Metal Detector Headphones – Wireless & Wired for Every Machine

The headphones that work with Minelab Equinox, Manticore and X-Terra detectors depend on the model. The Equinox 700, Equinox 900, Manticore, X-Terra Pro and X-Terra Elite pair with Minelab's low-latency ML 85 and ML 105 wireless headphones, and the WM 09 module adds wireless audio to wired headphones on the Equinox 700, 900 and Manticore. The older, discontinued Equinox 600 and 800 pair with the ML 80 and use the WM 08 wireless module. For wired use, Minelab's waterproof headphones plug straight into the Equinox and Manticore, and aftermarket sets from DetectorPro and Killer B come with the right plug for these machines. The Minelab compatibility list shows every match.

Metal detector headphones are not strictly necessary, but they improve results in most conditions. They let you hear faint signals that a speaker loses to wind and background noise, and those faint signals are often the deep coins and small jewelry worth digging. For casual backyard use, the speaker works fine.

If you hunt in water, waterproof headphones are a must. A speaker can't be heard underwater, and standard headphones fail once they get splashed or dunked. Water-resistant headphones are fine for rain and dry sand, while wading and diving call for fully submersible, wired headphones. Shop metal detector headphones, and see our metal detecting tips for more ways to get the most from your detector.

You can use Bluetooth headphones with a metal detector only if they are built for your detector's wireless system. Standard Bluetooth headphones add latency, so the beep arrives after your coil has already passed the target, which throws off pinpointing at normal swing speed. Detector makers solve this with their own low-latency systems: Garrett Z-Lynk with the MS-3 and CS-3 headphones, Minelab ML-series headphones with aptX Low Latency, Nokta aptX Low Latency sets, and XP Deus II headphones such as the WS6, which are part of the detection system itself. If your detector has a headphone jack and no proprietary wireless, wired headphones are the better choice.

Yes, headphones often extend battery life on a metal detector. Many machines power down the speaker when headphones connect, and the headphone output draws less power than the speaker driver. Over a full day on a detector with a built-in lithium battery, such as the Minelab Manticore or Equinox 900, the difference is meaningful. Wireless headphones may save less, because the detector's wireless transmitter keeps running, so wired headphones give the biggest saving.

No, 1/4 inch and 1/8 inch headphone jacks are not interchangeable on their own, but adapters solve it in both directions. Most full-size detectors use a 1/4 inch (6.35mm) jack, while compact and waterproof machines often use a 1/8 inch (3.5mm) jack or a proprietary waterproof connector. We stock adapters from Garrett, Minelab, Nokta and XP, plus replacement pads, headbands and cables in parts and accessories. Check your detector's jack size before ordering, or ask us and we will confirm the fit.

For underwater detecting, use wired headphones with a verified submersion rating. Wireless headphones don't work underwater because Bluetooth and other radio signals barely travel through water, so save wireless for dry land, rain and shallow wading where your head stays above the surface.

Good submersible options include Killer B Thresher headphones for the Minelab Equinox, Manticore and X-Terra platforms, and the DetectorPro Gray Ghost Amphibian II for surf and shallow water. The XP Deus II uses its own wired waterproof headphones for diving. A "water resistant" rating covers rain and splash, not submersion.

For the detectors themselves, see our waterproof metal detectors and our Best Underwater Metal Detectors guide.

Some metal detectors come with headphones and some don't, so check the listing. Many mid-range and high-end models are sold in bundles with wireless headphones, while most entry-level detectors ship with a built-in speaker only.

Examples of bundles we carry include the XP Deus II RC + WS6, the X-Terra Pro with Headphones, the Simplex Ultra with Wireless Headphones and the ACE Apex with Z-Lynk Wireless Headphones. If a detector doesn't include headphones, a pair is one of the first accessories worth adding.

Headphones let you hear faint, deep signals that a speaker can hide, block out wind and traffic noise, and save battery. Wireless sets need to match your detector's system, so check compatibility. Shop wired and wireless options in our metal detector headphones collection.