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Compared to VLF metal detectors, Pulse Induction machines are way more advanced and effective.
They can scan deeper, handle mineralization, and some of them can be used underwater.
If you’re looking for PI detectors, you will find all kinds of brands like Garrett, Minelab, Nokta, Makro, and many more.
To choose the best pulse induction metal detector, you need to go through their features and the value they offer.
To help you save time, I have compiled a list of some of the best Pulse Induction metal detectors available on the market.
Let’s take a look at them and find the right one for you.
Best Pulse Induction Metal Detectors 2024
Last update on 2024-05-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
How Do Pulse Induction Metal Detectors Work?
In comparison to conventional VLF metal detectors, pulse induction detectors perform much better. They are structured in a way that enhances their abilities to hunt effectively.
Here is how a PI metal detector works:
The detector uses multiple or single coils that are designed to serve the dual purpose of transmitting and receiving the pulses. These pulses last for milliseconds.
During each pulse, a magnetic field is generated. At the end of the pulse, that magnetic field reverses and collapses producing a sharp mechanical spike
This cycle is called reflected pulse length. Around 100 pulses are transmitted in one second, and the process keeps repeating when the detector is being used.
The frequency of pulses transmission varies between models and the company manufacturing them.
Equipped with pulse technology, PI detectors don’t face any problems from minerals present in the soil and have high conductivity. These metal detectors are designed to detect metals only.
The detectors come with a sampling circuit that measures the duration at which the reverse polarity and collapse process occurs. This process is only initiated when the detector finds any metal.
If the process takes a lot longer, even by microseconds, it means the machine has identified a target.
On the other hand, if the duration is shorter, there is no target in that particular spot.
What To Look For In A Pulse Induction Metal Detector?
PI metal detectors work best in saltwater, mineralized ground, and wet sand. They can ignore mineralization without compromising on sensitivity levels.
You need to look for some key features in a PI detector to make the right purchase.
These are some of the notable features that you need to look for in a PI metal detector.
Waterproof
There are many places where you might need a waterproof metal detector. The most common places include beaches, creeks, rivers, ponds, and more.
Moreover, you can also get caught in the rain with nowhere to hide. With a waterproof metal detector, you won’t have to worry about such shortcomings.
If entirely waterproof metal detectors are going over your budget, you can look for the ones that support waterproof coils, as coils are the most important part of a detector.
Submersible Depth
If you happen to find an untouched shipwreck, grab a PI metal detector and find some precious treasure.
Before you dive right in, make sure to check the depth capacity of your metal detector.
If you cross the pressure-enduring capacity of your detector, it could get damaged severely.
Discrimination
Discrimination plays a significant role in metal detectors. This feature allows the machine to provide accurate target location in areas with high mineralization.
PI metal detectors are designed to work perfectly in saltwater and grounds with high mineralization.
Some PI detectors might need a little adjustment at times, this is where a good discrimination configuration comes to your assistance.
Sensitivity Or Iron Check
Iron check is a useful feature in pulse induction metal detectors, but it is not present in every PI metal detector.
As PI detectors don’t use modes to filter objects or unwanted targets or trash, having a sensitivity or iron check filter can be useful.
Adjustable sensitivity is the best way to eliminate iron targets or unwanted metals from the detection pattern.
Continuous Ground Balance Adjustment
If your PI metal detector has a continuous ground balance adjustment feature, then you have one of the best machines on the market.
A metal detector that adjusts ground balance automatically helps you detect metal conveniently when you’re hunting in an area with mixed terrains and hot rocks.
Coil Size
Metal detectors come with coils that vary in terms of size and abilities. So when choosing a coil, you need to understand what you’re using it for.
If you are planning to hunt shipwrecks, going deep underwater, or just walking on the shore, a small coil of 8-inches on the Garrett Sea Hunter or 5.5 inches on the PulseDive should work fine for you.
These small coils are lightweight and fit easily between small spaces.
In large goldfields, you can use larger coils such as the 14-inch DD ones from Lorenz. It will help you cover a larger area in a shorter period.
For best results, look for PI detectors that enable you to swap coils.
Top 5 Pulse Induction Detectors
If you’re ready to spend a great amount of money on PI detectors, it would be fair to expect exceptional performance from it.
However, some detectors fail to make the cut even with their high price.
