Garrett AT Gold Metal Detector Overview
The Garrett AT Gold metal detector is the gold prospecting model of Garrett's AT Series. It runs at 18 kHz single frequency. Garrett's manual describes it as a high frequency optimized for gold prospecting, with four slight frequency adjustments (F1 to F4) to avoid interference. It has a true All Metal mode for the most depth and sensitivity plus two discrimination modes, DISC 1 and DISC 2. Iron discrimination adjusts from 0 to 44, and Iron Audio works in the discrimination modes and, as All Metal Iron Audio, in All Metal. Ground balance is manual or fast automatic, plus Garrett's Ground Balance Window, adjustable from 0 to 6. The AT Gold has eight sensitivity settings, an adjustable threshold, a 0 to 99 digital target ID and electronic pinpointing. The control housing and the 5 x 8 inch PROformance DD searchcoil are submersible to 10 ft (3 m) in fresh water. Four AA batteries come installed and run it for 20 to 40 hours, and Garrett covers it with a 3-year warranty. The MS-2 headphones in the box are not waterproof, and for wireless audio the AT Gold needs Garrett's external Z-Lynk module.
Garrett AT Gold vs. AT Pro: Which Should You Buy?
The AT Gold and the AT Pro share the AT chassis, the 0 to 99 target ID, eight sensitivity levels, four AA batteries with 20 to 40 hours of runtime, wired MS-2 headphones and the 10 ft (3 m) rating. The AT Gold runs at 18 kHz instead of 15 kHz and adds a true All Metal mode with All Metal Iron Audio, iron discrimination to 44 instead of 40, the Ground Balance Window and a smaller 5 x 8 inch DD coil. The AT Pro carries the 8.5 x 11 inch DD coil and six coin and relic modes in Standard and Pro audio, and Garrett's AT Pro manual says it can also be used in salt water, though it is not specifically designed for it.
The AT Max is the third AT model: 13.6 kHz, a true All Metal mode, an Automated Ground Balance Window, a backlit display and Z-Lynk wireless audio built in.
If small nuggets, flakes and small relics in creeks and mineralized ground are your main targets, we recommend the AT Gold. If you mostly hunt coins and relics in parks and fields and want more coverage per swing, we recommend the AT Pro.
Garrett AT Gold, Best For:
- Prospectors working gold-bearing creeks, exposed bedrock and dry washes for small natural gold
- Mineralized ground and hot rocks, where the Ground Balance Window accommodates changing soil
- Small relics such as buttons and lead on old homesites, using the compact 5 x 8 inch coil around iron
Garrett AT Pro, Best For:
- Coin and relic hunters who want Standard and Pro audio across six search modes
- Parks and farm fields, where the 8.5 x 11 inch coil covers more ground per swing
- Freshwater beaches and shallow water, with the detector and coil submersible to 10 ft (3 m)
Key Features That Matter in the Field
The Ground Balance Window spreads the ground balance setting across a range, so the AT Gold accommodates small changes in mineralization without re-balancing every few steps; on a creek bed where mild gravel gives way to iron-rich stones, that keeps the threshold steadier. We would not jump to the widest setting, because a wider window changes target response, so test it over known targets first. The true All Metal mode gives the most depth and sensitivity and lets you hear faint signals that could be small gold, while All Metal Iron Audio tells you when a signal is likely iron before you dig. Some iron discrimination must be set for Iron Audio to work. The adjustable threshold and eight sensitivity settings let you tune the AT Gold to quiet or noisy ground. A tiny piece of gold may give only a weak response, so we recommend a slow, overlapping sweep with the coil close to the ground.
