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Kickindirt
Im kinda Glad everyone is making a big deal about the Apex in iron.

On some sites there are those who are fussing over the Apex's performance in common ferrous trash, but a bigger number of flks are just your 'average' Coin Hunting Hobbyists who works urban parks, schools, sports fields and other places that do not have a lot of iron nails or other ferrous debris to contend with For them, the Apex should be a very decent investment.

For the active Detectorist who get into a lot of older places where nails and other ferrous challenges abound, then yea, we are interested in how the Apex is going to perform. But a serious Relic Hunter, who tackles dense Iron. should also know that a smaller-size coil is a must-have to do the best job. In some places with a modest amount of Iron that isn't too close to better targets, a good detector with a good mid-size coil can often handle things OK.

I made a post on Tom Dankowski's forum the other day directed toward a lot of the people who visit his site often, only to bellyache about whatever pleases them. Seems like more complainers other there, and the bulk of the folks who are complaining and putting the Apex down have never seen or handled this new model to get to know it, learn it, and then offer a point of view base on hands-on operation. Thy see photos, might not like to color or the shape, the fact it isn't submersible, or they have read someone else's comments and speak on authority. I like to ignore as many of those people as possible and only direct my attention to those who actually put any new-to-them detector to the test. Then they can offer an opinion based on what experiences they have had to that point.

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Kickindirt
That means Garrett will prob come out with the 5x8 quickly I hope.

I don't! not until we get a decent smaller-size search coil. Something in the 4½" to 5½" diameter and round-shaped. Nothing more than 6" in diameter. The 5X8 Garrett coil is an okay pick for general purpose use, but it is a mid-size coil as are the 5X9½ DD or round 7" Concentric. The Apex's 6X11 DD 'Viper' coil is an OK dimension, bit it is a blend of a mid-size and big-size, making it a 'mid-big' DD coil.

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Kickindirt
Gotta be honest it looks like pretty decent performance to me for that big coil. Prob bit better than expected.

Honestly, it is. My Simplex + with the slightly smaller 5X9½ DD will out-perform the Apex & Viper combo on most side-by-side tests, but the Apex w/DD Viper coil handles the tests described in this thread better than my Minelab Vanquish 540 w/5X8 DD as well as my friend's Equinox 800 w/11" or 6" DD coils. I am also a bit surprised at the performance I am getting with the 'mid-big' Viper coil. Sure want to see a smaller coil for my Apex, really soon.

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Kickindirt
I will purchase one when they come out with a smaller coil.

I know I will get the smaller coil, for sure.

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Kickindirt
Monte or Andrew If you lower your sense to about 70% can you get closer than the 4" you mentioned? That seems like a lot. I always ran my atgold at about 70% sense and it seemed to perform a lot better.

Just before I sat down to respond o your post I re-tested the Apex & Viper coil on the NBPT. I just emptied a small cardboard battery box and it was a perfect size to use. I laid it on top of the Zinc Cent lengthwise. The box measures 3"X3½" and I put it down lengthwise. So my search coil was just about to skim the top of the box just 3" above the coin and I was able to get 7-out-of-8 hits. That was at the full 8-bars of Sensitivity. I still got good hits as I reduce the Sensitivity to 1 bar, but at that point I was just barely able to get good hits at that 'box-distance' sweep height.

Overall, the Apex is an impressive package in physical design and circuitry & performance for the MSRP, and being able to offer their first SMF model with a good array of selectable frequencies.

It is going to be interesting to see what the competition is going to bring to market, and I have a suspicion we are going to see some stiff competition soon for this market price range.

Monte

"Your EYES ... the only 100% accurate form of Discrimination!"
Stinkwater Wells Trading Post
Metal Detector Evaluations and Product ReviewsI'm now 'back home' in Farr West Utah monte@ahrps.org ... or ... monte@stinkwaterwells.com 503-481-8147Detector Outfit: A selection of my chosen makes and models, with the best coils mounted for the tasks I'll take on.F-19 * F-5 * Racer * Racer 2 * V-540 * Relic * Silver Sabre µMAX * Bandido II µMAX * XLTPinpointers: Garrett AT Pro-Pointers .. Headphones: 'Hornet' .. MS-3 Z-Lynk .. ML-80 *** All working well today to make memories for tomorrow. ***