Minelab Equinox 800
If you are looking for a metal detector that balances everything—detecting power, versatility, technology, efficiency, ease of handling, and affordability—then the Minelab Equinox 800 can be the answer.
This metal detector is recognized as the bridge between beginner and professional metal detectors, but does it live up to the hype?
This Minelab Equinox 800 review is about digging deep into the Nox 800 and, once and for all, separating facts from claims.
Key Features Claimed by Minelab Equinox 800
The Minelab company claims several very decent and high-tech features for its Minelab Equinox 800. We will discuss these in detail here before we conclude how true each claim is.
Multi-IQ Technology
Minelab claims that the Equinox 800 can detect a variety of materials of any size buried deep inside the soil of any composition using their Multi-IQ Technology. They claim their metal detector can be operated on six different frequencies between 4 to 40 kHz, with the option of multi-frequency operation.
Four Search Modes
The Minelab Equinox 800 claims to offer four different search modes, including Park, Field, Beach, and Gold. Each mode offers two sets of unique pre-programmed settings for normal and deep searches in specific scenarios.
Adjustable Metal Detecting Settings
Like any other standard high-end metal detector, Minelab also enables adjustable metal detecting settings such as adjusting sensitivity, discrimination settings, depth, and other related settings.
You can adjust discrimination settings between -9 to 30 and sensitivity between 1 to 25 and get 50 different and specific ID numbers on-screen based on the metal conductivity. The depth depends on the coil size and type, and the Equinox standard coil can scan depths of up to 12 inches.
These settings are for professionals who know how to change settings for specific conditions and soil compositions.
Electronics and Connectivity
The Minelab Equinox 800 has a standard wired connection between the display meter/LCD and the coil and between the metal detector and headsets. In recent developments, the Equinox 800 offers a wireless connection between the headset and detector using Bluetooth technology.
User Interface
Minelab offers a very user-friendly interface for its Equinox 800, where users can easily pick pre-programmed settings or adjust settings by clicking one or two buttons. The LCD offers a wide, clear, and comfortable display for a better user experience. The graphical user interface is designed to present the most important information in the center, with other important information and options around them in a clean layout.
Waterproofing and Warranty
Minelab claims that their Equinox 800 remains waterproof at depths of up to 3 meters (10 feet), and they offer a warranty period of 3 years for their complete set of metal detectors. They claim their beach mode works perfectly for underwater metal detecting, and users can also make their own unique set of settings based on their experience.
Design for Comfort
The Minelab Equinox 800 is extremely light, with a total weight of just over 1.3 kg. The design features a very comfortable armrest with a near-perfect hand grip. The rod assembly with the coil at the very center makes it easy to control and move, offering perfect ground balancing.
Metal Detector Performance and Battery Life
Minelab claims that their Equinox 800 is developed for reliability and steady performance. They claim that their metal detector can lock onto a deep target with a stable ID number displayed on the screen. The fast and accurate target identification is supported by a battery life of 12 hours on a single charge, which is more than enough for a day.
Field Performance of Minelab Equinox 800
To better understand the Minelab Equinox 800 and how it performs in the field, we must discuss different aspects of the detector based on its real world use.
Ease of Handling
If not the lightest, the Equinox 800 is one of the most lightweight metal detectors available among high-end models. It has perfect balance in its fully assembled shape, making it very easy to carry around during scanning.
The rod length and the angle at which it is connected with the coil make it very easy and comfortable to move the detector left and right during scanning.
The coil is perfectly balanced with a rod connected exactly at the center. This gives an even weight distribution on the rod and makes it easy to maintain ground balancing.
You can spend hours using it without serious fatigue. All parts touching your body are smooth, and the gripping handle is perfect. It has a plastic handle that even gives a slight sense of vibration when the coil beeps.
Ease of Operation
The Equinox 800 truly works as a bridge between beginner and professional metal detectors. Its four search modes, each with two different pre-programmed settings, offer a unique experience to beginners. You only need to press one or two buttons to select the required mode or setting.
To see how this detector compares against other high end metal detectors, check out this article: High-end Metal Detectors Comparison
The adjustable setting options also enable professionals to test extreme levels of each search mode. Adjusting different settings is not hard, and you can also save your custom settings. Minelab offers a complete and easy-to-understand user manual that explains every step in detail.
The LCD display is of high quality with a great graphical user interface, allowing easy monitoring of important output parameters like the ID number. All other secondary parameters are also available on both sides. Whether you use a wired or wireless headset, you will not face any difficulty in assembly or experience lag in sound delivery during operation.
Metal Detecting Performance
When evaluating the metal-detecting performance of the Minelab Equinox 800, mixed reviews emerge from the field. Since Minelab tries to bridge the gap between beginner and high-end metal detectors, the Equinox 800 features and performance seem very good for basic and beginner tasks, but this starts to fade as we move to more professional metal detecting tasks.
The four search modes work well in their respective scenarios. For example, the Gold mode works exceptionally well in detecting small gold nuggets, and the Beach mode works efficiently in salty soil conditions. The Multi-IQ technology functions exceptionally well with multiple frequencies in Park and Field modes, where it can detect multiple metals simultaneously.
However, performance weakens when trying to detect a specific small ID number range and obtain a stable target ID, unlike other professional metal detectors.
In some cases, the detector did not detect the metal, and in others, the ID number was either incorrect or fluctuated too much to be reliable.
In one specific scenario, some same-sized nickels were buried at different depths in a beach to test the Minelab Equinox 800. The detector’s sound and target ID changed with each depth, and for the deepest nickel, the Equinox 800 barely made a noticeable sound.
Similarly, in another test detecting quarters at different depths, the Equinox 800 registered an ID of 29-30 most of the time, but for some deep targets, it fluctuated between 27 and 32.
Build Quality
The build quality of the Equinox 800 is exceptional. Manufactured using high-quality materials and processes, all claims made by Minelab about their Equinox 800 hold true in this regard. Battery life, electrical and electronic connections, waterproofing, and material strength are all up to the claimed standards.
Conclusion
Considering that Minelab developed the Equinox 800 to bridge the gap between beginner and professional metal detectors at a reasonable cost, this model makes perfect sense. Its ability to offer users eight different pre-programmed search modes enables beginners to perform deep and dedicated scans, which most beginner-level metal detectors cannot.
The lag in performance compared to professional metal detectors is a point of concern for professionals in the field. The focus on affordability, lack of high-end components, and limited custom settings are reasons why this metal detector falls short in professional applications.
If you are a beginner looking for a metal detector that offers ease of handling and operation with a range of dedicated and deep search modes, the Minelab Equinox 800 is the best choice for you.
