Great comparison review !!! I've swung Garrett for 5 years now, but fixin to purchase my first Minelab. Thanks for your time and effort, making and posting this vid !
I just bought my first e trac...been looking at it for years. It was used, it has the probe, so my minelab collection continues! I currently own 4 minelabs, equinox 600, Vanquish 440, Expolorer SE, and now the E trac... Cant wait to go learn it!! Thinking it will put the Equinox in the closet for a while.
the etrac '' is a beast '' I found 2 ring many relics in les then 1 year '' 12:44 is a penny 1:30 rings ''' my tip is listen with your ears '' swing slow .... it will help you '' make your swings STRAIGHT '[' All the best
A pretty fair comparison JD. I own both machines and each machine has its pros and cons. I haven't had my CTX for a year yet, only about 10 months so I am still getting it tuned in. I will say though, I have been really happy with it, and successful. With the winter months here in Michigan I have only used it about 7 months. I am going to hit some lakes, rivers, and streams with it once it is warm enough. I too have the Sunray probe on my Etrac, and that really makes it a killer machine. I agree with Coin Whisperer on the RNB battery. I have one for my Etrac and I have hunted 35-40 hours on it without re-charging. It is a must for that machine. They are both great machines, and I don't know if I will ever swing anything but a Minelab. Good review, GL and HH
minelab need to redesign the ctx because its heavy,its expensive,its still slow in recovery and the menus are crazy trying to go through all of them and the hand grip does put alot more strain in the forarm .i really hope they make another ctx and fix some of these problems .
Awesome video. Today Sept 1 , 2015 the ground is so dry and hard here in NJ sticking to the water hunting is a must till the wet fall weather arrives. Then I get into the parks. I switched over from ATP to the 3030 when my ATP was in the shop being repaired. The GARRETT people are tremendous by sticking to there warranty obligations here in USA. Now mineLab I don't know about . I did my whole working carrier repairing equipment and machines. When we had to send equipment back to foreign countries or order parts from countries a lot of times is was a horror story. Every detectorist needs two machines needed along with spare batteries )Both are great machines. Butttttt the learning curve for the 3030 is a mind test. The instructions for the Mine Lab are very poor, Battery compartment gasket is poor in quality , the snaps to close the battery is capable of snapping open when caught on your cloths. In sea water the 3030 ran rings around the ATP. And I am using factory settings for the 3030. The 3030 has a lot of settings, there are buttons that are dual functions. The cost is high for the 3030 compared to the ATP. Cleaning the coil cover from dirt is easer on the 3030. ATP is tough off and tough going on. The wires to connections is easer on the 3030 than the tight ATP fittings. HH & God bless sorry for rambling on but you hit on a great topic. Remember, a bad day of detecting is better than a good day at work.
gordon anderson I have both and for my uses I don't think the etrac is an upgrade. More expensive sure but for relic hunting and coin hunting in trash the AT Pro wins for me.
Good comparison review J.D. You brought out some interesting things that I did not know about the Minelab 3030. I guess that I'll keep my E-trac a little longer now.
Great review JD! You really covered all the bases and gave an honest, unbiased appraisal of each machine's pros and cons. You are spot-on about the value of the probe on the e-trac. My favorite thing is when I dig a deep iffy, junky signal and once you get the probe in the hole the signal suddenly comes alive with a 12-47 blast! Oh yeah, those are the best moments! Best wishes and HH, Dave.
Good job JD however one question for you. I have yet to buy a detector with a rechargeable battery. Do you have issues with memory if you charge your battery before it's completely ran out? Please answer for both the E-Trac and the CTX. Thaanks
Good Video.... You were talking about the etrac and nickel-ish tones... I've found that hunting in Ferris mode is much better than conductive mode... as far as tones go. I'm wondering if you've tried a air test with an array of different targets including gold rings of different sizes... a test to see how targets sound from conductive mode to Ferris mode in the quality of the tone.
Ralph at sunray probes stopped making them for the etrac about a year before the video was made. He still has parts to repair them though. He said the Minelab shafts got to expensive. I bought an extra probe when I found out. Bought my etrac from him also. Great guy here in Iowa
Great info! I have been detecting on and off for a couple of years now, and was thinking if upgrading from my ACE350 to either the E-Trac or AT Pro. Any thoughts on the AT Pro in comparison to the E-Trac?
Thanks for posting. I know it was a long time ago but if you are still using the E-trac and that arm cuff fix I may have a suggestion. I did this with my EXII. Buy hobby foam sheet and gorilla glue it on the cuff. Works amazing.
