Minelab Explorer SE
Street Price $1200
Number of Reviews: 21
on 3 pages.
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Minelab Explorer II
Minelab Explorer SE
The best machine
Rougd in Bulgaria -
My first detector was Whites Spectrum. Not bad but treacherous machine with very annoying habit to not detect even good targets near to the surface and to decrease its efficiency with every next sweep. My next machine was Garret gti-2500. Its perfect for demonstrations if you are selling such brand of detectors. And I loved this machine till the moment when I grab the Minelab Explorer se.
At first I was disappointed. In the control tests gti 2500 seemed better but in the field there was quite different matter. I sweept multiple searched areas and was surprised. In areas where I and other detectorists were confident that they were fully empty the Minelab with easiness found more than a hundred coins. It seemed as other detectors were going in a giant slalom between the targets. Do not be mistaken, the targets were not much deeper than other detectors similar to gti-2500 could find but all the same they couldn't manage with this task. I think that multiple 28 frequencies of explorer se in addition to DD-coil are the main reason for such a success. In other word Minleb explorer se was like a magic device.
Minelab explorer se is more effective in areas where other detectors like whites spectrum or gti-2500 simply can't work. Hot rocks, trashed with iron and ancient ceramic areas. Explorer se is extremely good in sands and can force you to dig almost a meter for an aluminium can of beer.
In rubbish in mortar and bricks it succeeded to detect a bisantinium folis in 30sm (15 inches). But it is mostly because of the residual magnetic field of the bronze made for almost 1500 years in the calcium mortar. In other case Minelab explorer se detected piece of broken roman golden coin 1,2g which was out of range of detection of other detectors even in air conditions.
All the same, do not expect much miracles from your explorer se. It is the best detector in the market and I have no doubts about that. But exploits like 15 or 20 inches for tiny coin are too doubtful. In many cases the detectorists claimed for such miracles because they make 15-20 inches holes to dig the finding but the bitter truth is that the finding often roll over to the bottom of the hole again and again and leave false impression for the real depth.
In reality with speed of sweep of 1m per second in common soil you will be lucky to find a coin under 12-15sm or 5-6 inches. With lower speed depth is increasing but then you will not be able to cover sufficient ground for serious hunting.
There are possibility for additional acceleration of the depth with 20- 25 percent if the machine working in "Iron mask" factor of rejecting of the iron 1 or 2. Detection is quite good in this position but then you will dig more trash but no more than if you are operating with garret gti-2500 or whites spectrum in their best efforts and glorious options. And in the same time the deal of the good targets is much and much greater with using of Minelab explorer se.
Jun 25, 2010
10 Yes
0 No
Explorer SE air tests: Sensing vs. Correct ID
Vince in Folsom, CA -I heard that the Explorer SE was great for silver and gold. I just ran an air test with the stock 8" coil, set at maximum sensitivity.
I haven't seen much discussion of the sensing of the target versus the correct ID of that target.
I found for example, that you can sense SOMETHING at a much greater depth than you can sense something with a correct ID.
My air test results show two measures - the first for sensing anything,
and the second for the point here the response is consistent, repeatable and correct.
. . . Any response . . .. Correct ID
Zinc penny . . . 5-1/8" . . . 3-5/8"
Copper penny . . . 5-3/8 . . . 3-3/4
Clad dime . . . 4-3/8 . . . 3-1/2
Silver dime . . . 7-5/8 . . . 5-7/8
Clad quarter . . . 6" . . . 4-3/8
Gold ring . . . 7-1/2 . . . 5-1/2
Silver ring . . . 7-1/2 . . . 6"
May 13, 2010
3 Yes
7 No
Minelab Explorer SE AMAZING!!!!!!!!!
Oscar Sanchez in Argentina - Sañta -Just AMAZING, discrimination almost exact. I made a mistake buying the 12 x 15 SEF Antena, the original 11" if much better it goes deeper than the 12x15 beleabe or not.
I made records in beach in parks. whit one month experience 90% targets COINS and JEWELERY 10% aleation metals (imposoble to discriminate) like some cups of liquor,Fernet or Whiskies. also Batteries and some aluminium staff.
100 per cent is my concept on this wonderfull detector.
Minelab Company made a great detector over the others beleave me.
I had Garret ACE 250 but it looks like a toy besaide Explorer SE. Minelab is serius detector
sorry for my granmar i´m spanish speaker
Mar 16, 2010
9 Yes
0 No
Buy it and ignore reviews...make your own decision?
dig it all in poland -Used the ace 250 for 1 year..... bought a second hand se 'dead cheap' went over the same ground as the ace and found more?????
Not for those that don't like tech stuff.....but I love tech stuff, technology, computers and learning to use them.
