Garrett Axiom Pulse Induction Metal Detector with Dual Coils and MS-2 Headphones

The Garrett Axiom is a pulse induction gold detector built for prospectors who need depth on sub-gram pickers in ground that shuts down single-frequency VLF machines. This Serious Detecting Explorer Package pairs the standard control unit with two coils, the 13"x11" Mono and 11"x7" DD, plus wired MS-2 headphones. Anyone stepping up from VLF or an older PI gets Terra-Scan dual-channel ground balance, four timing modes, and a lightweight carry weight that holds up across a full day of swinging in Arizona caliche, Nevada hot rocks, or California black sand.

What's Included with the Garrett Axiom

• Garrett Axiom pulse induction control unit on collapsing carbon fiber shaft
• 13"x11" Mono search coil with coil cover
• 11"x7" DD search coil with coil cover
• Garrett MS-2 wired headphones
• Axiom battery booster pack (holds 8 AA batteries)
• Soft travel pack
• USB-A to USB-C charging cable and wall adapter
• Quick start guide and full owner's manual
• 3-year Garrett manufacturer warranty

Ultra Pulse Timing and Terra-Scan Ground Balance for Extreme Mineralization

Desert and Dryland Gold

Hot rocks, caliche layers, and high iron content shut down most VLF detectors before they reach pickers. The Axiom uses Ultra Pulse timings to push past mineralization that would otherwise mask non-ferrous targets, and Iron Check on the DD coil lets us reject the worst hot rocks audibly. We typically run the 13"x11" Mono for area coverage, then switch to the 11"x7" DD when we want target ID help on iron-heavy pockets. Fine mode reaches sub-gram pickers in soils where a single-frequency machine drowns in iron and magnetite chatter, and Normal mode balances size and depth for mid-range nuggets. The dual-channel ground balance covers black sand, alkali flats, and saltwater on the same hunt, so VLF detectorists who used to abandon mineralized patches can finally work them without losing threshold stability.

Black Sand Beaches and Saltwater Edges

Saltwater and concentrated black sand will overload a VLF gold machine within seconds. Terra-Scan reads salt and magnetic ground on independent channels, so the Axiom holds steady in the wash and across wet sand. The control box is rainproof and the coils are submersible, which means we can wade the shallow surf without worrying about a quick splash on the housing. Salt mode rebalances the receive window for saltwater and heavy alkali ground, and PWM audio delivers steadier signal behavior in noisy salt environments. Medium speed and Medium Tracking handle most beach conditions, and Automatic Frequency Cancellation reduces EMI from nearby detectors and power lines when the beach is crowded.

Old Patch Cleanup and Tailings

Patches that have been hammered by VLFs almost always still hold gold, just deeper or smaller than the previous machine could resolve. The Axiom's pulse rate runs at 1500 Hz, adjustable, and the Mono coil pulls real depth on small to mid-size targets. We use Iron Check sparingly here since tailings hold a lot of ferrous trash, but a slow grid with the 13"x11" Mono pays off on residual nuggets. Fine mode for fresh tailings, Large mode when chasing deeper signals on bedrock. Ground Grab stabilizes the detector quickly, then we switch tracking off once the threshold settles. Sensitivity starts at 6 of 8 and adjusts upward as ground allows, and the threshold adjustment lets us tune the background hum to our hearing preference.

Lightweight Build and Extended Battery Life for Full-Day Hunts

• Collapsible carbon fiber shaft reduces fatigue: The Axiom collapses to 25 inches for travel and extends to 61.5 inches for field use, balanced over the elbow to reduce wrist strain on long hunts.
• Built-in lithium battery delivers extended runtime: The internal battery provides about 16 hours on a single charge, and the booster pack adds another 6 hours on 8 AA cells for backcountry trips where recharging is not an option.
• Backlit LCD handles low-light hunts: The display stays readable in early morning or late evening sessions, and eight sensitivity steps give us fine control over depth versus stability.
• Iron Check tone ID on DD coils rejects trash audibly: Iron Check uses tone ID on DD search coils to distinguish iron from non-ferrous targets, a feature standard PI machines do not offer, so we can skip the worst hot rocks and ferrous trash without digging every signal.
• PWM and VCO audio modes adapt to ground conditions: PWM delivers steadier behavior on hot ground, VCO gives proportional response on faint targets, and the high-volume speaker covers headphone-free use when conditions allow.

Compare within the family

Detectorists cross-shopping the Axiom line can review the feature differences between this Explorer Package and the standard Axiom configuration with MS-3 wireless headphones.

Coil Options and Compatibility

The 13"x11" Mono ships in this bundle as the all-purpose coil, ideal for area coverage and depth on small to mid-size nuggets. The 11"x7" DD covers tighter terrain and gives us Iron Check tone ID for trash-heavy patches, an advantage Mono coils do not offer. Both coils share the submersible rating common to the Garrett Axiom metal detector – gold prospecting PI detector platform. Optional coils include the 16"x14" Mono and 16"x14" DD-FC for maximum depth on large nuggets, and the 11"x7" Mono and 13"x11" DD-FC for hunters who want to invert this bundle's pairing. We reach for the 16"x14" coils on open patches with deep gold history; the smaller coils stay on the shaft when we are working brush, gullies, or rocky terrain where maneuverability matters more than coverage.

