The main differences are in the advanced fine-tuning settings, where the Equinox 800 has an advantage in. In addition, the Minelab Equinox 800 has a Gold Detect Mode, which the Equinox 600 does not. The Equinox 800 can use the 20 kHz and 40 kHz separately or simultaneously using Multi-IQ mode, while the Equinox 600 only uses them in Multi-IQ mode. Press the gear symbol and keep pressing it until you reach “Recovery Speed” option. (Image Above: Left) The Minelab’s Equinox 600 has a sleek, rugged construction that allows you to enjoy long hunting in any environment. It also comes with rechargeable batteries; you don’t have to worry about being left high and dry while you’re on the field. The compromises are one less detecting mode, the 600 doesn’t have the Gold Mode, your choices in some of the settings are not as wide as the 800 and the WM08 wireless unit isn’t supplied. Also, the individual frequencies you can choose are limited, with only 5, 10 & 15 kHz being available.

The Iron Bias setting is considered a local change only. Iron Bias does not impact other Equinox search profiles. The Iron Bias settings only impacts the current search profile the operator is using. In other words, if you are using the Park 2 search profile, the Iron Bias settings in Park 1 or any of the other profiles will not be changed. Sleek & Lightweight The tough lightweight design will help keep you detecting for longer in all conditions. The EQUINOX 600 features three levels of Detect Speed. The EQUINOX 800 has eight levels for finer tuning in the densest "carpet of nails" scenarios. Low settings offer more solid hits on very deep targets, but poor separation of closely adjacent targets. High settings have great separation, but the clipped audio responses required in dense trash make it harder to hear very deep targets. Use a setting as low as possible that achieves the desired target separation. The Iron Bias setting also has a similar resolution difference between the 600 and the 800. The 600 has Bluetooth capability built in but the detector is supplied with Minelab Wired Headphones The EQUINOX Series features both the 600 and the 800 but there is very little difference between them, in fact it literally only comes down to some features in the settings and the Audio options.

Observations

Although the wired headphones are convenient, the Equinox 600 is just compatible with wireless headphones but does not include them. The metal detector has four tone options: 1, 2, 5, and 50, affording you the advantage of adjusting tone and volume shift between ferrous and non-ferrous items. In the same vein, there are three levels of detection speed, and yes – adjustable. For instance, you’re likely to get more accurate results on close, valuable targets if you compromise on the depth and vice versa. In all, you could fiddle with the settings until you find the right balance for a particular terrain. Note: The Iron Bias setting is only available when the operating frequency of the Equinox is set to “Multi”. When Would You Use The Iron Bias Setting? The troubles start when you try those `low recovery rate’ settings on a real field with ground mineralisation and searching for targets you don’t know are there.

Having three selectable frequencies gives the versatility that is equivalent to three conventional single frequency detectors.

So, if you want the great performance from your detector but looking at a slightly lower price point the EQUINOX 600 will suit perfectly all your needs.