Dec 28, 2009
4 Yes
8 No
Good detector but not for everybody
prp in Bulgaria -I bought explorer se few months ago second hand. The seller was an old man maybe he didn't have the ability to learn how to use it because as I expected this is not a turn on and go machine. This is my first metal detector, I downloaded a book from a russian guy specially for this model which helped me alot to learn how to use it. I bought a sef coil from detech also 18x15. As a newbie I thought the bigged the deeper. It's true but for bigger targets not for coins. For coins this coil not gives good results. But it's not true that this coil is not detecting smaller objects it detects everything but with smaller coil will be deeper. I'm thinking of buying a 12x10 or the 8x6 one. This coils are really good you can detect at 32(maximum) manual sensitivity in almost all grounds.
Only on some hard terrains with bushes and grass I go to sensitivity 22 because of the false signals. I go after my friends and still find coins even after they searched there allready. One big disadvantage of this coil is that it's big and heavy and sometime hard to pinpoint the target but I'm thinking of buying a pinpointer to save time. I tested it mainly with the bigger coil for now not tested enought with the small one yet. Giving 4 stars because of the pinpointing problems.
Oct 03, 2009
15 Yes
6 No
A keeper
Still-looking in New York -I have owned the Minelab eplorer se with the pro coil for about half a year now. Here is what I can tell you..
It can become easy to be overwhelmed by all the tones at first. Experience with the Machine will sort this out though. A smaller coil would be advisable in heavily trashed areas with lots of iron bits floating around.
I purchased a smaller 5 inch coil and am very happy with how the machine quieted down.
There are many options but not as many as on the DFX
The machine is a bit slow at registering target id's but if you take your time this should not present a problem.
I have dug penny's at almost 10 inches with this unit.
the unit presents information on targets in a number of different ways so be sure to read the manual.
Hunting with lots of discrimination often results in loosing the threshold so I have learned to hunt in all metal allowing my brain to do the discrimination.. it works faster and you can seperate things out better
The pinpointing can be a little difficult in trashy areas with a large coil but I imagine this is the same with whatever detector you are using. Other than that the pinpointing has always been spot on and seperation between targets is good once you get a knack for all the different tones the machine throws at you.
The key with this machine is REPEATABILITY of target signals and making sure your sensitivity is set right.
Also, unlike the whites machines, this unit gives you a matrix type target identification scale rating the targets on two axes (conductivity and ferrous) so knowing what the target actually is requires experience with the machine. After digging the target and then noting where it had fallen on the screen (called smartfind) allowed you to become familiar with how the machine responded to different tagets.
All in all I like the machine depite what others say. Yes it can be a bit unstable, but usually those problems can be overcome by changing sensitivity settings or coils.
I do not find the unit heavy, but unlike other reviewers I have not put a seperate probe on the machine and when using the 5 inch coil it really is like pointing a stick as has been mentioned by others.
That having been said the unit does take practice to use. Many have said if you learn the machine then you will have a great unit. There seems to be some truth in that.
Of course this opinion may change if I purchase the DFX 300 and find it to be a superior unit! My parting words:
You will either love or hate this machine when you first use it. Probably the later, if you stick with it though it will grow on you and you will begin to realize all the information that this instrument is capable of presenting you with
Feb 19, 2009
44 Yes
2 No
Iron Mask Optimum Setting, Weight and Support
Sandor Meszaros, London in Anytown, AT 55555 -Hi All,
Just to share a couple of experiences with you. I seemed to have difficulty optimizing the Iron Mask at first having bought and test-ran the machine. It could be set to "blank" nails and washers etc, but here is the acid test. Our British decimal coins of 1p and 2p were originally copper/bronze but later became copper plated iron. (Just try a magnet on them)! Anyway, I specialise scouring beaches and do not wish to bend down every ten paces for 1 or 2 pence pieces. Well anyway, a setting pattern can be had which now even blanks iron coins, ignoring the copper plate. Obviously the earlier copper/bronze ones will continue to bleep. In other words, the Iron Mask is at its absolute maximum performance in combination with other settings. The SE appears to have a lot of hidden interaction between functional settings. If interested, 'can list the settings on my machine.
The weight can be greatly improved by a shoulder strap, if anyone would like a picture of this, just let me know through here. Finally, the battery pack contributes a good deal of weight be it NiCad or Alkaline. The answer is LITHIUM AA cells! They weigh a feather and last until the cows go home, (should you be in the middle of a field)!