Great comparison video! Funny you mentioned that arm band being abrasive the first few weeks I had it I scraped the heck out of my arm putting it in and out of the armrest lol. The audio tones on the CTX aren't nearly as good as the e-trac and wish they would do an upgrade on it... It's harder to distinguish larger from smaller targets and copper from silver for sure. Also the menu is a nightmare and they should have just kept the e-trac menu honestly. Just because it's a new product doesn't mean they have to change everything and make it more complicated =) That being said it is more stable like you mentioned and I've been able to run a higher sensitivity on the CTX, even in not so great soil conditions. I did a live dig on a really deep wheatie that the e-trac wouldn't touch so it did outshine in depth for that coin for sure. Still have yet to explore the combined on CTX which is supposedly where it outshines the e-trac. We'll see how it does once I put some hours on that mode... Overall great comparison and I agree on almost everything you said =)
Cutaplug Metal Detecting i had the ctx but for what it is it was so overpriced and still was slow on recovery and nulled in some iron infested areas also the battery compartment leaks underwater .i got a deus and never looked back .
Cutaplug Metal Detecting i find heaps of silver with the deus .the deus has a 18hz frequency that pings hard on jewellry and gold and silver .it totally destroys the ctx for that if you mention that to a deus user they will fall off thier chair because they will call you crazy if you think the ctx beats the deus for silver .then you are blinded by the minelab curse lol .pick up a deus and then you will never look back :). so far i know 6 guys who got a deus and then put thier ctxs up for sale :).
Cutaplug Metal Detecting you have to remember i had the ctx .i defended it and even had arguments with pommies about it then when i finally got one i realised i was wrong and they were right . the first day i got the deus i walked into a park and found a silver necklace and a silver ring in less than 5minutes on 18hz it pings real hard .
JD. you seem experienced on the e-trac and was wondering if you would do a video and share some of your settings and which programs you use the most. I have read the sabisch book but as you know it only takes you so far. thanks for your time.
Great comparison JD. I love my etrac but have been thinking about trying out the XP Deus because most of they places I hunt are littered with iron. Have you ever used the Deus?
Ive had two E-tracs in the past 6 years. Did i upgrade to the ctx3030 nope. I bought another Etrac . Was nothing wrong with the machines. Just wanted one with a warranty. Add a Rnb and a Jeff H. Arm cuff and a display cover and battery compartment cover. Your all set to suck up some silver. Love the Etracs.
Hi. Can you elaborate how a pocket probe v the E-trac is slower to find your targets? I have an older machine being the Ex II with the sun-ray probe but it adds another 12 oz to the weight and also in a non balanced place. I have taken mine off now to reduce the weight and use an after market pocket probe and found it easier at the end of the day and no slower to use. Great videos btw. Me
wow seems alot of people are selling thier ctxs as well i had one and it was so heavy and just not worth the price in my view the only thing i am scared about with getting a etrac is apparently you have to swing them really slow ?.is this true .other than that i think im gonna get one because the ctxs have had alot of bad press lately with things going wrong and what not .
thank you for doing this. I just ordered an e trac. I've been a teknetics user. it will interesting to go from a quick recovery, rock solid vdi 0 to 100 machine to a slow recovery, much more narrow vdi scale machine. I still don't understand the ML scale. BTW I used to live in Seymore for a few years. now I'm back in my native CA.
Nice to see the comparison, Jon. I guess I never gave any serious thought to "moving up" to the CTX. I like my Etrac well enough. (Although I wish I had a Sun-Ray probe, too.) Which brings me to a question I always wanted to ask you; Why, on your Etrac, do you have the cord from the coil run outside the shaft? Is it a personal preference, or is it strictly because the Sun-Ray is blocking the shaft? Anyway, a great, interesting video, my friend!
Great info Jon. I am 5 11 and find the ET bottom shaft short. I put some tipex on so I know where the max length is without getting a wobble.The ET is around 9 month old and I have noticed the bottom stem is not as tight as it used to be when locked . Mind my son is 6/2 and finds his CTX short for him could do with another couple of inches. I think you can get a longer ET shaft. But there isn't one available for the CTX WHY 6/2 isn't a giant ???? As I am retired I go out quiet a lot through the week with my ET. I have never taken our kevs CTX. I enjoy using the Etrac .But never been tempted to give the CTX a spin. But he does find a lot more than me. At times I cant believe what he has found. He is quiet happy with the stock coil as it works well for him. We do mostly rural pastures so our finds arnt as good as your Urban hunts which we are not allowed to do on our local authority land. But we do find older items. hammered coins etc.I use a bungee with the ET to help with the weight. To me these are the 2 best machines on the market and they don't pull COKE. Can you get ET software updates???? Could you not do a bit of field work when its hot as wouldn't be so bad if it burnt off. Hot weather we always dig a full plug so that it grows back easier. Looking forward to your next review . All the best Dave
Thanks JD for a great review!!! I'm in this boat of either the ctx or Etrac and I've been waiting for the video! I'm liking the Etrac! I swing the safari and love my sunray! I'll never go back to a regular pinpointer! You need to get an RNB battery, you can get a little over 30 hours on one charge! Thanks again brother... HH
Very nice review. I have both machines and must say they are the best - No question about that. I do want to point out a couple things that I have found in my personal comparison. First I agree that the Etrac is MUCH easier to use. That said, my opinion is CTX is more capable in different conditions. This may lend to the conversation on stability (I do a lot of OLD coin hunting in very trashy old home sites). Things I wanted to point out on the CTX advantage to those who are considering... The screen on the CTX is much - much easier for me to see. I often struggled trying to see the screen on the etrac while changing programs or whatever (especially in the sun)... Also, I enjoy the pinpoint trigger on the CTX as opposed to the etrac. Finally, I want to make a comment to those looking to purchase a Etrac because of the Sunray pinpointer. THEY DO NOT MAKE THEM ANYMORE and are expensive IF you find one. Just my two cents... HH to all.
