Whites Spectra V3 and V3i
Price: $1500
Avg. Score: 
4.44
Based on 41 reviews
4.44Based on 41 reviews
Avg. Durability:
4.89
Avg. Ease of use:
4.44
One of the best out there!
November 09, 2018
I was having a hard time out there with my Garrett Ace 400 I think because
of its lack of a ground balance feature. So picked this up, it was somewhat
of a chore to learn how to use it but it was totally worth it. I’ve never
done better, I also have an AT Pro but I trust the V3i more even though the
AT is a heck of a machine. I really like the hi-Pro mode on the V3i with
some custom settings. My first silver with it was a mercury dime in a park
that has most definitely been hunted, it was about 9-10 inches deep under
some fill dirt..found while running the Detech Ultimate 13.
So I’m gonna say I think this thing could easily hit a quarter at a foot with the detch, maybe even deeper. I also enjoy the eclipse 6x10 coil, I find my self using it a lot more for the trashy areas I hunt and have found Indian head pennies with the 6x10 easily at 8-9 inches. Like I said this machine was a kind of a chore and intimidating at first because of its what seems like endless settings adjustability.. but once you do your homework and get out there and figure it out and run it you will realize it’s a beast.
Most people are not patient enough to spend the time to learn it and that’s why they get rid of them so quick. The ability to adjust about everything about it is a great thing, and can be a bad thing if you don’t read up and start just messing with settings. My favorite thing about it is it’s ability to find good targets around junk and iron. You will find stuff other machines can’t find because of good targets having junk around it in those spots that have be hit and some will say are “hunted out” this machine has proved me just that.
I could sit here and type all kinds of scenarios I’ve experience this but you can take my word or leave it. I love this machine and the only thing I would change about it is to make it waterproof, I don’t plan on upgrading anytime soon and am very confident with this machine. Can’t go wrong with multi frequency!
Max Depth: 13 inches on US quarter
Overall Rating
Durability
Ease of Use
Would you recommend this to a new user?
Yes, absolutely!
Adam from
Pennsylvania
90
Loving this machine so far
July 23, 2018
I’m new to this machine, I’ve been running it about 3 weeks now. I’ve
been to a few spots that I have hit (well I thought) that I hunted out and
hit hard with my Ace400. I have found a lot of stuff that I missed with my
Garrett, running them side by side on the same target my Garrett would be
getting iron hits, but the V3i knew there was something good there.
This machine is very impressive with being able to reject iron targets around a good target, like insanely good. I’ve done a few tests with the stock coil with coins and iron in the same hole at different depths/side by side/coin on end and pretty much all the results would have been a diggers if I was out on a real hunt. I was very impressed. Now I buried a quarter at 12 inches and it can hit it, but sometimes from only 1 direction, but it knows it’s a quarter, I think it would hit better on undisturbed soil. I plan on redoing a quarter depth test with my new Detech ultimate 13 Coil, and some updated settings since I am learning more about this machine as I use it. It’s really not as complicated of a machine as people say. You just have to spend time using it to find the settings that work best for you to get the fullest potential in areas you are hunting. Found my first mercury dime with it at a trashy school that has been hit hard over the years. Not saying this is the best machine out there but it’s all I will ever need.
Max Depth: 12 inches on US quarter
Overall Rating
Durability
Ease of Use
Would you recommend this to a new user?
Yes, absolutely!
Adam from
US
90
White’s v3i ease of use
November 27, 2017
My experience is that the v3i has a steep learning curve. The manual
isn’t real clear and needs to be updated. I’m fairly smart with a
Master’s degree.
Overall Rating
Durability
Ease of Use
Would you recommend this to a new user?
No, not really.
Randy Mullins from
Gastonia, NC
412
V3i weight
September 06, 2016
The V3i is a great detector, it has everything you would ever need in a
metal detector, "beginner or seasoned pro"! It's just a bit heavy at 4.5
lbs. After 30 minute of swinging it back and forth my arm was ready to fall
off.
Max Depth: 9 inches on US quarter
Overall Rating
Durability
Ease of Use
Would you recommend this to a new user?
Yes, absolutely!
George from
Pembroke
115
V3i is not for those new to metal detecting
August 03, 2015
I have had many metal detectors over the years. I've had Fisher, Minelab,
Tesoro and White's. My newest detector is the White's V3i and it is so far
the best detector I have owned.