Happy Hunting,
Sandor
Feb 13, 2009
14 Yes
3 No
A TRUE REVIEW AND ANGLE ON THIS MACHINE
JASON FRICKER in DORCHESTER, ENGLAND -
I started my detecting 10 years ago with a second hand Fisher 1266-x with a large spider coil. In the early days I searched 3-4 days a week 2-5 hours a time for 2 years. I had a lot of luck but I had a collegue who came with me on many occasions with an Explorer xs and every time out found me. Even on several occasions on a really good site I had a gold, some large rare hammereds and other stuff he would still out do me. I found it frustrating how he could cover double the ground in a fraction of the time it took me. I was digging all sorts of iron with my machine and he hardly dug any. I could not afford these at the time which were easily still making £1000. Over the next 2 years I watched the pages of Ebay as always found cheapest machines were nearly new machines as so many people come into the hobby on a fad and give up quickly. In this time I purchases a Minelab sovereign, Fisher cx-5 and something else can't remember its name and all these I struggled with ground balancing and learning the signals and always ended falling back on my trusty 1266.
Eventually re-listing the others on Ebay and sometimes even making a few quid in the deal. Often my friend would hear a signal and ask me to take a listen. One thing I found is the 1266 could keep up with the depth but not the Id and on many occasions my friends XS was hearing hammereds where I was not and frustration was growing as I had a passion for these coins. The Minelab launched the SE and suddenly the 'must have' people in society rushed forth to sell thier XS machines to buy the latest SE and my chance came to pick up a used XS on Ebay for £400. My first full day with the machine and that night I wanted to cry when I could see how many years and hundreds of years I strained myself to headaches concentrating with the Fisher and well with the XS when they say switch on and go they can not be more right as in the factory set quick start mode you are ready to find.
Ive never seen another machine so ready to do this with. I followed the next 4 years very successfully paying for this machine with my finds many times over. Even saving money as no longer the need for batteries with the rechargeable battery pack. Over time I learnt to experiement with the settings although it is easy to get over whelmed to begin with so thank goodness for 'quickstart' At any time getting my self in a know you simply turn off and when restarting hold down the on button and the machine is back in factory preset mode. My friend upgraded to the SE and this is at last where I get to the point of this review.
The first best thing the SE offered was the larger headphone socket. My old xs has broken but contry to a review further up I found Minelab in Ireland more then helpfull and a stunning service back up even long after warranty. Pin point when I had a go with my friends machine was also I thought better.
Now over time we drifted apart and last year with the lauch of yet another machine from Minelab the E-TRAC suddenly again an influx of SE appeared on Ebay and again I acquired one for £590. This time I was braver to pay more as no the potential returns after finding hundreds of pounds worth of stuff with the XS. My time these days is a lot less and I'm lucky to get out once a month but after my first 2 sessions I was close to tears as suddenly I felt I no longer knew the machine. I went in a well know site to me but this new SE kept falsing and was so unstable. I was used to my XS being maxed out on sensitivty (32) but I had to turn the SE down to 15 to get anything close to stable and I was still unhappy. The amount of new features was dazzling with different response settings and many more. I took a hammmered out of my collection and dropped it on the floor and it hardly registered. I started to feel sick what had I done. I tried factory settings as by now I usually search the XS on iron mask of about 7 so a solid line down the screen. I dig a little iron but all signals are good and those hammered althogh quite are plainly there. But the SE in ironmask mode piped and sqeaked and falsed out all the time. I was now pulling my hair out. I searched the net and starting finding forums like this one where people were writing similar things about unstable machines and wishing they had not upgraded and I was also one. I found some talk of a batch of faulty coil heads and was think I've got one.
Minelab was offically denying this but I was told if you contact them and told them you thought you had one there appeared to be a no quibble exchange which was odd. I got hold of my old friend and asked him how he got on and he was still happy but told me how his regualr finds of hammered coins had dryed up which was noted. He told me to go back to factory setting the go in the select mode and you will find coins already selected and then select jewelly as well. Then don't touch anything else. On doing this I had a usable machine and started to get a few silver Georgian coins and loads of other bits. I was however getting no iron which I think does not hurt so you know you are not over descriminating. Also I'm getting one way signals which is new to me and sometimes a surprise when you dig. I no longer get those lovely little gentle deep signal that reward and its took some getting used to how the SE increases the soft signals with GAIN to make them sound better although wierd. Falseing still a problem though, but not nearly as bad and sensitivity about 25 is the max. This is supposed to be a more powerful machine so decided to accept that is the same as max on the xs. If had finds lately still no hammereds. Now last week I started reading about the DETECH SEF search heads. Ive looked for second hand ones and cant find any which I started to think this is a good sign so the first ever detecting thing I've bought new I've purchases one. The 10x12 head after much reading everyone said larger is less sensitive on small items. I was a little annoyed to find I was charge £10 more then the advertised price but told due to the collaspe in the pound it had to be but anyway £159 later (more then I paid for my first machine) It came and today was my first time out with it. First job was to fit it and this was a nightmare on my se and luckily I own a fishing tackle shop as after an hour of trying I had to use fishing line to pull the lead through the body of the machine. The head was a squeeze to fit but eventually I got it on and set off to a known very dug out 3 acre field. Switched on and off I went. With in 10 mins I knew money well spent. The machine's senitivity maxed out to 32 and at long last a stable machine. Now I'm not talking miricles but its improved the stabilty and the sound responses on finds just enough to make it fun to search again and improved the machine to a standard I could recommend.
