What is the difference in the Minelab Equinox 800 and the Minelab Equinox 600 metal detectors?

I get asked many times a day what is the difference between the Minelab Equinox 600 and the Minelab Equinox 800. Many people just want a good all around metal detector that is great on the pocket book but competes with the big dogs.  A lot to ask but the Minelab Equinox delivers with its different models and lineup.

The EQUINOX 600 is limited to 5 kHz, 10 kHz, and 15 kHz single frequencies and leaves out the super cool wireless headphone option. Although you can add the Minelab Equinox wireless headphones set separately that will be available this summer.  They both still work the same way and have no noticeable difference in the way they detect or depth.  Great price and options for a good light metal detector.

The most in your face and obvious option is the wireless headphones the Equinox 800 provides. It it a very good all around detector. It has Wireless headphones with help from the minelab WM-08 wireless audio module and 2 more frequencies, a total of 5 frequencies, 5 kHz, 10 kHz, 15 kHz, 20kHz and 40kHz.  Great for gold nugget hunting and relics with those added higher frequencies! If gold nuggets are not your thing save the $ and get the 600. Of course you lose wireless headphones as well.

The 600 has 3 ranges for detector swing speed while the 800 had 8. Faster swing speed does loose a bit of detection depth but seperation is GREATLY increased. The stock setting is perfect balance of speed and depth. The added 8 settings of the 800 give great advantage to fine tune your machine.  Slow swing speeds give amazing depth! The lower you can use the better you will be off for more depth.

The 600 iron range is also different from the 800. The 600 has four settings. Fifty tone, 5 tone, 2 tone and single tone. The 800 allows the user to shift non ferrous targets tones and the volume which can help when your a tone only hunter to hear slight differences in metal detector targets.

Both of the machines offer Minelab's Multi-IQ simultaneous multifrequency technology and operate the same way as was said before. Both operate on multiple frequencies at the same time. and give the same target evaluation as the other when in multifrequency. Not so in single frequency operation. Not many machines can say that! Huge advantage for areas with high mineralization, bad ground, iron infestations or high trash. Salt water beaches included!

The advanced settings the 800 provides over the 600 is quite an advantage as well! 800 on the left and 600 on the right in picture below. You can adjust automatic noise cancel with the 800 giving some advanced users the option to battle cross talk with other metal detectors and power lines causing EMI.

Minelab Equinox Advanced settings Options. 800 on left, 600 on right.

Now which one do you want? That is up to you and what options are important to you. Both are great metal detectors! If you have any questions feel free to email us at [email protected] or call us at 405-206-9010.  Be glad to help you any way we can!

Here is an updated comparison chart with all of the differences between the Minelab Equinox 600 and 800! Please comment below on anything you would like to see changed or added!