Minelab Eureka Gold
Price: $1000
Avg. Score: 
3.81
Based on 43 reviews
3.81Based on 43 reviews
Avg. Durability:
5.00
Avg. Ease of use:
4.75
Eureka gold
April 07, 2016
Here are a few notes that may help some get the best out their Eureka Gold.
They are a much maligned unit, as were the previous XT models, due to the
introduction of the PI detectors. These units were specifically engineered
for working hot ground on the Australian goldfields. A job in which they
excel at far and above any other VLF unit ever made by any manufacturer.
Even on benign ground in the 6.4kHz and large coil, they are the deepest
VLF made.
There was a lot of rather bad instructional hints and recommendations given out by dealers and detecting experts who were more often than not miss-using the detectors and giving bad advise on the use of them on the goldfields. It is no wonder that most people think these units only hit surface to a few inches deep, or cannot be run on hot ground. Here are a few of those terrible pieces of theoretical nonsense: Having the threshold set low at a slight mosquito type buzz. Coil too high off the ground. Sensitivity lowered when not needed to be. Fast movement of coil when in motion of swing. The very idea that these VLF's are somehow not deepseeking detectors on mineralized ground.
Here's a few facts that a lot of those experts never picked up on, simply due to their lack of use with them, or not keeping swing speed in correlation with the Tracking speed.
1. The threshold must be set at a high stable level on the ground being detected. The level of mineralization must not be able to waver the threshold! It must remain stable and un-wavering. No mosquito buzzing.
2. You must run these units with an Amplifier! ( they really should have been in-built at the design level by Minelab) The internals of the machine must be heard. The tracking balance's change, as you swing, must be full in your hearing. If you cannot hear that internal balance change, running with the correct height of threshold in the ground you're on, how are you going to hear that ever important drop-out of threshold that a deep faint signal gives, or the very soft rise of threshold that a small shallower targets let's out that isn't quite strong enough to break through and give a clear easy signal.
3. The tracking balance on these units is the best produced by any manufacturer. The only way to ground balance to get the tracking to kick in, is to slowly drop the coil to touch the ground, slowly raise it, back down again and let the tracking balance soak it up. As soon as it does it bites in hard and becomes one with the ground. And that's where the coil has to stay, ever so slightly touching, riding over dirt and sand and rock with the touch of a spider web. Speed of the coil swing should be used in direct correlation both on the ground you're in, and with the tracking speed used. You will hear how fast or slow to swing because you will hear how the internal tracking balance is processing and tracking through the ground. Every time that coil comes off the ground to a few inches in height the tracking breaks and balance tries to re-set.
4. The sensitivity should always remain at it's fullest setting. The only time it should be turned down a touch is when over extremely bad ground. Ground that gets our PI's warbling and groaning. And by running the threshold at the correct height, believe me, there isn't much ground you have to touch the sensitivity down in. You drop that sensitivity level and you drop your depth in half! Weather it's an inch or a two feet, depth is everything. Touch that sensitivity and you touch every signal in a bad way.
5. Coil to match frequency is important on these units. Stock 10"x5" elliptical for 60khz only. 11" round for 20khz 15" Coiltek for 6.4khz It is no coincidence that these coil sizes are made for the Eureka. 60khz is not a deep seeking frequency. It simply will not give depth. It tickles nicely into the ground for an inch or so. You can hear how deep it goes if you have those internals right up in your hearing. Use this frequency on the 11" round or 15" round and it dissapates badly. 20khz is the most responsive pound for pound. But beware ....That frequency is not a deepseeker either. 6.4khz. Ahhhh .... All controls set at their premium for the ground your on, and working with the 11" or 15" coil, this frequency is crystal clear and deadly! Don't fool yourself with airtests, this frequency is just as dull in an airtest as the airtest itself is. Or set targets placed into disturbed ground. Both these scenarios are only enjoyed by Vlf's of other brands that don't like to play in heavy ground. This 6.4khz frequency loves giving you notice to metallic targets in undisturbed heavy ground. It's a gold getting sleeper.