To help you avoid such devices, I have reviewed some of the best PI machines while considering important aspects such as sensitivity, quality, search depth, and cost.
Let’s take a look at them.
Nokta Makro PulseDive 2-in-1
After purchasing a metal detector, detectorists also have to bear the expense of buying a good pinpointer with all the latest features.
The Nokta Makro PulseDive 2-in-1 solves this problem for you with its unique features.
Firstly, it is a handheld metal detector that can help you to locate some impressive items.
Second, although it is a powerful detector, it still costs the same as a pinpointer. How incredible!
It can be hard to use the PulseDive 2-in-1 at first. The detector is 26 inches long, and you have to attach a 4-inch coil to turn it into a pulse induction device.
Just remove the coil, and you have a pinpointer.
The Nokta Makro can be used as a supplementary metal detector on land, but its wide range of features can create endless possibilities for you.
It can be submerged up to 200 feet underwater. You can use the detector with wireless waterproof headphones.
When the detector identifies a target, it sends a signal to the user with audio and vibration feedback in various modes.
There are audio-only mode, vibration-only mode, and audio and vibration-only mode to choose from. It has an LED light indicator that enables you to spot items in dark places underwater.
Just like most pinpointers, the РulѕеDіvе 2-in-1 comes with a retune button, replaceable hardshell case, and a lost alarm.
Pros:
- Affordable and reasonable price
- Detector and pinpointer combined
- Submersible up to 200 feet
- Audio and vibration feedback
Cons:
- Not suitable for small targets
Minelab GPX 5000
While you’re buying a metal detector, why not get one that can also detect gold?
The Minelab GPX 5000 has some promising features that set it apart from other metal detectors. It has a few unique features you can only find with it.
It features Multi-Period Sensing (MPS) technology that allows you to reach deeper into the ground and find gold.
Because of this technology, gold can be found in practically any terrain.
If gold is not the only thing you want to find, there is another technology in the Minelab GPX 5000 that you might find useful i.e. DVT.
Dual Volt Technology or DVT enables the machine to use two voltage levels at different timings. This enhances the depth and sensitivity of the machine and saves you from losing a target.
If you’ve come across the acronym SETA and don’t know what it means, you can read on to not only learn but also understand it.
Ѕmаrt Еlесtrоnіс Тіmіng Аlіgnmеnt (SETA) is useful against EMI interference and the earth’s magnetic field.
SETA monitors the interferences and lets the machine release the pulse at the exact time. It gives you maximum depth and sensitivity by overcoming all kinds of interference.
The Minelab GPX 5000 comes with 8 different pulse release timings. These timings are similar to search modes, but you can use them to change or increase the pulse induction patterns.
Some of the notable things about the Minelab GPX 5000 are that it comes with loads of accessories, performs exceptionally well, weighs around 7lbs.
However, it is a little pricey.
Pros:
- Multi-Period Sensing (MPS) technology
- Dual Volt Technology or DVT
- Ѕmаrt Еlесtrоnіс Тіmіng Аlіgnmеnt (SETA)
- 8 different pulse release timings
Cons:
- It is heavy
Garrett ATX Extreme
Garrett is a widely respected brand among detectorists. The company’s various types of equipment are easy to use and have features that make prospecting easier.
When it comes to pulse induction metal detectors, the company has developed the Garrett ATX Extreme which is built on the same ideology as other PI detectors.
If you have been using Garrett metal detectors in the past, you won’t find it challenging to understand and use the ATX Extreme.
The features included in the ATX Extreme are similar to advanced VLF detectors. Some of them include Ground Track, Iron Check, and Frequency Scan.
Mineralization might be a huge obstacle for VLF detectors, but PI detectors are barely affected by it.
However, most PI metal detectors come with ground balance abilities that offer stability when needed.
With Iron check, Iron Audio, and adjustable threshold features, you can create a flawless discrimination pattern that works perfectly when you attach a DD coil.
The ATX Extreme also allows you to adjust the frequency slightly to avoid any EMI interference.
Due to its multiple features, the ATX extreme easily trumps most PI metal detectors on the market.
Besides these features, it has other commendable abilities such as saltwater and freshwater immunity, and being submersible up to 10 feet.
The only downside of Garrett ATX Extreme is its weight. The detector weighs almost 7 pounds and can cause severe pain in the arms. You can avoid it by purchasing a harness.
