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Every XP DEUS II has the same detector electronics, the same programs and the same 5-year warranty; the detecting happens in the coil, whichever box it comes in. What you are choosing is three things: what you control the detector from (the RC remote, the WS6-ST headphone module, or both), which coil goes on the stem, and which headphones you listen through. For most people who hunt on dry land and dry sand, our pick is the DEUS II WS6-ST Master with the 11" coil. If you plan to dive, wade deep, or like to tune as you go on a big screen, start with the RC instead. If you will never put the control unit in water and you are happy hunting by ear, the RC adds nothing you need. For gold prospecting, add the HF2 coil to whichever setup you choose.
Answer the three questions below and we will point you to a setup. Further down, each choice is explained on its own, with the numbers that decide it.
Find your DEUS II setup
If you stay on dry land and dry sand, any DEUS II setup works, so the choice comes down to how you like to run the detector (question 2).
Wading puts the control unit and headphones close to the water. The RC remote is rated IP68 to 1 m with its gray cap fitted, and the WSA-XL ST headphones are rated to 1 m as well. The WS6-ST and WSA-ST are rainproof only, so we suggest the RC with WSA-XL ST for wading. Fit the aerial antenna that comes in the RC kit whenever the coil goes fully under water.
Under water you need the RC. XP rates the RC to 20 m with its red diving cap, and the BH-01 bone conduction headset, the only DEUS II headphone rated to 20 m, plugs into the RC. The WS6-ST is rainproof only, so a WS6-ST Master setup is not a dive setup.
If you pick a program and swing, the WS6-ST Master suits you on land and dry sand: it runs the whole detector from the module on your headphones, with nothing in your hand and nothing on the stem. It is the lightest DEUS II setup, from 1.65 lb (750 g) with the 9" coil. If the detector goes in the water, your answer to question 1 decides it, and that means the RC.
Get the RC. Its backlit screen has twice the pixels of the WS6-ST module, which makes reading targets and working through menus easier, especially in low light.
The 9" round coil (0.76 lb, 345 g) gets between targets in the trash and is the lightest FMF coil.
The 11" round coil (1.04 lb, 470 g) is the all-rounder and the coil we put on most DEUS IIs.
The 13x11" elliptical (1.26 lb, 570 g) covers the most ground per swing, at the cost of some weight and separation in trash.
For gold prospecting, get the HF2 elliptical coil. It runs higher frequencies (up to about 90 kHz in multi) than the other DEUS II coils (4 to 45 kHz), and in our experience higher frequency is what small nuggets need. Keep an 11" round for parks and beaches.
For iron-heavy relic sites, the HF2 elliptical is our pick: XP built it for iron-polluted and mineralized ground and small targets, and in our experience its higher frequencies help on thin, low-conductive silver. The 9" round is the other good choice for working between nails.
DEUS II WS6-ST Master, with the coil from question 3 (the 11" if you are not sure).
See it with the 9" coil, 11" coil or 13x11" coil.
DEUS II RC with WS6-ST headphones, with the coil from question 3 (the 11" if you are not sure). The big screen in your hand, and the option to leave it home and run the detector from the headphones.
See it with the 9" coil, 11" coil or 13x11" coil.
DEUS II RC kit, with the coil from question 3 (the 11" if you are not sure), plus a pair of WSA-XL ST headphones. Both the remote and these headphones are rated to 1 m, and the RC kit includes the aerial antenna for when the coil goes fully under water. The RC kit does not include headphones, so this is two purchases, or one of our packages that combines them.
See the RC kit with the 9" coil, 11" coil or 13x11" coil, and our RC packages with WSA-XL ST headphones.
DEUS II RC, with the coil from question 3 (the 11" if you are not sure), plus the BH-01 bone conduction headset. The RC kit already includes the red diving cap and the underwater aerial antenna.
See the RC with the 9" coil, 11" coil or 13x11" coil. The BH-01 is sold on its own and in our RC dive package.
