Understanding and setting up Morph 1 & Morph 2 correctly
What the two Audio Morphing presets of the XP DEUS II really do, when to use which, and which starting values make sense in practice.
In short: Morph 1 and Morph 2 are not "more depth at the push of a button" programs, but two differently tuned Audio Morphing presets. Morph 1 highlights faint, distant targets, Morph 2 makes shallow targets particularly quick to recognise by ear.
With the big V4 update, XP fundamentally extended the DEUS II: two independent detection channels, true stereo output and dynamic audio behaviour that changes the sound as you approach a target. This article puts the new morphing modes into perspective objectively, explains the technical basics and gives you proven starting points for fields, meadows, parks and iron-infested areas.
The basis: Multi-Processing instead of a single mode
Before V4, you chose a search mode and set sensitivity, reactivity, iron volume and other parameters there – valid for the entire search session. This classic use is still possible. What is new is that, with compatible stereo headphones, the DEUS II can run two completely independent detection channels at the same time – with one and the same coil sweep, with one coil and the same frequencies.
Channel 1 (CH1)
Your actual main program – the familiar basis for sound and decisions. Usually a motion discrimination program with reliable target IDs.
Channel 2 (CH2)
The supplementary channel: off, all metal or discrimination. With its own reactivity, sensitivity and audio type – positionable left/right in the stereo image.
Important for contextThe two channels do not work with two separate search frequencies. The selected coil/FMF frequency basis applies to both channels. What differs above all is the audio type, volume, reactivity, sensitivity, discrimination/all-metal behaviour and the stereo distribution.
Requirements
- A XP DEUS II with firmware 4.x on the remote control, headphones and coil – all components on the identical firmware version.
- True stereo headphones: WS6 ST, WSA ST or WSA XL ST. The menus for Multi-Processing and morphing are only unlocked with paired stereo headphones.
- Back up or document your own programs before an update – user programs may be lost or reset during the firmware update.
Update warning V4.0Version 4.0 could only be installed with stereo headphones. Anyone who installed V4.0 on a device with old WS6 or WSA II headphones ended up with silent headphones and had to roll the remote control back to V3.1. This problem is fixed in V4.1.
Firmware roadmap: V4.0 → V4.1 → V4.2
The morphing functions were introduced with V4.0 and extended in the following versions. A short overview so that you know what your device should be able to do.
Introduction of Stereo Multi-Processing, Multi-Reactivity and Audio Morphing. Stereo chorus for faint, deep targets. Parallel use of motion and non-motion mode. Fourth audio type "Low Square". Only usable with stereo headphones.
Full ecosystem compatibility: non-stereo headphones (WSA II, WSA II XL, WS6) can be updated again. "Low Square" for everyone. New MI-6 stereo audio options and independent MI-6 volume. Improved static mode on channel 2 with fine pitch correction for more depth. Dual Axis detection.
Compatibility update: XP connects the DEUS II and ICON worlds. The 28 cm ICON coil becomes DEUS II compatible, and all DEUS II wireless headphones also work with the XP ICON and ICON X. Plus minor bug fixes.
Before every updateremote control and bring all wireless headphones to the same version. Devices with different firmware versions no longer work together.
What "morphing" means acoustically
Morphing combines two audio responses depending on how strongly or how close a target lies under the coil. The sound therefore changes as you approach the target: an object at great depth sounds different on the first sweep than the same object directly under the coil. This makes the distance to the target audible – without looking at the display.
No centimetre displayMorphing is intended as acoustic information about depth or signal strength, not as a reliable absolute depth reading. Ground mineralisation, object size, position, material and masking by iron also change the sound.
In addition, the stereo chorusworks alongside it: it widens faint, deep signals in stereo space and gives them a spatial "presence". This makes whisper signals stand out audibly better from the background noise.
Morph 1 vs. Morph 2 compared
Swipe the table sideways
| Feature | Morph 1 | Morph 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Basic concept | Two-tone morphing | Three-tone character on channel 1 |
| Sound on approach | Two harmonic tone pairs increasingly blend | Soft, harmonious transition across iron and non-ferrous |
| Special feature | Chorus effect for distant or faint targets | Channel 2 only becomes clearly audible very close to the target |
| Practical focus | Better perception of deep, marginal and faint signals | Shallow targets and quick proximity/surface information |
| Learning effort | Higher – faint signals and chorus are unfamiliar at first | More intuitive – shallow targets "open up" clearly differently |
| Useful on | Quiet, frequently searched areas; clean to moderately iron-laden fields; deep target hunting | General field searching, parks/meadows, areas with lots of small surface metal |
| Main risk | Overly aggressive values overemphasise ground and tiny signals | Quickly becomes very "lively" with lots of surface trash |
Morph 1 in detail
The factory preset is based on two tones. Both ferrous and non-ferrous targets change their sound on approach through the mixing of harmonic tone pairs. For distant or faint targets, a chorus effect is also blended in so that they sound wider and more noticeable.
