Whites Spectrum XLT
Street Price $800 - Coin, relic
Number of Reviews: 37
on 4 pages.
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Raw power, intelligent, easy to learn
DC in UK -
After a day in the field with this machine, I'm impressed. Used XLTs are the #1 bargain, and better than machines twice the price. The SignaGraph target analysis is superb at identifying iron and trash but telling you when to dig. Sweeping the coil several times over a target builds up columns on the display, and you soon see if it's worth digging if there are only one or two adjacent tall columns or part columns. It works almost perfectly.
VCO pinpointing is excellent, although depth indication is not always too accurate (but I didn't expect it to be with the variety of target size I'm looking for). Not a problem at all. The bottom line is target analysis, and the XLT scores heavily in that area.
Well made 8AA battery compartment, and a well-balanced machine - I carry mine on my shoulder on the stem S-curve, and it stays there without me hardly touching it.
Very sensitive to extremely small targets - I was amazed. This is critically important in the UK where our ancient coins are tiny.
Lots of settings to play with, so lots of reading is required. Look at everyone's programs and comments on the web, and find out what works for you. The XLT is a powerful user-friendly machine. With a little experience you'll discover how to unleash its power and intelligence. Not really a beach machine.
I've used a number of different detectors in my time, but this is honestly the best. I'll be looking to buy a second one in case they get scarce in the future. For the experienced user, the XLT is a must-have.
Much easier to learn than an Explorer.
Jul 27, 2007
54 Yes
0 No
First Detector, Like it with one issue
Chris in Toledo, OH -I bought a Spectrum XLT used (1998 model) that had all new guts in it. It works great, hits coins awesome and the responses are consistent and its easy to use. My only issue is with the backlight - when it is on, the detector becomes unstable, unless I ratchet the AC sensitivity down in the 53 range to get it to stop. I took it in to have it looked at, and no problem was found - in fact 2 brand new XLT-e detectors exhibited exactly the same behavior.
Curiously, my friend bought his own XLT after seeing mine (an older model, but with the old guts) - and it does not do this. I wonder if there is something different about the new XLT circuitry.
No matter, I do not hunt in the dark anyway. Maybe someone else has seen this issue?
Jun 29, 2007
13 Yes
3 No
TRASH!!!!!!
Bryan in lockport ny -
I think the XLT is trash I had it for about a year now and it always gave me problems it never has a solid repeatable tone and when it does I usally I recover junk I'm getting sick of this detector every time I go out I never find any thing AND TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT IM DOING!!! I've been detecting for ten years now I went to an old park last week with the XLT with my father and my friend and they found about 40 coins total and all I found was two zinc pennys so I made up my mind I'm going 2 buy a garrett GTI 1500 will see how that works out.
Jun 12, 2007
21 Yes
83 No
Good machine, EASIER to learn than some
Wade in Middle Tennessee -I've had my XLT for about two years. I'm not a serious detector nut, but I have spent some time swinging this thing. I've found the factory programs adequate and have only tweaked them a bit, and I don't dig a lot of trash unless I'm looking for gold rings and therefore have to look at a lot of pull tabs.
The NEWS is this: Recently I met another fellow who is really into detecting for coins and relics. He has an Explorer II. He has been using that machine as long as I have been using mine. He has probably has more time on the machine. BUT we've gone hunting together twice and I found about ten times more targets than he did.
I'm not saying that the XLT is a better machine than the II, but I'll say that it MUST be easier to learn. He brought me his books to so I can help him learn his machine...thanks minelab 8^]
Recap, I likes the XLT and would recommend it highly.
Mar 10, 2007
42 Yes
1 No
White's XLT has performance
Tom Woods in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania -I used the White's Spectrum for 15 years. It still works very well. In April 2006, I bought the XLT. What a great machine. It's much lighter than the old one and hits coins and jewelry a lot deeper. It's all in the performance and White's has performance
Jul 19, 2006
45 Yes
1 No
Excellent detector!
Shannon Matteson in Port St. Lucie, FL USA -I have had my White's Spectrum XLT since 1998. I bought it as a second to my Minelab Sovereign. Hunt Sovereign at the beach, hunt XLT everywhere else. Use what works for the situation, right?
Well the Sovereign was a superb machine, but mine got "disappeared" shortly after I bought the XLT when I loaned it to a friend's fiance, and then they split up before I could get back in touch and both disappeared in the process. But the Spectrum I had wanted since I was in High School in 1992, and I have never regretted buying it.
It's got almost everything you could want. The only down sides I can see are:
- It's definitely not made for wet sand hunting in highly mineralized areas, such as the beach.
- It's not the deepest detector I ever had. The Sovereign took it to town on that point.
These two reasons are why I give it 4 stars, instead of five.
That said, I don't know about you, but I dig things at 11" and more using this detector, and quite frankly, that's about all the depth I have patience for. And speaking of digging, if you know how to properly use a handkerchief, a screwdriver, a steak knife and a trowel, you'll never see lawn scars or detectable holes again.