My massive library of TH-cam videos is now compiled into the playlist below! All new videos are added automatically when they go live: th-cam.com/play/PLWvMzUX9roK5jy7G1jptrYo-b-DzBNrnk.html
If I didn't live so close to the ocean, I would go E-trac myself. The CTX has recovered some nice gold in the waves though so it is hard to give that up. If I had to do it all over, I would probably have gone with an E-Trac for land and an Excal II for water.
I would agree with one of the previous comments in regards to watching a video on how you go about getting permissions. Some of your videos, you hunt upwards of 5 permissions. I am very curious how you go about it. I've been detecting for 2 years now and I'm still too nervous to ask... Keep up the brilliant work !
#1. It has discrimination, so it never sounds off on iron bits or nails. #2, it will never false like a pinpointer and you never have to change sensitivity settings. #3, once you flip the switch it turns on immediately, there's no delay. #4, you don't ever have to ground balance it to cancel out mineralization.
had both machines and sold both to start photography. missed the hobby and decided to purchase another minelab. had cssh for either went for etrac as my finds were better than the ctx except on roman coins.
I don't think sunray sells the probe any longer now that minelab makes their own probes. I have an etrac and an excal I think having a single machine that I can take in the salt water without worry may be my deciding factor about pulling this trigger. but the price tag is stiff. Thanks for the comparison. Have enjoyed your videos for some time actually inspired me to make my own. I was amused that you say its too hot to hunt and I'm stull pushing ice out of my way when I hunt. Good luck
Tarheel Diggin' Thanks for bringing this up Matt. Until you and a few others mentioned, I had NO clue that there was a better battery pack on the market.
JD's Variety Channel It's a tremendous battery, Jon. I'll hunt for 20 hours before the battery life indicator even changes. It'll make you lean toward the E-Trac even more!
What would be a really nice metal detector for $150 or less, and do all metal detectors detect EVERY metal and precious metals, or do cheaper ones lack the finding abilities?
I have both detectors and live them both the one thing I will say for the Etrac get the RNB 3100!!! That battery is ridiculous!! I've had mine over a month and about 14 hours on it and it's still at 4 bars!! The CTX to me is a lot better balanced than the Etrac. Nice vids JD and HH!!
Coin Whisperer Thanks for the tip. I didn't even know they made a better battery. I'll have to pick one up. My original battery didn't last long before it started losing some power. I only get about 7 hours out of it. LOL.
Excellent review JD! I love my Etrac, and don't think I would trade it for anything. I have been looking for a probe for a long time. They are awesome and a hot commondity. Very hard to come by. I agree with Matt on RNB battery. It's a must have!
Excellent review. I wish Minelab detectors would be iPhone/Android compatible then we would not have to pay extra for their proprietary screens and their software updates could be downloaded easily. Minelab, I hope you are listening! :-) By the way, the strap on the CTX looks like it can be reversed so the more abrasive side can face away from your skin. Check it out and let us know. I'm like you. I would not give up my Etrac and Sunray Probe for anything that is on the market today. Unbeatable combination.
Nice comparison.... Thanks JD but your last statement is where I'm still sticking to buying the CTX 3030.... I water hunt a lot of rivers in California and the Etrac would be useless..period as I use a AT Pro now. I want to upgrade to the Mine Lab brand but you stated that you only used the CTX for about 30 times....and you have been using the Etrac for 3 years??? With ANY machine it takes TIME to learn it and understand it..you just have not put the time in and gave it a fair chance. 3 years vs 30 times?? Love you videos my friend and happy hunting to you.
Dean U. Yes, if you hunt water a lot then the CTX is the obvious option between the 2 machines since you wouldn't want to risk destroying your e-trac. Remember, this review is mainly geared toward those who do not have either machine, in which case I recommend the e-trac. As you say all machines take learning, I just found the e-trac easier to operate right out of the box for someone who is a beginner to intermediate. For experienced users who plan to water hunt, hit pounded sites or ones with frequent deep targets, and put a lot of time in. Then the CTX has many added benefits. Ultimately both machines have my approval. =)
No worries John... I agree with you.. I love to metal detect and hunt many different types of properties,,, 1850's gold mining camps, gold claims, old parks, old homes, and just got permission on a 1860's winery, rivers and lakes... I just think not being able to get the Etrac wet is going to limit my detecting and even worry about down pours... I do put in the time and I know I can understand the CTX in time. I also found that youtube videos have many advantages to setting up your CTX to get a rolling start on understanding the machine. Hey do have a video on asking for permissions? I would like to hear your strategies on asking. -Dean
Yeah, I agree that running from a downpour is something you don't want to do if you are hardcore. LOL. I don't have a video up on permissions, but I plan to do one in the future. =)
i had the ctx but for what it is it was so overpriced and still was slow on recovery and nulled in some iron infested areas also the battery compartment leaks underwater .i got a deus and never looked back . i would probably buy a ctx again if they changed the menu its hell trying to navigate through it and the weight was rediculas its so dam heavy .
