Minelab X-TERRA PRO Metal Detector Overview
The Minelab X-TERRA PRO is a PRO-SWITCH selectable single-frequency metal detector. In Park and Field modes you choose 5, 10 or 15 kHz with one button, and Beach mode runs at 8 kHz. Onboard you get Park, Field and Beach modes with two profiles each plus an All Metal shortcut, sensitivity 1 to 25, recovery speed 1 to 3, 119 target IDs from -19 to 99 across 30 discrimination segments, Auto, Manual and Tracking ground balance, and automatic noise cancel. The X-TERRA PRO is IP68 rated to 5 m (16 ft), weighs 2.9 lb (1.3 kg), extends to 54 inch and collapses to 25 inch, and runs on a built-in 3.7 V, 5100 mAh lithium-ion battery charged through a magnetic USB connector. The display and keypad have a red backlight, and a built-in flashlight helps on early starts. The box holds the V12X 12 x 9 inch Double-D elliptical coil with skidplate, the charging cable and a Getting Started Guide, and Minelab covers the control box and coil for 3 years.
X-TERRA PRO vs. X-TERRA ELITE: Which Should You Buy?
The X-TERRA PRO and the X-TERRA ELITE are built on one platform: the same V12X coil, weight, IP68 16-foot rating, battery, modes, target ID scale and 3-year warranty. The differences are the engine and iron control. The X-TERRA ELITE runs Multi-IQ simultaneous multi-frequency, keeps 15 kHz as a single-frequency option in Park and Field, and adds Iron Bias -1 to 2. The X-TERRA PRO runs one frequency at a time and has no Iron Bias setting.
If you hunt parks, schoolyards, fields and freshwater sites in mild soil and like choosing the frequency for the site, we recommend the X-TERRA PRO. If you hunt wet salt sand, mineralized ground or iron-heavy homesites, or would rather not pick a frequency at all, the X-TERRA ELITE is the better fit.
X-TERRA PRO, Best For:
- Park, schoolyard and tot lot hunters working mild to moderate soil
- Detectorists who want to learn what 5, 10 and 15 kHz each do on their own sites
- Freshwater beach, creek and lake hunters who want IP68 waterproofing to 16 feet
- Buyers who want the X-TERRA platform at the lower of the two X-TERRA prices
X-TERRA ELITE, Best For:
- Saltwater beach and surf hunters who want Multi-IQ in Beach mode
- Iron-heavy homesites where Iron Bias -1 to 2 helps
- Mineralized ground where a single frequency gets noisy
- Hunters who would rather switch on and go than choose a frequency
Key Features That Matter in the Field
PRO-SWITCH is not simultaneous multi-frequency: the X-TERRA PRO transmits one frequency at a time, and you change it with a button press in Park and Field. In our experience 10 kHz is the sensible starting point for ordinary coin hunting, 5 kHz is worth trying for larger, higher-conductivity targets, and 15 kHz can help with smaller, lower-conductivity targets such as fine jewelry. Changing frequency does not automatically improve performance; ground, target size, depth and orientation all matter. We recommend a noise cancel after each frequency change.
Minelab describes Park mode for high-trash recreational areas and most general detecting, Field mode for historical fields and the widest range of target sizes, and Beach mode for salty conditions from dry and wet sand to the surf and underwater. The All Metal shortcut switches off the discrimination pattern so you hear every target. Target IDs run from -19 to 0 for ferrous and 1 to 99 for non-ferrous targets, with 30 discrimination segments for notching, and recovery speed 1 to 3 helps separate targets that sit close together.
Audio runs through the built-in speaker, wired 3.5 mm (1/8 inch) headphones on the socket with its waterproof cap, or Minelab low-latency wireless audio to the ML 85 or ML 105 headphones. Tones are 1, 2, 5, All Tones and Depth, target and ferrous volume each run 0 to 25, and vibration and ferrous vibration can each be switched on. Our X-TERRA PRO software update guide covers the continuous noise cancel update and how to install it.
Where the Minelab X-TERRA PRO Performs Best
The X-TERRA PRO performs well in parks, schoolyards, fields and freshwater beaches where you want to cherry-pick targets. The IP68 rating to 16 feet handles rain, creek crossings, lakes and shallow surf. For underwater audio, we recommend Minelab's 3.5 mm waterproof headphones. On saltwater beaches the two Beach profiles at 8 kHz work on wet and dry sand and in the surf, though in our experience a simultaneous multi-frequency detector stays more stable in difficult wet salt sand, so serious ocean hunters may prefer the X-TERRA ELITE or the EQUINOX 700.
