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Why are gold metal detectors so expensive?
The best gold machines will have a flurry of high-tech features that ensures you can hit the hard soils where gold is often found.
This means having to tune out multiple types of false signals caused by electrical interference, hot rocks, and other minerals.
You will also need to acquire some depth and increase sensitivity for small nuggets.
This is a tall order to fill but one that the GPX 5000 is certainly capable of delivering.
If you’re trying to understand what this expensive metal detector can offer you, here is your 101 on the Minelab GPX 5000.
At a Glance…
✔️ Best Feature: MPS, DVT, & SETA technology
❌ Worst Feature: Price
👌 Ideal For: Shallow Water, Gold Fields, Gold Prospecting, Gold, Experts
Our Verdict: The GPX 5000 metal detector is a gold prospecting monster. It’s equipped with the best technology that pulse induction offers in the amateur market. With its very specific technologies designed for detecting gold, this is a tool that is made for an expert.
Who is the Minelab GPX 5000 Best Suited to?
Gold-hungry hobbyists, and I’m not just talking amateur gold hunters. I mean advanced prospectors that are looking for the best metal detectors in the amateur market that doesn’t cost upwards of five grand.
This is a tool for the experienced prospector that needs the specifications and features of a gold metal detector.
It’s expensive, but when an old hand needs more from their all-purpose metal detector, they need to upgrade to something that is designed to detect gold and all its variations that tends to be found in small sizes amongst mineral-riddled terrain.
If gold hunting is what you love to do then you should also take a look at the Minelab SDC 2300 metal detector. Its compact, lightweight and will fit in your backpack, check it out today.
How Does the Minelab GPX 5000 Perform?
If you’re familiar with the GPX 4500, you’ll find it rather easy to get started with the 5000 model, but if you’re completely new to the GPX models, be patient. There is some learning to acquire before you can use all its features to its full potential – there is a learning curve required.
It’s one of the best pulse induction metal detectors and is considered one of the best gold prospecting models in the market. After its release in 2013, it still holds that title and is easily considered a dream buy for many. For those lucky enough to own one, they will testify to its superior depth, sensitivity, and stability in the many tough ground conditions often found around gold such as hot rocks.
However, we know that PI detectors are no good when it comes to discrimination. This is true of the 5000, and at depth, discrimination will be somewhat unreliable.
This is not something to shy away from, as you’ll be finding more gold with this dedicated gold machine.
Features & Benefits
MPS, DVT, & SETA Technology
What are all these acronyms? Multi Period Sensing (MPS), Dual Voltage Technology (DVT), and Smart Electronic Timing Alignment (SETA).
These are three technologies that are at work that help you find all types of gold from the smallest nuggets to the larger “retirement” ones.
MPS is this PI’s ability to punch down to greater depths while still being able to locate the smallest nuggets in tough soils.
DVT is Minelab’s PI technology that uses two voltage levels to take MPS to the next realm of enhanced detection. The voltage levels are released at different time period pulses to achieve ultimate depth and sensitivity even in extremely mineralized ground.
SETA provides the ability to cancel noise signals due to electromagnetic interference from any source including the earth’s magnetic field. It does so using a complex algorithm that includes specific timing pulse releases while simultaneously measuring electric interference for the best sensitivity and depth detection at any given time.
8 Timings
What are timings? The timings are like the search patterns that govern the parameters of the electronics. They provide the best pulse induction patterns for soil conditions, depth, EMI interference, sensitivity to small targets, and the like.
The timings are: Sharp, Sens Extra, Normal, Enhance, and Sens Smooth. The three, new timings added to the 5000 are: Coin/Relic, Salt/Gold, and Fine Gold.
Minelab describes it as having 8 metal detectors in one. Depending on the many factors that go into searching for gold, you can choose the appropriate timing to ensure you’re using the right parameters for the job in any given terrain.