Ctx is not going to find more than etrac. I have both. I actually like etrac more. It has R&B innovation battery in it has found more deep coins than ctx. Only thing I like better about ctx is the chassis .
You should actually weigh the 2 machines. With the sunray you have on there I bet they are almost the same weight. but the CTX is way less nose heavy, Owning both myself also I disagree with a good portion of what you say comparing the 2 machines but thanks for your viewpoint and review though. Love watching your vids!! HH.
Metal Jackalope Yeah, the probe is heavy. I was just trying to do the review based on what they come with out of the box. I'm sure balance is different for everyone depending on which muscles you are accustomed to using. The CTX was harder on me personally on long hunts, but I'm sure it's not the same for everyone. I also can say I left out some pros of the CTX just because I haven't used it as long, and I didn't want to comment on the features I haven't thoroughly tested or mastered. (I didn't even bring up the target trace) The CTX is an amazing machine. I just don't recommend it to people who have zero experience with a minelab. I think it would be to their benefit to start with a lesser model. Feel free to comment some of the points you disagree on. :-)
Well I personally think the ctx out of the box is every bit as easy to use with stock programs. I find that people who upgrade from the etrac are already dangerous so they feel the need to adjust right from the get go. I also find the CTX has a better recovery than the etrac or at least between my 2 machines, and I Find the ctx very easy to stow away as well once you pull in and twist the shaft. Very compact and lays flat. Also I am 6-2 and get a little shaft wobble with my CTX too and have to bring in the shaft a tiny bit just like you described with the etrac. But As you stated the CTX is very robust compared to the etrac I would also like to do some blind tests with people who say they can tell silver by tone over copper. Perfect example are the high relief copper pennies that ring up so sweet and high. Would be interesting to see for sure since they are digital processors with a Set sound (frequency) for the different CO's or Fe's depending on their settings. Another thing I found also with the CTX if you want to find low conductors is the need to open up the discrimination right away. Most with any experience run this way anyways but you sure can make the lower conductors pop that way. I found it especially with the CTX over the Etrac for some reason. I have had a lot of Deeper nickle signals with FE numbers running higher on the ctx and my settings People call these machines silver magnets and I am finding that the way the Minelabs sound over other machines it totally makes the sound of high conductors super appealing. Hard to describe what I mean really but makes it easy to cherry pick :)
Thanks for posting your insight into the difference of the machines. You brought up some valid points. I don't disagree with anything you said, except maybe that the CTX is just as easy out of the box. I could be slightly biased since I started with the e-trac, but I found it just a little more challenging to adapt to finding more desirable targets with the CTX (without changing any settings) based on my memory of when I started with the e-trac. However, this could vary from user to user. So I don't think there's a definite right or wrong on that topic. =)
hahahaaq crappy ctx3030 Good back up machine bad go to machine LOL Suck it! .. You did not mention how much the add on cost of the pin pointer is, adding to the $1500 cost of the etrac
Etrac safari explorer v3i ctx and impact have best chassis. All else are flimsy cell phones attached to a broom stick garbage. Be a man and stop complaining about weight. All you sissy’s that complain about weight is making the market swing in wrong direction . Now market is flooded with cheap machines
Thanks for the descriptive review! Do you think the etrac would be a good step up from the xterra 305 (which is my 2nd detector)?
Great comparison review !!!
I've swung Garrett for 5 years now, but fixin to purchase my first Minelab.
Thanks for your time and effort, making and posting this vid !
I just bought my first e trac...been looking at it for years. It was used, it has the probe, so my minelab collection continues! I currently own 4 minelabs, equinox 600, Vanquish 440, Expolorer SE, and now the E trac... Cant wait to go learn it!! Thinking it will put the Equinox in the closet for a while.
the etrac '' is a beast '' I found 2 ring many relics in les then 1 year '' 12:44 is a penny 1:30 rings ''' my tip is listen with your ears '' swing slow .... it will help you '' make your swings STRAIGHT '[' All the best
A pretty fair comparison JD. I own both machines and each machine has its pros and cons. I haven't had my CTX for a year yet, only about 10 months so I am still getting it tuned in. I will say though, I have been really happy with it, and successful. With the winter months here in Michigan I have only used it about 7 months. I am going to hit some lakes, rivers, and streams with it once it is warm enough. I too have the Sunray probe on my Etrac, and that really makes it a killer machine. I agree with Coin Whisperer on the RNB battery. I have one for my Etrac and I have hunted 35-40 hours on it without re-charging. It is a must for that machine. They are both great machines, and I don't know if I will ever swing anything but a Minelab. Good review, GL and HH
I would love to see you test the Garrett AT Pro.
minelab need to redesign the ctx because its heavy,its expensive,its still slow in recovery and the menus are crazy trying to go through all of them and the hand grip does put alot more strain in the forarm .i really hope they make another ctx and fix some of these problems .