6. Tone control on any threshold based unit is so important. Change it to suit your hearing. Change it in certain ground. And change it to understand the differences in 'broadening' a response on a tight signal, and 'sharpening' up a response on a deep target. Both the Fine and Boost settings should never be used on the Eureka. They are not needed and do not 'enhance' a signal in the ground to any benefit, in any frequency, when working ground. I was very surprised the settings were placed on again. Neither Slow nor Fast Tracking speeds, regardless of what the manual states, will NOT track-out a target before or after repeated sweeps. That was just a left over precautionary statement once they realised the PI's auto tracking could behave that way on feint targets with a mono coil on. The loud signals of close to the surface targets are unmissable of course. But gold, being a very low conductor, apart from largish screamers or small nuggets close under the coil, have a lovely 'Dong' type sound on these detectors. It has been that way through the entire range of Minelab gold Vlf's, the XTerrra being the only exception. Here are the signals we must pick up on while we are listening to the unit working, the ground changing, and the ever present mineralization in the form of groans, pips pops and squeals. Of which nearly all can be deadened enough to work through the the hottest of dirt with confidence, by having the settings at their best levels over that ground.
Depending on coil size and frequency used, the signals below would differ on each combination. Hence our need for different size coils and the frequency used in correlation to the ground we are on ie: ground we think is shallow - meaning you don't think gold would be held deep, deep ground that wouldn't hold gold near the surface, just how heavy (mineralized) the ground is ect.
There are 4 types of threshold signals that are made on the deeper gold targets.
1. Threshold Rise: These are the signals that are well under a signal response, so they make a slight rise in threshold, repeatable and excact from all angles, unlike clay domes. Just not a big enough signal due to depth or size, to cause even a slight 'dong'.
2. Threshold Suck: If on the same ground as above, but the piece is a bit deeper, it will draw the threshold down instead, giving the impression of trying to suck it down. But the piece isn't deep enough yet to cause a quick break in the threshold ...A dropout.
3. "Dropout 'Dong' Dropout" When the piece is again deeper than the above, it will produce a very quick dropout of threshold, then a very slight feint 'dong', then the other side of the dropout. It is a nice even signal of it's own. Unmissable.
4. Full Dropout: The piece is deeper again than above, but so much deeper that it cannot produce even a very slight dong. A full quick dropout is simply a nice quick compleat dropout of threshold, pure blank, but only along the deepest part of the DD coil, the centre of it. On the 10"x5" stock elliptical coil, these signals will only be heard at depth, when in under that inch of the centre of the coil. Move the coil two or three inches forward each swing at a time and these signals cannot be picked up. These are the true deep signals. They come in clear, especially on the bigger coils. They are so clear that you start getting used to sizing the piece by simply moving the coil left to right back from it then forward again. Once you get used to a coil and frequency combination, the judgement of size and depth of a target gets easier. Thankfully we have the most rock-solid 'True' threshold ever designed on a detector to work with. That threshold is everything! Argyle
Overall Rating
Durability
Ease of Use
Would you recommend this to a new user?
Yes, absolutely!
Argyle from
Australia
281
Minelab eureka gold
March 31, 2016
I have been using this detector for about 2-3 years, previously I had
several whites and JW Fisher detectors and a Minelab Excalibur 1000 first
version and I can honestly say it as well as all of my previous metal
detectors are of all high quality and really durable for "real field use" I
will also add that I agree with adage "you get what you pay for" but you
should also "know and understand" how to use it. And above all get the best
headphones you can afford as many of the high producing signals will be
quite faint especially if you are hunting in the glacial hard rock areas of
NEPA as I do. Also a custom built headphone amplifier will greatly change
your game.
With that being said good luck and happy hunting and I will attest to the quality of all three brands of the above mentioned detectors for hunting in the glacial fields of NEPA, another comment on hard rock scanning get yourself a good set both pointed and chip 3/4" carbide tipped chisels plain old brick chisels are useless in hard rock conditions.
Overall Rating
Durability
Ease of Use
Would you recommend this to a new user?
Yes, absolutely!
