Compare: Minelab X-Terra Elite vs Equinox 700
The short answer: both machines run Minelab's Multi-IQ simultaneous multi-frequency and both are waterproof to 16 ft / 5 m, which is why this is the ladder step buyers weigh hardest. The X-Terra Elite is the most affordable way into real Multi-IQ, with a flashlight and vibration feedback the Equinox does not have. The Equinox 700 buys you the Equinox platform: more selectable frequencies, the full-color-of-the-line display and coil ecosystem, and a lighter swing.
Side by side
| X-Terra Elite | Equinox 700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Multi-IQ simultaneous multi-frequency | Multi-IQ simultaneous multi-frequency |
| Selectable single frequencies | 15 kHz (Park and Field); Beach runs Multi-IQ only | 4, 5, 10, 15 kHz in every mode group |
| Coil in the box | V12X 12 in / 30 cm elliptical Double-D | EQX11 11 in / 28 cm round Double-D |
| Coil family | V8X, V10X, V12X, plus Coiltek NOX line | EQX06, EQX11, EQX15, plus Coiltek NOX line |
| Display and body | Monochrome LCD, red backlight, built-in flashlight, handle vibration | Equinox-platform LCD; no flashlight or vibration |
| Weight | 2.9 lb / 1.3 kg | 2.8 lb / 1.27 kg |
| Shared by both | Multi-IQ, 119-segment Target ID, Park/Field/Beach modes, 6 custom profiles, IP68 to 16 ft / 5 m, 5100 mAh USB-charged battery, auto/manual/tracking ground balance, wireless audio plus wired 3.5 mm | |
Which one do you need?
Choose the X-Terra Elite when the budget is the constraint and Multi-IQ is the goal. Nothing else at its price runs simultaneous multi-frequency, and the flashlight plus vibration make it a genuinely good low-light and water machine. The Expedition Pack version adds the V8X small coil and ML 85 wireless headphones in one factory box.
Choose the Equinox 700 when you can reach it, for two durable reasons. The wider selectable-frequency set gives you more single-frequency fallbacks for EMI-heavy ground, and the EQX coil ecosystem plus the Equinox platform is where the deepest accessory and community knowledge lives. It is the machine you will not outgrow as fast.
Wondering about the step above? See Equinox 700 vs Equinox 900.
Still deciding?
Call us at 256-284-2247. This exact question is one we answer weekly, and the right pick depends on your sites and budget more than the brochure. The story is more important than the artifact.