Awesome video. Today Sept 1 , 2015 the ground is so dry and hard here in NJ sticking to the water hunting is a must till the wet fall weather arrives. Then I get into the parks.
I switched over from ATP to the 3030 when my ATP was in the shop being repaired. The GARRETT people are tremendous by sticking to there warranty obligations here in USA. Now mineLab I don't know about . I did my whole working carrier repairing equipment and machines. When we had to send equipment back to foreign countries or order parts from countries a lot of times is was a horror story.
Every detectorist needs two machines needed along with spare batteries )Both are great machines. Butttttt the learning curve for the 3030 is a mind test. The instructions for the Mine Lab are very poor, Battery compartment gasket is poor in quality , the snaps to close the battery is capable of snapping open when caught on your cloths.
In sea water the 3030 ran rings around the ATP. And I am using factory settings for the 3030. The 3030 has a lot of settings, there are buttons that are dual functions. The cost is high for the 3030 compared to the ATP. Cleaning the coil cover from dirt is easer on the 3030. ATP is tough off and tough going on. The wires to connections is easer on the 3030 than the tight ATP fittings. HH & God bless
sorry for rambling on but you hit on a great topic.
Remember, a bad day of detecting is better than a good day at work.
Thanks enjoyed the review, i've got a AT Pro and was thinking of up grading and you have made my mind up, e-trac it is. HH
gordon anderson I have both and for my uses I don't think the etrac is an upgrade. More expensive sure but for relic hunting and coin hunting in trash the AT Pro wins for me.
Good comparison review J.D. You brought out some interesting things that I did not know about the Minelab 3030. I guess that I'll keep my E-trac a little longer now.
Great review JD! You really covered all the bases and gave an honest, unbiased appraisal of each machine's pros and cons. You are spot-on about the value of the probe on the e-trac. My favorite thing is when I dig a deep iffy, junky signal and once you get the probe in the hole the signal suddenly comes alive with a 12-47 blast! Oh yeah, those are the best moments! Best wishes and HH, Dave.
Good job JD however one question for you. I have yet to buy a detector with a rechargeable battery. Do you have issues with memory if you charge your battery before it's completely ran out? Please answer for both the E-Trac and the CTX. Thaanks
Good Video.... You were talking about the etrac and nickel-ish tones... I've found that hunting in Ferris mode is much better than conductive mode... as far as tones go. I'm wondering if you've tried a air test with an array of different targets including gold rings of different sizes... a test to see how targets sound from conductive mode to Ferris mode in the quality of the tone.
Ralph at sunray probes stopped making them for the etrac about a year before the video was made. He still has parts to repair them though. He said the Minelab shafts got to expensive. I bought an extra probe when I found out. Bought my etrac from him also. Great guy here in Iowa
Great info! I have been detecting on and off for a couple of years now, and was thinking if upgrading from my ACE350 to either the E-Trac or AT Pro. Any thoughts on the AT Pro in comparison to the E-Trac?
I have both and honestly they are about equal in terms of finds. CTX is waterproof though, so that could factor in.
Thanks for posting. I know it was a long time ago but if you are still using the E-trac and that arm cuff fix I may have a suggestion. I did this with my EXII. Buy hobby foam sheet and gorilla glue it on the cuff. Works amazing.
Great comparison video! Funny you mentioned that arm band being abrasive the first few weeks I had it I scraped the heck out of my arm putting it in and out of the armrest lol. The audio tones on the CTX aren't nearly as good as the e-trac and wish they would do an upgrade on it... It's harder to distinguish larger from smaller targets and copper from silver for sure. Also the menu is a nightmare and they should have just kept the e-trac menu honestly. Just because it's a new product doesn't mean they have to change everything and make it more complicated =) That being said it is more stable like you mentioned and I've been able to run a higher sensitivity on the CTX, even in not so great soil conditions. I did a live dig on a really deep wheatie that the e-trac wouldn't touch so it did outshine in depth for that coin for sure. Still have yet to explore the combined on CTX which is supposedly where it outshines the e-trac. We'll see how it does once I put some hours on that mode... Overall great comparison and I agree on almost everything you said =)
Cutaplug Metal Detecting i had the ctx but for what it is it was so overpriced and still was slow on recovery and nulled in some iron infested areas also the battery compartment leaks underwater .i got a deus and never looked back .