Keep the setup we picked for you and add the HF2 as a second coil. The HF2 pairs with any DEUS II, so you swap it on for gold or iron-heavy ground and keep the 11" for everything else.
Two ways to buy it: the HF2 coil on its own (in our DEUS II coils), or, for land hunting, our DEUS II RC with WSA-ST headphones and the HF2 coil as a complete setup.
What you choose when you buy a DEUS II: control unit, coil, headphones
XP builds the DEUS II as separate wireless parts: a coil that does all the detecting, a control unit that sets it up and shows targets, and headphones that play the sound. Each part pairs with the others by radio, so XP and dealers sell them in many combinations. That is why our XP DEUS II collection has dozens of listings for what is really one detector.
The coil decides how the detector behaves in the ground. The control unit decides how you adjust it. The headphones decide what you hear and how wet you can get. Decide first whether you need the water-rated RC, then pick the coil for your ground, then the headphones.
RC remote or WS6-ST Master: how to control a DEUS II
A DEUS II is run either from the RC, a hand-held remote that can ride on the stem or on your belt, or from the WS6-ST, a small screen module that clips onto the headphones. Whichever one runs the detector is called the master. With a WS6-ST Master setup there is no remote at all. Both run the same detector with the same 12 factory and 12 user programs.
| What changes | DEUS II RC | DEUS II WS6-ST Master |
|---|---|---|
| Screen | 8,192 pixels, backlit | 64x64 (4,096 pixels) |
| Water rating | IP68, 1 m (3 ft) with gray cap, 20 m (66 ft) with red cap | Rainproof only |
| Lightest full setup (9" coil) | From 1.8 lb (815 g), RC on belt | From 1.65 lb (750 g) |
| Audio out | Built-in speaker, any XP wireless headphones, BH-01 or wired headphones | Its own headphones; can also drive a WSA-ST, WSA-XL ST or wired headphones |
| Headphones in the box | None in the base RC kit; RC + WS6-ST version includes them | Yes, the WS6-ST is the headphones |
| Price band | The higher of the two | Lower; the less expensive way into a current stereo (ST) DEUS II |
Is the WS6-ST Master waterproof? No. The WS6-ST headphone module is rated rainproof only, so a WS6-ST Master setup is for land, dry sand and rain. Its coil is waterproof to 20 m, but the module on your head is not. For wading or diving you need the RC, which XP rates IP68 (sealed for submersion) to 1 m with its gray cap and 20 m with its red diving cap.
Choose the WS6-ST Master if you hunt on land and on the beach, settle on a program and swing, and want the lightest detector you can carry. XP itself calls it the lightest and most compact DEUS II configuration, and positions it for land and beach.
Choose the RC if you will put the control unit in water, want a big, backlit screen, or want a speaker for quick sessions without headphones. The RC is also the control unit the BH-01 dive headset plugs into.
Choose RC + WS6-ST if you want both options in one box. With the RC as master, the WS6-ST works as your headphones, and its own keys adjust only the volume. On a light day you can leave the remote at home and run the WS6-ST as master on its own; XP keeps the WS6-ST's programs separate from the RC's.
Here is what I tell people at our counter: most of them end up happiest with the WS6-ST Master. The detector feels like a coil on a stick. You hunt by ear and only look at the module when you want a number, and the money saved buys a pinpointer. The people who come back for an RC are the ones who want to see more on the screen while they work a site, and the ones who get in the water.
WS6 Master or WS6-ST Master: why the ST matters
The WS6-ST is the current, stereo version of the WS6 headphone module. Both can run a DEUS II as master and use the same coils, but only the WS6-ST gets XP's stereo audio features, and it charges by USB-C. Stereo is more than a nicer sound. Since XP's V4.0 software, a DEUS II with a stereo headset can run two detection channels at once, each with its own settings and its own place in the stereo sound. XP calls this stereo Multi-Processing, with Multi-Reactivity and Audio Morphing built on it, and says those features need a stereo headset: the WS6-ST, WSA-ST or WSA-XL ST. The older WS6 and WSA II headphones work with current software since XP's V4.1 update and gained some new audio options, but not the stereo features.
