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It’s interesting to see how such a pricey metal detector actually makes an impression on users.
The assumed performance is expected, but actually seeing people to pay for it is not.
Needless to say, this is a high-end metal detector for the serious prospector; the type of prospector that expects to pay themselves off with their finds.
If this sounds like you, then you must determine if the Minelab GPZ 7000 is worth the cost and the hype.
At a Glance…
✔️ Best Feature: ZVT technology
❌ Worst Feature: Steep learning curve
👌 Ideal For: Shallow Water, Highly-mineralized soils, Gold, Prospecting, Intermediates, Experts
- ZVT technology
- Super-D coil technology
- Precision ground balance
- Excellent features
- Gold Mode & Ground Type Menu

Our Verdict: The price and initial use of the GPZ 7000 may not wow you, but when you’re finding gold deeper than ever before and are clearing up the ground of nuggets in previously hunted areas, you’ll be convinced about Minelab’s new gold metal detector. Its performance is unlike anything you’ve seen before.
Who is the Minelab GPZ 7000 Best Suited to?
While you don’t have to be an expert to find gold, this is a machine recommended for experts for the harshest conditions for those who are obsessed with digging up everything there is to dig up.
Not only does the price indicate that this isn’t some entry-level detector for beginners to learn on, but the new technologies will also be held under a scrutinous eye of even the most advanced detectorist.
This is an overkill metal detector for coin shooting or finding the random relic. This is a prospecting machine designed to find one thing – gold. When gold nuggets are the name of the game and you do this for a living, this is the machine to have.
How Does the Minelab GPZ 7000 Perform?
Does the GPZ 7000 trump Minelab’s other metal detectors?
Well, it’s actually much different and can’t be compared to any other alternative as it has new metal detector technology and new searchcoil tech too. Everything about it has made it the most effective metal detector available today.
It’s absolutely worth selling your GPZ 5000 and all its accessories for the upgrade if you only want one prospecting machine. With the new ZVT and searchcoil technologies, you will find gold in all its shapes and sizes where it is to be found. Old hunting grounds now become new again.
While the simplified menu makes things easy – Gold Mode & Ground Type, there’s still a few things to learn as this is new technology. Expect to spend some time learning the system to make the most of the GPZ 7000.
With the GPZ 7000 having come down about $2000 from its original retail price, it’s now more of a realistic buy for potential buyers. Although still very expensive, its performance can’t be compared to any other handheld metal detector – it’s that good.
So, is it worth it? When you have the latest, state of the art technology detecting deeper and with greater sensitivity than ever before, heck yes, it’s worth it.
Features & Benefits
ZVT Technology
Zero Voltage Transmission. It’s not a type of VLF, multi-frequency, or even pulse induction technology. ZVT is something new. That’s right – new metal detecting technology developed by Bruce Candy lead technologist at Minelab.
ZVT combines both the high frequency and sensitivity of VLF with the high power in mineralized ground performance of pulse induction. You get exactly what it looks like, aka high sensitivity and high power with high frequency in deeper ground.
Minelab goes as far as to say that the GPZ 7000 can detect up to 40% deeper than their GPZ 5000. That’s quite the statement to make and is very impressive, especially since it’s proven to be true for current owners. Yet still to this day, the GPX 5000 is a luxurious metal detector for many of us.
You essentially gain the benefits of detecting both small, like sub-gram kind of small, and large nuggets of gold at greater depths without any of the disadvantages of VLF or PI technologies.
Mineralized ground? Not a problem. Deep ground? Not a problem. Gold flakes or retirement nuggets? Not a problem. With ZVT, you’ll find gold and all of it too.
Super-D Coil Technology
Super-D coil tech is also new and is what the GPZ 7000 sports. It comes with the GPZ 14” searchcoil although a 19” is also available and compatible with this unit. Keep a lookout for small and larger searchcoil sizes as rumor has it that they’re in the works.