Blake Garvey When I see as many live silver digs with the Deus as I do etrac or CTX I might consider getting one =)
Cutaplug Metal Detecting i find heaps of silver with the deus .the deus has a 18hz frequency that pings hard on jewellry and gold and silver .it totally destroys the ctx for that if you mention that to a deus user they will fall off thier chair because they will call you crazy if you think the ctx beats the deus for silver .then you are blinded by the minelab curse lol .pick up a deus and then you will never look back :). so far i know 6 guys who got a deus and then put thier ctxs up for sale :).
Cutaplug Metal Detecting you have to remember i had the ctx .i defended it and even had arguments with pommies about it then when i finally got one i realised i was wrong and they were right .
the first day i got the deus i walked into a park and found a silver necklace and a silver ring in less than 5minutes on 18hz it pings real hard .
JD. you seem experienced on the e-trac and was wondering if you would do a video and share some of your settings and which programs you use the most. I have read the sabisch book but as you know it only takes you so far. thanks for your time.
Great comparison JD. I love my etrac but have been thinking about trying out the XP Deus because most of they places I hunt are littered with iron. Have you ever used the Deus?
Ive had two E-tracs in the past 6 years. Did i upgrade to the ctx3030 nope. I bought another Etrac . Was nothing wrong with the machines.
Just wanted one with a warranty. Add a Rnb and a Jeff H. Arm cuff and a display cover and battery compartment cover. Your all set to suck up some silver. Love the Etracs.
Hi. Can you elaborate how a pocket probe v the E-trac is slower to find your targets? I have an older machine being the Ex II with the sun-ray probe but it adds another 12 oz to the weight and also in a non balanced place. I have taken mine off now to reduce the weight and use an after market pocket probe and found it easier at the end of the day and no slower to use.
Great videos btw.
Me
Thanks for sharing unbiased wisdom, JD.
Nice job with this comparison really helps Thanks Jim B
wow seems alot of people are selling thier ctxs as well i had one and it was so heavy and just not worth the price in my view the only thing i am scared about with getting a etrac is apparently you have to swing them really slow ?.is this true .other than that i think im gonna get one because the ctxs have had alot of bad press lately with things going wrong and what not .
thank you for doing this. I just ordered an e trac. I've been a teknetics user. it will interesting to go from a quick recovery, rock solid vdi 0 to 100 machine to a slow recovery, much more narrow vdi scale machine. I still don't understand the ML scale. BTW I used to live in Seymore for a few years. now I'm back in my native CA.
Nice to see the comparison, Jon. I guess I never gave any serious thought to "moving up" to the CTX. I like my Etrac well enough. (Although I wish I had a Sun-Ray probe, too.) Which brings me to a question I always wanted to ask you; Why, on your Etrac, do you have the cord from the coil run outside the shaft? Is it a personal preference, or is it strictly because the Sun-Ray is blocking the shaft? Anyway, a great, interesting video, my friend!
StivNagen Thanks Stiv. The coil plugs directly into the probe. So in order to use it the cord must wrap around the outside of the shaft.
Great info Jon. I am 5 11 and find the ET bottom shaft short. I put some tipex on so I know where the max length is without getting a wobble.The ET is around 9 month old and I have noticed the bottom stem is not as tight as it used to be when locked . Mind my son is 6/2 and finds his CTX short for him could do with another couple of inches. I think you can get a longer ET shaft. But there isn't one available for the CTX WHY 6/2 isn't a giant ????
As I am retired I go out quiet a lot through the week with my ET. I have never taken our kevs CTX. I enjoy using the Etrac .But never been tempted to give the CTX a spin.
But he does find a lot more than me. At times I cant believe what he has found. He is quiet happy with the stock coil as it works well for him. We do mostly rural pastures so our finds arnt as good as your Urban hunts which we are not allowed to do on our local authority land. But we do find older items. hammered coins etc.I use a bungee with the ET to help with the weight. To me these are the 2 best machines on the market and they don't pull COKE. Can you get ET software updates???? Could you not do a bit of field work when its hot as wouldn't be so bad if it burnt off. Hot weather we always dig a full plug so that it grows back easier.
Looking forward to your next review . All the best Dave
Thanks JD for a great review!!! I'm in this boat of either the ctx or Etrac and I've been waiting for the video! I'm liking the Etrac! I swing the safari and love my sunray! I'll never go back to a regular pinpointer! You need to get an RNB battery, you can get a little over 30 hours on one charge! Thanks again brother... HH
Very nice review. I have both machines and must say they are the best - No question about that. I do want to point out a couple things that I have found in my personal comparison. First I agree that the Etrac is MUCH easier to use. That said, my opinion is CTX is more capable in different conditions. This may lend to the conversation on stability (I do a lot of OLD coin hunting in very trashy old home sites). Things I wanted to point out on the CTX advantage to those who are considering... The screen on the CTX is much - much easier for me to see. I often struggled trying to see the screen on the etrac while changing programs or whatever (especially in the sun)... Also, I enjoy the pinpoint trigger on the CTX as opposed to the etrac. Finally, I want to make a comment to those looking to purchase a Etrac because of the Sunray pinpointer. THEY DO NOT MAKE THEM ANYMORE and are expensive IF you find one. Just my two cents... HH to all.
