Minelab Explorer SE
Street Price $1200
Number of Reviews: 11
on 2 pages.
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Also in this price range:
Minelab Explorer II
Minelab Explorer SE
It does what it does very well..learn it and it will reward
Steve in Cleveland, OH -I have own the Explorer SE now for slightly over a year.I paid $600 for it. Found a great deal and pounced on it.
Here is what I think about the Explorer SE.
If you are new to metal detecting, then go to another machine. Stay away from this one at first.
I have found that there is no one great overall machine. Each detector has its advantages in certain situations. It seems that the complaints about this machine are a direct result of too high expectations because they paid so much for it. I see too many people with the thought that if I paid over $1,200 for a machine, then it should be the best machine ever. It should do this or that.
Advertising is to blame for that.
I own 6 detectors.....
And each one has its advantages and I make sure I don't think that any one detector is the answer to all my needs. They don't make a detector that does that and probably never will.
I have found that the Explorer SE does exactly what it was designed for. It is a very accurate, deep seeking although slow recovery detector that is probably the best at identifying what is in the ground. Good for trashy areas with lots of Iron. You will need a smaller coil.
It has a lot of bells and whistles that allow me to decide to dig or not to dig. It is the best machine in my opinion for highly mineralized ground. It works best when you work slow and easy.
I cannot say the Explorer is the deepest machine available. Any machine can go deep if conditions are right. I have used the Explorer SE after a rain storm and have found silver dimes at almost 15 inches. If I go out during a dry spell, I have a hard time finding anything below 7 inches. But I have had problems with other machines in the same situations. So to say it is the deepest is really stretching things a bit. I think every manufacturer of metal detectors have said that they have the deepest machines.
I see comparisons to the White's machines quite often . I own a Spectrum and I will say that the Spectrum has advantages in certain circumstances. It is faster in recovery and so I can cover more ground with it, especially with a Bigfoot coil. I do have a problem with the White in that it is not as good on silver as the Explorer SE.
Yes the White's are easier to use. The Explorer requires learning it to bring out the best it can be. Don't sell the Explorer SE short. If you learn it, the finds will come.
To spend a couple of hours on a weekend with it every other week will not cut it. If you don't plan on making metal detecting your passion, then find a less expensive machine. The Explorer SE is meant to be used by people who are serious about metal detecting. I can't for the life of me figure out why people spend over a grand for a detector, use it once or twice and then put it in their closet, never to be used again.
To sum it up, the Explorer SE is meant for those who want a very accurate multi frequency detector and use it. It is great for highly mineralized ground. It is a bit slow on recovery. It can in many instances go deeper when other machines do not even register the targets. The multi frequency advantage is the real deciding factor for having this machine. If you cannot figure out how to use the Explorer SE, then get some advice from the people who sold it to you. If they can't or won't help you, then you shouldn't have bought it from them in the first place.
Mar 16, 2008
7 people found this review helpful.
Not For Newbies
Jason in Northeast USA -This detector is the best but if you are new to the hobby you can get swamped with all the "stuff" you do not know about. Too many people go to the advanced area and try to program etc.. Let me say that again ..ADVANCED. This means your not a beginner. When you buy this machine you should not mess with it until you have a least a season of detecting under your belt. (some people get out more than others so this is a tough call) When you are familiar with all the tones and the displays that corispond with these then you can move up. THIS IS A GREAT MACHINE. I like it because I knew I would grow with it and thats what you need to do. If you are not patient and do not have alot of time to spend on this hobby more specifically this machine buy another. If you do learn it you'll find all the stuff the others do not even know is there. Happy Hunting.
Feb 22, 2008
7 people found this review helpful.
Short review SE
Fritz in Belgium -
I now have many hours with the SE, these are my findings :
HEAVY : yes, much to heavy
DEEP : very deep
EXPENSIVE : yes, to expensive
DISCRIM : very good, good tone and visual target ID
LOOKS : very good looking
SWING : feels like a sponge, not sturdy enough
LEARNING CURVE : very difficult, but interesting
SENSATIVE : could be better
Oct 24, 2007
21 people found this review helpful.
Minelab SE worth the bucks!
