Nokta Simplex ULTRA Metal Detector Overview
The Nokta Simplex ULTRA runs a single 15 kHz operating frequency with six search modes: Field, Park, 4 Tone, 99 Tone, Beach and All Metal. It has a 01 to 99 target ID with Coin and Relic ID scales and Target ID Depth, notch discrimination, 30 sensitivity levels, five volume levels, recovery speed from 1 to 5, and tone break, tone frequency and tone volume settings. The whole detector is IP68 rated and submersible to 5 m (16 ft). It weighs 1.2 kg (2.6 lb) with the SX28 11 inch DD coil, adjusts from 63 to 132 cm (25 to 52 inch) on a fully carbon fiber shaft, and has a graphic LCD with backlight, a keypad backlight, an LED flashlight and vibration. Nokta's manual gives the built-in 2300 mAh lithium polymer battery about 12 hours per charge and about 3 hours to charge over USB. Nokta covers the Simplex ULTRA for 3 years.
Simplex ULTRA vs. Simplex LITE: Which Should You Buy?
The Simplex ULTRA and the Simplex LITE share the 15 kHz frequency, the SX coil family, the 2.6 lb weight, the 30 sensitivity levels and the IP68 rating to 16 ft. The Simplex ULTRA adds the 4 Tone and 99 Tone modes, Coin and Relic ID scales, Target ID Depth, adjustable recovery speed, the tone settings, Bluetooth audio, the fully carbon fiber shaft and the SX28 11 inch coil.
In our experience the Simplex ULTRA suits someone interested in coin hunting, relic hunting and searching older properties who expects to actually use the extra adjustments. We would not recommend it simply because it has more settings: if you mostly hunt parks and yards and want short menus, the Simplex LITE covers the fundamentals.
Simplex ULTRA, Best For:
- Coin and relic hunting at older properties, with the Coin and Relic ID scales and Target ID Depth
- Hunters who want to set recovery speed and the tone of each target ID zone
- Wireless audio with standard Bluetooth or aptX Low Latency headphones, or the ULTRA WHP package
- Wading and full submersion in lakes and rivers to 16 ft
Simplex LITE, Best For:
- First-time buyers who want four search modes and short menus
- Parks, residential yards and tot lots with modern trash
- Wired headphones on land, with the 6.3 mm (1/4 inch) adapter in the box
Key Features That Matter in the Field
Recovery speed runs from 1, the slowest, to 5, the fastest. Nokta's manual explains that lower values give more depth but less separation between close targets, while higher values separate targets better at the cost of depth. We would not run the fastest setting everywhere. The 4 Tone mode splits targets into four tone zones, with a low tone for iron (IDs 0 to 14), a medium tone for gold and non-ferrous IDs 15 to 70, a medium-high tone for 71 to 80 and a high tone for 81 to 99. The 99 Tone mode gives a different tone for each ID above 14, which Nokta designed for coin hunting.
Ground balance runs automatically when you pump the coil over metal-free ground, or you can set it by hand; we would learn to ground balance properly rather than raising sensitivity whenever signals get unstable. Nokta's manual advises the highest sensitivity that gives no major popping sounds, and frequency shift before lowering sensitivity when another detector or a power source causes interference.
Bluetooth and the Simplex ULTRA WHP
Built-in Bluetooth works with standard Bluetooth or aptX Low Latency headphones. Nokta's manual says the detector stays paired with the first headset it connects to, and changing to a different headset needs a factory reset, which also resets your other settings. Bluetooth works while only the coil is under water, but the wireless connection stops once the system box is submerged, and Nokta's wireless headphones are not waterproof. The ULTRA WHP package pairs the detector with Nokta's Bluetooth aptX Low Latency headphones. For underwater hunting, Nokta lists its Nokta Waterproof Headphones on the wired socket. In our experience, wired headphones suit trashy sites where you are sorting several signals per swing, and wireless suits long open hunts where cable drag and brush snag wear you down.
Where the Simplex ULTRA Works Best and Its Limits
The Simplex ULTRA works well in parks, fields, yards and around older homesites, and the IP68 rating lets you take the whole detector into lakes and rivers to 5 m (16 ft). Keep the cap on the shared headphone and charger socket when it is not in use, do not take the detector under water while a power bank is connected, and rinse the system box, shaft and coil with tap water after salt water, as Nokta's manual asks. Beach mode is built for conductive ground such as salty wet sand and always notches out IDs 0 to 14, but the Simplex ULTRA is a single-frequency detector, and Nokta's manual warns of false signals when the coil moves in and out of the water. For regular wet ocean sand or surf, we recommend a simultaneous multi-frequency detector such as the Nokta Score. Pair the Simplex ULTRA with a pinpointer for faster recoveries.
