XP ICON Fast Multi-Frequency Metal Detector with WSA ST Headphones and 11 in FMF Coil

The XP ICON with WSA ST headphones is XP's factory pack that pairs the wireless, simultaneous FMF multi-frequency ICON with XP's 72 g WSA ST wireless headphones, for detectorists who want straightforward controls and wireless audio from the first outing in parks, fields and on beaches. The ICON runs FMF or a single 4 or 14 kHz frequency, with 3 factory and 3 user programs and 5 Reactivity levels. XP gives its weight as about 735 g (1.62 lb) with the 11 inch coil.

What is in the box with the XP ICON and WSA ST headphones

XP's standard contents for the ICON with WSA ST headphones (XP part ICON-28FMFRCWSAST)

• ICON remote control (ICON-RC) with 3 factory programs and 3 user slots
• XP ICON 11 inch (28 cm) FMF coil (D28FMFIC) with coil cover and carbon lower stem
• Blue S-Telescopic Lite stem (D044LITE-B)
• 3-output charging cable
• XP WSA ST wireless headphones (WSAST)
• Rechargeable lithium batteries in the remote, the coil and the headphones

The WSA ST headphones in XP's ICON pack

XP WSA ST wireless headphones: a 72 g wireless stereo headset that XP's ICON manual lists for the ICON. It connects to the remote over XP's own wireless link, plays PWM and SQUARE audio in stereo, charges over USB-C in about 2 hours and runs about 11 hours, depending on the audio output. XP rates the WSA ST fully rainproof, and XP covers it for 5 years, with 2 years on its battery.

About the XP ICON

What makes the XP ICON interesting is that it brings XP's simultaneous FMF multi-frequency technology into a detector designed to be straightforward to operate. Someone buying a first serious metal detector may want advanced technology without spending the first several outings learning complicated menus, and the ICON is built around that idea: simultaneous multi-frequency, a fully wireless design, a light telescopic stem and a short list of factory programs. Its simplicity does not make it a beginner-only detector, though; experienced detectorists may also appreciate a light, straightforward machine for everyday searching.

FMF processes several frequencies at the same time. In an older park you might meet modern coins, older silver coins, small gold jewelry, aluminum trash and rusty iron, and those objects respond differently to different frequencies, so FMF gives a versatile starting point, including for someone who searches an inland park one weekend and a saltwater beach the next. FMF does not identify every target correctly or guarantee greater depth; its advantage is adaptability.

XP ICON programs and key settings

• Programs: 3 factory programs and 3 user programs. Pick a suitable factory program and start detecting, then save preferred settings in the user slots as experience grows; for many locations the factory settings are already a good starting point.
• Single frequencies, 4 and 14 kHz: in a fairly clean field with larger, higher-conductivity targets the lower frequency may be worth trying, and for smaller, lower-conductivity objects the higher one. We would not switch every time a target sounds questionable: FMF is the sensible starting point.
• Reactivity, 5 levels (1 to 5): in a clean farm field a lower setting may help preserve stronger responses from some deeper targets; near an old foundation full of nails a higher setting can help separate closely spaced signals, but it can weaken some deeper responses, so we would not use the highest setting everywhere.
• Discrimination and iron: a 28-segment multi-notch with audio and visual rejection, 1 point resolution in the ferrous zone, bottle-cap rejection, an automatic silencer, an all-metal mode and 11 iron volume levels.
• Audio: PWM and SQUARE audio with stereo morphing, 3 audio settings with XP's standard audio curve, Pitch, 2, 3 and 5 tones or Full Tones. No audio setting identifies coins or jewelry by itself; we would begin with the factory audio and experiment as experience grows.
• Ground balance and sensitivity: Grab, Manual or Tracking ground balance and 25 sensitivity levels. Tracking helps where the soil changes as you move, but in fairly consistent ground a stable ground balance setting may work well.

Where the XP ICON works well, and where it does not

Coin hunting, relic hunting and beaches all suit the ICON. In an older park, target ID, discrimination and audio help you evaluate coins among aluminum trash and rusty bottle caps, but target ID is not a guarantee: a gold ring can read like aluminum trash and a deep coin can give an inconsistent reading, so while learning we would dig a variety of repeatable targets. On an abandoned farmstead, Reactivity, discrimination and iron volume help you investigate difficult signals without the complexity of the DEUS II, although iron masking remains a challenge. Wet salt sand is conductive, and the ICON's FMF technology is designed to support detecting there, though saltwater and mineralized black sand can still affect stability. See our beach metal detectors.