Michael Rybicki in Downers Grove, Illinois -I have been a Minelab user now for several years. I have had the Explorer, Explorer II and now the SE. Minelab continues to improve the machine every time I purchase the next model up. I started metal detectuing with the DFX and soon realized I was not really finding the treasures. Once I switched to Minelab, my finds increased and I was having more fun. No to belabor this review with technicalities I would say that in order to switch to the Minelab, be prepared to use your ears more than your eyes. It's a "sound machine" and will find the deep silver. I have no need for other detectors...I have the best.
Jul 20, 2007
18 people found this review helpful.
My first detector.
Orlando Auction in Orlando, Fl. USA -I put a lot of time and thought into my first purchase. This site was the best source of info I could find.
I wanted a machine I could grow into, not out of. My 2 choices were narrowed down to the Minelab Explorer SE and the Whites DFX. After speaking to many people who have used both, I chose the SE.
It is an amazing machine. I have tested it in my yard, as well as tests at the beach trailing people with different machines. I was shocked at how many targets they had missed.
The "learning curve" is not as bad as some would have you believe. I plucked coins out of the ground from day one. After reading the manual and the expert advice from this forum I pretty much eliminate this mysterious learning curve.
Of course I can not compare the SE to other machines as this is the only one I have owned since childhood. However I can tell you that if the metal is in the ground, this machine will find it.
In 2 weeks I am at well over 100 clad coins, many trinkets and a 1919 wheat penny in great shape. I have found items below 12 inches on the wet beach. This machine is so much fun to use.
I will assume that others who don't like this machine may be used to a lesser quality product and don't want to be bothered with so much information on what lies below the surface. However if there is a coin next to a nail, I want that coin. The SE will signal both. To each their own, but for me I wanted the best and feel like I made the right decision.
I will submit another review in 6 months once I have mastered this product.
I hope this helps.
May 24, 2007
35 people found this review helpful.
Honest se review.
Gary uk. in uk -Well here is another Minelab Explorer Se review for your reading pleasure , aimed at the potential buyer with as honest a review as possible. I am a Previous experienced user of loads of top of the range and a few bottom of the range detectors and everthing in between over the last many moons (20 + years). Metal detecting can be fun on a site that has good finds buried/lost underground, even the cheapest detectors will find buried coins however you will get about half of the depth with a cheap detector on coins compared with the se , se will give good sweet signals on coins down to around 7 inches , past 7 inches the signal will start to go weaker and many coins will only repeat with a signal from 1 sweep angle , so dont expect loud repeating "flute signals" on deep coins past 7 inches because they sound bad trust me. To get the real deep coins that eveyone is talking about is hard , be prepared to dig alot of rubbish in the process of hunting the 7 - 10 inch+ deep coins. The depth is good on the Explorer se but don't expect to be finding coins at 10 -12 inches because you won't , you will need tons of practice and i mean hundreds of hours experience to know how to get really deep good targets. On sites like grassy parks that have been worked with xlt's the explorer will find deeper silver and copper coins missed with xlt's. The depth is not as good as the hype you hear on the internet like 12 -14 inch deep coins is just rubbish. Expect 8 inches to be mostly the depth you will get coins down to with reasonable signals at 6 -7 inches , at 8 inches coins start to repeat from only 1 sweep angle , this is something i have learned over time. Also iron even 7 inches away from a buried coin can cause the se to go quiet on certain sites. You need to search in a criss cross method because poor or no signal and bad repeatabilty from different search directions are common problems i have encountered in the field. Also i thought i would mention the price , here in the uk the new price is about £1100!. What ever you do don't pay this amount the se detector is no where near worth this amount , the best option is to buy an ex demo unit or a almost new secondhand unit, then if you decide you dont like your se you wont loose hundreds and hundreds of pounds so don't say i didn't warn you. If you are a bill wyman of the world with millions of pounds stuffed into your bank account then go ahead and waste your £1100.When you come to re sell you will be lucky to get half your money back.
May 21, 2007
39 people found this review helpful.
Explorer SE - Man - I've had it!!
