Metal detecting is becoming popular day by day. It doesn’t matter in which part of the world you live; if metal detecting is your hobby, you are not wasting your life.
In fact, there really is value is metal detecting. This is why many people have been in search of the best metal detector for gold. Not only is it an exciting adventure to go on, but it can possibly bring you some fortune if you’re lucky enough to come across some really valuable objects.
In this comprehensive list of metal detector reviews and buying guide, you will find details about the all-around best metal detectors for beginners on the market today. We provide the reviews, types, and even more information that you will need before delving into the realm of metal detectorists.
Let’s get straight to business.
5 Top-Rated Best Metal Detectors
In order to enjoy your new hobby of finding surprising metals buried under the soil, it is crucial to choose the best metal detector. There are so many options available on the market to choose from that it can be difficult knowing where to start. To make your life easy and to help you choose the best one without getting screwed, we have reviewed the top five best metal detectors on the market today.
While we have provided some of the best detectors for finding treasure, you should still conduct your own research. Each person has their own unique circumstances and desires, so you will need to examine each product carefully.
1. Bounty Hunter Gold Digger Metal Detector
This Gold Digger metal detector is the best choice for beginners.
It works pretty well and has the ability to detect pretty much all types of metals. This includes both ferrous non-ferrous metals like gold, silver, brass, iron, aluminum, and steel. The eliminator feature works great and allows you to continue your search without it continually detecting trash. It also beeps as soon as it finds something.
You can use the speaker on the device or use headphones, whichever works for you in your treasure hunt. The transmitter coil is large enough, making it super-easy and comfortable to use for hours. You can even use it to detect metals in water since the coil is water resistant.
Features
- It has the capacity to detect large metals up to two feet deep. However, small items can be detected at only six inches.
- It comes with sensitivity control as well as power control. This lets you adjust the sensitivity of the detector to an appropriate level.
- You can avoid detecting unwanted metals with its trash elimination feature.
- It comes with headphones, so you can use it in crowded places.
- You can switch between the modes, but the best mode is All Metal Mode.
- It can detect gold, relics, silver, steel, iron, and all types of metals.
- Its coil is water resistant, so using it in shallow water is not an issue.
- You can choose what type of metals you want to detect. For example, you can use the eliminator feature to stop it from detecting useless metals.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Comes loaded with most of the basic features
- Five years limited warranty
Cons
- Not durable and consists of plastic, so you have to use it with care
Conclusion
The Bounty Hunter Gold Digger metal detector is your best partner when it comes to buying a metal detector. It doesn’t matter if you have started recently or have been into your metal detection hobby for a while. This product will surely please you with its low cost. On top of that, it will serve you well as an underwater metal detector.
2. Garrett Ace 200 Metal Detector
This metal detector by Garrett is a good device for beginners because it is easy to use. It is not very complicated, so even kids and teens can use it efficiently.
It is a ready-to-use detector that has a lot of features. It detects all types of metals fairly easily, and it is fairly accurate. Also, you can use headphones or the built-in speaker to hear the beeps. It even has a custom notch mode and discrimination mode, so finding a particular metal is easy with the Garrett Ace 200 metal detector.
It is also good to know that the batteries have a decent life and can last for a good few hours. You can adjust the sensitivity and depth per your need.
Features
- It has a rigid structure and a decent design.
- You can easily control it through its touchscreen, making it easy to use for most people.
- It has three different operation modes.
- You can detect the exact metal that you need with its custom notch mode.
- It has an adjustable sensitivity and depth.
- It can find items as deep as two feet.
Pros
- Great for beginners
- Works on all types of terrains, ranging from the beach,woods, hard soil, and more
- Battery life is fairly good
- Three different operation modes
Cons
- Not a pocket-friendly choice
- Doesn’t have a pinpoint feature
Conclusion
The Garrett Ace 200 metal detector is a decent device for beginners. It works great and it gets the job done,. For instance, it will detect large metal items even on coin mode. This is not a big deal to some, but it can be irritating for other users.
On the positive side, it is exceptionally good at letting you find a whole lot of metal objects quickly. With its touchscreen, you can adjust settings quickly. You can select modes, depth, sensitivity, and several other features as well. This is a metal detector that gets the job done without any complications.