William M. from
Nepa
80
Eureka gold
December 16, 2015
I just read a review headed "wow, did they see me coming" Why would you use
flour gold as a test for a metal detector? That's like taking a knife to a
gun fight, in my experience I thought a metal detector was targeting solid
objects. I have a Eureka Gold and as I said in an earlier review I bury
small nuggets as tiny as .6 gm and my EG picks it up at 3 inches depth but
its important to note the signal is low and quality head phones required.
A 2.3gm nugget screams at 5 inch depth so I'm sorry the negative reviews are in my opinion due to user error / set up. It is not possible for a machine to work well for some and poorly for others, if you have a EG and you seriously believe it is no good you need to learn how to drive it.
Maybe its different over in the US but we have some heavy mineralised ground here in Australia as well. The Eureka Gold is well suited to shallow nugget search, if you want to go deeper than dig deeper into your pocket. Merry Xmas.
Overall Rating
Durability
Ease of Use
Would you recommend this to a new user?
Yes, absolutely!
Greg Fawcett from
Nsw Australia.
150
Honesty
December 15, 2015
Look guys and gals you can see that some say the EG is good some say it is
bad. I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed but that is simply an
impossible scenario! Please tell me how a machine in for example Johns
hands is good but when in Davids hands its no good. In my view the answer
is obvious, the non believers simply do not know how to use it or they
market opposition equipment.
I have just purchased a EG and what I find is the best way to learn your equipment is bury nuggets, coins etc at varying depths in your own back yard and learn settings, learn the various signal sounds and most importantly purchase quality head phones. Can the knocker's please note, if you don't understand something don't bag it because of your inability to understand it! (-: Aussie Dude.
Overall Rating
Durability
Ease of Use
Would you recommend this to a new user?
Yes, absolutely!
Greg from
Australia
150
These reviews confuse everyone
October 03, 2015
I have one of these units got in a gpx4800 package deal...I use the GMT for
chasing black sand and match head sized stuff. I don't need the eureka and
now I know why no one wants to buy it. Anyone reading these reviews would
smell a rat. The metal detector business is so full of snake oil. You don't
know if reading a clever lie or someone actually telling the truth. When
you hear someone say "hey man you really can't compare these machines its
apples and oranges both are good", you have a dishonest salesman in front
of you.
There is also many gabby opinionated people that detect from the couch and have no business saying anything. We need shoot outs. Detectors side by side fighting it out. This should be done by independent people no salesmen. I've seen a few that really show off the best machines. I hope the eureka is great because I may not be able to sell it.
Overall Rating
Durability
Ease of Use
Would you recommend this to a new user?
I have no clue...
Kenny from
California
56
Minelab eureka gold
December 31, 2014
The negative reviews come from not understanding the detector or setting it
up wrong and some probably bought counterfeits made by china.
Max Depth: 8 inches on US quarter
Overall Rating
Durability
Ease of Use
Would you recommend this to a new user?
Yes, absolutely!
Iocane from
Texas
6071
Eureka gold set up tips
May 03, 2014
I was researching set up tips for the eureka gold and I found this guy
Argyle who really seems to know how to "really" set-up the eureka gold?
Tried his tips and it acts like a whole different detector!
Read:
1."the threshold must be set at a high stable level on the ground being detected. The level of mineralization must not be able to waver the threshold! It must remain stable and unwavering! No mosquito buzzing sound!
2.You must run these units with an amplifier! The internals of the machine must be heard!
3.The only way to ground balance to get the tracking to kick in, is to drop the coil slowly to touch the ground, raise it up slowly, back down to touching the ground again and let the tracking balance soak it up. As soon as it does it bites in hard and becomes one with the ground! You must search, barely touching the ground. Every time that coil comes off the ground, to a few inches height, the tracking breaks and balance tries to reset!
4.Run sensitivity at max. Drop sens and cut your depth in half!
5. 10 x 5 coil: 60 khz(or 20 khz!)11" round:20 khz (or 6.4 khz!)15" coiltek wot goldseeker coil:6.4 khz only. adjust tone to your hearing, but to "best identify weak targets"!