Colorado's own GoldenRoyBoy in Trinidad, Colorado -
This ain't a short story so be warned ---
Granted, I'm new at this, yet old. I once did a lot of metal detecting back in the 80's. I went in big time! Bought me a Garrett Master Hunter with all the coils and hip mounting system. Also purchased 2 Fisher 1280s for water along with wet suit and all that stuff. Even owned Fisher's 1265-66 as backups. I found a lot of stuff and I didn't waste much time trying to figure out the technical part of it. No, the Garrett was not the most simple machine but it did what it was designed to do with a little help from me. The Explorer SE on the other hand is totally different.
I must admit I'm feeling a little foolish now having already invested a ridiculous amount of money to get up and going almost (4) weeks ago. (3) extra coils, Pelican case, (2) sets of Gray Ghost headphones, no less than (5) various digging implements, a Sun Ray attachable probe. You get the picture. I won't even mention the GPX 4000. Yes, I fell for the advertising hype. But, I also thought things had changed for the better considering new technology and such since I last participated in what use to be a relaxing sport! I realize things have not gotten better just the hype has!
Now, don't get me wrong or judge me as being a "quick gun" to go negative; I've done my time with the SE. I've now logged way over 150 hard hours with the machine and have used it from Northern New Mexico to Central Colorado! Hell, I've even slept with the dang thing hoping after a night or two I'd feel the karma! That part was actually easy. My wife's been out of the country for the last three weeks and I'm basically retired.
Yes, I'll agree; the Explorer SE is capable of going deeper than any detector I've ever owned but at a rather large price. What is the use of detecting coins and such at 10 plus inches if you have to dig a crater to recover your loot? At first I thought it was me, not the machine. After having pin-pointing problems with the factory 10.5 inch round I simple went to the Excelerator 4.5 x 7. It's the primary reason I recovered (5) rings, (1) silver necklace and, over 500 coins and numerous bits of brass, lead, etc. Believe me; my take represents a lot of earth moving. One digging instrument, the Lesche shark made digging a lot easier but as many of you probably know you can't dig a small hole with it. I hate digging. I also hate appearing like I'm digging to China. Nothing turns property owners off more than to see a detectorist digging huge holes no matter how well he covers them up. Trying to pin-point with the Explorer SE, I felt just like a blind man in a room of prostitutes groping for a virgin! I never knew where my hands and fingers would lead me!
Anyway, I'm a nobody so don't listen to me. But, if you do beware or be warned about the Explorer SE'S lack of pinpointing. I probably have no choice but to keep it as I don't think I can lie to sell mine.
Do this; go to Ebay and look for a used Teroso. Now look for a used Minelab. Isn't it amazing how all of the Minelab ads read "Great machine?" If they are so great then one must ask themselves "why are there so many used ones for sale?"
Boy, I really have good hind-sight vision. And, to think I thought I did my homework! What finally got my goat was attempting to use my new Excelerator 10x14 coil. I had the same pin-pointing results with it as I had with Minelab's standard 10.5 coil. After speaking to Kellyco, they did offer to replace the Excelerator suspecting it's a bad coil. In all honesty, I don't think anything is wrong with it. I'll know next week as the new one should arrive about then.
There will be those who read this and declare I am just another idiot searching for a miracle machine. Not true; all I want is to enjoy my hobby not be frustrated by it.
Incidentally, before anyone may ask; yes, I learned the manual back and forth. I know how to auto-tune the machine. I know about gain (6-7). I know about "all metal modes" both conductive and ferrous. I know how to use the Iron Mask (12-18). I know to go easy on sensitivity (12-16). Man, I've tried it all and can honestly say, "It ain't me!"
One more thing; the weight of the Explorer didn't bother me a bit until I added the Sun Ray probe and larger coil. It's not a machine, so equipped for the weak.
In hind-sight my largest regret, other than purchasing this thing is having recommended it to several other people. I honestly thought it was everything the hype promised it would be. Boy, was I ever wrong.
Getting off track just a little. Referencing Sun Ray's attached pin-pointer; it's not worth the $150 or more price tag either. Sun Ray claims it's hot only on the end. Not true. If you have one you know this. Take a coin and run it up and down the sides. It'll sing like a Sunday preacher on steroids.
Best to you,
GRB
May 17, 2007
52 people found this review helpful.
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