The V3i is not for those new to metal detecting. It is a bit complicated and for those who cannot figure out how to use your TV remote control, then find an easier detector to buy.
For those who are comfortable with menus and computers, the V3i is by far the best detector for most all conditions. It is the most adjustable detector on the market so far as of 2015. I can hunt in areas that some of the other detectors I have owned could never even get near. EMI (electromagnetic interference) is easily defeated with the adjustment of frequencies and offsets. Ground tracking can be adjusted to almost all conditions. I have incorporated wireless headphones and lithium ion 3100 mah battery and it is right now a perfect metal detecting machine for me. You just cannot find a more adjustable detector today.
It is complicated and takes some time to learn. If you take your time and learn it, it will find you things that others will never be able to get to.
Max Depth: 15 inches on US quarter
Overall Rating
Durability
Ease of Use
Would you recommend this to a new user?
Yes, absolutely!
Steve from Ohio from
Ohio
2211
V3i, my 2 cents worth
November 06, 2014
My wife bought me a V3i for Christmas. In my opinion, it is by far the
best top of line detector out there. I have owned a Fisher Coin Strike,
Tesoro Cortes, Garrett GTI 2500, Minelab Explorer XS. The Fisher always
mixed pull tabs amongst the nickel signals but had decent depth. The Tesoro
was good on nickels and was also decent on depth. The Garrett was way too
heavy, was decent on nickels but I never dug anything past the 7-8 inch
range. The Minelab had excellent depth but literally fell apart while using
it. This machine was sent in 4 times to fix-broken coil ears twice and
shaft breaking out of the control housing twice.
I found 2 gold rings in trashy parks with the Cortes and 1 gold ring with the Garret in the same type of park. The V3i literally hammers the nickel/gold ring range of signals I have found 1 gold ring and a gold/diamond ring in a trashy park with the V3i. The old timers keep telling me its hunted out and I know the park has been literally pounded by every detector made for years. I have found numerous silver dimes in the same park in the 9-10inch range. I have found dozens of old nickels in the 7-9inch range in the same park. I keep hunting the same place as others have given up.
Max Depth: 11 inches on US quarter
Overall Rating
Durability
Ease of Use
Would you recommend this to a new user?
Yes, absolutely!
Rob from
Shattuc, Il
2410
White's v3i
May 17, 2014
I've been metal detecting for over 25 years, I have had many detectors over
the years and found a ton of jewelry, thousands of dollars in coins, the
best detector I ever had is the White' XLT which I still use, although the
screen no longer lights up, I know it so well is not necessary for me to
look at it. I'm scouting for a new detector and I'm sold out on the White's
V3i, my experience with my XLT is so great that I don't care if I throw my
money away, hell my XLT paid for it self 100's of times .. LOL! From Puerto
Rico Orlando Roman.
Overall Rating
Durability
Ease of Use
Would you recommend this to a new user?
No, not really.
Orlando Roman from
Puerto Rico
1736
Learn the machine
July 14, 2013
Yes, it takes a bit of effort to learn this machine but, once you figure
out the settings and how they react, you will be rewarded well. For those
complaining about price, it is on par with other top end detectors. You get
what you pay for. Good luck with your ace 250's. 9" us quarter depth with
10"dd stock coil, custom program, strong mineralization / somewhat high emi
environment.
Max Depth: 9 inches on US quarter
Overall Rating
Durability
Ease of Use
Would you recommend this to a new user?
No, not really.
R. from
USA
3612
Great machine
June 14, 2013
I purchased my V3i one year ago and it paid for itself in the first couple
of months! It is a monster at finding silver. It is a little pricy but if
you want to play....You gotta pay.
Max Depth: 12 inches on US quarter
Overall Rating
Durability
Ease of Use
Would you recommend this to a new user?
No, not really.
Tim from
Erie, PA
2619
V3i finds Silver first time out
February 13, 2013
I got my new V3i out for the first time today. I had a v3 when they first
came out, I liked it But, the new V3i was smoother and really seemed to
work great. Spent an about 90 min in coin and jewelry mode at an old
ballfield that had been hunted hard. I came out with 9 Quarters, 9 dimes,
3 nickels, 5 pennies. One of the Dimes was a 1957 Silver that was about
six inches down, and only dug 3 junk items. I was REALLY happy with it.
Only reason I quit hunting was it started snowing hard and getting colder.
can't wait to get back out.
Overall Rating
Tim from
Pa
305