Minelab Vanquish 440 vs 540?

Hey guys, haven’t posted in a long time. Been out of detecting for years but I’m getting interested again.

Been looking at this Vanquish 440 deal for 279 shipped where you get a 100 dollar pinpointer for free. For 90 more I could get a 540 with the same pinpointer. I do know the differences between the two machines but I was hoping for some advice on whether those extra features are worth the money. I don’t see myself detecting in the dark so the back light isn’t necessary. I could get a $10 adapter and get the same Bluetooth functionality on the 440 that the 540 has built in. The only thing I’m not sure about is the iron bias adjustability on the 540 versus the fixed “high” setting on the 440. Is this something I will really regret not having if I go with the 440?

There would be additional savings as well if I go with the 440 because it comes with the 10 inch coil, which I’m hearing is the better balanced coil compared to the 12” that comes with the 540. Having the 10 inch coil will prevent a future purchase of the 8 inch coil, which I would probably want to buy if I get the 12 inch coil on the 540

Opinions welcome. Thank you

Hmmmmmmm.

Bottom line: You'll eventually want the 12" coil (if just for the additional depth reasons)......... and you will need the lower iron-bias capabilities IF you are a serious unmasker in iron.

I bought the 440 for my grandchildren to use because of its simplicity and it works perfectly for them. Were I making the choice for personal use, I would choose the 540 because of its added capabilities.

Similarly, I chose the EQX 800 for my personal use over the 600 for those same reasons.

In the end, you have to decide based on what and how you intend to detect. Choose the right tool for the job at hand and get the best one you can afford.

Just the view from my foxhole...

The iron bias setting is the most important one. I say 600.

Search Facebook marketplace for Vanquish. Just saw a deal for slightly used 540 Pro pack.

Never mind it is sold

I’ve Owned Both ......440/ 550 are same raw power ...... less features.......I personally like the 440 better for my type of hunting.......the 550’s 12 inch coil was prone to EMI ...compared to the 10 inch coil On the 440........I also I like the 3 tone I’d on the 440 compared to the 5 tone ID on the 550 ......for basic park / sports field type hunting in mild ground

the vanquished is amazing ...... digging 7-8 inch Targets with spot on TID with screaming audio .........some of my pass detectors costing over $1000 could not even do this...... the downside to the vanquished is the cheap plastic built..........can’t go wrong with ether one.

Do you hunt a lot of iron infested sites?

My parks/ sports fields have some iron .....but not infested....hunting in infested iron you would want the Nox 800 / deus

Rob in (ca) Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I’ve Owned Both ......440/ 550 are same raw power
> ...... less features.......I personally like the 4
> 40 better for my type of hunting.......the 550’s
> 12 inch coil was prone to EMI ...compared to the
> 10 inch coil On the 440........I also I like the
> 3 tone I’d on the 440 compared to the 5 tone ID on
> the 550 ......for basic park / sports field type
> hunting in mild ground
>
> the vanquished is amazing ...... digging 7-8 inch
> Targets with spot on TID with screaming audio ....
> .....some of my pass detectors costing over $1000
> could not even do this...... the downside to the v
> anquished is the cheap plastic built..........can’
> t go wrong with ether one.


it's been my observation (so far) that the built quality of the
vanquish is tougher than it looks! no problems, and really don't expect any!
i got used to the red color too!..not sure why they chose that fire engine red,
unless they thought you could "lose" it at a site.as far as i am concerned,
they could paint it "crap color brindle",and i would not care,as it's just an amazing
accurate, and deep coin sniper.

(h.h.!)
j.t.,



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/29/2020 05:50AM by jmaryt.

Rob in (ca) Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I’ve Owned Both ......440/ 550 are same raw power
> ...... less features.......I personally like the 4
> 40 better for my type of hunting.......the 550’s
> 12 inch coil was prone to EMI ...compared to the
> 10 inch coil On the 440........I also I like the
> 3 tone I’d on the 440 compared to the 5 tone ID on
> the 550 ......for basic park / sports field type
> hunting in mild ground
>
> the vanquished is amazing ...... digging 7-8 inch
> Targets with spot on TID with screaming audio ....
> .....some of my pass detectors costing over $1000
> could not even do this...... the downside to the v
> anquished is the cheap plastic built..........can’
> t go wrong with ether one.




Thank you, this is good info

Rob in (ca) Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My parks/ sports fields have some iron .....but no
> t infested....hunting in infested iron you would w
> ant the Nox 800 / deus


That’s my thought too. I wouldn’t bring a detector like the Vanquish into a really infested site. The 540s iron bias adjustment would help but I would suspect it still wouldn’t be the right choice for that environment. And if you say the coil is better on the 440 that might be the tiebreaker for me

the vanquish 540 "will" sniff out "bigger" iron at depth no matter how the
iron bias is set, but there again "most" detectors struggle with bigger iron at depth anyway.
in my view, this is NOT a game changer as the detector,"overall" is really good at sniffin'
coins at depth, and is worth every dime they get for it.as mentioned in another post, the 340
is basically the same detector with fewer adjustments, and a real performer for "short" money.

(h.h.!)
j.t.

Thank you, I ended up going with the 440 due to price and the 10 inch coil. Can’t wait to receive it!

it's really a terrific detector...the 8,10,or the 12 are all
outrageously good at separation, and the detector's ability to
i.d.at depth is truly amazing for the price point!.

(h.h.!)
j.t.

I traded for a 540 with three coils and extra rod.. to many detectors.. need some more arms..