The Searcher Magazine

GLOBAL EXCLUSIVE: First Field Test: Minelab Equinox

Other Exclusives:

• Anglo Saxon openwork brooches
• Roman gold coin hoard
• Medieval crucifix
• Rally round-up
• Searching for Churchill's 'secret weapon'
• The talented twins bringing finds to life

Field Test: Minelab Equinox 800 - Part 1

A Preliminary Test by Gordon Heritage

Product: Minelab Equinox 800

Technology: Multi-IQ Simultaneous Multi-Frequency Technology

Specifications:

• Operating principle: Multi-IQ technology (VLF Induction Balance)
• Frequency options (kHz): Multi, 5, 10, 15, 20, 40
• Standard search coil: 11" round Double-D
• Weight: 1.34kg
• Battery: Internal lithium-ion
• Warranty: 2 years
• Price: £879.00

The Minelab Equinox 800 was conceived to be a light, fast, waterproof, and easy-to-use machine at an affordable price point. It delivers significantly more, featuring simultaneous multi-frequency (Multi-IQ), 5 single frequency options, and 8 recovery speed settings. It is waterproof, light, and includes two wireless audio solutions, all for £879.

What's in the Box?

The package includes a disassembled Equinox 800, EQX 11" coil, Bluetooth aptX headphones, WM 08 wireless audio module, screen protectors, a Getting Started Guide, and various leads.

Assembly and Controls

Assembly is straightforward: attach the armrest and stand to the upper shaft, fit the coil to the lower shaft, assemble the three-piece shaft, and adjust for height. The coil cable is wound around the shaft and connected to the control unit.

All controls are located on the control unit. Side buttons manage power On/Off, Backlight, wireless headphone options, and User Profile settings. The keypad beneath the LCD screen has 8 buttons for adjusting operational variables.

Detect Mode: This button cycles through 8 Search Profiles (Park, Field, Beach, Gold). Settings are adjusted using the Settings Menu button ⚙️ and the Minus/Plus buttons. The +/- buttons also adjust Sensitivity in real-time.

All-Metal: When active, tones remain consistent and iron is audible. Pressing the button again restores rejected segments.

Pinpoint: Toggles between Detect and Pinpoint screens.

Frequency: Cycles through available frequency options for the selected mode. Beach mode uses Multi only. Gold mode offers 20 kHz, 40 kHz, and Multi, suitable for gold nugget searching.

Settings Menu

The Equinox 800 offers a comprehensive settings menu:

• Noise Cancel: Automatically selects the best channel for environmental conditions or can be manually adjusted.
• Ground Balance: Minimizes ground noise and can be set to track fluctuating ground. A 'squiggly line' tracking symbol appears on the LCD when active.
• Volume Adjust: Sets the machine's volume limit. The Tone Volume setting allows individual tone volumes to be adjusted.
• Threshold Level: Controls the intensity of the threshold or silences it.
• Threshold Pitch: Adjusts the pitch of the threshold sound.
• Target Tone: Controls the number of tones emitted (1, 2, 5, or 50).
• Tone Pitch: Allows customization of the sound pitch for selected tones.
• Discrimination: Accepts or rejects audio responses from targets. Segments on the scale can be accepted (black) or rejected (clear).
• Discrimination Tone Break: Adjusts where segments are covered by a particular tone, for example, extending the low tone for iron to include foil as a ferrous tone.
• Recovery Speed: Adjusts the detecting speed. Low settings are slow for depth, high settings are fast for iron-infested soils. The Equinox 800 is noted for its wide range of recovery speeds.

Detect Modes Explained

The Equinox 800 features four primary modes:

• Park 1 & Field 1: Utilize Multi-IQ for better results with deep, high-conductive targets. These profiles are less sensitive to low conductors like coke or foil.
• Park 2 & Field 2: Highly sensitive to small gold jewellery and hammered coins, but also more sensitive to junk and extreme ground conditions. If conditions become difficult, reducing sensitivity or switching to Field 1 or Park 1 is recommended.
• Beach Mode: Multi-frequency only, optimized for wet saltwater sand.
• Gold Mode: Operates on 20 kHz, 40 kHz, and Multi frequencies, best suited for small gold nuggets.

Audio Options

The Equinox 800 comes with three audio options:

• Bluetooth aptX headphones.
• WM 08 wireless audio module.
• A straight headphone lead for connecting directly to the detector or the WM 08 module.

The Bluetooth aptX Low-Latency system allows pairing with other Bluetooth headphones or earbuds from different devices.

Wired waterproof headphones are available separately for underwater use.

Accessories

The standard package includes the EQX 11" round double-D coil and wireless headphones. Optional coils are available, including a 6" round coil (ideal for extreme conditions with iron) and a 15"x12" elliptical coil (for deeper targets and less iron contamination).

In the Field Experience

The reviewer shares positive field experiences, particularly on sites that were previously difficult or heavily searched. A significant find was a small Anglo Saxon gold thrymsa, which produced a strong, repeatable signal on the Equinox 800, unlike previous experiences with other detectors on the same location. The machine is credited with helping to recover missed targets like Roman and hammered coins on hard-detected fields.

Conclusion

The Minelab Equinox 800 is highly praised for its extensive features, performance, and affordability. While minor compromises exist, such as the external lead winding and battery life (around 12 hours), these are outweighed by its lightweight, waterproof, multi-frequency, fast, deep, and sensitive capabilities. The reviewer concludes that it performs well beyond its mid-range price point.

Part two of the review will delve into in-depth settings, techniques, and information for maximizing the Equinox 800's performance.

EQUINOX 800 Test Results