Rx Gain Improvements
What is Rx Gain? This is a feature that helps to you to hunt in heavily mineralized soils. Lower Rx gain levels means quieter operation because less ground signals are being picked up. However, you want to crank that Rx gain without too much noise so that you can increase the detector’s ability to pick up very small and deep targets.
While the tradeoff is usually increased noise, the 5000 offers 20 levels with significantly quiet operation for heavily mineralized ground. This is a huge benefit for gold prospectors as determining signals from gold markers and gold itself is important when they’re often found around minerals that tend to set the detector off.
Automatic Ground Balance
On such an expensive but state-of-the-art metal detector, you should expect all sorts of options with ground balancing, and you have it with the 5000.
Make setting adjustments for any type of soil including extremely mineralized soils with Fixed, Tracking, Tracking Speed, Ground Balance Type, and Quick-Trac.
Multiple Audio Options
Whether you have hearing issues, or you have an audio preference, you can bet that the GPX 5000 has an option that caters to your needs.
The audio options available on this gold detector are adjustable and there are many settings that you can fine-tune to maximize it for your level of hearing. Play with Threshold, Tone, Audio Type, Signal Peak, Response, Target Volume, Volume Limit, and Stabilizer.
Limitations
Price
It goes without saying that this gold monster has a monster of a price tag, but nothing this good comes cheap.
If you’re considering spending this much, it’s assumed that you have some experience under your belt and you would likely already know if this is exactly what you need to cash in more gold in the harshest gold prospecting fields.
Even though it has a high price tag, it’s now under $5000 which makes it a good buy. It’s certainly cheaper than some other PI models designed for detecting gold. Even for its price, the GPX 5000 still holds incredible value for its state-of-the-art technologies.
Popular Questions
Where is the Minelab GPX 5000 Made?
Genuine Minelab metal detectors are made in Australia. The GPX 5000 is covered with a manufacturer 3-year warranty that also covers any Minelab branded accessories that comes with it.
Buy from an authorized dealer as there are counterfeits in the market.
What Searchcoils come with the GPX 5000?
The GPX 5000 metal detector from Minelab comes with an 11” DD plus searchcoil and a 15” x 12” monoloop searchcoil.
The 5000 model is compatible with multiple other GPX searchcoils as large as 18” and as small as 8” and 10” x 5”.
What is the Maximum Depth of the Minelab GPX?
Even for a pulse induction metal detector, maximum depth is determined by the target, size, orientation, and soil conditions. PI metal detectors are known for their excellent depth detection, so they will outperform VLF machines especially in mineralized ground.
Small nuggets such as 1 g sizes can be found in 6” to 9” soils, but you could very well find them at deeper depths. Use the appropriate timings for the soil conditions to achieve maximum depth detection while taking into account all the other factors that affects detection on small targets.
How Heavy is the GPX 5000 Metal Detector?
The GPX 5000 has good heft to it weighing in at 7 lbs with the 11” searchcoil and battery attached. It’s not a lightweight tool, but there aren’t many things to complain about when you’re finding good-sized nuggets in the ground.
What Accessories does the GPX come with?
The GPX 5000 comes with two searchcoils, Koss 100 ohm headphones, and the lithium-ion battery with a car adapter charger and primary charger.
Conclusion
The Minelab GPX 5000 is a beast of a machine that provides results in the form of gold. If you’re an avid gold prospector, you need the best, and the 5000 model is one of the best gold machines available.
If you don’t want to spend upwards of $5000, your best bet is the GPX 5000. It offers unparalleled technologies for hunting in gold fields and even detecting on the beach. There isn’t anywhere you can’t go with a pulse induction machine made for gold. The proof will be in the pudding after some hard work treading ground.
Gold worth finding doesn’t come without work and without a good investment in a quality machine.
Further Reading:
- Fisher CZ-21 Metal Detector Review (10.5 inch Coil)
- Aquascan Aquapulse AQ1B Metal Detector Review
- Minelab GPZ 7000 Metal Detector Review
- Minelab SDC 2300 Metal Detector Review
- Minelab Excalibur II Metal Detector Review