Garrett ACE 200 Metal Detector with Waterproof Search Coil Review

Everyone has their own opinion about what type of metal detector is best for beginners and intermediate users alike. From low-priced to high-priced models with all the bells and whistles, it’s hard to know which is the right choice.

One model that is consistently recommended is the Garrett ACE 200 Metal Detector. While this model comes in at a relatively low price point, many people feel that it has more value than mid-range products that are supposedly more advanced.

Why is that they feel this way? Today, we’ll have the chance to find out as we review the Garrett ACE 200 in detail.

Garrett has been known for its metal detecting products from handheld scanners to pinpointing devices for years. In addition to an extensive selection of detecting accessories, they also have a number of different metal detectors on the market. Each of the detectors has a unique set of features, but we’ve focused on the ACE 200 today.

If you see a Garrett metal detector that is labeled as the Garrett 200i, that is the same model as the ACE 200. The “i” in 200i stands for international sales while the ACE 200 is the edition on sale in the USA. As far as we know, they have the same features as basic conversion modifications for different markets.

This very low-frequency metal detector is best for basic metal detecting, which includes but is not limited to searching for the coin, jewelry, and other small metal objects on dry land, dry beaches, or in freshwater areas.

Now that we know some basics about this model and what it might be able to do for you, let’s get into the detailed features of how it functions to find out if it would really work for you or not.

Features

The features of the Garrett ACE 200 Metal Detector are intended for easy use by a beginner. For that reason, some of the features that could be more complex have been relatively simplified. This allows those with little-to-no experience the chance to enjoy the hobby without being overwhelmed by everything that they don’t know.

If you have some experience with metal detectors already, you will still find benefits in the Garrett ACE 200. It should be noted that not everything will be developed to a level of customization or manual control as you may find in more advanced models. If that is what you are looking for, it’s probably best if you look at another model instead of this one.

One of the best things about the Garrett ACE 200 Metal Detector is that it comes as a complete kit that will have you ready to start hunting for treasure as soon as the kit arrives. In addition to getting a metal detector, you will also receive the following in the combo package:

• Garrett Treasure Sound Headphones
• Guide manual
• Extra batteries
• Two-year warranty

As this is a starter model, it is very simple and convenient to begin your learning journey. Garret has done their research, and they understand what beginners need because they were once beginners themselves.

The ACE 200 has a unique feature called Digital Target ID. When you locate an idea and begin to pinpoint it, the indicator on the LCD screen will show a number between 0 and 99.

Those numbers will help you to work out what you are going to find before you actually dig it up. This can be helpful for focusing on digging up the more intriguing items first!

At this point, we would like to mention that while the Garrett ACE 200 Metal Detector does a great job at helping to ID what it is that you might be digging up before you actually use your spade, it does not have any pinpointing functions. While this is unfortunate, Garrett does make a handheld pinpointing tool that you can use to aid in this part of the process if you choose to do so.

The audio on this model is set to three different pre-programmed tones. Each of these tones represents a different type of metal. It will take some trial-and-error to get used to which tone is used for which metal, but you will be able to quickly and easily identify the subtle difference in pitch in no time once you have done some practicing.

Finally, the Garrett ACE 200 Metal Detector is both lightweight and adjustable. The kit includes camlocks which will help to keep everything in place as you are working on the next piece of your hunt.

Pros:

• VLF model at 6.5 Hz
• Four sensitivity or depth adjustments
• Great value
• Comfortable and ergonomic
• Waterproof search coil included
• An LCD screen with low battery and target depth indicators

Cons:

One big drawback of the Garrett ACE 200 Metal Detector is that there is no auto-off function. If you do not turn it off while pausing your search, you will find that the batteries drain very quickly. Additionally, you do not have as much control over the sensitivity as you do with other comparable models.

Verdict

The Garrett ACE 200 Metal Detector is a great value package for beginner metal detector hobbyists who want to get their hands on a starter detector that won’t limit what they can do. While it doesn’t have the advanced features that some slightly more advanced starter models have, it has everything that you need to be successful in your hunting.

Additionally, it comes with some bonus accessories that just make sense for a beginner to use with their detector. For that reason and the genuine value of this product, we recommend it as a good choice that you can try to use on your next exploratory adventure.