Using the Garrett ACE 400 metal detector for three months, I’ve had some ideas. At ~$400, this detector is in a unique place—it’s not very cheap, but it’s not too expensive. I’ve used it in farm fields, old sites, and even my messy backyard to check if it really is as good as people say about Garrett’s ACE series.
Best Budget Metal Detector?
First, let me paint a picture of my most memorable find with this machine. I was scanning an old farm field on a crisp morning, getting mostly the usual suspects- rusty nails, shotgun shells, the occasional colonial button. Then I got this strange signal: high tone with a hint of chatter. Thanks to the ACE 400 metal detector’s Iron Audio feature (more on that later), I knew right away it wasn’t just another piece of iron. At ten inches down, under a lot of buckshot, was an 1879 Indian Head penny in impeccable shape. That moment is what this detector is all about – technology enough to find such important items, in a way easy for beginners.
The beating heart of the ACE 400 is its 10 kHz adjustable frequency paired with the largest DD search coil in the ACE lineup. In plain English? This combination means you can hunt deeper and separate good targets from trash better than with most entry-level machines. During my testing, I was consistently hitting targets at 8-10 inches deep, which honestly surprised me for a detector in this price range.
Let’s discuss the Iron Audio feature I talked about. It’s like having a metal detecting guide in your machine. When you go over iron targets, you hear a special grunt sound that becomes easy to recognize after a few hours of use. Have I still found some nails? Yes – show me a detectorist who hasn’t! But this feature has helped me avoid digging up many pieces of iron junk, allowing me to concentrate on better targets.
The control setup is simple and intuitive. There are preset modes for coins, jewelry, and relics, plus a custom mode to try new things. The digital target ID shows clear numbers on the screen, and while the depth indicator is basic—2-inch increments up to 8 inches—it’s reliable for planning your digs.
Now, it’s not just about hidden treasure and old coins. The ACE 400 has some odd features. The fixed ground balance can be annoying in dirt with minerals – I found this out the hard way while trying to search on a beach with dark sand. The control box is not waterproof, so you can use the coil in shallow water, but you have to be careful when it rains. These are not big problems, but it’s good to know about them.
What has impressed me the most over these three months is how the detector improves with you. As a beginner, you can start with the preset modes and still find good things. But as you learn to understand the signals and how different targets respond, the custom mode allows you to adjust your hunting style. It is light enough for long days outside, weighing only 2.9 pounds, and the headphones that come with it are good (but I later got wireless ones).
Here’s what really matters: in three months of regular searching, I found colonial buttons, early American coins, Civil War relics, and even some Native American items. The ACE 400 didn’t just help find these items – it made learning about signals and ground conditions easy.
If you are a beginner in metal detecting or just want to improve from a basic machine, the ACE 400 is the best choice. It is advanced enough to help you find important items, but simple enough that you don’t need much knowledge to operate it. Yes, there are better detectors with more features, but at this price, the ACE 400 does what matters – helping you find interesting things in the ground without making it too complicated.Is it perfect? No. But it’s a good and dependable detector that can help you go from a complete beginner to an experienced hunter without stopping you. And really, isn’t that what you want from your first serious metal detector?
Product Overview
The Garrett ACE 400 is the best model in Garrett’s well-known ACE series. It improves on the previous model with better features like Iron Audio technology and a strong 10 kHz adjustable frequency. This metal detector is made for beginners but also has enough advanced features to please more experienced users who want to stay within a reasonable budget. Key Features and Performance
The main feature of the ACE 400 is its Iron Audio ability, giving important sounds to distinguish between valuable items and iron junk. With the largest DD search coil in the ACE series, it often finds items deeper than 10 inches in good conditions.
The digital target ID system displays numbers clearly on the LCD screen. The depth indicator shows how deep a target is, in easy 2-inch steps, up to 8 inches. These features help users decide if a target is worth digging.
Real-World Testing Results
Field testing shows great performance in different environments. Recent reports from skilled users talk about successful recoveries of old artifacts, like period buttons and rare coins, from homes and farms. The detector can stay steady even with low discrimination settings, showing it works well in various ground conditions.
Technical Specifications
• Operating Frequency: 10 kHz (adjustable)
• Weight: 2.9 lbs
• Search Modes: Zero, Jewelry, Custom, Relics, Coins, Pinpoint
• Warranty: 2 years, parts and labor are limited
• Target ID: Digital numeric
• Coil Type: DD
• Max Depth: 8+ inches, dependent upon conditions
Pros and Cons:
The ACE 400 costs about $400, and is a good option between the simple entry-level detectors and the more advanced ones. The features like Iron Audio and the better frequency options compared to the ACE 300 make the small price increase reasonable. This detector can be used for a long time, adding to its value. Comparison with Competitors
Compared to its peers, ACE 400 4-channel iron discrimination is in a league of its own. Models like ACE 300 basically offer the same type of basic functionality, but it’s the superior features of 400 that have better target separation and depth performance, making them comparable to costlier detectors.
Who Should Buy the Garrett ACE 400?
For beginners, the detector is the perfect feature-rich starter detector; for intermediate users, it will be a great backup machine
• Frugal detectorists seeking multi-tasking performance
• Relic hunters operating in sites with moderate mineralization
• Coin hunters requiring efficient discrimination
Conclusion
The Garrett ACE 400 is a great metal detector that does a very good job in filling the gap between entry-level and mid-range gear. It might not have some of the bells and whistles of high-end models, but it provides incredible value in its ease of use, reliability, and consistency.
For those metal detector newcomers with a budget just above the bare minimum, the ACE 400 is a great choice for both learning and discovery as skills improve. A perfect blend of must-have features, proven reliability, and at a reasonable price point, it certainly stands out within the entry-level market for metal detectors.
My name is Paul and I am the founder of Detector For Metal, a dedicated resource for metal detecting enthusiasts seeking to uncover historical treasures and connect with the past using the latest technology. As a stay-at-home dad and family man, I’ve found metal detecting to be the perfect hobby that combines family adventure with historical learnings for the whole family.
As a father, I’m deeply committed to passing on this hobby to the next generation of detectorists, starting with my own children. I share advice on everything from metal detecting with kids to exploring the top 10 metal detecting sites you never thought about. My methodical approach to the hobby goes beyond the thrill of discovery—it’s about creating family traditions while preserving history and sharing the stories of those who came before us.
