Three-month test of X-Terra Elite - the best detector on the border of pro class not only for beginners

I know, a very bold statement. Moreover, it is not customary to evaluate a tested device right at the beginning of an article. But a detector costing just over 12,000 that uses the latest multi-frequency technology and features adopted from professional machines with a terrifyingtens of thousands more expensive, is waterproof, has excellent parameters, decent ranges and quality separation with discrimination, is really unrivalled in its class! The following 2,439 words will hopefully explain why...

For the first time

I have had the detector for testing for about 3 months. I walked mostly meadows, also ploughed fields towards the end of the test period (for which I went beyond our field-poor district) and here and there a forest. I filmed about 4 hours of raw footage, which I deleted while on vacation thinking there was another card in the camera, may I be forgiven, stupid. However, probably the most important thing - namely first impressions, I recorded and uploaded to YouTube on my very first outing. The other shots after that were similar. Admittedly, I showed different settings and changed locations because of it, but the essential stuff I ended up summarizing in this review anyway.

I got my hands on a detector that behaved similarly to the Equinox 600/800 from the first time I turned it on. The setup menu, the placement of the controls and the display itself are very similar. This is probably why I compared the detector to the Eight throughout the testing. It's like I've been walking around with an X-Terra Elite forever. The detector's response to the target, ID certainty, audio presentation and search speed - all of this was so surprising to me for a detector in a beginner's price range and yet so familiar...

The only major change was the target ID scale, which ranges from -19 to 99, with the default setting for irons in Park and Field modes being -19 to -4. If you want to set the detector all the way to zero (or even to plus ID values), you have to use the Tone Break Point setting (the ID of the tone from which the color is reported) via the Accept/Reject setting.

X-Terra Elite in the field

VDI Scale - Target ID and Type

The top scale on the display has black cubes, segments that can be turned off or on using the Notch function, but only four IDs at a time. Why? Probably because of the larger scale range. Too bad it's not possible to control the ID numbers one at a time. I guess this is one of the concessions against the higher ranges from Minilab. Fortunately, it's not exactly a feature I would use. I'm practically constantly looking in All Metal and I don't discriminate segments (except for the lower negative ones) lest I run across something nice.

The IDs around 2 - 6 were often tiny foils, wires - but you'd recognize them with a weaker signal often with a crackle in the iron. However, gold earrings are similarly reported - from ID 1 onwards. Gold chains up to 4 or so and silver just a little higher. On the beach I would definitely dig all this, in the field how about - according to coke, wires and other waste. Snubbers and solid gold report very nicely of course and go into the high numbers.

Color targets around 10-15 were usually AB and other knobs, but there was also a silver ring that had 15. Similarly, smaller but solid targets were also reported, e.g. thimble, lead fillings - some went higher. Small AGs, bitten coins and various small copper alloys are reported with lower IDs. Larger and higher quality silver coins have higher IDs in proportion to surface area and material.

Large aluminum or copper or zinc pieces (typically a jar lid, a piece of zincsheet metal or a CU buckle) used to go around 90, of course these were very strong "pull" signals even high above the ground. Coins, buttons, and other round targets can report anywhere from 4 to 90 on the scale, but even high IDs are of course short, fast, choppy in the case of individual coins in audio speech. That wide range of ID numbers can be confusing at first, but over time one gains practice and greater confidence. Still, I recommend digging everything, especially at the beginning.

Advanced technology for more accurate assessment

The X-Terra Elite is a multi-frequency detector. It uses the second generation of the patented MultiIQ technology also used by the Equinox 700 and 900 and Manticore. What does it mean? The detector is more stable, more accurate and quieter in its interpretation - both in terms of better suppression of ground influence and external interference. Typically under HV wires and around fences. At least for the ones where I used to go with the Nox 800 and had to switch to 40 kHz, which was the least disturbed. Terrka was quiet here, the phone with data on in my pocket didn't register the detector at all.

When I talk about accuracy and stability, I mean better target ID identification - in multi-frequency the IDs are very accurateand if there's variance - because of the wider range on the ID scale - you can better guess what's under the coil. High invariable IDs are usually pure metals - copper, aluminum - massive by far the highest. Conversely, lower ID and skipping fading tones - small pieces of tinfoil, tear-offs, etc. Unfortunately, you'll dig the beautiful round rips occasionally too (at least at first), I can guarantee that. After all, it's not Manticore with a chart. The irons are bright, the detector throws them uncompromisingly into the minus, but of course the big chunks will show color too - but the changing ID from minus to plus will reliably give them away.

I was surprised how the detector handles soils with high mineralization - although in binary modes I was unable to tune to basalt site, the detector was perfectly fine on Park mode one and presented the signals to a certain (logically slightly reduced) depth very nicely. On such sites it worked well for me to lower the sensitivity slightly and leave the response rate in the middle, IB at 0.

