Minelab XT 18000
Price: $850
Avg. Score: 
5
Based on 2 reviews
5Based on 2 reviews
The xt18000's
May 08, 2006
These are simply the best Minelab gold VLF's that were made. But there are
two different models of the XT18000, the early and the late, and they are
vastly different units.
The 'early' 18000's have a very loud audio and a terrific sensitivity to them in both the 60khz and 20 khz frequency's. You can actually "feel" the 60khz penetrating into and feeling it's way amongst the dirt, but not very far, only an inch or so, which in this frequency ( as in all very high frequency detectors ) is about all the depth they will get you on very small pieces of gold. The 60khz will hit on larger pieces a bit deeper though, but not much deeper. The 20khz an allrounder.
The 6.4khz on these models however is a very dull frequency and only suited for the big coils and thumbnail size targets and up. The early models would blank out and shut down over very large surface targets and severe ironstone outcrops etc.
The later model XT18000's, which have a white stripe on the tone dial and had the box bracket mounted under the forearm, had a very low audio. Pathetically low. What they did have though, was a fantastic "audio supression" in them. This meant that they would not blast your ears over large targets. But the best thing with this new audio suppression was that when worked with a good signal enhancer, the threshold could be brought way up into your ears to judge slight dropout's and rises in the threshold ( meaning very deep targets could be heard quite distinctly ) but large surface targets dulled down to protect your hearing.
The 20khz and 60khz on these later models were some how not as sensitive as on the early models....But....The 6.4khz was much more sensitive on them than the earlier model. A real killer on smallish and deep targets.
On my late model unit I can run the big 14.5" WOT coil along the side of a car and drop off the other end and the detector recovers itself instantly. Amazing detector.
The automatic ground balancing on these units leaves the auto tracking on detectors like the Lobo supatrack and MXT's and GMT's for dead in hot ground. That is the truth...Whether the Whites or Tesoro dealers like it or not.
I have made many good gold finds with my 18000's and cannot recommend them highly enough to other detectorist's for gold detecting.
I hope this helps someone.
Overall Rating
Dual Ace from
Victoria, Australia
1176
Minelab XT 18000
June 22, 2002
Well you hear the hipe about import or
domestic,there really is no comparing ,this minelab detector is simply the
best out there for your money
.Its very sensitive and easy to use ,excellant at staying balanced and
frankly the unit makes using it fun
and enjoyable.I am very proud to be an owner of one of these,I think its
the best, at least for me.There
always a used one out there thats still new just half the money! Overall Rating
Metallizzard from
USA
6314