HELP ME MAKE A DECISION

[LWBrown]

Sometime in the next few months, I intend to purchase a new detector.
It is my intention to get the VERY BEST TOP OF THE LINE detector that
is available. The trouble is... I don't know which detector that is. I
have been doing a lot of reading and every article I read tells me
that the machine that writer is writing about is the ONE I am looking
for.

I have a new catalog from Garrett Metal Detectors and Charles Garrett
says, "Here is my best: the GTI 2500 Metal Detector." The detector
does have a lot to recommend it. It is versatile as to the type of
coils that can be fitted to it, with even a deep target adapter that
can be utilized for cache hunting. It has a lot to offer in the way
of target identification (I am really impressed with the Treasure
Vision feature.), has several discrimination options and it ground
balances automatically. It is offered with a nice package of
accessories that makes it a real good deal. So why wouldn't I just
lay my money down and begin hunting with this wonderful machine?
Because after I read the Garrett's Catalog, I continued to read. To
tell you the truth, I am more than a little confused about which one
is best.

Kenneth White says of his best detectors, "What's in the ground is on
the screen". I am told to "Choose DFX(tm) for concentrated all-out
horsepower that finds the oldest, deepest targets." I would love to
choose DFX(tm), but I only get one shot at choosing the one detector that
will satisfy me, probably for the rest of my detecting life. I really
like this detector. It has so many features, and I am a features kind
of guy. It has DSF(tm) to automatically set the machine for ground
mineralization. The machine operates on multiple frequencies, and has
9 turn-on-and-go programs so I can operate it right out of the box. I
can adjust the optimal sweep speed, a feature that really interests
me. There are 4 EEPROM hunting programs. Now mind you, I am not sure
that I need them but if I had this machine, I would have them just in
case I do. The catalog says there are 10 basic adjustments and 34 Pro
Options. And like the machine previously discussed, the DFX has a
wonderful visual display.

I continued to read and then I read about the Tesoro Cortes and the
Minlab SE and X-Terra 70. Maybe I should look at Compass, Fisher,
Teknetics or Bounty Hunter and be even more confused. Truthfully, in
the long time ago, I had experience with most of the machines
manufactured by the major manufacturers and had good experience with
most of them. But my question today, is: What is the very best
detector on the market today? Primarily I want the machine for deeper
coins and relics but I might want to do a little cache hunting. Some
of you folks with experience with the newer models give me a hand
here. I am sure that most of you are partial to the particular
machine that you use but try to be objective. Tell me the pros and
the cons and if there is another machine besides the one you presently
use, tell me about that one.

In a month or so, I hope to tell you which one I chose.