XP DEUS II RC Metal Detector with 13 x 11" FMF Coil

The XP DEUS II RC with the 34 x 28 cm (13 x 11 inch) FMF coil is a wireless Fast Multi Frequency detector for someone who changes advanced settings often, run from the DEUS II remote that you can mount on the stem or wear on your belt in the hip-mount case. The 13 x 11 inch coil covers the most ground per swing and may have an advantage on certain deeper targets under favorable conditions. The coil, the remote and any paired headphones talk over XP's own digital radio link, so no cable runs from the coil to the control unit. The DEUS II runs simultaneous multi-frequency programs or any of 49 single frequencies from 4 to 45 kHz, with 12 factory and 12 user programs. The coil and the remote (with its red cap fitted) are rated IP68 to 20 meters (66 feet). Audio plays from the remote's own speaker, and any DEUS II headset can be paired with it.

Who the XP DEUS II suits, and who may not need it

What makes the XP DEUS II interesting is the amount of control it gives an experienced detectorist without giving up the light weight XP is known for: FMF, adjustable Reactivity, detailed audio settings and a wireless design. For someone who regularly searches old homesites, heavily hunted parks, farm fields or beaches, those capabilities can be genuinely useful.

We would not recommend the DEUS II simply because it is one of XP's most advanced detectors. Someone who searches fairly clean parks a few times a year may never need many of its settings, and for occasional coin hunting it may be more machine than they need. The DEUS II makes the most sense for someone who detects regularly and is willing to learn the detector. It does not automatically detect deeper than every other detector; what it gives an experienced operator is an unusually flexible set of tools for difficult targets and changing ground.

RC remote or WS6-ST Master: choosing the DEUS II control

The DEUS II is sold in different configurations, with different controls, headphones and accessories. The RC configuration on this page puts every setting on the remote's screen, and you can mount the remote on the stem or wear it on your belt in the hip-mount case. In our experience someone who changes advanced settings often prefers the full remote, and the remote is also the DEUS II control unit for wading and diving. Someone who puts low weight first may prefer the WS6-ST Master, where the WS6-ST module on the headphones runs the detector; XP calls the WS6 Master its lightest and most compact DEUS II configuration. Our Which XP DEUS II to Buy guide walks through the control unit, coil and headphone choices in three questions.

What FMF does, and when a single frequency helps

FMF lets the DEUS II process several frequencies at the same time. That matters because different targets and ground conditions respond differently to different frequencies. On an old farm property you might meet large copper coins, small brass buttons, lead and rusty iron in the same afternoon, and FMF gives you a versatile footing for that range of targets without switching between individual frequencies all the time.

The DEUS II also runs single frequencies: its DEUS MONO program selects any of 49 frequencies from 4 to 45 kHz. We like having both options. For general detecting we would usually begin with a suitable FMF program, and for a particular target or an interference problem it can be worth experimenting with a single frequency. We would not claim that FMF gives the greatest depth in every situation; its main advantage is versatility across different targets and ground conditions.

Reactivity, iron volume and audio on iron-heavy sites

Picture the remains of an old farmhouse. The building is gone, but the ground holds hundreds of rusty nails, fragments of iron hardware and the occasional good relic, and a brass button can lie only a few inches from a nail. That is a difficult situation for any metal detector. The DEUS II gives you adjustable Reactivity, discrimination, iron volume and several audio configurations as different ways to approach closely spaced targets. It cannot reliably see through every nail, and iron masking is still a limitation, but an experienced operator gets useful ways to investigate a challenging signal.

• Reactivity: XP's term for how quickly the detector responds to nearby targets, set in 9 steps from 0 to 5. In a clean farm field where targets are far apart, a slower setting may help preserve stronger responses from some deeper targets. Near an old foundation crowded with nails, raising Reactivity helps the detector respond more distinctly to closely spaced objects, but pushing it too far can weaken some deeper responses. We would not use the fastest setting everywhere.
• Iron Volume: 11 levels, from 0 (iron cut off) to 10. On a historical site you may want to hear the iron, because it shows where past activity took place, but loud iron signals all day are tiring. Turning Iron Volume down reduces their prominence without throwing away all of the iron information. Concentrations of iron can point to areas worth searching carefully, although modern debris creates similar patterns: the detector provides information, and the operator still interprets the site.
• Audio: PWM and SQUARE audio types, Multi Tones from 1 to 5 plus Pitch and Full Tones, Audio Response in 8 levels, an adjustable threshold and a 4-band equalizer on each audio output. These settings substantially change how the DEUS II communicates target information. No audio setting automatically identifies coins or jewelry; the value is in learning how targets respond and choosing a configuration that makes those differences easier to recognize. For someone who enjoys detecting primarily by sound, the DEUS II offers considerable flexibility.

Factory programs, ground balance and interference

The DEUS II has 12 factory programs (General, Sensitive, Sensi FT, Fast, Park, Deep HC, DEUS MONO, Gold Field, Relic, Diving, Beach and Beach Sens) and 12 user slots for your own versions. Ground balance can track the ground, be grabbed or be set manually, with manual balance reserved for DEUS MONO. Sensitivity runs from 0 to 99, and XP adds a frequency shift and an automatic frequency scan against electrical interference.

We would not simply raise sensitivity until the detector becomes unstable. Near electrical equipment a DEUS II can start producing random responses, and more sensitivity makes them worse. Run the frequency scan first, then set sensitivity for reasonably stable operation. In mineralized ground, ground balance and program choice matter as well, because a detector that keeps producing false signals makes subtle target responses hard to recognize.

The mistake we warn new owners about is copying advanced settings from an experienced DEUS II user. A Reactivity setting that works well in a video from an old European field can disappoint in a Michigan park, because ground conditions, target types, iron contamination and technique all differ. Start with the factory programs, learn how the detector responds, then change one setting at a time so you understand why an adjustment helps or hurts. Our guide to the XP DEUS II factory programs walks through each preset.

Choosing the coil: 9 inch, 11 inch or 13 x 11 inch

One of the first questions we ask a DEUS II buyer is where they plan to detect, because neither size is universally better. For old homesites full of nails, rocks and other obstacles, the 22.5 cm (9 inch) FMF coil is particularly appealing: its smaller detection footprint makes closely spaced targets easier to investigate, and it is convenient around trees, foundations and confined areas. For large, open farm fields, the 28 cm (11 inch) coil gives a better balance of ground coverage and general-purpose detecting. The 34 x 28 cm (13 x 11 inch) coil in this package covers more area again and may have an advantage on certain deeper targets under favorable conditions, but at 570 g it is the heaviest FMF coil, against 470 g for the 11 inch and 345 g for the 9 inch, and in cluttered ground a smaller coil isolates targets more easily. We would choose by your actual detecting locations rather than assume the larger coil is always the better option.

For small targets and very cluttered ground, XP also makes the HF2, a 24 x 13 cm (9.5 x 5 inch) elliptical coil that runs FMF from 9 to 90 kHz and single frequencies up to 120 kHz. Every DEUS II coil is rated IP68 to 20 meters. See our metal detector coils and our metal detector coil guide.

Wireless design, weight and charging

The DEUS II links the coil, the remote and compatible headphones over XP's own digital radio in the 2.40 to 2.48 GHz band (it is not Bluetooth), and XP's MI-6 pinpointer can join the same link. With no external coil cable the detector is easier to assemble, and the S-Telescopic stem folds to 58 cm (about 23 inches) for travel and extends to 130 cm (about 51 inches). XP quotes the RC configuration from 815 g (1.8 lb) with the 9 inch coil and the remote worn on the belt; the 13 x 11 inch coil in this package weighs 570 g against 345 g for the 9 inch, so the detector is heavier than that headline figure. For someone who detects for several hours at a time, low weight is a significant comfort advantage, and worth weighing against the larger coil's extra ground coverage.

The trade-off is separate rechargeable components. The remote's 700 mAh lithium battery runs about 15 to 30 hours depending on which audio output is active, and the FMF coil's 700 mAh battery runs 8 to 20 hours depending on program and frequency. Each charges in about 3 hours, and XP's cable charges the three units together, so check every battery level before a detecting trip. Software updates for the remote and headphones install over USB with XP's updater. XP's manual warns that opening the detector or changing a battery yourself voids the warranty.

Beaches, wading and diving with the DEUS II RC

One of the biggest improvements over the original XP DEUS is the DEUS II's suitability for saltwater beaches. As the sand changes from dry to wet near the surf, conductive salt water produces a response of its own, and the DEUS II has FMF programs designed for those conditions, Beach and Beach Sens. That makes it a much more versatile choice for someone who searches both historical sites and ocean beaches. Black sand, severe mineralization and electrical interference can still affect performance; no detector is immune to difficult ground.

Waterproofing needs some explanation. The FMF coil is rated IP68 to 20 meters (66 feet). The remote is rated to 20 meters only with its red cap fitted, which XP reserves for underwater use; with the gray cap it is rated to 1 meter. When the coil is submerged, the radio link needs the aerial antenna supplied in the box, so follow XP's instructions rather than assuming the ordinary wireless setup works underwater. The headphones matter too: the WS6-ST and WSA-ST are rainproof only, and the WSA-XL ST is rated to 1 meter but is not made for use under water. For diving, XP's BH-01 bone conduction headset plugs into the remote and is rated IP68 to 20 meters. Our XP DEUS II underwater gear guide covers the dive setup in detail, and our waterproof metal detectors collection lists other submersible machines.

Headphones for the DEUS II RC

On the RC configuration, audio plays from the remote's own speaker. XP's DEUS II headsets are the WS6-ST, which carries its own control module and screen, the compact WSA-ST and the larger WSA-XL ST, all wireless, plus the wired BH-01 for diving. XP's stereo audio features, which run two independent detection channels, need one of the ST headsets. The remote, the wireless headphones and the bone conduction headset each have their own volume, and XP's wireless headphones switch on and off with the detector. See our metal detector headphones.

XP DEUS II or XP ORX

The XP ORX is a capable detector, particularly for coins and natural gold, and for someone who mainly searches old farm fields and occasionally prospects for gold it may be perfectly adequate. The DEUS II is the substantially more advanced platform: FMF is the major difference, and it adds more extensive audio customization, more search programs and better suitability for demanding saltwater beaches. We would not upgrade simply because the DEUS II is newer; we recommend it when your detecting conditions, such as iron-contaminated historical sites, wet ocean beaches and changing ground, justify the additional capability. The same goes for owners of the original XP DEUS who mainly search parks, fields and historical sites on land: upgrading is not automatically necessary, and a detector you understand extremely well can still be very effective. The DEUS II becomes more compelling when you want FMF, saltwater versatility or its newer audio and search options.

What is in the box with the XP DEUS II RC, 13 x 11 inch coil

XP's contents for this configuration

• XP DEUS II remote control with hip-mount case
• 34 x 28 cm (13 x 11 inch) FMF search coil with coil cover
• S-Telescopic stem with lower stem
• Coil fitting hardware and connection clamp
• Aerial antenna with clip
• Gray cap and red diving cap for the remote
• Charging and update cable
• English manual and US charger

XP covers the DEUS II remote and coil for 5 years, parts and labor, from the original purchase. Batteries, chargers and connectors carry 2 years.

XP DEUS II RC specifications

Serious Detecting is an authorized U.S. XP dealer, and we answer setup and settings questions on the DEUS II before and after you buy. For every DEUS II configuration, coil and headphone set, see the XP DEUS II collection.