If someone is unsure about the detuning or can't do it, e.g. on a site where there is a lot of metals or heavy mineralization, muddy environment, basalt sites, etc, definitely don't be afraid to use automatic ground tracking. It won't fundamentally detract from the range, but it will add peace of mind for a comfortable search.

Detector controls

The display is red backlit and can be switched on in two intensities or the backlight can be switched off completely. Initially I was concerned about how legible and dazzling the display would be at night, but on my first evening back from searching it was actually quite pleasant. Even more pleasant than the white light I was used to from the 8. The soft red light doesn't glare as much; looking at the display and back, the eyes adjust quickly.

When the backlight is on, the controls light up as well. They are positioned as "noxers" are used to - top minus, settings, plus. On the second "row" on the left is the ground tuning setting and on the right the "accept/reject" button. Then at the bottom, horseshoe switching between all metals and discrimination, a big pinpoint button in the middle, and frequency selection on the right.

On the sides of the controller is a power button on the left for power on, power off and factory reset, below that a button for the aforementioned backlight. On the right is the power button and the wireless headphone connection selection. Compared to the Nox 800, the user button is missing. But hand on heart - who has ever used it? I always fine tune my detector to the conditions, and I've probably never called up a saved setting.

Operating modes in the field

The control layout is similar to the Equinox range - the first function from the left is external interference tuning - it is very effective. Next is ground influence tuning, where you can tune "manually" or have the detector evaluate continuously. The third is the classic volume adjustment, whereby in the sub-menu (input while holding down the adjustment button) you can set separately the volume of the iron and the 5 segments for the "colors".

Threshold tone(Treshold) is one box further down in the menu - I don't use it in the field, I find the hum distracting. Definitely a good feature for depth and tracking, especially in the woods. The fifth item is to set the number of tones - 1, 2, 5 tones or At - all tones (multi) and also dP, the depth audio mode in which the tonethe tones and volume of coloured targets increase or decrease in proportion to the size of the target and its depth, with the irons always having the same tone, only the volume changes.

This is followed by the Notch Discrimination option, where you can turn the tones off or on as desired. Typically like slag on 1, 2, sometimes up to 4. I've yet to turn off the lowest irons -19 to -12, where you hear mainly mineralization or rusty thin spots. The following response rate setting does provide three options; the vast majority of the time I was going to 2 in Park1 mode.

Holding down the settings button here brings up the Iron Bias sub-menu - the iron evaluation function, which is now even from -1 to 2. I used to set it to 1 or 0, depending on the location. In the woods, the IB setting also affected the detector's ability to ignore ground effect. I recommend trying different combinations of the selected mode, response speed and Iron Bias - it's nice to be able to fiddle with it and tune the detector for the selected search mode and location very accurately. Under certain conditions with some practice you can spot soil changes, e.g. overburnt clay etc.

Frequencies cannot be changed individually - either you go in multi - recommended, or you can use a single frequency at 15 kHz. Personally, I haven't felt the need to change it in any way. With the 8 I only used single frequencies when there was some extreme interference from fence posts or tracks, where 40 kHz was the most common frequency to deal with, sometimes 20. The X-Terra Elite is quieter and at the time of testing I didn't encounter a fence that forced me to change anything. In beach mode, only multifrequency is available.

with a friend and his 8 on the latinum field

Practice with search modes

The detector offers Park, Field, Beach modes always in two variants. The one mode is quieter, the two modes are more sensitive. The most common settings I had when searching in field and meadows were Park1, sensitivity 23-24, manual ground tuning, 5 tones, response speed at 2, IB 1. Where there was really a lot of trash and I was after small targets (coins), I lowered the sensitivity below 20 and increased the response speed to 3.

If you are looking especially in fields where there is a lot of iron and aluminum debris, I definitely recommend PARK and ideally in 1 mode. I've done 90% of the time in that and 99% in the fields. It is sensitive enough to even very small objects (sometimes too much) and yet separates excellently in response speed 2. If conditions permit, feel free to run with the setting at 23-24, the detector is still fairly quiet. But if there is really extreme mess somewhere, I recommend PARK2 and recovery speed 3 at reduced sensitivity around 17, 18 max. But you'll still kick yourself...

I've gotten by with Iron Bias on 1 just about everywhere - you can hear that iron very reliably. I found the PARK 2 too sensitive, and I dug a bunch of tinfoil in particular. But there will probably be areas where it can be used - certainly in cleaner fields and if you want rather very small targets while walking slowly. The Iron Bias on 1 combined with the response speed on 2 allowed me to accurately identify colored targets near the iron in the fields. In the woods I used Iron Bias on 0, I believe it added some depth and I like the woods irons I dig.

