Minelab Equinox 800 Review

You’ve found the definitive Minelab Equinox 800 review.

Minelab has always proven to be the crème de la crème of the metal detector market. One of the most outstanding coin detectors that they have is the Equinox 800.

If you are a detection enthusiast, this innovative, multi-frequency technology device is everything you need.

Its outstanding performance and quality, coupled with the positive reputation of the Minelab brand, makes it one of the best there is today.

But what exactly makes the Minelab Equinox 800 metal detector tick? No need to look for more Minelab Equinox 800 reviews. Here, we’ll take a look at this metal detector’s features and answer some of the frequently asked questions to help you make an informed choice.

The Best Metal Detector?

We’re on a mission to review all the top metal detectors out there. Besides our research and review we take into account feedback from real users.

The Minelab Equinox 800 is one of the best detector we’ve reviewed so far…

Minelab Equinox 800 Design and Performance

The Minelab Equinox 800 metal detector performs exceptionally well. It has four detection modes; field, park, gold, and beach, all calibrated to ensure the ideal considerations when metal detecting a specific terrain.

The park search mode is suitable for recreational areas, while the field mode is best for detection in places such as historical fields.

If you would like to explore on the beach or in salty conditions, you should get the beach mode activated.

The gold mode is best used in prospecting gold in goldfield location.

Each of the detection modes will allow two custom profiles, making it a total of eight. You need to save your favorite settings on each mode and use it when you see fit.

Also, fast recovery speed with accurate Target ID ensures you won’t miss any valuable targets.

You can track adjust all the different settings through simple dials in the control box. The control box has a large, easy to read LCD with all the info you need.

Overall, it’s a multi purpose metal detector that can adapt to any target type and ground condition. All you have to do is select your detecting location and go!

There are a few limitations to the metal detector.

For instance, its Li-on battery has a 12-hour runtime. It has many features that work simultaneously, which means the battery can run out quickly.

Thankfully, it charges quickly, even when it is completely flat.

You can power it with a USB cable and with a high capacity charger. It takes approximately 4 hours for it to charge fully. You cannot use it underwater when it is connected to a power bank.

Minelab Equinox 800 Features and Benefits

1. Multi-Frequency Technology

If there is any reason you should go for the Equinox 800, it should be for this feature. This technology makes the detector excellent at what it does.

But what is multi-IQ technology?

The short answer is, you can use multiple frequencies simultaneously.

It is a different method of simultaneous multi-frequency metal detection. There are five frequencies that you can use simultaneously. You are not switching from one frequency to another for your detection, but two or more frequencies are being received, transmitted, and processed concurrently.

Multi IQ technology is the technology found in the Equinox series. Read more about Equinox 600 here or the Equinox 700 here.

Alternatively, they can be used singly, for instance, when you want to polish a single target or in noisy environments where chatter is not eliminated.

Every mode has various frequency selections. It is possible to customize two profiles for every detection mode (field, park, beach and gold mode).

The Field 1 setting is for coins and artifacts, while Field 2 is for artifacts and fine coins. Park 1 setting detects general treasure and coins, while Park 2 detects fine jewelry. Beach 1 setting is used for dry or wet sand, while Beach 2 for surf and underwater hunting.

With Gold mode (available at operating frequencies 20kHz and 40kHz),  you can detect small gold nuggets present in high mineralized soil. Park and Field use all the frequencies.

UPDATE: With Minelab’s latest software update 3.0, a new single frequency of 4 kHz has been added, among other improvements. The new 4 kHz frequency enhances the detection of large deep targets.

2. Adjustable Threshold

Some people like to detect the weakest signals and hear the hum to tell the good from junk items.

For such people, the Threshold Level Adjustment will work for them.

At 0, there will be no silencing of rejected targets, and it is recommended for high trash areas.

The default threshold for gold is 11 and significantly improves weak signals.

There is the Threshold Pitch that allows greater control of the audio response. This also helps to get the most comfortable pitch.

3. Auto, Tracking, and Manual Ground Balance

It has a range of ground balance from -9 to 99. The Gold mode has a Tracking Ground Balance as the default, while the others have default settings of 0.

But, ground balance needs adjustment, and you need to redo it if you move to a different detection mode.

It is possible to use the manual or the automatic ground balance that will allow the detector to regulate the best parameters for soil conditions.

Tracking Ground Balance detects and moves over highly mineralized soils and adjusts the ground balance. This mode is best for Beach custom profile 2 in saltwater and gold.

4. Adjustable Recovery

Recovery speed is the time it takes for a metal detector to recover and detect a different target after an item has been detected.

It is one of the key features that a buyer looks at when looking to upgrade their treasure hunting game.

Fast recovery speed is essential because slow speeds may mean that you miss an excellent object when there are multiple items in an area, mostly trash.

This is not the case with this metal detector. This gadget features eight recovery speeds.

With the fast recovery speed and accurate Target ID you won’t miss any valuable targets among junk.

Higher recovery speeds will encourage faster swings and little to nil ground noise.

If you look at your swing rate and slow down, you can accurately target and maintain depth during detection.

Minelab Equinox 800 Pros and Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The Minelab Equinox 800 is a cut above the rest when it comes to metal detectors. While it may be challenging to use the first few times, once you understand the details, it won’t be easy to put this machine down or trade it for another detector.

It has outstanding performance both on land and in water.

Apart from all these positive attributes, it comes at a friendly price. You do not have to break the bank to get a metal detector that beats the rest performance-wise.

To find the best place to buy the Equinox 800 compare the prices below:

Equinox 800 Alternatives

I’m on a mission to review all the top metal detectors.

Here’s my progress so far: