Nokta Simplex Ultra Waterproof Metal Detector with 11" DD Coil

The Nokta Simplex Ultra is the top tier in Nokta's Simplex New Generation line, and the only model in the family with adjustable Recovery Speed, Tone Break, Tone Frequency, Tone Volume, a Coin & Relic ID scale, and a Target ID Depth indicator. For anyone stepping up from a basic single-frequency entry detector, those are the controls that change real hunts: faster recovery clears trashy ground without ghosting good signals, custom tone breaks let the ear separate iron from non-ferrous, and the depth indicator gives a read on how hard a target is sitting before the shovel goes in. All of it lives in a 2.6 lb fully carbon-fiber package rated IP68 to 5 meters, backed by a 3-year manufacturer warranty. Browse the rest of the Nokta lineup to see how the Simplex Ultra fits the catalog.

What You Gain Over a Basic VLF or the Simplex Lite/BT

• Adjustable Recovery Speed. Step up the speed for nail-bed sites and old farmsteads, slow it down for deep silver in clean dirt. The Lite and BT are fixed; the Ultra is not.
• Tone Break, Tone Frequency, and Tone Volume controls. Set custom audio breakpoints across the 01-99 ID scale so iron drops to a low grunt and high conductors ring up clear. Hours of nail chatter turn into manageable signal.
• Coin & Relic ID Scale plus Target ID Depth indicator. A second readout shows approximate target depth, and the dedicated coin & relic scale puts familiar reference points next to the raw 01-99 number. This is the only Simplex with both.
• Real IP68 to 16 ft. Hunt the surf line, wade rivers, or detect through pouring rain on the same body that worked the park last weekend.
• Internal Bluetooth with aptX Low Latency. Pair Nokta BT headphones without a dongle stuck in the housing, so wireless audio stays in sync with the signal.
• Lighter and better balanced than the Simplex+. The fully carbon-fiber shaft drops total weight to 1.2 kg / 2.6 lb and collapses to 25 inches for travel and dive trips.

Comparing it head-to-head with a popular mid-range VLF? Read our full breakdown in our Vanquish 540 vs. Simplex comparison.

What's in the Box

• Simplex Ultra system box on fully carbon-fiber shaft with built-in 2300 mAh lithium battery
• SX28 Waterproof DD Search Coil, 28 cm / 11 in, with coil cover
• USB charging and data cable

A printed quick-reference card ships with the unit; the full manual is a free PDF download from Nokta. AC wall adapter is not included; charge over any USB port or power bank.

Field Use: How the Simplex Ultra Performs by Hunt Type

Park and Schoolyard Coin Hunting

City parks throw bottle caps, foil, and pull-tabs at any 15 kHz VLF, and a fixed-recovery basic machine usually pays for that in missed coins. In Park mode the Simplex Ultra runs Recovery Speed at the higher settings so signals separate cleanly between trash, while custom Tone Break drops the iron range to a low grunt and lifts mid and high conductors. Notch out the pull-tab band on the 01-99 scale and the page goes quiet on aluminum without losing nickels.

• Mode: Park
• Sensitivity: 22-26
• Recovery Speed: 5-7
• Iron Volume: 1
• Notch out: 35-48 (pull-tab band, adjust to local trash)
• Ground Balance: Auto Tracking

Saltwater Beach and Wet Sand

Salt mineralization is what kills cheap VLFs at the surf line. Beach mode retunes the ground filter for conductive sand so the threshold stays usable instead of falsing every step, and the IP68 5-meter rating lets us wade to chest depth without thinking about it. The 11-inch SX28 coil clears dry-towel zones quickly and still cuts through wet sand on the way back to the truck.

• Mode: Beach
• Sensitivity: 18-22 (raise on dry sand, drop in surf)
• Recovery Speed: 4-5
• Iron Volume: 0-1
• Discrimination: All Metal in surf, light disc on dry sand

Relic Hunting in Iron-Heavy Sites

Old farmsteads and homestead edges run thick with cut nails and barn iron. The 99 Tone mode spreads target tones across the full ID range, and Tone Break lets us drop the iron region to a low grunt so a flat brass button or large copper rings up unmistakably. Auto Ground Balance Tracking holds the threshold steady as we move from plowed dirt onto burn piles; lock manually when the ground is hot and we want a stable reference.

• Mode: 99 Tone
• Sensitivity: 24-28
• Recovery Speed: 6-8
• Iron Volume: 1-2
• Discrimination: 0 (open)
• Ground Balance: Auto Tracking, then lock manually if site is hot

Frequency, Tracking, and Bluetooth Audio

The Simplex Ultra is a single-frequency 15 kHz VLF tuned for the targets most hunters chase: silver and copper coins, brass relics, small jewelry, and gold rings. Auto Ground Balance Tracking adjusts the ground reading on the fly as soil mineralization shifts, with a manual lock available for hot ground. Frequency Shift gives small offsets to walk away from a noisy neighbor or power line. Iron Off and Ground Suppressor handle hot-rock and ferrous-loaded ground.

Audio runs three ways: built-in speaker, 1/4-inch wired jack, and integrated aptX Low Latency Bluetooth that pairs to Nokta BT headphones in sync with the signal. Vibration alerts run alongside audio for loud beach days or hearing-impaired hunters.

Build, Display, and Audio

The fully carbon-fiber shaft brings total weight to 1.2 kg / 2.6 lb and collapses to 25 inches, so this machine travels in a daypack and balances on long swings. The graphic LCD reads in full sun and at night, the front-mounted LED flashlight handles dawn or dusk hunts, and every control sits on a sealed membrane keypad rated for the same IP68 submersion as the rest of the housing. The built-in 2300 mAh lithium pack runs roughly 12 hours per charge over USB.

For pinpointing in the hole, we pair this detector with the Nokta AccuPOINT Pinpointer, which shares the Nokta BT headphone link and the same waterproof discipline. The Pinpoint/Confirm button doubles as the ground-balance trigger when pumping the coil.

Coil Options

The Simplex Ultra ships with the SX28 11-inch round DD, the right all-around coil for parks, fields, and the surf line. For trashy iron sites and tight spaces, the SX24 9.5 x 6-inch elliptical tightens the detection cone and improves target separation around nails and brick. For open farm fields and beach grids where coverage matters more than separation, the SX35 13.5 x 12.5-inch DD gives noticeably more ground per swing and adds depth on bigger targets. All three coils are factory-built waterproof units that match the detector's IP68 rating.

Specifications

• Operating Frequency: 15 kHz VLF, single frequency
• Search Modes: Field, Park, Beach, All Metal, 4 Tone, 99 Tone
• Target ID: 01-99 with Coin & Relic ID Scale and Target ID Depth indicator
• Notch Discrimination: Yes
• Sensitivity Levels: 30
• Volume: 5 levels
• Iron Volume: 3 levels and off
• Ground Balance: Automatic Tracking and Manual
• Iron Off / Ground Suppressor / Threshold (All Metal): Yes
• Recovery Speed: Adjustable
• Tone Break / Tone Frequency / Tone Volume: Adjustable
• Frequency Shift: Yes, for noise reduction
• Search Coil: SX28 Waterproof DD, 28 cm / 11 in (included)
• Optional Coils: SX24 9.5 x 6 in elliptical, SX35 13.5 x 12.5 in DD
• Audio: Built-in speaker, 1/4 in wired jack, aptX Low Latency Bluetooth, vibration alert
• Display: Graphic LCD with backlight, keypad backlight, LED flashlight
• Battery: 2300 mAh built-in lithium, USB charging, ~12 hour runtime
• Waterproof Rating: IP68, fully submersible to 5 m / 16 ft
• Length: 25 in collapsed to 52 in extended (adjustable)
• Shaft: Fully carbon fiber
• Weight: 1.2 kg / 2.6 lb
• Firmware: Updatable via USB
• Warranty: 3 years

Why Buy the Nokta Simplex Ultra from Serious Detecting

Serious Detecting is a fully authorized Nokta dealer, which means every Simplex Ultra ships with the full 3-year manufacturer warranty intact, registered in your name, and supported by a team of working detectorists who hunt the same gear we sell. Orders ship free in the U.S., we back every purchase with our 30-day return policy and price-match guarantee, and our staff is on the phone or email if a question comes up in the field. When you outgrow this machine and start eyeing simultaneous multi-frequency, the natural step up in the same brand line is Nokta The Legend, and we will help you trade up when the time comes.