In the meadows and woods, I occasionally used the POLE 2, but usually had to switch to POLE 1 in places even PARK1, because at ours those hills and forests are full of basanites, magnetites and other magmatic "efflorescence" that like to confuse the detector. Tune the ground in such places to a double mode at a response rate of 1 (to gain more depth at the cost of less separation capability) was unrealistic - so I had to go with a recovery rate of 2 or even 3 and especially the 1 mode.

Mostly, though, I kept it simple and used the tried and tested PARK 1, where the detector is better able to cancel out both external electromagnetic influences and the ground. Of course, in cleaner environments where the ground value turns significantly to the plus side, the POLE 2 mode will be fine even with a response speed of 1.

Detector design in practice

The carrier rod is a folding, three-piece, lockable unit. In my opinion, it is great. I often carried the detector in my motorcycle backpack, so I repeatedly folded and unfolded it. When moving between locations, even several times a day. Still, I have not observed any wear on the locks or dislocation. The whole detector, when folded, fit nicely into my backpack - I have a 75 cm spade and in my backpack it was the higherI think the folded detector should be 63, with the coil folded parallel to the rod a bit more. Folding and unfolding again to the required length and putting it into operation is a matter of seconds.

The armrest is fixed at the end of the rod and cannot be adjusted by sliding it on the structure, as for example the Vanquish range does with a lock, or with holes, as the Equinox has. However, the whole handle and control unit can be moved. This is a great thing, e.g. when you have a heavier probe mounted and need to move the centre of gravity. This way you can grip the detector lower and it doesn't fall forward. Combined with a sliding armrest it would be even better. However, for my height (about 175 cm) with the basic coil, the detector is balanced perfectly and you can search with it for X hours straight without any shoulder fatigue.

The elbow itself is more flexible and can withstand rougher handling. The belt is velcro as standard. I know that not everyone is used to it, but I personally recommend using it because it helps to distribute the weight of the detector and not pull it with just the arm, even though Terrka weighs only 1.3 kg. The rear bolt of the backrest was loosening every hour at first. Already at the end of the first outing I got "healthy" and tightened the screw with my hand "to blood". It never loosened on its own after that.

Coils and accessories

At the base, the X-Terra Elite is equipped with a DD elliptical 12-inch V12X probe. It's very nice for target acquisition, fast and accurate. In the extended Expedition Pack you will also find a small elliptical 8-inch V8X probe for finding very small targets (for example underwater or in extreme muddy environments, undergrowth, etc.).

Wireless and wired headphones can be connected - including underwater. I did not have the ML 85 wireless headphones included with the Xpedition, which are also used by the 700/900 series and Manticore. But it is safe to assume that the latency is - as with the aforementioned detectors - absolutely unnoticeable.

You can also fit all the Equinox probes on the Terra, and all the Vanquish series probes fit on it. In the field, my friend and I were measuring targets - his and my boundary signals were verified against each other. Believe it or not, the X-Terra wasn't noticeably lagging, practically anything my friend would dig with the Nox 800 with the basic 28cm probe, the Terrka would report to me as well.

Battery life

The capacity of the lithium-ion battery is 5,100 mA. It seemed to last longer than, say, the Equinox 800, which I don't know the capacity of. Maybe it's also the lower transmitting voltage on the coil? Anyway, the battery life gave me two or three honest searches and would have lasted maybe a fourth, but I'm rechargingm the latest every time it drops to the last comma - although the detector is designed by the manufacturer to work constantly until the last moment. With this type of battery, it doesn't matter that it is partially recharged - it is important for its health not to leave it in a fully charged or undercharged state for long periods when not using the detector.

Who I would recommend the detector to:

Paradoxically, not just beginners, but anyone who wants a quality advanced metal detector with technologies adopted bybut does not want or need to invest in more expensive pro machines. Sure, it comes at the expense of some concessions. The X-Terra Elite doesn't have as many setup options as the higher end Equinox 700, 900 and Manticore series, nor their top of the line performance. But in many ways, for example, the X-Terra Elite can boldly rival and even surpass the Equinox 800 - for one thing, it uses second-generation MultiIQ, and then it has better software. Not to mention the design used by the aforementioned top series.

In fact, once again, for several years in a row, the Minelab has dominated another entire category. And deservedly so. No exaggeration - you simply can't get a better, more powerful, more versatile and more durable detector for the price of 12 490 CZK. I think that just as the first generation of Equinoxes totally changed the detector world, the X-Terra Elite will be the most popular entry level detector on the market for years to come.

Roman Nemec

Minelab X-Terra Elite first day, first test and first findings

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Audio version of the article - Three month test Minelab X-Terra Elite - the best detector on the border of pro class not only for beginners

• Metal Detector Minelab X-Terra ELITE
• Metal Detector Minelab X-Terra ELITE Expedition