Garrett ACE Apex Multi-Frequency Metal Detector with Viper Coil and MS-3 Wireless Headphones

The Garrett ACE Apex with the 6 x 11 inch DD Viper coil and Garrett MS-3 Z-Lynk wireless headphones is a multi-frequency metal detector for coins, jewelry, relics and beaches. We recommend it to beginners and intermediate detectorists searching parks, fields, freshwater locations and saltwater beaches, particularly when saltwater capability is useful but underwater submersion is not required. Garrett's Multi-Flex technology gives it four single frequencies, 5, 10, 15 and 20 kHz, plus Multi-Frequency and Multi-Salt, with 175-point ground balance, Iron Audio and a built-in Z-Lynk transmitter that talks to the MS-3 headphones in the box. Garrett lists it at 2.5 lbs (1.13 kg) with the Viper coil, and the searchcoil and lower stem are fully submersible while the control box is rainproof.

What is in the box with the Garrett ACE Apex with MS-3 Wireless Headphones

Garrett's standard contents for the ACE Apex with MS-3 Wireless Headphones (Garrett part 1142325)

• Garrett ACE Apex control box on the S-shaped stem, with built-in Z-Lynk wireless transmitter and rechargeable lithium-ion battery
• Armrest with armrest strap
• Upper and lower stem, connected, with push-pin locks and camlocks
• 6 x 11 inch DD Multi-Flex Viper searchcoil with coil cover installed
• Searchcoil mounting hardware: nut, bolt and mounting washers
• Micro-USB charging cable
• Quick-Start Guide
• Garrett MS-3 Z-Lynk wireless headphones
• USB charging cable for the MS-3 headphones

About the Garrett ACE Apex

The Garrett ACE Apex combines Garrett's Multi-Flex multi-frequency technology, rechargeable power and a relatively approachable interface. Garrett's Multi-Flex technology gives it four selectable single frequencies, 5, 10, 15 and 20 kHz, plus two simultaneous multi-frequency options, Multi-Frequency and Multi-Salt, along with high-resolution ground balance, Iron Audio, adjustable iron volume and a 0 to 99 Digital Target ID. We particularly like its combination of general-purpose versatility, rechargeable power and familiar ACE-style operation.

Multi-Frequency, Multi-Salt and single frequencies

Multi-Frequency runs several frequencies at once. For someone who normally searches Michigan parks and takes a vacation to Florida, we would use Multi-Frequency at home and Multi-Salt on wet ocean sand. Multi-Salt, labeled MS on the menu, uses a blend of frequencies to help overcome the negative effects of saltwater beaches, where sand saturated with conductive salt water produces signals that interfere with buried metal. Garrett notes that lower frequencies generally do better on larger, more conductive targets such as large silver coins, and higher frequencies on smaller, less conductive targets such as hammered silver coins and gold nuggets. Each single and multi-frequency setting also has eight channels, or independent frequency shifts.

Ground balance, Iron Audio and target ID

• Ground balance: automatic, with 175 points of ground balance resolution ranging from ferrous ground to saltwater, the same resolution Garrett gives the Garrett AT Max. Press and hold the GND BAL button while pumping the searchcoil over the ground, and the ground balance value appears where the Target ID normally shows. Moving from mild park soil to more mineralized ground, ground balancing helps compensate for the soil's own signals, but severe ground can still reduce detection performance.
• Iron Audio: lets you hear discriminated iron that is normally silenced, which Garrett says helps identify complex iron objects such as bottle caps.
• Iron Volume: eight adjustments lower the volume of iron targets while non-ferrous targets stay at normal volume.
• Discrimination and search modes: twenty pixels of notch discrimination, including eight pixels of iron, and six search modes: Zero, Coins, US Coins (with coin icons), Jewelry, Relics and Custom, plus Pinpoint. Custom keeps your changes when the detector is switched off.
• Target ID and audio: large 0 to 99 Target ID numbers on a backlit LCD, five audible tones, a target depth indicator and a hybrid audio system that adds subtle proportional audio for faint targets to the binary audio of earlier ACE detectors.

The 6 x 11 inch DD Viper searchcoil

Garrett describes the 6 x 11 inch DD Multi-Flex Viper as a narrow coil with excellent maneuverability and depth that allows excellent target separation in trashy areas, with a sleek profile that slides into cramped areas between rocks, roots and crop stubble. It balances ground coverage and maneuverability: the 11 inch length covers a reasonable amount of ground with each sweep, while the narrow 6 inch width works around obstacles and closely spaced targets. The entire coil can be submerged, the coil cover protects it from scratches and wear, it weighs 1.3 lb (0.59 kg) out of the box, and it works only with Garrett Apex detectors. See our metal detector search coils.