Wading and underwater use with the XP ICON

XP rates the ICON remote to 1.5 meters (5 feet) for a maximum of 30 minutes with its original cap. For use deeper than that, XP requires its BH-02 bone conduction headphones with their waterproof connector, and with them XP rates the system IP68 to 5 meters (16 feet). XP's coil page rates the 11 inch FMF coil waterproof to 16 feet (5 meters), and XP's manual recommends avoiding heavy rain and extreme weather. XP rates the WSA ST headphones fully rainproof, so we would keep them above the water line when wading. Wireless headphones should never be assumed suitable for underwater use. See our waterproof metal detectors.

XP ICON wireless design, weight and battery

The remote, the coil and XP's wireless headphones talk over XP's own digital protocol in the 2.40 to 2.48 GHz band, with 36 automatic channels and a latency XP gives as about 4 ms, so there is no coil cable on the stem. XP gives the ICON's weight as about 735 g (1.62 lb) with the 11 inch coil, and the S-Telescopic Lite stem folds to 58 cm (22.8 in) and extends to 130 cm (51.2 in). Low weight is about comfort over a long day, not detection depth. The remote (365 mAh) and the coil (700 mAh) each carry a rechargeable lithium polymer battery, and XP gives about 11 hours for the remote, the headphones and the coil and about 3 hours to charge, with an operating range of 0 to 40 °C (32 to 104 °F). The sunlight-readable LCD has an adjustable, low-consumption backlight, and XP's Go Terrain app records finds and tracks routes with your phone's GPS. XP makes the ICON in France, and it carries the Longtime label.

One mistake to avoid with the XP ICON

The mistake we would warn new owners about is going straight to the most aggressive settings. On a historical property, maximum Reactivity, high sensitivity and heavy discrimination together can make the detector less effective at recognizing some deep or questionable targets. Start with a factory program, then change one setting at a time so you understand the effect of each adjustment.

Who we would recommend the XP ICON to

The XP ICON is particularly appealing to someone who wants a light, wireless, simultaneous multi-frequency detector with straightforward controls, whether for a first serious detector or a light second machine. It is a strong choice for coin hunting, jewelry hunting, relic hunting and beach detecting, where FMF technology, adjustable Reactivity, the wireless build and compatibility with XP accessories give useful flexibility. The biggest reason we like it is that it makes XP's FMF technology approachable without giving up the practical features needed for serious everyday detecting. If you are just starting out, our getting started with metal detecting guide covers the basics.

XP ICON or XP ICONX

The XP ICONX adds 6 factory programs instead of 3, 7 Reactivity levels instead of 5, a 28 kHz single frequency and finer discrimination steps. For someone who regularly searches difficult historical sites, those controls may be useful, but someone who mainly searches parks, fields and beaches may find the ICON already has everything they need, and we would not spend more simply because the ICONX has more settings. See the XP ICONX collection. For XP's most extensive FMF control system, specialized programs and advanced capabilities, see the XP DEUS II collection and our guide Which XP DEUS II to Buy.

Compatible XP coils, headphones and pinpointer

• Coils: XP lists the DEUS II FMF coils (D22FMF, D28FMF and D3428FMF) and the HF2 coil (DELLFMFHP) as compatible with the ICON. Someone who starts on the 11 inch coil and later wants to search dense iron or tight spots among rocks has room to add a smaller compatible coil, but we would check compatibility before buying: the original XP DEUS and the newer FMF platforms do not use the same coil system. See our metal detector search coils.
• Headphones: XP's ICON manual describes the WSA ST and WSA-XL ST wireless headphones for the ICON. For underwater use XP specifies its BH-02 bone conduction headphones, which plug into the remote with a waterproof connector, and wired headphones connect through XP's ICON jack adapter. See our metal detector headphones.
• Pinpointer: XP's MI-6 pinpointer links wirelessly with the ICON remote. See our XP pinpointers.
• Go Terrain app: XP's phone app records finds and tracks routes with your phone's GPS.

XP ICON specifications

XP covers the ICON detector for 5 years, parts and labor; batteries, chargers and connectors carry 2 years.

See all our XP metal detectors.

Every ICON configuration and accessory we carry is in our XP ICON collection.