Heavy iron is hard on any detector. On the X-TERRA PRO, recovery speed 3 and a smaller coil help there, but it has no Iron Bias control, which is the main reason relic hunters on nail-filled homesites step up to the X-TERRA ELITE. The X-TERRA PRO also has no Gold mode, so it is not the detector we recommend for nugget hunting; a dedicated gold detector such as the GOLD MONSTER 1000 is built for small nuggets in mineralized ground.
Coils and Accessories That Fit the Minelab X-TERRA PRO
The Minelab X-TERRA PRO ships with the V12X 12 x 9 inch Double-D elliptical coil. Minelab lists two smaller V-series coils as accessories: the V10X 10 x 7 inch, which we recommend for general detecting, and the V8X 8 x 5 inch, which we recommend for target separation in trashy tot lots and around bleachers. The X-TERRA PRO also takes Minelab's EQX coils, all Double-D and waterproof: the EQX 06 6 inch round, the EQX 11 11 inch round and the EQX 15 15 x 12 inch elliptical. Each Minelab coil comes with its coil cover, and replacement V8, V10 and V12 skidplates are in this collection. For other sizes, we also carry Coiltek NOX coils made for the X-TERRA PRO, from a 10 x 5 inch elliptical up to 18 inch.
Here you will also find X-TERRA PRO bundles that add a PRO-FIND 15, 20 or 40 pinpointer, wired or ML 85 wireless headphones, a Minelab carry bag, a finds pouch, hat and gloves, or a sand scoop, plus replacement shafts, armrest, battery pack, chargers and screen protectors. For plug work, see our pinpointer guide.
X-TERRA PRO vs. X-TERRA ELITE vs. EQUINOX 700 Comparison
The X-TERRA PRO and X-TERRA ELITE share one chassis, the V12X coil, the battery and the IP68 16-foot rating; the X-TERRA ELITE adds Multi-IQ and Iron Bias. The EQUINOX 700 is the step up, with Multi-IQ plus four single frequencies, Iron Bias 0 to 3 and ML 85 wireless headphones in the box.
| Feature | Minelab X-TERRA PRO | Minelab X-TERRA ELITE | Minelab EQUINOX 700 |
|---|
| Technology | PRO-SWITCH single frequency: 5, 10, 15 kHz (Park, Field), 8 kHz (Beach) | Multi-IQ, plus 15 kHz in Park and Field | Multi-IQ, plus 4, 5, 10, 15 kHz |
| Search Modes | All Metal, Park 1 and 2, Field 1 and 2, Beach 1 and 2 | All Metal, Park 1 and 2, Field 1 and 2, Beach 1 and 2 | All Metal, Park 1 and 2, Field 1 and 2, Beach 1 and 2 |
| Sensitivity | 1 to 25 | 1 to 25 | 1 to 25 |
| Recovery Speed | 1 to 3 | 1 to 3 | 1 to 3 |
| Iron Control | No Iron Bias | Iron Bias -1 to 2 | Iron Bias 0 to 3 |
| Target ID | -19 to 99 (119 IDs) | -19 to 99 (119 IDs) | -19 to 99 (119 IDs) |
| Included Coil(s) | V12X 12 x 9 inch DD elliptical | V12X 12 x 9 inch DD elliptical; Expedition Pack adds V8X 8 x 5 inch DD | EQX 11 11 inch DD round |
| Wireless Audio | Low-latency | Low-latency, ML 85 headphones in the Expedition Pack | Low-latency, ML 85 headphones in the box |
| Waterproof (control box and coil) | IP68, 5 m (16 ft) | IP68, 5 m (16 ft) | IP68, 5 m (16 ft) |
| Weight | 2.9 lb (1.3 kg) | 2.9 lb (1.3 kg) | 2.8 lb (1.27 kg) |
| Battery | 3.7 V, 5100 mAh Li-ion, built in | 3.7 V, 5100 mAh Li-ion, built in | 3.7 V, 5100 mAh Li-ion, built in |
| Warranty | 3 years control box and coil | 3 years control box and coil | 3 years control box and coil |
If you are also weighing the VANQUISH 560, our VANQUISH 560 vs X-TERRA PRO comparison covers the trade-offs, and our X-TERRA PRO field test shows the four frequencies at work.
Why Buy the Minelab X-TERRA PRO from Serious Detecting?
- Free Shipping on Orders Over $99: Your Minelab X-TERRA PRO ships at no extra cost across the continental US.
- Authorized Minelab 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 X-TERRA PRO questions by phone or email.