Z-Lynk wireless audio and the MS-3 headphones

Every ACE Apex has a built-in Z-Lynk wireless transmitter, and the box holds Garrett MS-3 Z-Lynk wireless headphones, so you can hunt without a headphone cord. Garrett gives the delay between detector and MS-3 as 17 milliseconds, six times faster than Bluetooth headphones. The MS-3 has volume control, folds down for storage and runs up to 30 hours on a single charge from its own USB cable. Garrett rates it IP52, protected against light rain, and says it should never be submerged in water. The 1/8 inch jack still takes wired headphones, Bluetooth headphones do not work with Z-Lynk, and other Garrett Z-Lynk products such as the PRO-Pointer AT Z-Lynk pinpointer play through the same MS-3. See our metal detector headphones.

Water and beach use with the Garrett ACE Apex

Garrett says the ACE Apex searchcoil and lower stem are fully submersible, but the control box should never be submerged. The control box is rainproof: Garrett builds it to keep rain and blowing rain out of the housing, provided the rubber covers are firmly seated in the USB and headphone openings. That makes the ACE Apex a good fit for wet sand, the water's edge and shallow creeks and swimming areas, with the control box kept dry and above the waterline. With Multi-Salt for wet ocean sand, it appeals to someone who wants to search both inland sites and saltwater beaches. For someone who needs a fully submersible detector, we recommend the Garrett Vortex VX7 or VX9; see our waterproof metal detectors.

For deeper water, Garrett's Vortex series is rated waterproof to 16 feet (5 meters), and the Vortex VX9 runs 5, 9, 13, 18 and 25 kHz plus Multi-Frequency and Multi-Salt. Our beach metal detecting guide covers fully submersible options too.

Battery, weight and build

A built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery gives up to approximately 15 hours of use, depending on settings. Garrett lists a recharge time of 4 hours from any USB port with the detector off, longer if it is on, and recommends charging for 4 to 5 hours before first use; the rapid charging system needs 500 mA for the fastest charge. The ACE Apex can also run while plugged into an external 5V USB power pack. Charging uses the Micro-USB port under a weatherproof rubber flap on the back of the control box, and if the battery ever needs replacing, Garrett recommends its factory or a certified Garrett service center. The aluminum stem adjusts from 40 to 53 inches (1.016 to 1.35 m) with push-pin locks and camlocks. Garrett lists the ACE Apex at 2.5 lbs (1.13 kg) with the Viper coil. Garrett makes its metal detectors in America.

Coin and relic hunting with the Garrett ACE Apex

For coin hunting, numeric target ID, Iron Audio, adjustable discrimination and electronic pinpointing help you evaluate targets and recover them. See our best metal detectors for coins guide.

For relic hunting, adjustable discrimination, Iron Audio and ground balance help when you investigate difficult signals, and reduced Iron Volume keeps iron tones quieter during a long session. See our best metal detectors for relic hunting guide.

Pinpointing and recovery

Press and hold the Pinpoint button and slowly sweep the searchcoil over the target area; the display shows PP. A handheld pinpointer then finds the target in the open hole, and Garrett names its PRO-Pointer AT Z-Lynk as compatible with the ACE Apex, so its alarm can play through the same Z-Lynk headphones. See our Garrett pinpointers.

Garrett ACE Apex searchcoils and compatibility

Garrett makes Multi-Flex searchcoils for the ACE Apex in four sizes: the 6 x 11 inch DD Viper (Garrett part 2223600), the 8.5 x 11 inch DD Raider (Garrett part 2223700), the 5 x 8 inch DD Ripper (Garrett part 2223800), which Garrett calls the perfect size for tight spaces and iron-infested sites, and the 14 x 11 inch Reaper (Garrett part 2223900). Each works only with Garrett Apex detectors, and because of the Multi-Flex coil technology, prior ACE coils are not compatible with an ACE Apex. Our coil guide explains what coil size and shape change, and our Garrett parts and accessories list shows what fits each Garrett model.

Getting started with the Garrett ACE Apex

We would start with a suitable factory search mode, such as Coins, then learn the difference between Multi-Frequency and Multi-Salt, ground balance, Iron Audio and discrimination. One mistake to avoid is assuming that because the searchcoil is waterproof, the entire detector can be submerged: the ACE Apex control housing is not designed for underwater submersion.

Who we would recommend the Garrett ACE Apex to

Beginners and intermediate detectorists who search parks, fields, freshwater locations and saltwater beaches are who we have in mind for the ACE Apex: Garrett's Multi-Flex multi-frequency technology and a relatively approachable interface make it a versatile general-purpose detector. Choose the ACE Apex for approachable Garrett multi-frequency detecting, particularly when saltwater capability is useful but underwater submersion is not required; for a fully submersible detector, we recommend the Garrett Vortex VX7 or VX9. Our multi-frequency metal detectors collection has more choices.

Garrett ACE Apex specifications

Garrett covers the ACE Apex with a 3-year limited warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship. Garrett's MS-3 Z-Lynk wireless headphones carry their own 2-year limited parts and labor warranty.

See all our Garrett metal detectors.

Every ACE Apex package and accessory we carry is in our Garrett ACE Apex collection.