So the original WS6 Master costs less, uses the same coils and runs current software. What its own headphones miss is the stereo two-channel audio XP added in V4.0. Since V4.1, XP says the original WS6 can control the stereo WSA-ST and WSA-XL ST headphones with the same interface as the WS6-ST, so an original WS6 Master owner can get stereo audio later by adding one of those, once every unit is updated to the same software version. We would still steer most buyers to the WS6-ST Master, because stereo comes in the box. Buy the original WS6 Master when price decides it.
Which DEUS II coil to choose
For most hunters the 11" round FMF coil is the one DEUS II coil to start with. Choose the 9" for trashy sites, the 13x11" for big open ground, and the HF2 for gold prospecting, thin silver and iron-heavy ground.
All four DEUS II coils are wireless, carry their own rechargeable battery, are waterproof to 20 m (66 ft), and pair with any DEUS II control unit. Swapping coils means swapping the lower stem, the bottom section of the stem that carries the coil. The 9", 11" and 13x11" are FMF coils (Fast Multi Frequency, XP's name for transmitting several frequencies at once) running 4 to 45 kHz; the HF2 is an FMF coil that runs higher. Browse all DEUS II coils.
| Coil | Weight | Frequencies | We pick it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9" round FMF (22.5 cm) | 0.76 lb (345 g) | 4 to 45 kHz | Trashy parks, yards, between roots and rocks |
| 11" round FMF (28 cm) | 1.04 lb (470 g) | 4 to 45 kHz | Everything; the one coil to own if you own one |
| 13x11" elliptical FMF (34x28 cm) | 1.26 lb (570 g) | 4 to 45 kHz | Open fields, plowed farms, wide beaches |
| HF2 elliptical (9.5x5", 24x13 cm) | 0.77 lb (350 g) | Up to about 90 kHz multi, up to 120 kHz single | Small gold, thin silver, iron-choked relic ground |
HF2 frequencies are from XP's HF2 page and announcement; XP's RC and WS6 manuals list the HF2 multi-frequency top end as 88 or 89 kHz.
XP rates the round and 13x11" coils at 8 to 20 hours on a charge depending on program and frequency, and the HF2 at about 10 hours on its removable battery. If you hunt long days with the HF2, a spare battery is worth considering.
Start with the 11" unless you already know your ground. It is the coil we leave on most DEUS IIs, and it is light enough to swing all day. Add the 9" when your sites are trashy, the 13x11" when they are big and clean, and the HF2 when you prospect for gold or work iron-heavy sites where small gold, thin hammered silver and foil-thin targets hide. Our search coil selection guide explains coil size and shape in more depth.
Which DEUS II for gold prospecting
For gold prospecting, put the HF2 coil on whichever DEUS II setup fits the rest of your hunting. In our experience small nuggets respond best to higher frequencies, and the HF2 runs up to about 90 kHz in multi-frequency and up to 120 kHz in single frequency, against 4 to 45 kHz for the round and 13x11" coils. XP designed the HF2 for mineralized soil, iron-polluted ground and small targets; in our experience that is the kind of ground most gold comes out of.
For the control unit, the WS6-ST Master keeps weight down on long days in rough country. Choose the RC if you work creeks and wet benches where the control unit may get wet, since the RC is rated to 1 m with its gray cap. We sell the HF2 on its own to add to any DEUS II, and in a few RC setups. For other gold machines, see our Best Gold Metal Detectors guide.
