Detector test page

MINELAB SOVEREIGN 'V' MINELAB EXCALIBUR 800

I still use both these machines and each has their advantages over the other. The main differences being that the Sovereign has "notch " discrimination and the Excalibur does not.The Excalibur is waterproof to 250 ft and the Sovereign is not.The only real difference in performance I have found is that the Excalibur can be used at a higher level of sensitivity than the sovereign without giving any false signals but these are rare with either machine anyway and are normaly due to a large piece of iron within a short distance from the search head , but not quite under it,  another sweep over the area and the signal usually disapears.The depth tests show that there is not much difference in air but the Excalibur 800 has a smaller coil than the Sovereign, maybe the Excalibur 1000 with the larger coil will prove deeper.I prefer the Excalibur 800 because I use it on a lot of junky sites and can get nearer the junk without rejecting the good stuff with the junk.I tried a small 18k ring against a pair of iron plyers and was able to reject the plyers on their own and the pick up the ring when placed within 2.5 "of the plyers. Very impressive compaired to some detectors as most would reject both together or have to not reject the plyers to pick up the ring.       My favourite detector in this situation is the Compass XP PRO with a 3" search coil I have found many items with this that most detectors have rejected because they lay buried so close to junk.       My favorite of all my detectors is the Excalibur 800 as I will use this in the water when the time comes and i'm sure it will prove unbeatable, but if you only want a beach machine or land detector the Sovereign would be just as good.