6. Never fine or boost, always "normal signal"
7.Volume max. Always slow or fast(usually fast!)tracking, never fixed. Tracking will not balance out a signal, as minelab says it will! most all these settings will also work with the xt 17000, xt 18000, gold striker and of course, the eureka gold!
There is much more info at the minelab forum under the eureka gold detector, look for argyle's posts and read them fully! Hope this helps someone, but anyway, at least it is "positive stuff to try"! Good luck! vsofa
Overall Rating
Durability
Ease of Use
Would you recommend this to a new user?
Yes, absolutely!
Vsofa from
Oregon
142
Positive/negative reviews.....
April 20, 2014
Wow Man, I have never seen so many different super positive/super negative
reviews, in my life! And I just bought one of these (on the way now!) The
only thing I can think of to explain why they, (the reviews!) are so
diametrically opposed to each other is, number one, different soils affect
detectors differently? Number two, Minelab's quality control is seriously
lacking and we have both "really good" and "really bad" Eureka detectors
being used out there? Number 3, Operator error?
I own 4 Minelab Detectors now: The Sovereign GT, an American Gold striker, an XT 18000 and the aforementioned Eureka Gold. Been involved in this "Sport" for over 40 years and I actually own 25 detectors (or is this last one 26? I forget!)Anyway, when I get my Eureka Gold, I will put it through the paces, like I always do and if it works good and I like it, I will keep it. If not, I will sell it off and probably buy one I do like. All I can say is, so far, I like all the Minelabs I own. Are they the deepest? Hell, I don't know! I just pick one and enjoy using it, for that day? No complaints, just enjoy it, move on to the next one.
Life's too short to get so upset over something that miniscule in ones life? If you don't like it, sell it, get something you do like? Don't b**ch about it, just find one you like better and use it. It's funny, one time I will pick up one of my detectors and can't get it to do anything right, seems like? Next time, it works just awesome, best one I ever used! Life is like that, you have good days and bad days, just don't dwell on the bad days too much and relish the good ones! Good luck all and take it easy. Tomorrow is the first day, of the rest of your life, so make it a good one, OK? Have a good day!
Overall Rating
Durability
Ease of Use
Would you recommend this to a new user?
Yes, absolutely!
Vsofa from
Oregon
175
Serious detector
October 04, 2012
I see many negative reviews about the eureka gold but from personal
experience and hands on with whites, tesoro, and fisher machines the eureka
has out performed all in the long run. It eats mineralized ground up... Is
simple to tune and balance out and I consistently find gold less than .25
grams in weight.
Experience has also shown me that people that have a negative review either do not learn the machine, do not know what they are listening for, use a inferior set of headphones.
There are many people that will verify the fact that I come behind them with a eureka and I find what they miss with the exception of the fisher gbII and the only advantage the eureka has is depth. Now for those of you who have never seen a .25 gram nugget is about half the size of a BB you would use in your kids BB gun. Now think about that for a moment and at a depth of 4-5 inches. Then look at your present machine and make the comparison.
Overall Rating
Wayne from
Socal
291
Unreal
August 24, 2012
Whats unreal about this machine is its innability to truly find nuggets
like my other Gold only detectors, even Minelab states this machine is a
general unit until you find out the detecting you would like to do, if you
use the tracking feature it suppose to track out hotrocks and it also
tracks out the target you are seeking, not a good idea. I am not impressed with this unit, my Fisher GOld$trike works much better in gold country and finds a lot more gold than the Eureka and is not a problem in hot ground like the Eureka is, it misses a lot of smaller gold, it is just not sensitive enough, like the Whites MXT and GMT and the FIsher Goldbug pro and even the less expensive X-terra 70 and 705 will outperform the Eureka hands down.
I do not know why this machine is still being produced, you can purchase a machine for half the price of the Eureka and get twice the performance, if you are going to spend this kind of money on a VLF buy a good P. I. instead, for about the same price that will truly find gold like the Garrett Infinium and the Whites TDI series of detectors, I own a TDI and it really outperforms the Eureka. Still an overpriced underachiever!!
Overall Rating
Dennis from
Pacific Northwest
1416