The best gold detectors compared side by side

Gold nuggets in the open hand of a gold prospector

Gold prospecting

Gold detectors compared

Specialised detectors for nuggets and goldfields: six gold detectors – from the light high-frequency entry model to the professional tool for gold prospecting.

6 gold detectors
VLF, PI & ZVT
€799 to €11,099

What matters in a gold detector

Gold is small, often lies in mineralised ground and is usually hunted in remote terrain. These four points decide your success.

High frequency for small gold
Small nuggets only give weak signals. High-frequency detectors respond to them much more sensitively than coin detectors.
- Gold Monster 2000 12–76 kHz
- XP ORX up to 80 kHz*
- DEUS II HF2 coil
Mineralised ground
Goldfields are often heavily mineralised. Here the technology decides whether the detector runs quietly.
- Garrett AXIOM Pulse induction
- Magnetar 9000 PI + DRC
- GPZ 8000 GeoZVT™
- Gold Monster Multi-Au™
Weight & endurance
Gold prospecting often means many hours in rough terrain. Every gram counts.
- XP ORX 22 770 g
- Gold Monster 1.25 kg
- Magnetar 9000 ab 2.4 kg
- GPZ 8000 2.78 kg + harness
Where gold is realistic
In Germany you mostly find panning gold; nuggets are more likely in classic gold regions.
- Germany Flakes, gold panning
- Nugget fields Lapland, Australia
- Abroad licence often needed

* With the optional 24 × 13 cm HF coil. The standard coil of the ORX 22 works at 15, 28 and 54 kHz.

Six gold detectors compared

All figures according to the manufacturers – checked and selected by detectorists with over 30 years of field experience.

XP DEUS II with 24 x 13 cm HF2 high-frequency coil, remote control and WS6 wireless headphones for gold and coin hunting

Gold + coins

XP Metal Detectors

XP DEUS II 24×13 HF2 RC WS6

The most versatile gold detector in the comparison: FMF high-frequency coil for small gold, full discrimination for coins and relics, completely wireless, with coil and remote waterproof to 20 m.

Technology FMF multi-frequency, HF
Frequencies FMF + 49 single frequencies 4–45 kHz
Search coil 24 × 13 cm DD HF2
Waterproof Coil & RC to 20 m
Weight light – coil 350 g, RC 150 g
Battery RC approx. 25 h, WS6 approx. 15 h
Headphones WS6, wireless
Coins & relics yes, full discrimination
Ideal for Gold, coins & relics

12 factory and 12 custom search programs
5-year warranty (batteries, charger 2 years)

€1,599 incl. VAT

View XP DEUS II 24×13 HF2 RC WS6

Multi-Au™

Minelab

Minelab Gold Monster 2000

Specialist for small nuggets in mineralised ground: Multi-Au™ technology works simultaneously on 12 to 76 kHz – with its own beginner mode.

Technology Multi-Au™ simultaneous
Frequencies 12–76 kHz simultaneously
Search coil 12.7 cm (5″) DD
Waterproof Coil to 1 m, unit IP55
Weight 1.25 kg incl. battery
Battery 2 × Li-ion 2,700 mAh
Headphones wired (3.5 mm)
Coins & relics no, pure gold detector
Ideal for Small gold, mineralised ground

3 search programs: normal, difficult, beginner
Incl. telescopic shaft 65–138 cm and car charging clips

€2,199 incl. VAT

View Minelab Gold Monster 2000

XP ORX 22 WSA complete set with 22.5 cm high-frequency coil and WSA wireless headphones

Lightest detector

XP Metal Detectors

XP ORX 22 WSA

The affordable way into XP high-frequency technology: only 770 g, wireless, with wireless headphones – for gold, coins and relics.

Technology VLF high frequency, wireless
Frequencies 15 / 28 / 54 kHz (standard coil)
Search coil 22.5 cm DD HF
Waterproof Search coil
Weight 770 g
Battery Coil 20–28 h, RC 19 h
Headphones WSA, wireless
Coins & relics yes, 99 discrimination levels
Ideal for Entry into gold, light second detector

Up to 80 kHz with optional 24 × 13 cm HF coil
5-year warranty (batteries, charger 2 years)

€799 incl. VAT

View XP ORX 22 WSA

Pulse induction

Garrett

Garrett AXIOM

True pulse induction for nugget fields: ground mineralisation hardly interferes and depth on larger gold is high. Two coils and wireless headphones are included.

Technology Pulse induction (PI)
Frequencies Pulse rate 1,500 Hz
Search coil Mono + 13″ × 11″ DD
Waterproof Coils; unit rainproof
Weight 1.9 kg (11″ mono)
Battery up to 16 h (+6 h booster)
Headphones MS-3, wireless (Z-Lynk)
Coins & relics no, Iron Check™ instead of discrimination
Ideal for Nugget fields, entry into PI

Search modes Fine, Normal, Large, Salt
Incl. booster pack and carry bag

€3,995 incl. VAT

View Garrett AXIOM

Waterproof PI

Nokta

Nokta Magnetar 9000

Nokta's first pulse induction detector: two DRC coils for deep gold and micro nuggets, stable in mineralised ground – and the only PI detector in the comparison that is fully waterproof to 3 m.

Technology Advanced Pulse Induction + DRC
Frequencies PI, automatic noise cancel
Search coil 37 × 34 + 29 × 21 cm DRC
Waterproof complete, IP68 to 3 m
Weight 2.4 kg / 2.8 kg incl. battery
Battery 2 × Li-ion 48 Wh, up to 10 h each
Headphones Bluetooth, wireless
Coins & relics no, ferrous/non-ferrous identification
Ideal for Nugget fields, streams & rivers

Easy and expert menus, colour display
Incl. backpack, car charger, bungee and hipstick

€5,199 incl. VAT

View Nokta Magnetar 9000

Pro flagship

Minelab

Minelab GPZ 8000

The tool for professional gold prospecting: GeoZVT™ for extreme depth even in the most difficult ground, with a harness for long days out.

Technology GeoZVT™ (Zero Voltage Transmission)
Frequencies ZVT, 5 search modes
Search coil Z18 (18″) toroid
Waterproof not specified by manufacturer
Weight 2.78 kg (with harness)
Battery 2 × Li-ion 7.2 V / 46 Wh
Headphones WM 14 wireless module + wired headphones
Coins & relics no, pure gold detector
Ideal for Professional prospecting, extreme depth

Operating range −10 to +50 °C
Incl. Pro-Swing 125 harness and hip supports

€11,099 incl. VAT

View Minelab GPZ 8000

Technical data according to the manufacturers. Actual performance depends on soil type, mineralisation and the size of the gold.

Frequently asked questions about gold prospecting

Which gold detector is the best?

That depends on where you search. For central Europe, where coins and relics are waiting alongside gold, the XP DEUS II with the HF2 coil is the most versatile choice. For pure nugget hunting in mineralised goldfields, specialist detectors such as the Minelab Gold Monster 2000, Garrett AXIOM, Nokta Magnetar 9000 or Minelab GPZ 8000 play to their strengths.

What is the difference between VLF and pulse induction?

VLF detectors such as the XP ORX or DEUS II work with sine-wave frequencies, respond very well to small gold at high frequencies and can tell iron from non-ferrous metal. Pulse induction detectors such as the Garrett AXIOM or Nokta Magnetar 9000 are hardly affected by mineralised ground and reach greater depth on larger gold, but only discriminate between metals to a limited extent.

Why do you need a high frequency for gold?

Small pieces of gold give only a weak signal. The higher the operating frequency, the more sensitively a VLF detector responds to very small objects. That is why gold detectors operate much higher than typical coin detectors – the Gold Monster 2000, for example, with 12 to 76 kHz simultaneously.

Which gold detector is waterproof?

On the XP DEUS II, the coil and remote control are waterproof to 20 m. Among the pulse induction detectors, the Nokta Magnetar 9000 is fully waterproof to IP68 down to 3 m and therefore suitable for streams, rivers and the beach. On the Gold Monster 2000, XP ORX and Garrett AXIOM only the search coils are waterproof.

Can you find gold with a metal detector in Germany?

In Germany, gold occurs almost only as fine flakes in rivers, which are too small for detectors – a gold pan is the right tool for that. Gold detectors are worthwhile above all on nugget fields, for example in Lapland, Australia or Africa. Local rules apply there, and you often need a licence or a claim.

Can you also hunt coins with a gold detector?

Only with detectors that can discriminate between metals. The XP DEUS II and XP ORX are equally suitable for gold, coins and relics. The Gold Monster 2000, Garrett AXIOM, Nokta Magnetar 9000 and GPZ 8000 are pure gold detectors and not intended for coin and relic hunting.

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