Minelab Sovereign xs 2a pro , would you buy one?

[Terra (Mike)]

Advice on minelab sovereign  xs 2a pro , would you buy one second hand , and any tips

[willow tree]

hi i still use one great machine i have made some tidy finds with it goes down pretty deep ...drawback it s bit on the heavy side after a few hours detecting it feels like your arm is gonna fall off 

[Terra (Mike)]

can you still get the waist packs , and would you recomend it

[sandpiper]

Hi
I've been using the sov xs2 pro since 1999- Its a great machine for beaches and pasture.IT is very heavy and feels unballanced but its no problem when hipmounted .Be prepared to dig deep on beaches because it excels there.  On the beaches I use it in descriminate mode  with the  discrim control and the notch at zero,volume at almost full (watch out for your ears)and sensitivity at about 9 o clock  to 12 0 clock position (depending on beach)with a low threshhold hum.Dig any signal no matter how poor sounding  so long as theres no threshhold null. Do the minelab wiggle over a very narrow deep signals and listen for the singing sound of the signal and the threshold together -you'll get great depths.To start off as a novice with the machine set the sensitivity at 12 o clock and gradually increase it as you get use to the machine.You can use it in auto but you will loose depth.The machine cant be swung too quicky either its best to go slow and listen to the  signal and the threshold.It goes even deeper in all metal but I find it slows me up too much.To hipmount it just buy the detector cover (walborn i think )it has a belt slot in the back.For extreme weather and diving the excallibur is the same machine but fully waterproofed but you will need a special hipmount kit for it. hope this helps.. peter

[Chef Geoff]

A very definite YES, I have been using Sov's for about 18 years and in my opinion and many others the XS 2A was the best model there was. I have had the GT but preferred the Elite, but out of them all the XS2 was the best. Yes all the accessories are still available.
Geoff

[outlaw]

Yes i shall agree with everyone else here, sov a good alround detector wihout the
gimmicks !

Need arms like banacle bill though  to detect all day 

[beachboy (viv)]

i use a sovereign, i agree with everyone on the weight,but find it a lot better with the straight shaft,it is exellent.(viv)

[zorro]

fantastic machine...there is a reason these machines STILL command prices over £250. get yourself a bungee harness (as little as £10 on ebay) that does away with the weight problem and means you dont need to put detector down on wet sand whilst digging, and you will dig,,,,DEEP.
I personally prefer the harness to hip mounting it, cables break down eventualy with hip mount.
agree with beachboy get a straight shaft for it if you can, alternatively use an extension to raise box slightly higher up shaft to help with balance (beachboy made mine and it helped a lot until i got the harness).
the only problem ive ever heard re: the sovereigns is about the weight issue....get a harness- sorted!

[mole]

I once owned a sovereign xs2a unbeatable on wet sand  but when it came to the dry sand especially when hitting a busy patch things could get very confusing the machine due to it,s very high Iron mask setting and fairly slow response was losing more than it should  it good example of this is one day I used it inland on a forestry footpath without much luck  went down the same footpath a couple of weeks later with my laser powermax11 and starting finding bits and bobs missed by the sovereign including some fairly large lumps of brass have since had a quattro which by you could make a cup of coffee while waiting for it to recover from a signal at present using an explorer 11 a bit faster and the ability to adjust the Iron mask will be going for something faster in the near future the sovreign is the best machine I,ve used on wet sand but I would,nt use it inland especially on busy sites

[1morecoin]

the Sovereign xs2 a pro was my first machine, i found the Monknash Hoard with it, allways regreted selling it, probably the best allround machine on the market, i am thinking of getting a Sovereign Elite for beach and pasture use.

Steve. 

[Malcolm.mtts]

Personally I use a hip mount and a bungee with mine and it was the best thing I ever did.

As for the machine itself, probably the best all round machine money can buy, especially second hand and they hold their price well.

As for depth... it beats almost every other detector on sand and on land.
For best results, swing low and swing slow and be prepared to dig deep.

I use "discrim" for detecting and "all metal" for pinpointing. I also use a meter on mine.

Only trouble with the detector as everyone has mentioned is it's weight compared to others but with a harness or hip mount that problem is removed.

I have other detectors, a whites and a lazer, but I always revert to my trusty minelab sovereign xs2a ... undoubtably one of the best detecors ever made as anyone who has owned one will tell you.

[Terra (Mike)]

Thanks for the advice all, got myself  a Sovereign Gt , i'm well impressed with it , took it for a short field test today , and uncovered 5x hapennies that i missed with the Garrret and the Hawkeye .
I can't wait to use it in anger now

[handyman [Alan}]

well done on getting out Mike.

glad u had an incentive, to help the recovery process!!

[Terra (Mike)]

Only half hour though, had to come home then,,,,lol

[Neil]

My good friend and long standing detecting partner Mark uses one and some of his finds have been outstanding! He had a Vicky half sovereign at the 2 Day DW rally using it.

Having seen his finds I can't speak highly enough of it. Makes funny noises though and hates my Exploder II!

Neil