Description
Running an Equinox 600 or 800, a Vanquish 540, or a GPX 6000? Those are Minelab's Bluetooth detectors, and the ML80 is the Bluetooth headphone Minelab built for them. Skip it and buy the newer ML85 by mistake and nothing pairs; the two wireless families never cross. Most listings for this model do not even mention the GPX 6000. Minelab does, and so do we.
At a glance: The Minelab ML80 (part 3011-0370) is a Bluetooth 5.0 aptX Low Latency headphone for the Minelab Equinox 600 and 800, Vanquish 540, and GPX 6000. It runs 15 to 20 hours per charge, weighs 7.8 oz / 221 g, folds flat, has a microphone with phone controls, and includes a carrying case and a 3.5 mm wired backup cable.
Why the ML80
Standard Bluetooth audio lags far enough behind the coil to cost you targets. The ML80 runs Qualcomm's QCC3034 chipset with aptX Low Latency, the fast Bluetooth codec these detectors were tuned for, so the beep stays with the swing. And because it is real Bluetooth, it does double duty off the field: pair it with the detector and your phone at the same time, take a call mid-hunt through the built-in microphone, then use it as everyday headphones on the drive home. The detector-only ML85 and ML105 cannot do any of that.
Specs that matter in the field
| Spec | What it means for your hunt |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth 5.0 + aptX Low Latency | The codec Minelab's Bluetooth detectors expect; minimal delay between coil and beep |
| 15-20 hr operating, up to 180 hr standby | Two or three full hunting days per 3 hr charge |
| Dual-device pairing + mic | Detector and phone together; answer or reject calls from the ear cup |
| 7.8 oz / 221 g, foldable | Light, and folds from 3.1 in / 8 cm to 2 in / 5 cm into the included case |
| 3.5 mm aux cable included | Wired backup for a flat battery, or for the GPX 6000's quiet mornings |
Compatibility, stated plainly
Works with: Minelab Equinox 600 and 800, Vanquish 540, and the GPX 6000, plus phones, tablets, and other standard Bluetooth devices.
| Your detector | ML80 compatible? |
|---|---|
| Equinox 600 | Yes |
| Equinox 800 | Yes |
| Vanquish 540 | Yes |
| GPX 6000 | Yes |
| Phones, tablets, Bluetooth devices | Yes |
| Vanquish 460 / 560 | No, their Bluetooth is LE Audio with the LC3 codec, which the ML80 does not support; use LE Audio headphones such as the ML60 earbuds, or the wired jack |
| Manticore | No, use the ML85 or ML105 low latency wireless headphones |
| Equinox 700 | No, use the ML85 or ML105 low latency wireless headphones |
| Equinox 900 | No, use the ML85 or ML105 low latency wireless headphones |
| X-Terra Pro | No, use the ML85 or ML105 low latency wireless headphones |
| X-Terra Elite | No, use the ML85 or ML105 low latency wireless headphones |
| SDC 2300 | No, use the wired ML100 SDC set (part 3011-0417) |
Not compatible with: Equinox 700 or 900, X-Terra Pro or Elite, or the Manticore. Those machines are not Bluetooth detectors; they need the Minelab ML85 or ML105 low latency wireless headphones instead.
What's included
- ML80 Bluetooth headphones
- Protective carrying case
- Detachable 3.5 mm aux cable
- USB charging cable
- Instruction manual
Honest limits
The ML80 is not waterproof; keep it dry. An incoming phone call interrupts detecting audio while you take it, by design. It carries a 3-year Minelab warranty as a current-series accessory. Note for planners: Minelab lists this model as selling fast, and its Bluetooth successor has not been announced, so if your 600/800 needs wireless audio, this is the supported path today.
History Seekers is a small American business and an authorized Minelab dealer. Everyone here detects, top down, for gold, relics, coins, jewelry, and float copper; prior field experience is a hiring requirement, not a coincidence. The person answering your pairing question may be the one packing your order for the UPS drop-off, and your purchase keeps everyday Americans working. The story is more important than the artifact.