Setting this machine up was very easy for me because I like having complete control of the settings and I did my homework. Not really much homework to do, actually... if you want a turn-on-and-go machine, or you want to customize it down to the eye-teeth, this machine can do both.
If you want to switch modes, it does require that you stop and fiddle. But if you just de-notch everything in Discriminate mode, you can see what the VDI is, and decide whether to dig or not. You see everything, and no mode switching. How hard is that?
I absolutely love being able to "train" this machine, too. I can tell it specifically what to ignore, or I can tell it specifically what to accept.
This is a detector you absolutely can't outgrow unless you are a demon for depth - or you need a beach hunter more than anything else. I do miss my Sovereign, but I'm very happy with my XLT until it pays for the next machine, which will probably be a Minelab - but I would be unhappy if I didn't have my XLT, too.
May 10, 2006
47 Yes
3 No
XLT Cracking Bit Of Kit
Chriso in Nottinghamshire Uk -Hi I have been using the Whites xlt for about a year now and am I am well pleased with it.While most people in the club of which I am a member have the Explorer 2, they dont always make the best finds. I think You only get the best out of a detector when you get in tune with what it is telling you and the xlt is no exception in this respect.Another of the xlt users in the club has found a hoard of coins worth over £40000 from the time of William The Conquerer, with the xlt.So while it can take a little while to master it can certainly find the goods as a beginner I have found many coins and of those a couple of hammered coins from the 14th century.
While I agree some conditions are more testing for the xlt,such as wet sand, areas of hot rocks or heavy ground mineralisation for instance.But various alterations and settings tweaks can soon deal with this.
Apr 13, 2006
19 Yes
2 No
Pinpointing Targets
Rick Nickolaus in Federal Way WA USA -My (other brand) metal detector was stolen. It was a model I was very happy with. It had good depth qualities and pinpointed small targets nicely. This last Christmas my wife surprised me with a new metal detector.
Because she didn't want to spoil the surprise, she didn't ask me what brand name I preferred. She just bought what she was told was the top of the line. The metal detector she bought was your XLT model. To be honest I was alittle disappointed. The last Whites detector I owned, plus two others I tried, had good depth qualities, but pinpointing coins and other small objects was difficult. This led to unnessary digging, not to mention lawn scars. In the standard mode, I found my new XLT detector to be not that much better. But then I discovered the VCO mode. Pinpointing small targets became a snap. And my only real complaint against your detectors disolved.
For whatever its worth, I would strongly recommend that you move the VCO mode to the standard format. It really takes the guess work out of pinpointing. For many, it would certainly cut down on unneeded digging and lawn scars, not to mention customers, such as myself, having preconceived ideas about what turned out to be an excellent metal detector.
Dec 31, 2005
51 Yes
1 No
XLT Fine By me
John Tewell in Columbus, Ohio -I have had my White's XLT for about a month. At first I was a little worried about all the programs and settings. I have not learned them all, but I have found the more I just calm down and read the manual and other literature, the easier the machine is to work. With a little practice the pointing is right on. I am finding things deeper than with my old detector. I am anxious to keep learning the settings and what other coils have to offer. I also hear good things about Minelab, but the best unit they have is almost twice as much money as the XLT. Even if the Minelab is a little newer and goes a little deeper as some claim, I know it won't go twice as deep, so I am not inclined to spend twice the money. I have become addicted to metal detecting and love the XLT. Jt
Aug 26, 2005
31 Yes
2 No
Garrett Deepseakers Lasting Quality
Gil Garcia in Northern California -In a recent article in a well respected treasure hunting magazine the author mentioned the outstanding depth performance of the Garrett Deepseaker (ADS, Groundhog, etc.) detectors of the '70s and 80's. Having been involved in this hobby for the past 32 years I have learned a thing or two from being out in the field using various models of metal detectors. New top of the line metal detectors from respected manufacturers have incorporated the technological advances of our time which bring greater advantages to recreational coin and relic hunters. That being said, this technology has its price. The fact that the capabilities of the Deepseaker models is still being referenced in comparison to all metal detectors speaks volumes about their quality.
I have owned a Groundhog ADS and it was a sophisticated piece of electronic equipment and not basic metal detecting circuitry being passed off as a metal detector. Since these machines are old school technology they can be purchased for a fraction of their original retail costs ($25-$75) and are truly found treaure when one can be aquired. I highly recommend these detectors for someone wanting to explore the hobby without spending a fortune up front to start out. A cheaper new detector may not have the capability to deliver the performance that is the Garrett hallmark. The Garrett Ace series are reasonably priced high technology and are also great introductions to this hobby. The inroduction of new metal detectors does not overshadow the fortune in finds that was uncovered by earlier models. The quality of these detectors has survived for decades beause of the results they have achieved in the hands of users with various levels of ability. I am not a metal detector dealer nor do I have a personal or financial connection to Garrett electronics. My other detector is a Bounty Hunter.
Aug 05, 2005
15 Yes
42 No