The Mono coils deliver maximum depth on small to mid-size targets and handle hot ground without the null zone that DD coils carry at center. DD coils give us Iron Check tone ID and better target separation in trashy ground, and the Focused Core DD-FC variants push sensitivity even higher on tiny pickers. Coil swaps take about two minutes in the field, and the control unit automatically recognizes the coil type on startup. Prospectors who run multiple coils on a single hunt typically mount the larger Mono for open sweeps, then swap to the smaller DD when they hit a pocket with iron contamination or tight brush.

Wireless Connectivity and Audio Options

The MS-2 wired headphones included in this package plug into the standard 1/4" jack and deliver clear audio across the full frequency range. Z-Lynk wireless is built into the control box for compatible Garrett wireless headphones and a Z-Lynk enabled Pro-Pointer AT pinpointer, so prospectors who prefer wireless can upgrade headphones without replacing the detector. The high-volume speaker covers headphone-free use when we are hunting solo in open country and want to hear the environment, and the threshold adjustment lets us tune the background hum to our hearing preference. PWM audio mode delivers steadier behavior on hot ground where VCO would chirp over every mineralization shift, and VCO mode gives proportional response on faint targets where we need to hear the signal grow as we narrow the pinpoint.

Field Performance Across Hunt Types

We have run the Axiom in Arizona caliche, Nevada hot rocks, California black sand, and saltwater edges from Oregon to Florida. The dual-channel ground balance handles every transition without losing threshold stability, and the four timing modes let us tune for the target size we are chasing. Fine mode reaches sub-gram pickers in soils where a single-frequency machine would mask them under ground noise, and Large mode ignores small trash to focus on deeper, larger nuggets. Normal mode balances size and depth for general prospecting, and Salt mode rebalances the receive window for saltwater and heavy alkali ground. The control box is rainproof and the coils are submersible, which means we can wade the shallow surf or work a wet wash without worrying about a quick splash on the housing.

Prospectors stepping up from VLF machines will notice the Axiom does not discriminate by conductivity the way a single-frequency detector does. Pulse induction metal detectors - PI detectors respond to all metals, so we rely on Iron Check tone ID on DD coils to reject the worst ferrous trash audibly. The tradeoff is depth on small gold in ground that would overload a VLF, and the ability to hunt saltwater edges without constant threshold chatter. We typically run the 13"x11" Mono for area coverage, then switch to the 11"x7" DD when we hit a pocket with iron contamination or want target ID help on ambiguous signals.

Travel and Pack Considerations

The Axiom collapses to 25 inches and fits in the included soft travel pack, which makes it pack-friendly for chukar country, mining claims, and air travel. The carbon fiber shaft is balanced over the elbow, and the control box sits at hip level to reduce wrist strain on long hunts. The built-in lithium battery charges via USB-C, and the booster pack holds 8 AA cells for backcountry trips where recharging is not an option. We typically carry the booster pack on multi-day trips and leave it in the truck for day hunts where the internal battery covers the full session. The soft travel pack holds the control unit, both coils, the headphones, and the booster pack, and the coil covers protect the windings during transport.

Specifications

• Operating Frequencies: Pulse induction, 1500 Hz adjustable
• Coils Included: 13"x11" Mono, 11"x7" DD
• Detect Modes: Fine, Normal, Large, Salt
• Ground Balance: Terra-Scan dual-channel (magnetic and saline)
• Waterproof Rating: Coils submersible, control box rainproof
• Battery: Built-in 76 Wh lithium-ion, about 16 hours runtime, plus AA booster pack for 6 additional hours
• Weight: 4.2 lbs with 11"x7" coil and cover, 4.7 lbs with 13"x11" coil and cover
• Collapsed Length: 25 inches
• Extended Length: 61.5 inches
• Sensitivity: 8 steps
• Audio: PWM and VCO modes, 1/4" jack, Z-Lynk wireless compatible
• Warranty: 3-year Garrett manufacturer warranty

Why Buy from Serious Detecting

Serious Detecting is an authorized Garrett dealer, so every Axiom ships with the full 3-year manufacturer warranty and direct support from Garrett. Our team has run the Axiom in the field across Arizona, Nevada, and California goldfields, and we can walk you through coil selection, timing modes, and ground balance settings before your first hunt. Free shipping, 30-day returns, and price-match guarantee cover every order, and we stock the full range of optional coils and accessories for same-day shipment. Prospectors comparing metal detectors $1,000–$3,000 can cross-shop the Axiom against other flagship detector models built for extreme ground conditions, and our team can help you match the right PI or multi-frequency machine to your hunt sites.