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The Quest Metal Detectors surprised the whole community by presenting a new series of extra cheap yet pretty promising metal detectors – Quest X10 and Quest X5. Both models are in the segment for beginner detectorists; Quest X10 metal detector is a bit more complicated than Quest X5 metal detector. However, the most intriguing part is the price! Both items offer basic functions necessary for efficient search, plus Ground balance, but each costs as a pinpointer. X5 is especially affordable.
This price at bargain-basement levels makes most detectorists suspicious, because in terms of functions, both new Quests are direct competition to Nokta Makro Simplex and Minelab Vanquish, yet it is not clear whether they will make real competition when one goes out in a field. If you are as intrigued as we are, keep reading the review.
Features a continuous sinusoidal search wave applied to the ground, by creating a specific electromagnetic field.
The best coil shape for a beginner user, easy to manage and bringing finds on any type of the soil, and in salty waters as well.
This combo is the best for beginner detectorists, making tuning easy, but saving space for unique individual settings.
Manual settings for better depth of reach, and finding deeper targets.
A nice feature useful for beginner detectorists who wants a wider range of potential locations for treasure hunting.
This is a valuable feature to be able to locate the potential target more accurately. With pinpoint, less time and effort is waster to dig out the item, and less risk exists to damage the item while digging it out.
Two of the most obvious features that we immediately notice in Quest X10, a super affordable noob-friendly metal detector, are pinpoint search mode (which is pretty weird considering that the whole thing by Quest costs as a decent quality pinpointer by a different brand), and manual ground balance. There are only two beginner-level detectors that have a manual ground balance – Quest X10 and Nokta Makro Simplex.
Moreover, Quest decided to finish everybody off and added three fixed search modes plus one customizable mode, adjustable audio signal, Target ID, Threshold, and flashlight! Like, really? We already hear Garrett, Fisher and Bounty Hunter moaning with pain outside the camera’s view.
Quest X5 is a bit more primitive, but even less expensive. If both models turn out to be efficient and handy enough, the whole affordable metal detectors niche will have to adapt to those guys in order to even stay in the market.
Quest X10 metal detector has three fixed search modes plus one customizable mode, plus pinpoint search mode. Pinpoint mode allows to locate targets more accurately without digging the location backward and forward. Customizable mode is pretty handy in case you have some special conditions that you face often; instead of tuning the machine every time, you can save the settings in this search mode.
Other three fixed modes include All metal, Coin, and Jewelry. Small coil makes the machine perfect in search for smaller finds, so your most probable targets are, yeah, coins and jewelry. All metal mode is handy in cleaner areas when you expect to spot something interesting.
To sum it up, four search modes plus pinpoint is more than enough for a budget-friendly beginner-level device.
Quest X5 metal detector doesn’t has the Custom search Mode.
This mode suggests no discrimination to make it possible to spot all potentially valuable targets among worthless ones and trash. Not really helpful on trashy locations, All Metal is good when the data about potential target is not comprehensive enough in other modes.
This is a classic regime suited for coins search. It works well with fine items in different depths.
Not suitable for ancient relics, this search mode will show itself well with contemporary-made rings, necklaces, bracelets, and watches.
This mode option allows the user to program and reprogram their own combination of settings to meet specific conditions of the location, or meet certain detectorist’s need to solve a certain task.
To give you a full view of things, here are the technical specifications of X10 by Quest:
Now, if one looks at all these tech specs closer, it is easy to notice that some features can actually be found in more expensive machines, making them expensive because these features are there. Here, we get a bunch of cool stuff in a device weighing like a pomelo. Quest seems to outdo all other brands by now.
In case you are wondering about the “younger brother” in the series, well, Quest X5 is even less costly. It is also claimed a “family” metal detector, fit to be shared with a kid, or generally with a person who has never detected before, and may not be physically strong enough to handle a heavier machine. Plus, collapsible shaft makes it really convenient for teenagers and women.
In terms of differences between X10 and X5, they are as follows:
Yeah, you read it right. All the stuff you are so excited about in X10 you get in X5 – the DD coil, and Target ID, and ground balance, and pinpoint mode, and even the blarmed flashlight! The unit is also very lightweight.
As it becomes totally clear now, Quest presented two very affordable machines stuffed with features that have never ever been available in devices so cheap. If X10 and X5 show themselves efficient and will bring finds, the whole niche will have to transform, to make competition to sneaky Quest.
Two new machines by Quest caused a real jiggers in the metal detecting world. Treasure hunters check out the tech specs and the price and scratch their heads in awe, while metal detector manufacturing brands either pretend they are fine, or just pull their hair out in rage. Quest has definitely created waves, and the X10 – X5 series is very promising. The question is how they function in the field. So we have to wait for comprehensive feedback from detectorists who decides to try either machine out.
Quest X10
Hi detectorists! I’m Michael Moore, founder of this website, and a dedicated treasure hunter since 2013. If you want to be posted about the most recent news and updates in metal detecting, releases, and trends, subscribe!
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