Although cost a lot of extra money to do so. Now I finished a 3 hour session with 20 Georgian grots and some buckles and bits. This site was always nortious as it has 2 sets of main Telephone calble for the entire village under it. My old Fisher you could not even turn it on in the fiels. The XS was so much better and I had decide the field had been finished with yet here is was comming home with so much more. Still no hammereds though or anything at a depth I could boast about but again this is one day with a machine which I can say at long last I'm happy to use again.
The only point also is the SE has a slightly different battery then the XS. These are interchangeable and the SE is supposed to be better. But my XS battery out lasts the SE for some reason and is also much much older and used. Now I'll finish with my verdict. If I could take one thing from the SE and thats the larger headphone jack socket and put this onto the XS I would say DONT BUY THE SE!!! This is just my humble opionion but it is based on using both machines in some very challenging conditions. Ive been in a position to start my father in law in searching recently with a very reasonable budget for a machine and I would recommend to anyone this course of action.
Go on to EBAY and buy a good condition XS they are now available for as little as £225 I saw one make lately. If you get had and it turns up with a broke bit or dogy jack socket no problem just get Minelab to do a once over on the machine its so easy to do and not dear. The XS is the best machine I've ever used and so so easy and at this sort of money there is no other machines as good and east. The SE I wish I had not but now I have I'm making the most of it and if you have to then spend the extra on another search head.
Jan 09, 2009
34 Yes
4 No
Don't buy minelab
DON'TBUYMINELAB in U.S.A -
First 6 months of using The Se was alot fun to learn. It pinponted like a champ and could sniff out the old coins. After first 6 month the detector started to have problems pinpointing and coin reading change as well. But i could fix the problem by holding in the button and setting it back to factory settings. Then I would put in my old settings and go back to finding old coins.
I ran in
am
22 sense
6 gain
ferrous
After 1 1/2 yr this problem became perment holding the turn on button to go back to factory setting stop working.
pinpointing was like hell and coins have different readings at same sites. I called minelab becuase the detector was still under warranty and the guy started out like this. Well you know how circuit boards get when they get old?????? He was blaming it on the age of the detector and that it was normal for 1 1/2 yr old detector when circuit boards gets old?????? No joke this is what the man said and why i'm giving a rating of 1.
buddy use white 5900 pro that 10yrs old if not older and he's still works like new. I used the se right next to the 5900 and must say the 5900 was good as a detector can get. Xl pro my father use that he bought used still works like new And they don't even make these detector any more. I used white mxt before i got the minelab se. Now I wish I would keep the mxt and just got a back up instead.
Imo your better off to buy 2 detectors like white mxt with xl pro and using the money you save for a good sand scoop and pocket the rest.
Minelab Se when new is top notch dectector but when the circuit boards get old "I guess 1 1/2 yr is old" don't expect any help or service from U.S.A minelab and it's a damn Shame to.
Dec 11, 2008
21 Yes
2 No
This is a real DETECTOR!!!
Oscar from Argentina in Salta - Argentina -First of all sorry for my english,I'm spanish speaker.
I started to detetc on the beach with the GARRET ACE 250 It was working good and so fast but... when I changed it for the "Minelab Explorer SE" I found a new world in Detection mater also I realized that the "ACE 250" was just a toy!.
the Minelab Explorer SE found everything!!!! Also found very old and deeper coins that my previous detector could find on the same place.
The diferent sounds of the Explorer will tell you what is there, its very accurate and the Pin Point as well. Is not easy to understand the manual from the begining.
Last weekend I was on the beach and there was one guy swepping the beach with the Minelab Souvering and I thought "No chance to get any coin" But once again my Explorer surpriced me with a lot of cions at same place that this guy have been working.
I bought a Buterfly Coil SEF 12x15 and it goes realy deep!!! I test it on the beach and I found coins 15" inches and more deep that I couldn't take because it's not easy to make a hole in the sand.
Every time that I go to the places for detecting I learn something diferent from my Explorer. This is highly recommended.
Good luck and happy detecting!!
For any question please contac me at sanchezaramayo@hotmail.com
Aug 12, 2008
50 Yes
6 No