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If I didn't live so close to the ocean, I would go E-trac myself. The CTX has recovered some nice gold in the waves though so it is hard to give that up. If I had to do it all over, I would probably have gone with an E-Trac for land and an Excal II for water.
Try an RnB lith-ion battery pack for your Etrac. I am getting around 60 hours on one 2 hour charge.
I would agree with one of the previous comments in regards to watching a video on how you go about getting permissions. Some of your videos, you hunt upwards of 5 permissions. I am very curious how you go about it. I've been detecting for 2 years now and I'm still too nervous to ask... Keep up the brilliant work !
Thank you for the video the E-Trac sounds good need to up grade from my Teknetics Delta 4000 THANKS. Greg J
Nice review. Don't understand why the pinpointer on the etrac would be faster than any other pinpointer.
#1. It has discrimination, so it never sounds off on iron bits or nails. #2, it will never false like a pinpointer and you never have to change sensitivity settings. #3, once you flip the switch it turns on immediately, there's no delay. #4, you don't ever have to ground balance it to cancel out mineralization.
had both machines and sold both to start photography. missed the hobby and decided to purchase another minelab. had cssh for either went for etrac as my finds were better than the ctx except on roman coins.
I don't think sunray sells the probe any longer now that minelab makes their own probes. I have an etrac and an excal I think having a single machine that I can take in the salt water without worry may be my deciding factor about pulling this trigger. but the price tag is stiff. Thanks for the comparison. Have enjoyed your videos for some time actually inspired me to make my own. I was amused that you say its too hot to hunt and I'm stull pushing ice out of my way when I hunt. Good luck
Great Video JD ! I have them both and am very Happy with them , I think there the best MD,s out there ! Thanks for sharing GL & HH !
Well said, Jon! You need an RNB battery for your E-Trac though. That'll make a HUGE difference. HH!
Tarheel Diggin' Thanks for bringing this up Matt. Until you and a few others mentioned, I had NO clue that there was a better battery pack on the market.
JD's Variety Channel It's a tremendous battery, Jon. I'll hunt for 20 hours before the battery life indicator even changes. It'll make you lean toward the E-Trac even more!
Tarheel Diggin' I agree with the battery life. I have the rnb battery and it's awesome.
I really appreciate you sharing this information. Thanks!
Subbed you because of this video. I just bought both of them. I feel I need a pilots license though, after using a Garrett AT Pro for years.
What would be a really nice metal detector for $150 or less, and do all metal detectors detect EVERY metal and precious metals, or do cheaper ones lack the finding abilities?
I have both detectors and live them both the one thing I will say for the Etrac get the RNB 3100!!! That battery is ridiculous!! I've had mine over a month and about 14 hours on it and it's still at 4 bars!! The CTX to me is a lot better balanced than the Etrac. Nice vids JD and HH!!
Coin Whisperer Thanks for the tip. I didn't even know they made a better battery. I'll have to pick one up. My original battery didn't last long before it started losing some power. I only get about 7 hours out of it. LOL.
Excellent review JD! I love my Etrac, and don't think I would trade it for anything. I have been looking for a probe for a long time. They are awesome and a hot commondity. Very hard to come by. I agree with Matt on RNB battery. It's a must have!
thanks for the comparison video
Excellent review. I wish Minelab detectors would be iPhone/Android compatible then we would not have to pay extra for their proprietary screens and their software updates could be downloaded easily. Minelab, I hope you are listening! :-)
By the way, the strap on the CTX looks like it can be reversed so the more abrasive side can face away from your skin. Check it out and let us know.
I'm like you. I would not give up my Etrac and Sunray Probe for anything that is on the market today. Unbeatable combination.
Jim K wait on the new Equinox it is Bluetooth capable
A lot of people say that the Etrac is not a good first detector because of its steep learning curve.
thanks,, very helpful!
good review :)
Nice comparison.... Thanks JD but your last statement is where I'm still sticking to buying the CTX 3030.... I water hunt a lot of rivers in California and the Etrac would be useless..period as I use a AT Pro now. I want to upgrade to the Mine Lab brand but you stated that you only used the CTX for about 30 times....and you have been using the Etrac for 3 years??? With ANY machine it takes TIME to learn it and understand it..you just have not put the time in and gave it a fair chance. 3 years vs 30 times?? Love you videos my friend and happy hunting to you.