3. Bounty Hunter TK4 Tracker IV Metal Detector
Unlike the Bounty Hunter Gold Digger, the TK4 Tracker IV metal detector is sturdy and strongly built. It also has a lot of additional features to aid you in your relic hunting.
The Bounty Hunter TK4 Tracker IV metal detector has three different modes to choose from. You have to refer to the manual to find out what type of metals it will locate at motion all-metal mode and discrimination mode. Naturally, it detects a whole lot of metals, including non-ferrous metals. These materials range from gold, silver, steel, brass, and others. In order to detect useful treasure, you should choose the right mode.
It is perfect for use in tough conditions such as beach hunting. Its transmitter coil is eight inches long, and it is waterproof so you can use it in shallow water and salt water without any issues. It can detect large items up to two feet deep, while the detection depth for small metal pieces is about eight inches.
There are two different audio modes, three operation modes, and a target strength meter. It is an easy-to-operate detector that will double your pleasure in the true sense.
Features
- You can choose what exactly you want to look for. With its discrimination mode, you will find the metals that you actually want.
- It has built-in speakers, and at the same time, you can plug in your headphones. It works both ways.
- It automatically balances itself from the ground.
- This product works on all types of surfaces and in all types of weather.
- It is fun and easy to use.
- You can increase the depth of the detection with a push of a button.
Pros
- Sturdy and well-designed
- Five-year warranty
- Easy-to-use, accurate, and comes with a variety of great features
- Equally good for beginners as well as professionals
Cons
- Not as feature-rich as more premium metal detectors
- Not incredibly accurate
Conclusion
The Bounty Hunter TK4 Tracker IV metal detector is a great device that has everything that you need in your metal detector. It works absolutely fine and will help you on your treasure hunt. You can also buy and add a Gold Nugget coil on your device to make it even better.
4. Bounty Hunter QSI Quick Silver Metal Detector
The Bounty Hunter QSI Quick Silver is another metal detector that won’t cost you a small fortune. The company specifically made it for beginners, and it can detect a whole lot of metal objects deep under the soil or in water. It has an eight-inch long coil that is auto-balanced, interchangeable, and waterproof. If you want to add another more sophisticated transmitter and receiver coil that has a wide range, you can easily do so.
This product is the best metal detector for you if you want one that is equally good for general purpose and for finding specific metals such as coins or gold. It has an ergonomic design and armrest, which makes it possible to use for hours and hours without getting tired.
It has three different operation modes. Motion All-Metal is the general mode where it will detect all types of metals. Progressive Discrimination eliminates all unwanted items such as iron. Notch mode lets you eliminate any particular metal from the list. This makes it very convenient for many people, so if you are only interested in detecting gold, choose the notch mode.
It has an LCD touchscreen that makes it super-easy to operate. You can select modes, tones, and adjust the settings per your need. It has the ability to detect large metal items buried up to three feet deep. With such a range, you are sure to experience some real exploration with this metal detector.
Features
- This detector has an ergonomic build with a padded armrest that helps you use the Bounty Hunter QSI Quick Silver metal detector for longer durations.
- It has three operation modes and three different types of tones to choose from.
- You can find exactly what you are looking for without detecting unwanted metals.
- It has a replaceable and waterproof coil.
- It has an LCD display and touchscreen.
- The low battery indicator alerts you so you can plan accordingly.
- You can find metals buried up to three feet deep.
- It is easy to use and perfect for beginners.
- This detector comes with a 5-year manufacturer warranty.
Pros
- Comfortable and well-designed
- Perfect for those who don’t want to waste their time finding and digging unwanted metals
- One-touch depth control
- Touchscreen lets you easily adjust the settings with a few taps
- Very user-friendly
Cons
- Not entirely accurate and might find unwanted metals even using the discrimination mode
Conclusion
The Bounty Hunter QSI Quick Silver metal detector is a really decent device in our list of best metal detector models. It has several features that make it stand out from the crowd and is a very good waterproof metal detector. Like other models that come with a good price, it will likely not be as accurate as the premium models.
5. Garrett Ace 250 Metal Detector
This is the last device in our list of the best metal detector reviews, and this one is the best for beginners. With its advanced features like a wide range scan area, pinpoint feature, and the ability to find the exact type of metal, your life will become a lot easier as a beginner.
