Nokta Magnetar 9000 Pulse Induction Gold Metal Detector

The Nokta Magnetar 9000 is Nokta's pulse induction gold detector, built, in Nokta's words, to find both deep gold and micro nuggets in harsh mineralized ground. It runs two waterproof Dual-Receiver Coils (DRC), the MG29 11 x 8 inch and the MG37 14.5 x 13 inch, Nokta rates it IP68 to 3 meters (10 ft), and the package has two lithium-ion batteries, each rated for about 7 to 10 hours.

What is in the box with the Nokta Magnetar 9000

Nokta's standard contents for the Magnetar 9000

• Nokta Magnetar 9000 detector with telescopic carbon fiber shaft
• MG37 waterproof DRC search coil, 37 x 34 cm (14.5 x 13 inch), with cover
• MG29 waterproof DRC search coil, 29 x 21 cm (11 x 8 inch), with cover
• Nokta Bluetooth headphones with charging cable
• Two lithium-ion battery packs
• Charger with 4 plug adapters
• Vehicle charger
• Battery clamp charging cable
• Bungee and hipstick
• Nokta Standard Digger
• 1/4 inch (6.3 mm) headphone adapter cable
• USB data cable
• DetectoBag backpack
• Ferrite ring

Who the Nokta Magnetar 9000 suits

We see the Magnetar 9000 as a detector for serious natural gold prospecting in mineralized ground. It is a pulse induction (PI) machine with two Dual-Receiver Coil (DRC) options, and Nokta gives it an Easy and an Expert menu, so a newer prospector can start simple and keep more detailed control as experience grows.

Picture a goldfield where highly mineralized soil throws strong ground responses. That is where PI earns its place, and Nokta built the Magnetar to find deep gold and micro nuggets in harsh mineralized ground. PI does not remove every hot rock or ground signal, though; stability still depends on your settings and technique.

About the Nokta Magnetar 9000

The Magnetar 9000 runs on what Nokta calls Advanced Pulse Induction, with Easy and Expert search modes. Its full color display measures 49 x 37 mm (1.9 x 1.5 inch) at 320 x 240 pixels, and audio comes through the built-in loudspeaker, Bluetooth or a 6.3 mm (1/4 inch) headphone socket, so the Bluetooth headphones and a wired headset are both options. The telescopic carbon fiber shaft collapses from 150 cm (59 inch) to 72 cm (28 inch) for transport. Noise cancel works automatically or manually across 255 channels, and the automatic scan takes about 50 seconds, so run it before you start a search and again when power lines or another detector make the threshold unstable.

Each lithium-ion battery pack is a 7.2 V DC, 48 Wh unit weighing 270 g (0.6 lb), rated for about 7 to 10 hours, so the two packs in the box give about 14 to 20 hours in total. The charger comes with four plug adapters, and a vehicle charger and a battery clamp cable keep the packs topped up away from a wall outlet. The bungee and hipstick carry part of the detector's weight on long days, and the DetectoBag backpack holds the kit on the walk in. Our Magnetar 9000 explainer covers the background.

Which Magnetar 9000 coil to use

MG29, 11 x 8 inch: picture a rocky hillside with exposed bedrock, brush and narrow gaps. The smaller coil is easier to maneuver and suits careful searching when getting the coil onto small targets is the priority.

MG37, 14.5 x 13 inch: on a broad, fairly open gold-bearing field, the larger coil covers more ground and may reach deeper targets. It is no promise that it finds every nugget deeper than the MG29; that depends on target size, mineralization and settings. It also adds weight. Nokta lists 2.4 kg (5.3 lb) with the 11 inch coil and 2.8 kg (6.2 lb) with the 14 inch coil, battery included, which is worth thinking about before a long prospecting day.

Settings that matter on the Nokta Magnetar 9000

Easy and Expert menus: Easy keeps operation quick and simple; Expert opens the advanced controls. Beginners and experienced prospectors need different things, and Expert mode does not automatically give better results. Wrong settings make any detector less stable, so we would learn the Magnetar in Easy first and then change settings one at a time.

Water, batteries and long days with the Magnetar 9000

Nokta rates the Magnetar IP68, fully submersible to 3 meters (10 ft), which helps in wet gold-bearing ground or shallow water. Nokta's Bluetooth headphones are not waterproof, so for submerged work plug waterproof headphones into the 6.3 mm socket. Nokta's package has two rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, each rated for about 7 to 10 hours. On a remote prospecting trip, carrying the spare matters.

Nokta Magnetar 9000 or Nokta Gold Kruzer

The Nokta Gold Kruzer is a 61 kHz VLF built for small gold, waterproof to 5 meters (16.4 ft) and weighing 1.4 kg (3 lb). The Magnetar 9000 is pulse induction, built for deep gold and micro nuggets in harsh mineralized ground, and heavier at 2.4 to 2.8 kg (5.3 to 6.2 lb). In heavily mineralized goldfields we would reach for the Magnetar; for small gold in creeks and shallow water, the Gold Kruzer.

One mistake to avoid with the Nokta Magnetar 9000

Reading deep-gold marketing claims as guaranteed depths. No detector can promise a depth without knowing the target size, the ground and how the test was done. The second mistake we see is assuming the bigger coil is always better.

Our recommendation on the Nokta Magnetar 9000

We recommend the Magnetar 9000 to serious prospectors who want a PI detector with interchangeable Dual-Receiver Coils and both simple and advanced controls. Its strongest points are PI gold detection, two specialized coils, waterproof construction and flexible operation. See more pulse induction metal detectors. Our flagship metal detector guide compares it with the top machines from other brands.

Nokta Magnetar 9000 specifications

Nokta covers the Magnetar 9000 with a 3-year warranty.

Coils and accessories for this detector are in our Nokta Magnetar 9000 collection, and every Nokta detector we carry is in our Nokta metal detectors.