Pros:
- It can be submerged underwater for up to 10-feet
- Comes with ground balance adjustable ability for deeper and precise scans
- Easy to carry due to its collapsible construction
- It has the Iron check feature that helps detect valuable metal in areas filled with trash
- Frequency Scan
Cons:
- It weighs a lot, and holding it for too long is painful
White’s TDI BeachHunter
If you want to go treasure hunting on a beach, conventional VLF detectors might not be able to help you much.
Due to the high mineralization, you will need a PI metal detector designed for beach use. The White’s TDI BeachHunter can be a great solution to your beach hunting difficulties.
Beach detectors should be waterproof as they are used in areas that are very close to water.
In the case of the TDI, both the detector and headphones included with it are waterproof and suitable for use in or around water.
Most importantly, it can be submerged underwater for up to 25 feet. The level of accuracy you get with the TDI BeachHunter is quite impressive.
It uses the dual-tone discrimination feature to eliminate waste items like foil, pull tabs, and bottle caps to locate valuable objects like coins.
If you want to find gold items, you will have to turn this feature off.
Since it has been designed for deep underwater use, it does not have a digital display. The machine signals to the user through audio tones when it detects valuables.
Its dual-field search coil is another notable feature of the TDI BeachHunter.
The coil combines a 12-inch coil that works on the outer side and a 6-inch coil that works in the inner part of the detection radius.
From an experienced detectorist’s perspective, the battery life could have been longer as it only lasts for 4-6 hours, which is not ideal.
You might have to carry additional battery packs for uninterrupted metal hunting.
Pros:
- Submersible up to 25-feet
- Uses Dual-tone discrimination for filtering waste items
- Designed specifically for beach use
- Comes with a harness to hold the detector
Cons:
- It has a very short battery life
Garrett Sea Hunter Mark II
If you are low on budget but looking for an affordable beach PI metal detector, the Garrett Sea Hunter Mark II can be the perfect pick for you.
Garrett’s Sea Hunter Mark II works exceptionally well underwater and has a no-display control system so it’s easy and quick to make adjustments or change features.
Just like the BeachHunter, if the device finds anything, the machine produces loud tones as a signal.
To help you use the metal detector in public, the machine comes with a headphone jack to plug your headphones.
It has an adjustable threshold to configure the detector to produce sounds only when a valuable target is located.
If you’re wondering how deep can you go with this metal detector? Well, the answer is 200 feet. You would need scuba gear to scale a depth like that.
It comes with waterproof headphones, which make the deal even better. You can use four configurations underwater to find valuable things.
With Mark II, you get two elimination modes that provide some level of discrimination that is effective to an extent.
However, it is not that efficient to be relied on completely.
The Garrett Sea Hunter Mark II works well on land, but since there is no screen and it has only audio alerts, you will end up digging everything.
I would recommend you to stick to the shore and use a sand sifter to find items faster.
Pros:
- Available at an affordable price
- Submersible up to 200 feet
- It has a headphone jack to connect the waterproof headphones
- Produces on audio signal only
- The frequencies have been optimized to enable the detector to work perfectly.
Cons:
- You can’t rely on discrimination 100%
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Pulse Induction Metal Detector?
Based on the various audience reviews and the number of functionalities included, the Minelab GPX 5000 is the Best Pulse Induction metal detector that you can buy.
Its numerous features and technologies make metal detecting not only easy and convenient but also faster. Moreover, the interface is made of only knobs and buttons, so the machine is easier to use.
Whаt Iѕ Thе Моѕt Ассurаtе Меtаl Dеtесtоr?
When treasure hunting, accuracy can have multiple meanings and references. If you are looking for accuracy by discrimination, the answer will certainly be one of the VLF detectors.
However, if you’re looking for accuracy in Target IDs and audio, you can go for a multi-frequency metal detector.
Pulse Induction detectors are accurate when used in mineralized soil.
What Metal Detector Goes The Deepest?
The metal detector with the deepest scanning abilities belongs to the commercial range.
These metal detectors are very different from the regular ones and they function differently.
The detector with the deepest scan ability is the Makro DeepHunter 3D Pro that can detect metal up to 100 centimeters.
It comes with a screen that gives you a 3D visual of the scanned object.