Garrett ACE APEX Metal Detector with 8.5 x 11 Multi-Flex Raider Coil

The Garrett ACE APEX Metal Detector with 8.5 x 11 Multi-Flex Raider Coil is the configuration we recommend when a detectorist wants the wider sweep and added depth of the larger DD coil from day one. This bundle puts the full Multi-Flex digital platform into the field with the Raider already fitted in place of the smaller 6 x 11 Viper. We see it most often with weekend coin hunters, club hunters at packed events, and beach detectorists using the Multi-Salt mode. See where it fits in the broader Garrett lineup.

Why Detectorists Choose the Garrett ACE Apex with the Raider Coil

• Wider sweep and deeper signal on coins and relics, thanks to the 8.5 x 11 inch DD Raider coil that ships pre-fitted.
• Six selectable frequencies in one machine: 5 kHz, 10 kHz, 15 kHz, 20 kHz, Multi-Frequency, and Multi-Salt, so the same detector adapts from quiet park dirt to heavy salt sand.
• 175 points of high-resolution ground balance covering ferrous ground through saltwater, so detectorists working mineralized soil keep depth without chatter.
• Built-in Z-Lynk wireless that pairs to Garrett wireless headphones and Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk receivers without dongles or cords.
• Hybrid audio that blends clean binary tones for confident targets with subtle proportional response on faint signals.
• Lightweight 2.5 lb shaft and balanced ergonomics that hold up to all-day swings.

What's in the Box

• Apex Multi-Frequency Metal Detector
• 8.5 x 11 inch Multi-Flex DD Raider Search Coil (pre-installed)
• Raider Coil Cover
• Micro-USB Charging Cable
• Garrett 3-Year Limited Warranty

Field Performance

Coin Shooting in Parks and Schoolyards

Multi-Frequency mode is our default for old parks and town greens. The wider Raider covers more ground per pass than the stock Viper, and the simultaneous frequency stack pulls clean target IDs on silver and copper at depth without giving up sensitivity to small jewelry.

• Search Mode: Coins or Custom
• Frequency: Multi-Frequency
• Sensitivity: 6 to 7 of 8
• Iron Volume: 2 to 3
• Ground Balance: Auto, then lock with manual fine-tune

Relic Hunting in Plowed Fields and Cellar Holes

For colonial and Civil War relics we drop into a single low frequency. 5 kHz pulls hard on larger conductive iron and big copper, while 10 kHz adds brass and small relic punch in mixed soil. The 175-point ground balance is what holds the rig steady on iron-stained ground.

• Search Mode: Relics or Custom
• Frequency: 5 kHz for big iron and large copper, 10 kHz for mixed brass
• Sensitivity: 5 to 6, raise as ground allows
• Iron Volume: 3 to 4

The Raider's footprint lets us sweep a row twice as fast as a 6 inch coil and still keep the depth on relics that have settled below the plow line.

Beach and Shallow-Water Wading

Multi-Salt earns its keep here. The coil and lower shaft are submersible, so the Raider rides through wet sand and ankle-deep surf. The control box itself is rainproof, so we keep it above the waterline.

• Search Mode: Zero or Custom
• Frequency: Multi-Salt for wet sand and surf, Multi-Frequency for dry sand
• Sensitivity: 4 to 6
• Iron Volume: 1 to 2

Carry a long-handled scoop and a pinpointer like the Garrett Pro-Pointer AT for quick recovery.

The Technology Behind the Detector

Multi-Flex Digital Platform

Multi-Flex is the broad-bandwidth digital engine that runs the rig as either a true single-frequency VLF or a simultaneous multi-frequency machine. That flexibility is what no other ACE-series detector offers. For deeper background, our team wrote a primer on Garrett Multi-Flex multi-frequency technology.

8 Frequency Channels per Mode

Each frequency option carries 8 independent channel shifts, for 48 total settings. We reach for this on packed events and coin shoots where electrical interference rides into the audio.

Build and Ergonomics

Weight, Shaft, and Display

At 2.5 pounds (1.13 kg) the rig sits on the lighter end of the Garrett line, and the balance point keeps the larger Raider coil from feeling nose-heavy. The shaft adjusts from 43 inches to 56 inches. Direct-drive buttons sit under the screen for the settings we touch most often, and a deeper menu holds the rest. The adjustable arm rest with strap holds the cuff steady through long swings, and the backlit LCD reads cleanly in low light.

Battery

The built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery delivers up to roughly 15 hours per charge. A Micro-USB charging cable is included, so it tops up from any USB port we already carry.

Audio Options

5-Tone Target ID and Hybrid Audio

Five distinct tones cover the conductivity range, giving the operator more usable target separation by ear than the older ACE 400. The hybrid system blends binary audio (a target rings or stays quiet) with subtle proportional response on faint signals, which is especially helpful on deep relics where a target may not yet be loud enough to lock the digital ID.

Built-in Z-Lynk Wireless

Z-Lynk is Garrett's proprietary wireless audio standard, with no perceivable lag between coil response and audio. It pairs with Garrett MS-3 headphones and with the Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk for tone-matched pinpointing.

Coil Options

8.5 x 11 Multi-Flex DD Raider (Included)

This is the larger of the two stock coils and the reason this bundle exists. The Raider covers more ground per swing, gets more depth on coin-sized and relic-sized targets, and stays stable in salt. We pick it for parks, fields, beaches, and any open ground where coverage matters.

6 x 11 Multi-Flex DD Viper (Optional)

The smaller Viper is the right call for trashy ground, tight cellar holes, and tree-line work. Many serious users keep both coils in rotation.

Garrett ACE Apex Specifications

• Operating Frequencies: 5 kHz, 10 kHz, 15 kHz, 20 kHz, plus Multi-Frequency and Multi-Salt
• Frequency Channels: 8 shifts per frequency, 48 total settings
• Search Modes: 6 (Zero, Coins, US Coins, Jewelry, Relics, Custom) plus Pinpoint
• Notch Discrimination: 20 segments, including 8 iron segments
• Target ID Scale: 0 to 99 digital readout
• Ground Balance: Auto and manual high-resolution, 175 points (ferrous to saltwater)
• Iron Volume / Sensitivity: 8 levels each
• Audio: 5-tone, hybrid binary plus proportional, built-in speaker, 1/8 inch headphone jack, built-in Z-Lynk wireless
• Display: Backlit LCD with large target ID numbers
• Battery: Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion, up to ~15 hours, Micro-USB charging cable included
• Standard Coil: 8.5 x 11 inch DD Multi-Flex Raider, submersible
• Weight: 2.5 lb (1.13 kg)
• Length (Adjustable): 43 inches to 56 inches (1.09 m to 1.4 m)
• Water Rating: Rainproof control box; lower shaft and search coil submersible
• Warranty: Garrett 3-Year Limited
• Country of Manufacture: Made in USA

Why Buy from Serious Detecting

We are an authorized Garrett dealer, so every Garrett ACE Apex we ship is brand-new factory stock backed by Garrett's full 3-year limited warranty. Our team detects with this gear and can talk through coil choice, mode selection, and ground balance before or after a purchase. Orders over $100 ship free in the contiguous United States and most arrive in three to seven business days. Returns are simple inside a 30-day window, and our price-match guarantee covers any other authorized U.S. dealer's advertised price. Customers weighing this rig against a step-up can compare it directly to the Garrett AT Max collection before placing an order.