Is reactivity the real depth killer?

[Myke]

Hi all,
Following much testing, both in air and in garden test patch, I can find very little loss in depth (if any) with even high discrimination (40) but as soon as I move reactivity from 0 the depth drops rapidly by several inches each time.
Silencer and power also seem to have little effect on depth.
Sensitivity, ground balance and reactivity seem to be the ones to watch.
Obviously full depth potential is restricted by interfering targets!
I've found in  trashy areas it's better to use a small coil, swing slowly and keep reactivity as low as possible if I'm going to pick out any deeper, nicer finds.
I had previously thought that high discrimination was hurting any depth and kept reactivity quite high.
Since changing things I've picked out some nice Victorian pennies which vanished completely when I turned up reactivity but stayed loud even with high discrimination.
On really trashy areas it seems best to turn down sensitivity and increase reactivity to cherry pick shallow items ...those deep ones are hidden by layers of high and low conductors!.....always a compromise.
Wondering if anyone else has found the same thing?

[Landyman]

Yes you are right. I have had my Deus for about a year now and think that I have now learnt most of the settings. I too have noticed what a big difference the reactivity setting makes to depth.
But should we tell others? I am quite happy to follow behind the Deus users with reactivity turned up and are swinging their coils like there is no tomorrow.    More goodies for us. 
In fact, found a hammy when doing just that at the santa hats rally but that was with my e trac which is definitely more sensitive than the Deus.
But whichever detector being used, if you want the finds then keep slow and low with the reactivity setting on low if the conditions allow.

[Myke]

Glad I'm on the right track, seems the slightest changes can have such a huge effect....my latest 'change' has been to run as silent as possible using quite high discrimination and low quiet iron volume....eventually I will have an all purpose setting that just needs a tweak here and there lol