What is in the Quest X Series
The Quest X Series is a group of single-frequency VLF metal detectors that share Quest's IDMAXX target ID platform. As of October 2026 it covers three models in four packages: the X1 IDMAXX, the X5 IDMAXX, the X10 IDMAXX, and the X10 IDMAXX with wireless headphones.
How the X Series models differ
Quest X1 IDMAXX. The entry model in the X Series. It suits a first-time buyer or a younger detectorist who wants the simplest setup in the line.
Quest X5 IDMAXX. The X5 includes a 9 x 5 in Blade9 Double-D coil and three preset modes: Field, Gold and Park. Its narrow coil is easier to swing between targets in a trashy park. The X5 package includes a coil cover, a four-section shaft, an armrest with strap, a USB-C charging cable and a 3.5 mm headphone adapter.
Quest X10 IDMAXX. The X10 uses the larger 11 x 10 in Blade11 Double-D coil and adds a User mode, adjustable target ID and five tones. The larger coil covers more ground per swing, which helps on open fields.
Quest X10 IDMAXX with wireless headphones. The same X10 detector packaged with Quest WireFree Lite wireless headphones. Choose it if you hunt where a speaker is hard to hear or would bother other people.
Which X Series detector fits which person
- Coins and jewelry in parks: the X5 IDMAXX is enough. Park mode is preset and the smaller coil works well around trash.
- Open fields and larger sites: the X10 IDMAXX, for the larger coil and the extra tone and target ID control.
- A first detector on the smallest budget: the X1 IDMAXX.
- Travel: all X Series detectors use Quest's collapsible Super3D shaft and charge by USB-C.
This is our practical recommendation, not a manufacturer rating. The more expensive X10 does not find different targets than the X5. It gives you more coverage and more control over what you hear.
Features that matter on an X Series detector
Manufacturer specifications: Quest lists the X Series at a single 12 kHz frequency, a 1 to 99 target ID scale, Blade9 or Blade11 Double-D coils, a 1000 mAh rechargeable battery with USB-C charging, and a waterproof rating of 3 m (about 10 ft).
Manufacturer claim: Quest says the IDMAXX platform gives fast, readable target ID and separates a coin from nearby nails.
Terms to know
- Target ID: a number from 1 to 99 that indicates the likely type of metal under the coil.
- Discrimination segments: on the X5 IDMAXX, five blocks of target ID numbers that you can accept or reject. Gold mode accepts all five.
- Ground balance: a setting that tunes out signals from minerals in the soil. On the X5 IDMAXX you hold the ground balance button and pump the coil above the ground.
- Double-D coil: a coil design with two overlapping windings that handles mineralized ground better than a concentric coil.
- Single frequency: the detector transmits one frequency, here 12 kHz, rather than several at once.
Accessories and where to go next
The X5 IDMAXX accepts wired headphones through its through a 3.5 mm jack with the included adapter. A handheld pinpointer speeds up recovery once the detector's built-in pinpoint mode has located the target: see Quest pinpointers. For carrying a folded detector and finds, see Quest carry bags and pouches.
If you hunt wet salt sand or heavily mineralized ground often, a simultaneous multi-frequency detector is the better buy than any single-frequency X Series model. Browse all Quest metal detectors.
