level will produce the same high-pitched sound.

Full Tones -TONE VOLUME (FULLTONES > EXPERT)
Configures the tone breaks and volume levels of 5 conductivity ranges of the Full Tones in order to prioritize certain target ranges.

TONE VOLUME (MENU > DISCRI > EXPERT > TONES > EXPERT)
 

Adjusts the individual volume of each tone on 11 levels to attenuate certain target ranges and prioritize others.

FREQUENCY MAX (MENU > FREQ MAX)

Limits the maximum high frequency used in the multifrequency spectrum FMF to 40kHz, 24kHz or 14kHz for each program.

Reducing the Max Frequency improves ground stability and iron discrimination.

This also reduces sensitivity to weak conductors (T.ID 25-50) and the ability to accept coins mixed with nails or heavily mineralized soil.

For example, program 1 GENERAL coupled with a Max Frequency of 14khz (4-14khz spectrum) is more suitable for locating high conductive targets (silver coins) through aluminum foil, compared to the default band up to 40khz.

Note: The frequency shift and auto frequency scan have been moved to the Max Frequency sub-menu.

AUDIO FILTER (OPTION > AUDIO)

Cleans up the audio and sounds smoother, less instability, particularly at depth, choosing the correct Audio Filter for your search area can gain a few extra centimeters of performance.

On clean beaches or clean open ground, higher levels from 2 to 5 will be interesting.
In polluted iron environments, lower levels from 0 to 2 will retain enough nuances in the iron feedback to better recognize Ferrous and Non-Ferrous targets.
At 0, this audio filter is disabled.

HI-SQUARE AUDIO TYPE (OPTION > AUDIO > AUDIO TYPE)
 

This new audio type has a richer and clearer harmonic content than the SQUARE Audio Type and can very often help identify deep quiet targets.

In Pitch mode, strong targets close to the coil will be less sharp and softened compared to SQUARE, in order to better identify deep targets without saturating your hearing with close and strong signals.

FASTER T.ID

The target ID (T.ID) display now updates faster, so that the ID of a ferrous target does not linger on a non-ferrous target. Also, adjust the FE T.ID setting to OFF to favor the display of non-ferrous targets.

SILENCER (DISCRI > EXPERT)

Now more effective and staggered with 8 levels from 0 to 7.
With the silencer set to levels 2-3, difficult ferrous targets displaying a high ID and generating high-pitched tones will be better eliminated.
If you want to further improve the discrimination of ferrous targets, consider:
    - Increasing the Silencer to 3, 4, 5...
    - Increasing the discrimination level to 8-10.
    - Use the B.caps reject (rejecting ferrous and large iron capsules)
    - Reducing the Max Frequency to 24 or 14kHz

OTHER

Program 1-GENERAL
Program 1-General now uses 2 tones and the Big T.ID display mode as default. Its reactivity is slightly reduced from 2.5 to 2 to offer you more performance in general use on less polluted ground.

Multi Notch and Ground menu is now available on the WS6
The Multi-Notch as well as the Ground menu with its all-metal mode are now present on the WS6 Master.

ATTENTION: Don't buy your XP Deus II until you have spoken with us first. You will be glad you did!

405-206-9010 or Bart@Bigboyshobbies.net