Morph 2 in detail
Channel 1 works with a three-tone approach. Channel 2 only becomes clear when the coil gets very close to the target. This makes targets near the surface acoustically noticeable and allows a particularly soft transition between different types of target. The range and strength of this effect can be extended via the sensitivity of channel 2.
The simplest practical trick: reading depth from channel behaviour
Regardless of the Morph preset, the two-channel principle gives a very useful rule of thumb. Set channel 2 to a lower sensitivity than channel 1. This gives channel 2 less detection depth – and the channel behaviour tells you immediately roughly how deep a target lies.
Audible on channel 1 only
The target is probably deep in the ground. Channel 2, with its shorter range, does not reach it yet.
Audible on both channels
The target is probably near the surface – both channels respond.
Best practical settings
The "best" setting depends on the area. The following values are starting points, not dogmas. XP itself points out that the factory effects have been deliberately kept moderate so that the sound is not overwhelming. What has proven itself: use the factory preset unchanged at first, get used to it on known targets and then change only one parameter at a time.
Setup A · Morph 1 for deep coins and faint signals
The most sensible start for experienced detectorists on a field with little to moderate iron.
Swipe the table sideways
| Setting | Starting value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Base | Morph 1 | Two-tone morphing plus chorus for faint targets |
| Channel 1 | Leave as main channel | The familiar main sound remains the basis for decisions |
| Channel 2 | Active, audible, not dominant | Adds depth/signal character instead of overwhelming |
| CH2 sensitivity | Factory, then increase step by step | More CH2 sensitivity extends the morph range, but increases noise |
| Reactivity | 1.5–2.5 | Good depth with still usable separation (clean field) |
| Reactivity with iron | 2.5–3 | Better unmasking and target separation |
| Audio Response | 3–4 | Preserves volume dynamics for depth estimation |
| Chorus / FX | Factory; on quiet ground, test FX for deep targets | Enhances the spatial presence of deep signals |
| Stereo balance | 50/50 | Learn the sound language of both channels first |
| Sweep | Calm to medium | Sweeping too hastily takes away marginal depth information |
Do not turn Audio Response up too farIt increases the volume of very deep signals, but delivers no additional detection depth. At high values, small false/ground signals become louder, the sound dynamics are compressed and depth estimation gets worse.
When to dig? With Morph 1, checking is worthwhile above all for reproducible, narrow, repeatable signals that keep their spatial/chorus-like character on a clean cross-sweep. A broad, changeable "wobble" or one that can only be heard from one direction is initially more a target to check than a clear good signal.
Setup B · Morph 2 as a universal learning and shallow-target mode
If you want to integrate morphing into your everyday detecting in a meaningful way for the first time, Morph 2 is usually the easier start.
Swipe the table sideways
| Setting | Starting value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Base | Morph 2 | Shallow targets are marked very clearly by ear |
| Channel 1 | Keep factory value | The basic 3-tone character should be learned |
| Channel 2 | Factory setting | Only joins in clearly in the immediate vicinity of the target |
| CH2 sensitivity | Only increase after 1–2 search sessions | More sensitivity enlarges the audible morph range |
| Reactivity | 2–2.5 | Strong all-round range on fields, meadows and normal trash levels |
| Reactivity with lots of iron | 2.5–3.5 | Better separation of non-ferrous next to iron |
| Audio Response | 3–4 | Preserve good depth/volume dynamics |
| Sweep | Steady, not hectic | You hear better when channel 2 joins in |
| Use | Fields, meadows, parks (moderately trashy) | Good orientation for shallow and medium-depth targets |
Morph 2 is particularly useful if you hear many non-ferrous targets near the surface, thin foil, aluminium, tiny pieces or modern losses and want to judge their proximity more quickly. But it is not discrimination magic: a shallow scrap of aluminium can still sound very convincing.
Setup C · iron-laden field – better Dual React than forcing Morph
On really iron-infested medieval sites, I would not choose Morph as the first tool. There, combining different reactivities is usually more important.
- Dual React combines a highly reactive channel for targets near the surface or near iron with a lower-reactivity channel for deep targets.
- High reactivity helps separate targets lying close together; low reactivity gives more depth in suitable conditions.
- Proven starting point for your own stereo configuration: channel 1 with reactivity approx. 3 and discrimination as the main channel, channel 2 with approx. reactivity 1 and a deeper/calmer sound profile (e.g. Low Square) as a supplement.
Specific program starting points for stereo
Prg. 1 – GENERAL
Base GENERAL (FMF). Reactivity 2–2.5, discrimination 8–12, 3–5 tones recommended.
