MINELAB CTX 3030 VS EQUINOX 800

WHICH METAL DETECTOR IS THE BEST?

Documented by Timothy Draper

Categories & Site Details: Gold & Doubloons, Metal Detector Review, Metal Detector Store Online, Metal Detectors, Minelab Metal Detectors, Press Release

The Minelab CTX 3030 vs the Minelab Equinox 800, how do they compare? Many people ask me all the time, can I buy the Minelab Equinox 800 and get the same performance as the Minelab CTX 3030? Let’s dive into this question and see what we come up with. Sometimes it’s your budget that makes the decision for you.  

The Minelab CTX 3030 is definitely my favorite metal detector on the market. It has been since 2016, and it’s still holding place as my favorite. I feel for the type of treasure hunting I do, it has been the most reliable. I have had a lot of success with it and the upgraded 17” CTX 3030 smart search coil, I think it, has taken the CTX 3030 to a whole new level. I hunt after lost histories like Spanish mining and cache areas. I also explore and track down lost city locations. 

I don’t find a lot of coins in my line of work, but I do find a lot of ancient relics, and I do think the Minelab CTX 3030 is the best of the best, for this application, without a doubt! Is the Minelab CTX 3030 the best for everyone? Lets’ dig more into this question, pun intended. 

MINELAB CTX 3030 METAL DETECTOR

MINELAB CTX 3030 VS EQUINOX 800 

The Minelab CTX 3030 was designed by Minelab to conquer them all. One metal detector to rule them all, type deal. I would say that they did exactly what they started out to do. For a very long time now, the Minelab CTX 3030 has been the king of metal detectors. So why have so many tried to compare the two? The answer is easy. Price! 

BUY THE MINELAB CTX 3030 NOW

FEATURES AND OPTIONS OF THE MINELAB CTX 3030

MINELAB CTX 3030 VS EQUINOX 800 

ERGONOMIC DESIGN

The Minelab CTX 3030 is designed for user comfort. It is well-balanced and adjustable, and the majority of the weight sits behind the armrest, making it easy to carry over a long day of treasure hunting. The metal detector is fully adjustable, to suit your needs.

ALL-TERRAIN & WATERPROOF

This metal detector can be used on land, beach, and in water. It is waterproof up to 10 feet and has great ground canceling capabilities, so even heavily mineralized soil can be filtered out.

SMARTFIND 2 FECO DISCRIMINATION

Smartfind 2 technology offers digital signal processing and enhanced FeCo  (ferrous and conductivity) discrimination. This offers better target identification, as you can use Tone IDs to focus on certain targets and ignore others. Target Trace and Target Separation allow you to accurately identify multiple targets at once. 

WIRELESS AUDIO

Use headphones without getting tangled up in cords. The Minelab CTX 3030 comes with a WM10 wireless module, so you can quickly connect wireless headphones, without losing any sound quality. 

FULL-COLOR DISPLAY

The full-color LCD clearly displays more target information than ever before and greatly enhances the CTX 3030’s discrimination capabilities.

GPS LOCATING & PC MAPPING

The Minelab CTX 3030 metal detector includes a map screen and navigation tool on its full-color LCD display. You can easily share your treasure readings, settings, and locations to your computer with the XChange 2 application. This way, you can look back later to learn more, share what you found, or re-explore certain areas.

FBS 2 TECHNOLOGY

This metal detector has FBS 2 technology, which uses multiple frequency transmissions and coil-to-detector communication to find more targets in varied ground conditions, differentiating between good targets and junk metals. 

MULTI-LANGUAGE

You can choose from 9 different languages: English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, or Turkish.

MINELAB EQUINOX 800 METAL DETECTOR

MINELAB CTX 3030 VS EQUINOX 800 

I was present during the Minelab dealers meeting 2017 in Las Vegas, and during that meeting, we dealers were shown the prototype of the Equinox. I was amazed at the lightweight construction and simplex functions. During this time, I was told by Minelab that the Equinox 800 was designed in the inspiration of treasure hunting teams like mine. Treasures in America team travels and goes deep into the wilderness. 

With heavy and bulky metal detectors, it can be hard to hike all day, but the Equinox 800 is very light and easy to manage.  It’s a true fact that the MInelab Equinox 800 is better than the MInelab CTX 3030 when it comes down to comparing the weight. The CTX 3030 gets heavy, compared to the MInelab Equinox 800. 

BUY MINELAB EQUINOX 800 NOW

FEATURES AND OPTIONS OF THE MINELAB EQUINOX 800

MINELAB CTX 3030 VS EQUINOX 800 

8 CUSTOM SEARCH PROFILES

Each Detect Mode features 2 custom Search Profiles so you can save your favorite rite settings in each mode.

WIRELESS AUDIO

Experience ultra-fast wireless audio with the WM 08, or use fast aptX™ Low Latency / Bluetooth headphones.

SLEEK & LIGHTWEIGHT

Rugged and lightweight construction allows you to enjoy long detecting sessions in any environment.

WATERPROOF

EQUINOX is fully submersible, ideal for detecting at the beach and in rivers, streams, and lakes. (3m / 10-feet).

USER INTERFACE

The clear LCD features large Target ID numbers so you can see your target Target IDD at a glance. All of the information you need, when detecting is right there in front of you. Detection Modes and operating frequency can be instantly changed at the push of a button for a dynamic and uninterrupted detecting experience. 

ADVANCED SETTINGS

Gain even more control of your detector audio with Advanced Settings; you decide how much target information you hear.

CONCLUSION: THE BEST OF THE TWO METAL DETECTORS

MINELAB CTX 3030 VS EQUINOX 800 

As you can see, they both seem to have similar specifications and options but there are two very important differences to consider:

MINELAB CTX 3030 PRICE $2,499.00

MINELAB EQUINOX 800 PRICE $949.00

The next thing that needs to be considered is depth! How deep do you want your metal detector to detect? The Minelab CTX 3030 is going to get more depth, for sure. Especially when you use the Minelab 17” DD smart coil. 

Here’s one way to look at the obvious. The Minelab CTX 3030 has been a metal detector that many detectorists have wanted for a while now. Not everyone can afford the price tag on the CTX. Minelab, being the great manufacturer they are, decided to cut a few options, functions, &  and performance, to create a cheaper one, the Minelab Equixon 800. 

For this reason, many dealers won’t give it to you straight, like I am. When it comes to sales, some beat around the bush, but I don’t. I have created my metal detecting and treasure hunting business based on my experiences and knowledge. I believe that the customer deserves to understand what they are investing in. That’s what metal detecting and treasure hunting are, a hobby and investment. 

If the price tag of the CTX 3030 is not in your budget, then buy the Minelab Equinox 800. You won’t be disappointed. I promise you. If you can afford the CTX 3030 then buy it. You will not regret it. Trust me. I’ve used both and I see the benefit of both. That’s why I own both and use both metal detectors. I know that the CTX 3030 is a better metal detector but I also know that the Equinox 800 is a great detector too. I hope this helps you make your decision. Contact us if you have any questions. Until then… 

Good Luck! Be Safe! Find Your Adventure! It’s not just a metal detector, it’s a lifestyle! 

Copyrights protected by Treasures in America LLC | Treasures in America Production | Uncharted Expeditions LLC

Written by Timothy Draper | Founder of Treasures in America

Edited by Brenda Dopp