Which DEUS II headphones to buy: WS6-ST, WSA-ST, WSA-XL ST or BH-01
The DEUS II has one headphone with controls (the WS6-ST) and three that only play sound. The audio-only headphones always need a master: the RC, or a WS6-ST or original WS6 in Master mode. Water ratings are where they differ most, and where most mistakes are made. Browse all DEUS II headphones.
| Headphones | Type | Water rating | Weight | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WS6-ST | Backphone (XP's name for its behind-the-head headphones) with screen and full menu; can run the detector | Rainproof | 0.18 lb (82 g) module | Land and beach; going light without a remote |
| WSA-ST | Compact, audio only | Rainproof | 0.16 lb (72 g) | RC owners who want light wireless audio |
| WSA-XL ST | Over-ear, audio only | IP68 to 1 m (3 ft); XP says not for diving | 0.55 lb (250 g) | Surf, wind and noise; wading |
| BH-01 | Bone conduction, wired to the RC | IP68 to 20 m (66 ft) | Not published by XP | Snorkeling and diving |
The WS6-ST, WSA-ST and WSA-XL ST are all the stereo (ST) generation, so they get the stereo audio features XP added in V4.0. The WS6-ST and WSA-ST are rainproof, which means rain and splashes, not a dunk in the surf. If you wade where a wave can reach your head, the WSA-XL ST is the one built for it. For anything below the surface, the BH-01 on the RC is the only DEUS II audio XP rates for diving.
XP rates the WSA-ST and WSA-XL ST at about 15 hours, and the WS6-ST about the same when it is used as headphones under the RC; XP's manual lists a shorter figure when the WS6-ST runs as master. Plan on charging after every full day. The older WS6 is rated at 12 to 14 hours.
Which DEUS II setup for underwater detecting
The coil, the RC and the BH-01 are the three DEUS II parts XP rates to 20 m (66 ft). For underwater hunting that means the RC with its red diving cap fitted, the BH-01 plugged into the RC, and the aerial antenna, which XP says is needed when the coil is submerged. The base RC kit already ships with the red cap and the antenna. Swap the red cap back to the gray one on land; XP notes the red cap does not balance internal pressure out of the water.
If you add the XP MI-6 pinpointer, note that XP rates it water resistant to 6 m, less than the rest of the dive setup. Our DEUS II underwater gear guide lists what to pack for a dive with the DEUS II.
Already own an XP DEUS or ORX?
XP's Limited Edition Conversion Pack turns an original DEUS or an ORX into a DEUS II WS6 Master. It includes a DEUS II FMF coil with lower stem (9" or 11"), WS6 headphones, and a stem support, and it reuses the S-Telescopic stem you already own, which is not included. As our catalog lists it, the pack ships with the original WS6, not the WS6-ST, so it runs current DEUS II software with non-stereo headphones; adding a WSA-ST or WSA-XL ST headset brings stereo audio, as XP's V4.1 update lets the original WS6 control them. It is usually the least expensive route into a DEUS II for current XP owners. It comes with the 9" coil or the 11" coil. See our DEUS vs DEUS II comparison for what you gain.
What our DEUS II packages add
Beyond XP's own setups, we sell packages that add gear to them: an XP pinpointer, a backpack, a second coil, or a set of WSA-ST or WSA-XL ST headphones paired with an RC kit. The DEUS II in a package is the same XP setup sold on its own; we only add gear around it. Pick the setup first, then decide whether a package adds things you would buy anyway.
Common DEUS II buying mistakes
Buying the RC kit and expecting headphones. The base DEUS II RC kit ships with the remote, coil, stem, antenna and caps, and no headphones. The RC's speaker works, but most people want headphones within a hunt or two.
Taking a WS6-ST Master diving. The WS6-ST is rainproof only. The coil is rated to 20 m; the headphone module is not.
Buying the biggest coil for depth. The 13x11" covers more ground per swing, but in a trashy park the 9" or 11" usually finds more, because it separates targets that the big coil hears as one.
Saving on older headphones without knowing what you give up. A WSA II or original WS6 works with current DEUS II software, but you only hear XP's stereo audio features through an ST headset: the WS6-ST, WSA-ST or WSA-XL ST. An original WS6 can control a WSA-ST or WSA-XL ST to get there.