Dean U. Yes, if you hunt water a lot then the CTX is the obvious option between the 2 machines since you wouldn't want to risk destroying your e-trac. Remember, this review is mainly geared toward those who do not have either machine, in which case I recommend the e-trac. As you say all machines take learning, I just found the e-trac easier to operate right out of the box for someone who is a beginner to intermediate. For experienced users who plan to water hunt, hit pounded sites or ones with frequent deep targets, and put a lot of time in. Then the CTX has many added benefits. Ultimately both machines have my approval. =)
No worries John... I agree with you.. I love to metal detect and hunt many different types of properties,,, 1850's gold mining camps, gold claims, old parks, old homes, and just got permission on a 1860's winery, rivers and lakes... I just think not being able to get the Etrac wet is going to limit my detecting and even worry about down pours... I do put in the time and I know I can understand the CTX in time. I also found that youtube videos have many advantages to setting up your CTX to get a rolling start on understanding the machine. Hey do have a video on asking for permissions? I would like to hear your strategies on asking.
-Dean
Yeah, I agree that running from a downpour is something you don't want to do if you are hardcore. LOL. I don't have a video up on permissions, but I plan to do one in the future. =)
Dean U. dont buy the ctx it will destroy your arm lol .
i had the ctx but for what it is it was so overpriced and still was slow on recovery and nulled in some iron infested areas also the battery compartment leaks underwater .i got a deus and never looked back .
i would probably buy a ctx again if they changed the menu its hell trying to navigate through it and the weight was rediculas its so dam heavy .
Blake Garvey you never looked back and never looked deeper than 7 inches haha
South Mississippi Metal Detectors some people can't stand other people's opinions about their favorite machine. It's ridiculous.
Ctx is not going to find more than etrac. I have both. I actually like etrac more. It has R&B innovation battery in it has found more deep coins than ctx. Only thing I like better about ctx is the chassis .
You should actually weigh the 2 machines. With the sunray you have on there I bet they are almost the same weight. but the CTX is way less nose heavy, Owning both myself also I disagree with a good portion of what you say comparing the 2 machines but thanks for your viewpoint and review though. Love watching your vids!! HH.
Metal Jackalope Yeah, the probe is heavy. I was just trying to do the review based on what they come with out of the box. I'm sure balance is different for everyone depending on which muscles you are accustomed to using. The CTX was harder on me personally on long hunts, but I'm sure it's not the same for everyone. I also can say I left out some pros of the CTX just because I haven't used it as long, and I didn't want to comment on the features I haven't thoroughly tested or mastered. (I didn't even bring up the target trace) The CTX is an amazing machine. I just don't recommend it to people who have zero experience with a minelab. I think it would be to their benefit to start with a lesser model. Feel free to comment some of the points you disagree on. :-)
Well I personally think the ctx out of the box is every bit as easy to use with stock programs. I find that people who upgrade from the etrac are already dangerous so they feel the need to adjust right from the get go. I also find the CTX has a better recovery than the etrac or at least between my 2 machines, and I Find the ctx very easy to stow away as well once you pull in and twist the shaft. Very compact and lays flat. Also I am 6-2 and get a little shaft wobble with my CTX too and have to bring in the shaft a tiny bit just like you described with the etrac. But As you stated the CTX is very robust compared to the etrac
I would also like to do some blind tests with people who say they can tell silver by tone over copper. Perfect example are the high relief copper pennies that ring up so sweet and high. Would be interesting to see for sure since they are digital processors with a Set sound (frequency) for the different CO's or Fe's depending on their settings.
Another thing I found also with the CTX if you want to find low conductors is the need to open up the discrimination right away. Most with any experience run this way anyways but you sure can make the lower conductors pop that way. I found it especially with the CTX over the Etrac for some reason. I have had a lot of Deeper nickle signals with FE numbers running higher on the ctx and my settings
People call these machines silver magnets and I am finding that the way the Minelabs sound over other machines it totally makes the sound of high conductors super appealing. Hard to describe what I mean really but makes it easy to cherry pick :)
Thanks for posting your insight into the difference of the machines. You brought up some valid points. I don't disagree with anything you said, except maybe that the CTX is just as easy out of the box. I could be slightly biased since I started with the e-trac, but I found it just a little more challenging to adapt to finding more desirable targets with the CTX (without changing any settings) based on my memory of when I started with the e-trac. However, this could vary from user to user. So I don't think there's a definite right or wrong on that topic. =)
JD's Variety Channel Again, Thanks for your videos. Fun to watch.. HH
Same to you! =D
You didn't even take these outside, and you call this a review? Bahhhhh
hahahaaq crappy ctx3030 Good back up machine bad go to machine LOL Suck it! .. You did not mention how much the add on cost of the pin pointer is, adding to the $1500 cost of the etrac
Tssss
Etrac safari explorer v3i ctx and impact have best chassis. All else are flimsy cell phones attached to a broom stick garbage. Be a man and stop complaining about weight. All you sissy’s that complain about weight is making the market swing in wrong direction . Now market is flooded with cheap machines
This Is Absolutely Nonsense ....
He obviously doesn't know how to get the most out of the ctx.
Buy an etrac before the ctx if you have an option???? Hahaha wtf?
Apparently you're not mature enough to accept opinions different from your own either.
Jd your gay 👨❤️💋👨🏳️🌈