What Is the Garrett ACE 400 Metal Detector?
The Garrett ACE 400 metal detector sits at the top of Garrett's classic ACE Series, above the ACE 200, 250, and 300, and below the multi-frequency ACE Apex. It moves up from the ACE 300 with a higher operating frequency (10 kHz vs. 8 kHz), Iron Audio for hearing through ferrous trash, and the larger 8.5" x 11" PROformance DD search coil. The ACE 400 fits coin shooters, relic hunters working iron-heavy old permissions, and detectorists who want discrimination depth and target separation without stepping up to the AT Series or the multi-frequency ACE Apex. Garrett manufactures the ACE 400 in Garland, Texas, the same Made-in-USA facility the company has operated from since 1964.
Garrett ACE 400 Key Specs
- Operating Frequency: 10 kHz, adjustable
- Standard Searchcoil: 8.5" x 11" PROformance DD, with included coil cover
- Search Modes: 5 plus Pinpoint
- Target ID Scale: Digital, 0 to 99
- Audio Tone ID Levels: 3
- Iron Audio: Yes (Garrett's defining feature on the ACE 400)
- Iron Discrimination Segments: 4
- Notch Discrimination: Adjustable
- Sensitivity / Depth Adjustments: 8
- Electronic Pinpointing: Yes (non-motion All-Metal Mode)
- Target Depth Indicator: Yes
- One-Touch Treasure Hunting: Yes
- Length: 42" to 51" (1.06 m to 1.29 m) adjustable
- Stem Stability: Camlocks
- Power: 4 AA batteries (included)
- Battery Condition Indicator: Yes
- Weight: 2.9 lb (1.32 kg)
- Warranty: 3 Year, Limited Parts/Labor
- Country of Origin: Made in USA (Garland, Texas)
Iron Audio: The Headline Feature on the ACE 400
Iron Audio is Garrett's name for an audio technique that keeps ferrous targets audible instead of silencing them. With Iron Audio enabled, iron targets produce a low audio response that you can hear underneath the regular tones, so a target sitting next to iron stays detectable instead of vanishing into a notched-out signal. In trashy relic sites and old park strips with square nails, bottle caps, and rusty wire, Iron Audio lets you judge if a signal is worth digging instead of automatically passing on every ferrous return. Iron Audio is the defining feature that separates the ACE 400 from the ACE 200, 250, and 300; all of those use the same chassis but do not include Iron Audio.
Five Search Modes Plus Pinpoint
The ACE 400 ships with five preset detection modes plus a Pinpoint function. The modes give you a starting point for site-specific hunts.
- Zero Discrimination (All Metal): Accepts every target. Use in known-clean sites or when you want maximum response and the full audio map.
- Coins: Preset notch rejects most iron and foil while accepting clad quarters, copper pennies, and silver coins. Default for park coin shooting.
- Relics: Wide acceptance window for old home sites, plowed fields, and historical permissions. Expect more iron audio in trade for keeper recovery.
- Jewelry: Lower discrimination tuned to accept rings, chains, and other low-conductive targets. Use at tot lots and modern park hunts.
- Custom: Save your own discrimination pattern, sensitivity preference, and notch settings for a frequently hunted site.
Pinpoint is a non-motion All-Metal mode for narrowing target location once you have a signal. The 8.5" x 11" DD coil pinpoints in a cleaner pattern than a concentric coil in iron-heavy ground, which helps in plug-side recovery on tight targets.
Adjustable Frequency and Iron Check
The ACE 400 lets you adjust the operating frequency to dodge electrical interference from power lines, transformers, or other detectors at crowded club hunts and rallies. Iron Check uses Garrett's increased pixel resolution for fine-grained iron discrimination control, useful when good targets are masked by ferrous trash. Graphic Target Analyzing shows target conductivity and the active discrimination pattern simultaneously on the LCD, so you can read the discrimination range you have set without diving into menus.
ACE 400 vs. ACE 200, ACE 250, and ACE 300
All four classic ACE Series detectors share the same chassis, 42" to 51" adjustable length, 4 AA battery power, and 3-year Limited Parts/Labor warranty. Differences sit in frequency, coil size and type, Iron Audio availability, and what comes in the box.
| Feature | ACE 200 | ACE 250 | ACE 300 | ACE 400 |
|---|
| Operating Frequency | 6.5 kHz, fixed | 6.5 kHz | 8 kHz, adjustable | 10 kHz, adjustable |
| Standard Searchcoil | 6.5" x 9" PROformance concentric | 6.5" x 9" PROformance concentric | 7" x 10" PROformance concentric | 8.5" x 11" PROformance DD |
| Search Modes | 3 | 5 plus Pinpoint | 5 plus Pinpoint | 5 plus Pinpoint |
| Digital Target ID (0 to 99) | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Iron Audio | No | No | No | Yes |
| Iron Discrimination Segments | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Notch Discrimination | Fixed | Adjustable | Adjustable | Adjustable |
| Sensitivity / Depth Adjustments | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Camlocks for stem stability | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Total Weight | 2.75 lb (1.25 kg) | 2.7 lb (1.2 kg) | 2.8 lb (1.27 kg) | 2.9 lb (1.32 kg) |
| Warranty | 3 Year, Limited | 3 Year, Limited | 3 Year, Limited | 3 Year, Limited |
The ACE 400 is the practical step up from the ACE 300 with Iron Audio, the larger 8.5" x 11" DD coil, and the higher 10 kHz frequency. Step over to the ACE Apex when you want multi-frequency capability and built-in Z-Lynk wireless audio. Step up to the Garrett AT Pro when you need full submersion for water and beach work.
Who Should Buy the Garrett ACE 400?
The ACE 400 fits hobbyists upgrading from an entry-level VLF who want discrimination depth and Iron Audio without stepping into the AT Series. Coin and jewelry hunters working iron-trashy parks, schoolyards, and old town greens use the 8.5" x 11" DD coil and Iron Audio combination to pull good targets from masking iron. Relic hunters working colonial-era home sites, farm fields, and battlefield permissions get the 10 kHz frequency plus Iron Audio for tone-based iron identification. The ACE 400 is also a fit for parents buying for a teen who has outgrown a starter detector, and for experienced detectorists who want a lightweight backup rig for travel or loaner duty. The ACE 400 is not the right pick for saltwater beach hunting; the control box is not submersible, and single-frequency VLF struggles with wet salt sand. For beach and water work, the AT Pro or the multi-frequency ACE Apex are the better in-brand picks.
Recommended Accessories for the Garrett ACE 400
Pair the ACE 400 with the Garrett Pro-Pointer AT pinpointer for plug-side target recovery; the Pro-Pointer AT is fully waterproof to 10 ft and shares Garrett's one-button interface. Aftermarket Garrett ACE coils compatible with the ACE 400 include the 4.5" Super Sniper for tight trashy patches, the 5" x 8" DD for trashy sites with tighter target separation, the 6.5" x 9" PROformance concentric for general-purpose work, and the 9" x 12" PROformance concentric for open-ground depth coverage. Round out the kit with a carry bag from the ACE-compatible selection and a digging tool for plug work.
Why Buy the Garrett ACE 400 Metal Detector from Serious Detecting?
- Free Shipping on Orders Over $99: Your Garrett ACE 400 ships at no extra cost across the continental US.
- Authorized US Garrett Dealer: Full 3-year Limited Parts/Labor manufacturer warranty.
- Made in USA: The ACE 400 is manufactured in Garland, Texas, the same facility Garrett has operated from since 1964.
- Detectorists on Staff: Call or email for setup help, mode selection by site type, accessory pairing, and coil upgrade recommendations from people who hunt with the gear.