Where the Garrett AT Gold Works Best and Its Limits
The AT Gold fits gold-bearing creeks, rocky terrain, dry washes and mineralized ground, and the compact coil works into cracks and crevices in exposed bedrock where gold collects, including in shallow water. Garrett rates it submersible to 10 ft (3 m) in fresh water, so we would not take it to saltwater beaches, where wet salt sand is conductive. It is a VLF: highly mineralized rocks can still produce signals that resemble metal, and no single sound or number proves gold, because lead, aluminum and other non-ferrous metals can respond much like a nugget. No detector tells you whether a creek holds gold either, so research known gold-bearing areas, land ownership and prospecting rules before you go. For coins and general relic hunting in parks, the AT Pro or AT Max is the better fit.
Coils and Accessories That Fit the Garrett AT Gold
Garrett AT Series searchcoils fit the AT Gold. Garrett options in this collection: the 4.5 inch Super Sniper for tight spots and heavy trash, the 5 x 8 inch PROformance DD, the 6 x 11 inch Viper DD, the 6 x 9 inch PROformance concentric, the 8.5 x 11 inch PROformance DD Raider, the 9 x 12 inch PROformance concentric and the 14 x 11 inch Reaper DD for open fields. The 5 x 8 inch PROformance DD is a spare of the coil on the AT Gold. Aftermarket coils made for the AT Gold include the CORS Fire 15 inch DD and the Mars Tiger 13 x 10 inch DD, and our coil guide explains what size and shape change.
For underwater audio, pair the AT Gold with Garrett Submersible Headphones. For wireless audio, the AT Gold needs Garrett's external Z-Lynk module, such as the Garrett Z-Lynk Wireless System with 2-Pin AT Connector. The Garrett Pro-Pointer AT is waterproof to 20 ft (6 m), IP68, for recovery in the creek. To carry the detector and your tools, see our Garrett carry bags and pouches. To start with the detector alone, see the Garrett AT Gold base unit.
Garrett AT Series Comparison
All three AT models share the all-terrain build, a 0 to 99 numeric target ID, eight sensitivity levels, four frequency channels (F1 to F4), four AA batteries and a 10 ft (3 m) rating for the detector and its searchcoil. The table shows where they differ.
| Feature | Garrett AT Pro | Garrett AT Gold | Garrett AT Max |
|---|
| Operating Frequency | 15 kHz | 18 kHz | 13.6 kHz |
| Search Modes | 6: Zero, Coins, Custom in Standard and Pro audio | All Metal, DISC 1, DISC 2 | 4: All Metal, Custom, Coins, Zero |
| Iron Discrimination | 0 to 40 | 0 to 44 | 0 to 44 |
| Iron Audio | Discrimination modes | Discrimination modes and All Metal | All four modes, including All Metal |
| Ground Balance | Fast automatic and manual | Fast automatic and manual, Ground Balance Window 0 to 6 | Automatic and manual (175 points), Automated Ground Balance Window |
| Standard Searchcoil | 8.5 x 11 inch PROformance DD | 5 x 8 inch PROformance DD | 8.5 x 11 inch PROformance DD |
| Headphones in the Box | Garrett MS-2 wired | Garrett MS-2 wired | Garrett MS-3 Z-Lynk wireless |
| Wireless Audio | Needs Garrett's external Z-Lynk module | Needs Garrett's external Z-Lynk module | Z-Lynk built in |
| Backlit Display | No | No | Yes |
| Waterproof (detector and coil) | 10 ft (3 m) | 10 ft (3 m), fresh water | 10 ft (3 m) |
| Batteries | 4 AA, 20 to 40 hours | 4 AA, 20 to 40 hours | 4 AA, 15 to 25 hours (10 to 20 with wireless headphones) |
| Warranty | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years |
Why Buy the Garrett AT Gold from Serious Detecting?
- Free Shipping on Orders Over $99: Your Garrett AT Gold ships at no extra cost across the continental US.
- Authorized Garrett Dealer: Showroom in Ypsilanti, Michigan, full 3-year manufacturer warranty and product registration support.
- Help Before and After You Buy: Our staff answer setup, coil and AT Gold questions by phone or email.