Waterproof to a meter, it can be used to search the shorelines, banks, and anywhere you may find trace gold and nuggets.
As far as the technology goes, it consists of two symmetric D receive coils that overlap a central oval transmit winding. What does this equate to for you? Shallow targets produce a double audio tone. Why double? It’s a duplicate tone for each of the searchcoils. For deep targets, the searchcoil acts like a traditional one with the response signal occurring directly beneath the central point of the coil.
What else is interesting is that the searchcoil housing has been made heavier. Can the weight be justified? It’s the GPZ 7000, of course it can. The extra heft comes from the interference-blocking technology. The housing has been made knock-proof in a sense. When accidental scrapes and bangs occur, the searchcoil automatically minimizes the response preventing and minimizing false signals from confusing the detectorist.
Precision Ground Balance
The Minelab GPZ detector both automatically ground balances and tracks during operation. The toughest ground is no match for the GPZ 7000 as it can go where no other detectors have gone before.
Like pulse induction, it can ignore the major signals given off by minerals in the ground while still being extremely effective for detecting large gold nuggets simultaneously.
The ground balancing capabilities of the metal detector has been fine-tuned to provide accurate true ground balancing versus approximate ground balancing of most other alternatives.
With three types of precalibrated ground types in the detector’s computer, Normal, Difficult, and Severe respectively, you can tailor your hunt to the type of ground you’ll encounter.
Excellent Features

All the extra bells and whistles are expected with the GPZ 7000. You have an intuitive and simple to operate menu system, wireless audio connectivity, and a GPS Locating & PC Mapping feature.
The Menu is rather easy to navigate. It takes you directly to either the Gold Mode or Ground Type. In Gold Mode, you have High Yield, General, and Extra Deep. High Yield and Difficult are the default settings but you can customize the modes with the different ground type options to create a profile that’s best for the conditions.
You also have user adjustable sensitivity, threshold, noise cancel with auto and manual control for 256 channels, and more.
Limitations
Steep Learning Curve
It will take some hands-on time to truly appreciate and learn the GPZ 7000. It’s not a ready-to-go detector out of the box as you will need to understand the options and what the GPZ detector is capable of. While it has a streamlined menu, there are things about it that are different thanks to the new ZVT tech.
For example, when performing the initial ground balance, you want to depress the Quick-Trak trigger and sweep the searchcoil in side-to-side motions and swiftly move across the ground over a period of 10-12 seconds.
You do not want to pump it in up/down motions like you would a PI detector as it doesn’t give the detector enough ground variance to calibrate for ground balancing. It can be done for ground balancing during use later but not for initial ground balancing after switch-on.
Popular Questions
How Deep can the Minelab GPZ 7000 Detect Gold?
While detection depth is a subjective measurement, the GPZ 7000 is capable of providing excellent detection on gold nuggets to a depth of three feet (one meter). Targets beyond this depth that can be detected will be large in size.
Is the GPZ 7000 Waterproof?
The Minelab GPZ 7000 is waterproof to a depth of three feet. It can be used in shallow water sources but is not submersible. However, the weatherproof housing can withstand wet and rainy conditions.
Can the Minelab GPZ Discriminate?
The Minelab GPZ 7000 does not discriminate as it is an All Metal metal detector. However, you can discriminate yourself by identifying the tone and pitch of signals on detected targets.
What Type of Batteries does the Minelab GPZ 7000 Use?
The GPZ 7000 has a lithium-ion rechargeable battery pack that provides 8+ hours of operation. Replaceable batteries can be bought separately if required.
Conclusion
It’s now obvious as to why the GPZ 7000 has reaped in buyers. It’s new from the ground up and offers performance that hasn’t been seen on a metal detector yet.
It’s easy to say that it’s the most powerful gold prospecting metal detector in the market. It’s an investment, so when you’re dedicated to your hobby or you do this as a money-maker profession, the Minelab GPZ 7000 is a welcome product and is deserving of its price tag.
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