Coils and Accessories That Fit the Nokta Simplex ULTRA
Nokta lists three waterproof DD coils for the Simplex ULTRA: the SX24 9.5 x 6 inch, the SX28 11 inch that ships with it, and the SX35 13.5 x 12.5 inch, each with a matching coil cover. The same SX coils fit the Simplex LITE and the FINDX Pro. Nokta does not list the older SP-series coils for the Simplex New Generation models, so check that a used coil is an SX coil before you buy it. We swap to the SX24 for trashy parks and dense iron, where its narrower detection footprint makes closely spaced targets easier to investigate, and we mount the SX35 in open fields and on dry beaches to cover more ground.
The Nokta waterproof battery pod takes four AA batteries, and Nokta's waterproof 5500 mAh lithium polymer battery with charger is in this collection as well. Wired headphones with a 6.3 mm (1/4 inch) plug need Nokta's headphone adapter. Carbon fiber middle and lower shafts, the armrest and strap, 28R coil mounting hardware, the protective system box cover, nano glass screen protectors, the USB charging cable, the Nokta carrying bag and the DetectoBag 38L backpack also fit, along with the digital Simplex instruction manual.
Simplex LITE vs. Simplex ULTRA vs. FINDX Pro Comparison
Nokta's three single-frequency 15 kHz waterproof models share the SX coil family, the IP68 rating to 5 m (16 ft), the 1.2 kg (2.6 lb) weight and the 2300 mAh battery. They differ in search modes, sensitivity range, ground balance, audio controls, shaft and what comes in the box.
| Feature | Nokta Simplex LITE | Nokta Simplex ULTRA | Nokta FINDX Pro |
|---|
| Technology | VLF, single 15 kHz | VLF, single 15 kHz | VLF, single 15 kHz |
| Search Modes | Field, Park, Beach, All Metal | Field, Park, 4 Tone, 99 Tone, Beach, All Metal | Field, Park, Beach, Jewelry |
| Target ID | 01 to 99 | 01 to 99, Coin and Relic ID scales, Target ID Depth | 0 to 99 |
| Sensitivity | 30 levels | 30 levels | 5 levels |
| Ground Balance | Automatic and manual | Automatic and manual | No adjustable ground balance in Nokta's manual |
| Recovery Speed | No | 1 to 5 | No |
| Tone Break, Tone Frequency, Tone Volume | No | Yes | No |
| Frequency Shift, Vibration, LED Flashlight | Yes | Yes | Not listed by Nokta |
| Wireless Audio | No | Bluetooth, standard or aptX Low Latency | No |
| Included Coil | SX24 9.5 x 6 inch DD | SX28 11 inch DD | SX28 11 inch DD |
| Coils That Fit | SX24, SX28, SX35 | SX24, SX28, SX35 | SX24, SX28, SX35 |
| Shaft | Aluminum and plastic | Fully carbon fiber | Aluminum and plastic |
| Extras in the Box | 6.3 mm (1/4 inch) headphone adapter | ULTRA WHP package: Bluetooth aptX Low Latency headphones | Wired headphones, 6.3 mm (1/4 inch) adapter, premium digger, carrying bag |
| Waterproof | IP68, whole detector to 5 m (16 ft) | IP68, whole detector to 5 m (16 ft) | IP68, whole detector to 5 m (16 ft) |
| Weight (with coil) | 1.2 kg (2.6 lb) | 1.2 kg (2.6 lb) | 1.2 kg (2.6 lb) |
| Battery | Built-in 2300 mAh lithium polymer, about 12 hours | Built-in 2300 mAh lithium polymer, about 12 hours | Built-in 2300 mAh lithium polymer, about 12 hours |
| Warranty | 3 years | 3 years | 2 years |
See our Simplex New Generation comparison chart for a closer look at the Simplex models.
Why Buy the Nokta Simplex ULTRA Metal Detector from Serious Detecting?
- Free Shipping on Orders Over $99: Your Nokta Simplex ULTRA ships at no extra cost across the continental US.
- Authorized Nokta 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 Simplex Series questions by phone or email.
