XP ICON Metal Detector with WSA ST Headphones and XP Backpack 240

Our XP ICON bundle puts XP's ICON pack with WSA ST wireless headphones and the 11 inch FMF coil together with an XP Backpack 240. The ICON suits beginners and intermediate detectorists searching parks, fields, beaches and older properties. XP built the Backpack 240 to carry a complete detector with its headphones, a pinpointer, a second coil and a digging tool. The ICON runs FMF or a single 4 or 14 kHz frequency on the 11 inch FMF coil, and XP gives its weight as about 735 g (1.62 lb) with that coil.

What is in the box with this XP ICON bundle

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

This XP ICON bundle also includes

• XP Backpack 240

What the add-ons in this XP ICON bundle do

XP Backpack 240: XP built it to carry a full detector with its headphones, a pinpointer in its holster, a second coil, a mattock, a bottle and snacks. Outside are pockets for coils and lower stems, a mesh pocket, a pinpointer pocket, a side bottle pocket, a headphone pocket and a light rain-resistant map pocket; inside are a coil pocket and a pocket for keys or the remote. XP lists a 31 L capacity, a weight of 700 g, a 65 cm (25.5 inches) back length, polyester with a 600D bottom and polyurethane foam in the handles and back panel, an adjustable chest strap with an emergency whistle and a waist belt that takes the XP Finds Pouch. The backpack is green and black, with a 2-year XP warranty. The ICON's telescopic stem folds to 58 cm, which makes the detector convenient to carry. See our XP carry bags, backpacks and cases.

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 we like about the XP ICON is that it brings XP's FMF simultaneous multi-frequency technology into a simpler detector, while keeping XP's lightweight wireless design and compatibility with much of the DEUS II ecosystem. It suits beginners and intermediate detectorists searching parks, fields, beaches and older properties.

FMF processes several frequencies at the same time. Picture someone buying a first serious detector to search local parks and occasionally visit the ocean: we would start with one of the factory programs and learn the target tones before adjusting Reactivity or discrimination. FMF does not identify every target correctly or guarantee greater depth.

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: selectable in addition to FMF.
• Reactivity, 5 levels (1 to 5): XP's term for how quickly the detector responds to nearby targets; we would learn it after Ground Grab and sensitivity.
• 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 learn the target tones on a factory program before changing audio settings.
• Ground balance and sensitivity: Grab, Manual or Tracking ground balance and 25 sensitivity levels. After a factory program, Ground Grab and sensitivity are the first settings we would learn.

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

Parks, fields, beaches and older properties all suit the ICON. Target ID is not a guarantee: a gold ring can read like aluminum trash and a deep coin can give an inconsistent reading. Iron masking remains a challenge on old home sites. 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. If you want more factory programs, additional Reactivity settings and greater frequency flexibility, we would recommend the XP ICONX; for maximum customization, the XP DEUS II.

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 inches) and extends to 130 cm (51.2 inches). 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 warn about is assuming the ICON is simply a single-frequency beginner detector. It uses XP's FMF simultaneous multi-frequency technology, with 4 and 14 kHz single frequencies available in addition to FMF.

XP ICON specifications

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

For our full XP ICON guide, settings advice and comparisons, see the XP ICON collection.