It has some exceptionally cool features that are not available with any other detectors on our list. Let’s talk about the features that the Garrett Ace 250 metal detector uses to provide the best metal detecting experience.
It has a massive scan area that is around 10 inches, meaning that it can easily detect objects within a range of 10 inches on the surface. This is not something that every metal detector does. You don’t have to move it every inch or so because a general scan will reveal where metals are located.
With its electronic pinpoint feature, it shows you exactly where the metal is located so that you can dig in the right place. However, it is not as easy to find the exact location of the metal when the coil beeps on a wide area of 10 inches.
This detector also shows you the exact depth of the coin or metal on the screen, which helps you to know whether it’d be a good idea to dig or not.
With its notch discrimination mode, you can filter and choose from 12 different metals like coins, silver, gold, and many others.
Features
- The scan area is around 10 inches wide, giving you a higher chance of detecting metal.
- It has a touchscreen and a large LCD.
- The electronic pinpoint feature gives you great accuracy.
- You have multiple operation modes to choose from.
- It comes with Touch-N-Go technology.
- You can adjust the depth and sensitivity settings.
Pros
- Pinpoint feature is very handy and is indeed one of the best features on this device
- Waterproof coil allows you to use it in all types of water (even salt water) and weather
- Works absolutely fine with a depth of up to eight inches
- Beginner-friendly in terms of usage and control system
Cons
- Expensive compared to other devices
- Doesn’t have a volume button so you cannot increase or decrease the volume of the device
Conclusion
The Garrett Ace 250 metal detector has a lot of features and options that are not available with any other metal detector, and this is what makes it beginner-friendly. However, these features come at a cost.
If you have just started out and are looking for one of the best and easiest to use metal detectors, you should go for it. This model has all the features that a beginner needs to get started and gain a new hobby.
What Are Metal Detectors?
If you are into this hobby, I am sure you already know what a metal detector is. However, some of you are probably new to all this stuff. In order to get you the best metal detector that matches your needs, it is a good idea to start from the basics.
A metal detector is an electronic device (normally portable) that many use to locate metal pieces underground. This is done magnetically, using an electromagnetic field. You can use it to find any metal, ranging from coins, jewelry, relics, iron, and even gold.
Since you don’t have any idea as to what you will find, it keeps the interest high. Actually, this is why a lot of people are into this hobby. You just need a metal detector and some spare time, and you are all set up for finding interesting metal objects.
What’s better than finding hidden treasure or coins when you are out spending time with your family? This is one hobby that’s equally great for the entire family. All you and your family need is a metal detector, or maybe two. Once you have them, you’re ready to go.
How a Metal Detector Works
All metal detectors work on the principle of electromagnetism. It creates a magnetic field or as some prefer to say, an electromagnetic field. This magnetic field penetrates the ground or underwater where you are searching for relics. When metals enter the magnetic field, they charge. As soon as the magnetic field charges the metal, the detector gets a signal. The detector then notifies the user that there is metal underground or in water within the coil radius. In some ways, it is kind of like electromagnetic field testing.
The detector will only notify you by sound about the presence of metal, and then you have to dig and find the metal yourself. There are metal detectors that will tell you what type of metal they have detected, like gold or silver. However, these are sophisticated metal detectors (like the Teknetics Eurotek Pro and Minelab E-Trac) and not all models have this feature.
Generally, you will only get a beep or sound with no clue of which type of metal it is. There are specific metal detectors available in the market that hobbyists use to find specific metals, like gold. Thankfully, if you need a detector that finds particular materials, there are plenty of options available to you.
Parts of a Metal Detector
Let’s dive into a little bit of technical stuff.
Having a love for detecting metals will become more fun if you know the functions of the different parts of a metal detector. This knowledge can help you become a better detectorist and become an expert in the area.
All metal detectors have four parts:
- Stabilizer
- Control box
- Shaft
- Coil
Stabilizer
As the name shows, this part stabilizes the detector. It has the responsibility of keeping the entire unit stable throughout the search process. Clearly, this makes your entire hobby possible.
Control Box
This is the main part of the metal detector. Some go so far as to say that it is the brain of any detector model you find. It contains the circuit, speaker, battery, processor, and everything else. In order to find the best metal detector for you, be sure the control box is easy for you to use.
