Minelab Metal Detectors & Gold Prospecting Equipment

Minelab is the world leader in metal detecting technology, trusted by hobbyists, relic hunters, and professional gold prospectors alike. From the multi-frequency Manticore and Equinox series to the gold-hunting Gold Monster and GPX machines, Minelab metal detectors deliver the depth, discrimination, and build quality serious detectorists rely on. Every current Minelab metal detector for sale is here in one place, from first Vanquish to flagship GPZ. As an authorized Minelab dealer, Serious Detecting carries the full lineup with full US warranty, expert support, and free US shipping on orders over $99. New to the brand? Start with our Best Minelab metal detectors buying guide.

Shop Minelab Metal Detectors by Model

Complete Your Minelab Setup

Get the most from your Minelab with the right gear. Pair your detector with metal detecting headphones, sort and recover finds with our digging tools and sand scoops, and if you're chasing gold, explore our full range of gold prospecting equipment. Every Minelab order ships with authorized warranty coverage and free shipping on orders over $99.

Minelab Metal Detector Series Compared: Go-Find, Vanquish, X-Terra, Equinox & Flagships

Our Minelab metal detectors span six distinct families, each engineered for a specific terrain and budget. The Go-Find series (GO-FIND 11, 22, 44, 66) covers entry-level park and backyard hunting with turn-on-and-go simplicity. The Vanquish series steps up with simultaneous Multi-IQ technology, making it an exceptional treasure hunting tool in trash-heavy soil. For relic hunters who want strict manual ground-balance control, the X-Terra PRO and X-Terra ELITE deliver rugged switchable precision.

The iconic Equinox lineup (700, 800, 900) remains an all-terrain juggernaut across saltwater beaches and freshwater alike. For advanced detectorists, flagship platforms like the Manticore, Excalibur II, and CTX 3030 provide maximum target separation and detailed visual target ID. And if you're chasing raw gold, the pulse-induction and ZVT circuits in the SDC 2300, GPX 6000, and GPZ series see through hot rocks to find tiny, sub-gram nuggets in heavily mineralized ground.

Multi-IQ vs. Pulse-Induction: How Minelab Technologies Perform in the Field

Multi-IQ platforms (Vanquish, Equinox, Manticore) transmit multiple frequencies simultaneously. In our field testing, this stabilized iron-heavy parks and held target IDs accurate on wet saltwater beaches with no endless manual balancing. Single-frequency X-Terra models work the opposite way: you lock in a specific target: 5 kHz for deep silver, 10 kHz for everyday coin shooting, or 15 kHz for fine jewelry. For dedicated gold work, the pulse-induction GPX and ZVT GPZ machines ignore ground mineralization that stops standard VLF detectors cold.

Minelab Metal Detector Price & Feature Matrix

Here's a direct breakdown of the Minelab lineup by technology platform and intended environment, structured so you can quickly match a model to a hunt:

Series / Model Technology Type Best For
Go-Find Series Single-Frequency (Fixed) Parks, playgrounds, yards
Vanquish Series Simultaneous Multi-IQ Coins, jewelry, clean beaches
X-Terra PRO / ELITE Switchable Single-Freq / Multi-IQ Relics, rivers, inland fields
Equinox 700 / 800 / 900 Advanced Multi-IQ All-terrain, surf, gold fields
Manticore / CTX 3030 Multi-IQ+ / FBS 2 Deep silver, competitive hunts
Gold Monster & GPX / GPZ VLF (45 kHz) / Pulse Induction / ZVT Heavily mineralized goldfields

Compare Models Within Each Series

Waterproof Ratings, Coils & Soil Customization

Housing ratings matter once you take a machine into extreme conditions. The Equinox 700, 800, and 900 have fully submersible control boxes and coils, so they're built for wading rivers and surf. For scuba depth, the legendary Excalibur II stays submersible for deeper diving, and the Manticore and CTX 3030 carry high-tier waterproofing for beach hunting. Entry-level Go-Find and Vanquish models use splash-resistant control boxes: the coils handle rain and wet grass fine, but keep the control box dry.

Coil compatibility runs by platform. The Equinox and X-Terra lines share coils within their own series, the CTX 3030 uses dedicated FBS2 coils, and pulse-induction gold detectors rely on specialized Mono, DD, and Super-D coils to isolate targets buried deep in high-iron soil.

Why Buy Your Minelab Metal Detector from Serious Detecting?

Buying from an authorized US Minelab dealer keeps your manufacturer warranty fully valid, gives you genuine factory parts, and ensures your detector gets official firmware updates, no gray-market imports. We stock the matching accessory coils, wireless headphones, and pinpoint probes to round out your setup, and you get direct support from active detectorists who field-test these exact machines every week.

Customer Questions & Expert Answers

Get real answers from outdoor explorers and our product experts. Browse questions about performance, features, and setup —or ask your own to make sure this gear fits your next adventure.

Is the Minelab Manticore worth the upgrade from the Equinox 800?

If you hunt iron-heavy relic sites - Civil War grounds, colonial sites, old farmsteads with dense iron trash - the Manticore's 2D target ID display gives you genuinely better dig decisions than the Equinox's single-number ID. For beach hunting and general detecting, the Equinox 800 performs the job without the Manticore's cost premium. The honest answer: the Manticore earns its price for relic hunters at competitive sites. For general use, the Equinox 800 is still one of the best machines made. See Minelab Manticore details.

Answered by Richard T. · April 2026

I'd like to purchase a Minelab Manticore with a 9 inch coil, no other accessories required

I’m sorry, but that configuration isn’t available. The Minelab Manticore comes standard with its 11″ elliptical coil included, and the MINELAB 9 inch M9 DD Waterproof Coil is sold separately as an accessory. If you’d like, I can check current bundle deals or show you the price of the machine plus separately add the 9″ coil so you can see total cost.

Answered by John W. · November 2025

What is the difference between the Minelab Equinox 800 and the Equinox 900?

The Minelab Equinox 900 improves on the 800 in three areas: enhanced audio with more tone options for experienced hunters who read audio nuance, better ground balance stability in aggressive saltwater environments, and a slightly expanded frequency range. For most recreational beach and land hunters, the Equinox 800 is genuinely sufficient and costs less. The 900 earns its price for competition beach hunters and detectorists who hunt demanding salt surf sites regularly. Both are fully waterproof to 5 meters. See the full Equinox series comparison.

Answered by John W. · April 2026

How does the Minelab Equinox 800 compare to the Nokta Legend?

Both are simultaneous multi-frequency, both are fully waterproof to 10 feet, and both handle beach and land detecting effectively. The Equinox 800 has a longer track record and wider community of experienced users. The Nokta Legend costs less and receives ongoing free firmware updates post-purchase that add modes and improve performance. For most recreational hunters the Legend is a genuine, capable alternative. For hunters who want the most proven machine with the widest support network, the Equinox 800. See the Nokta Legend.

Answered by John W. · April 2026

What Minelab metal detector should I buy first?

For most first-time buyers, the Minelab Vanquish 340 or 360 is the right starting point - Multi-IQ technology at entry-level pricing with a clear upgrade path. If budget allows and you plan to hunt beaches, go directly to the Minelab Equinox 700 or 800, which handle every terrain type effectively and are fully waterproof. The Gold Monster 1000 is the starting point if gold prospecting is the primary goal. Avoid starting at the Manticore or GPX 6000 level - these machines reward experience that takes time to develop. See the Vanquish series.

Answered by Dan P. · April 2026