Channel 1 (L): Reactivity 3.0 / disc 10 / Pitch
Channel 2 (R): Reactivity 1.0 / Low Square
Audio Morphing: ON
Prg. 5 – PARK
Base PARK (FMF). B.Caps at 2, notch 23–35 against aluminium foil, reactivity 1.5–2.
Channel 1: Standard Park
Channel 2: Reactivity 0.5–1.0 for deep coins
Multi-Reactivity: ON · Stereo chorus: active
Your ear adapts quicklyWith Multi-Reactivity and morphing, a little patience pays off – give yourself one or two outings to internalise the new sounds.
Operation: activating a preset
- Switch on the stereo headphones and pair them correctly.
- Start the DEUS II and choose the base program you want.
- Open the menu and go to the Multi-Processing section (MULTI-PROC).
- Use the − and + buttons to switch between Morph 1, Morph 2, Dual React and Dual Axis.
- First do at least one complete search session with the factory values.
- Only then open the expert section and change individual values.
- Save a successful setup as a user program – the active Multi-Process state is included.
Interpreting the parameters correctly
Swipe the table sideways
| Parameter | Sensible use |
|---|---|
| CH1 / CH2 | CH1 is the current main program; CH2 can be off, All Metal or Discri |
| Pan/stereo bar | Controls the position or mix of both channels; start with 50/50 |
| CH2 sensitivity | Determines how strongly/widely the second signal contributes to morphing |
| Reactivity | 0–1 for quiet, open areas and depth; approx. 2–2.5 as the all-round range; 3–5 with iron, dense trash or difficult mineralisation |
| Audio Type | Different sound characters per channel; Low Square is suitable as a calm supplementary channel |
| Audio Response | Only volume/dynamic behaviour, no real extra depth |
| FX (chorus) | Spatial widening – documented for deep targets, shallow targets, deep iron and shallow iron |
| CH2 reactivity below 0 | Activates auto-tune/non-motion variants in the second channel; useful for deliberate work with Dual Axis or a static channel |
On the FX assignmentThe four chorus profiles for deep/shallow targets and deep/shallow iron are described in the XP addendum documentation for the V4 update. Basic principle: the chorus spatially highlights faint, deep signals; very distinctive sound profiles can be created for iron.
Specific recommendation for field and historic site searching
- Morph 2 first – leave it almost original for two to three outings. It conveys the basic principle fastest, because shallow targets react in a clearly audibly different way.
- Then Morph 1 on quiet, well-searched areas. There, the chorus is really helpful with repeatable, faint marginal signals.
- On heavily iron-laden medieval sites, it is better to test Dual React in parallel – the combination of high separation and a deeper channel often achieves more in practice than a complex Morph soundscape.
- Change only one parameter per outing : first CH2 sensitivity, then balance, then FX and reactivity.
- Set up a small test field: the same class of object at approx. 5, 15 and 25–30 cm depth, plus a non-ferrous target directly next to iron. Do not trust air tests – the real ground response is what counts.
Most common mistakeTurning Morph 1 "up" to the extreme and then treating every broad, chorus-like whisper as a deep target. Better: low to medium Audio Response, moderate CH2 sensitivity, slow reproducible sweeps and consistent cross-sweeping. Morphing then becomes additional information – while sound cleanliness, repeatability and behaviour from several directions remain the most important dig decisions.
Frequently asked questions
Do I absolutely need stereo headphones for Morph 1 and Morph 2?
Yes. The morphing and Multi-Processing menus are only unlocked with paired stereo headphones: WS6 ST, WSA ST or WSA XL ST. Without stereo headphones, the DEUS II stays in classic single-channel operation.
What is the difference between Morph 1 and Morph 2 in one sentence?
Morph 1 (two-tone plus chorus) highlights faint, deep targets; Morph 2 (three-tone on channel 1, channel 2 only in the immediate vicinity) marks shallow targets particularly clearly.
Does morphing show depth in centimetres?
No. Morphing provides acoustic information about depth or signal strength, not an absolute figure in centimetres. Ground mineralisation, object size, position, material and iron masking also influence the sound.
Which preset is best for getting started?
Morph 2. Shallow targets react in a clearly audibly different way, so you grasp the basic principle fastest. Two to three outings with the factory values are usually enough.
And on heavily iron-laden areas?
There, Dual React is often the better choice: a highly reactive channel for close/iron-adjacent targets plus a lower-reactivity channel for depth. The combination often achieves more than a complex Morph soundscape.
Does Audio Response increase detection depth?
No. Audio Response only changes volume and dynamics. Values that are too high make small false and ground signals louder and worsen depth estimation.
Matching accessories & detectors
Want to get the most out of the stereo experience, or have questions about the right configuration? We are happy to advise you – from detectorists for detectorists.
Sources: XP Metal Detectors (official V4.0/V4.1 update pages and addendum documentation) as well as independent practical and dealer descriptions. Information without guarantee; firmware functions may change with future updates.