Shaft
This is the part that gives every metal detector its length. The shaft connects the search coil at the bottom to the control box toward the top. Essentially, this holds the entire product together.
Coil or Search Coil
This is the most crucial part of any metal detector because the coil is responsible for detecting the metal. You have to move it on the ground or any other place to detect metal. This is the part that sends out the magnetic field to charge metals within the surrounding soil or water.
Types of Metal Detectors
Metal detectors have three main types that are based on the technology that they use to detect metal. These types include Pulse Induction (PI), Beat Frequency Oscillation (BFO), and Very Low Frequency (VLF). Each type has its own pros and cons, you will need to decide which will make the best metal detector for your new hobby.
Pulse Induction (PI)
PI metal detectors use a single coil that acts as the transmitter as well as the receiver. Pulse induction creates the electric signals that pass through the coil. As a result, this magnetizes the coil. These electric bursts end, reversing the polarity of the magnetic field, which creates a spike. This electric spike runs through the coil again. Based on these electric bursts and spike, the detector detects different types of metals.
When these electric bursts strike a metal, the reverse magnetic field takes a longer period to disappear than the reflected pulse. This creates an echo, and this is how you know your detector has found a metal.
Beat Frequency Oscillation (BFO)
This is a core technology that uses two coils of different sizes, with the larger coil being the one that detects metal. Both the coils connect to an oscillator that generates thousands of electric pulses continuously. The receiver in the control box monitors the waves that the coils generate when pulses pass through them.
When a metal comes into contact with these radio waves, the frequency of the large coil changes. The receiver monitors this change in frequency in the control box, and thus informs the user that it has found metal.
Very Low Frequency (VLF)
VLF, also known as Induction Balance (IB), is a more current technology that uses two coils. One coil acts as a receiver and the other as a transmitter. The transmitter transmits electricity, which creates a magnetic field. The receiver coil picks up any metal object that comes into the magnetic field because of the variations in the frequency.
VLF metal detectors can detect the type and size of the metal through phase shifting. It uses the conductivity of the metal to create longer or shorter phase shifts.
VLF metal detectors are best at finding different metal types, so keep this in mind as you search for the best metal detector.
Factors to Consider When Finding the Best Metal Detector
When buying a metal detector, there are quite a few factors that you should look into. Everyone has different circumstances, so these factors may have more weight than others.
Use
How often you want to use your metal detector? Where do you intend to use it? This can include in the water, on the beach, or in the woods. Do you want to find gold or any specific metal from the detector?
Based on how you want to use it, the right detector for you may be different from others. The first thing is to ask yourself is why you need a metal detector and what you want to get from it.
If you are a beginner, it is a good idea to choose a basic metal detector purely because you are new to this hobby. You likely won’t be able to figure out what exactly your needs are yet, so using a basic model will prepare you for a better one.
Accuracy and Depth
These are the two most crucial variables. Beginners normally don’t have to worry a lot about the depth and accuracy. However, if you have been into this hobby for some time, you should choose a metal detector with good accuracy and decent depth so that you can detect metals easily.
Ease of Use
This is definitely a feature that beginners should look for. Most metal detectors are fairly easy to use, so this likely will not be an issue.
However, if you are buying a metal detector for a teen or a 10-year-old, make sure that it has an easy control system. This makes it so that the kid can use it without difficulty.
Final Thoughts on the Best Metal Detector
Metal detecting is one of those hobbies that many people are really passionate about. It can be for scientific research or for the simple joy of finding something that might be worth something under the dirt. Either way, metal detectorists want to get their hands on the best equipment for the job.
Beginners can definitely use a metal detector app, but none of these types hold a candle to the cheapest Minelab metal detector. We are not suggesting that you immediately go for a Teknetics Eurotek Pro, but a respectable entry-level metal detector will take you a long way.
The best metal detector is out there, but you have to first determine what you want to do with one. Also, you should think about what you want it to do for you. Do you want to find a treasure or go relic hunting? On the other hand, do you simply want to know what’s beneath the soil?
Whatever you decide on, make sure you read up on metal detector reviews like this one so you can get a better sense of what is best for you. Chances are, it will be different for you than for other people.
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Last update on 2024-10-09 at 21:08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API Details
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