Description
Most detectorists who look at XP want two things the brand is known for: simultaneous multi-frequency that holds a steady target ID in bad ground, and a fully wireless build with nothing tethering the coil, the remote and your ears. What stops many of them is the DEUS II price and its menu depth. The XP ICON with WSA ST headphones is XP's answer: the same FMF (Fast Multi Frequency) technology and wireless architecture, three factory programs instead of a settings tree, and the headphones already in the box, so the detector hunts the first afternoon you own it.
Why This Model
The ICON runs XP's FMF simultaneous multi-frequency: the coil transmits several frequencies at once rather than cycling through them, with automatic and manual frequency shift, so the target ID stays put in mineralized dirt and on wet salt sand where a single-frequency machine chatters. If you want a single frequency, 4 kHz and 14 kHz are selectable. The remote carries 3 factory programs plus 3 user slots, 25 sensitivity levels, 5 reactivity levels, a 28-segment multi-notch with a dedicated ferrous bottle-cap filter, Grab, Manual and Tracking ground balance, and an all-metal mode on its own key. Factory programs return to their defaults every time you power on, so experimenting costs nothing; a setup you like gets saved to a user slot and stays there.
Why this package rather than the speaker-only ICON: the WSA ST wireless stereo headphones (72 g / 2.5 oz, rainproof, foldable, 4-band equalizer) ride XP's own digital radio protocol at about 4 ms over 36 automatic channels, so the audio lands in step with the swing. Other dealers list the headphones as a "package option" and leave you to add them; here they are XP's factory ICON-28FMFRCWSAST configuration, and the same headphones pair with an ICON X or DEUS II remote if you move up later. Why the ICON rather than the ICON X: if you do not need the 28 kHz single frequency, six factory programs or 0.5-point ferrous resolution, the ICON gives you the same coil, the same FMF engine and the same waterproof rating for less.
Two field facts most listings get wrong. First, the weight: XP publishes the ICON at about 735 g (1.6 lb) fully equipped without the remote on the stem, which is how most owners hunt it; XP has not published a with-remote figure for the base ICON, so we do not print one. Second, the water rating: with the standard cap on the remote the ICON is good to 5 ft (1.5 m) for 30 minutes; the full 16 ft (5 m) rating needs XP's BH-02 bone-conduction headphones, whose connector replaces the cap, plus the waveguide that keeps the radio link alive under water. Most pages print the 16 ft (5 m) figure and stop there. We would rather you know before you wade in.
Technical Specs and Benefits
| Spec (XP ICON manual and xpmetaldetectors.com) | What It Does in the Field |
|---|---|
| FMF simultaneous multi-frequency (programs span 4 to 40 kHz) plus 4 kHz and 14 kHz single frequencies; automatic and manual frequency shift | Stable target ID in mineralized ground and wet salt sand; shift away from power lines or a nearby detector. |
| 3 factory programs + 3 user slots | Power on, pick a program, hunt. Save your own setup once you have one; factory programs reset to defaults at every start-up. |
| 25 sensitivity levels; 5 reactivity levels (1 to 5) | Reactivity up in trash for separation, down in clean ground for depth. |
| Target ID on a conductivity scale to 99; 28-segment multi-notch; ferrous bottle-cap filter; automatic Silencer | Iron reads low, coins read high; bottle caps print two segments and the dedicated filter catches them. |
| Tones: Pitch, 2, 3, 5 and Full Tones; PWM and SQUARE audio with Stereo Audio Morphing | Surface targets get a second overlaid sound in the stereo image, so depth is audible as texture, not just volume. |
| Ground balance: Grab, Manual, Tracking; Standard and Pro ground modes | Pump-and-grab for most ground; Pro opens the normally masked ground zone for black sand and deep masked targets. |
| Non-motion pinpoint mode with audio and visual locating | Center the target before you cut the plug. |
| ICON28 11 in (28 cm) FMF search coil, about 370 g (13 oz) with cover; compatible with DEUS II FMF coils | Coverage for parks and fields; add a DEUS II 9 in (22.5 cm) or 13x11 in (34x28 cm) FMF coil later for trash or open ground. DEUS I X35 and HF coils do not fit. |
| IP68: 5 ft (1.5 m) for 30 minutes with the standard remote cap; 16 ft (5 m) with the BH-02 bone-conduction headphones and waveguide | Wet sand, creeks and shallow surf out of the box; real submerged hunting with the BH-02 added. |
| WSA ST wireless stereo headphones: 72 g (2.5 oz), rainproof, foldable, 10 volume levels, 4-band equalizer, USB-C | Hear faint deep targets without a cable; pairs with ICON, ICON X and DEUS II remotes. |
| XP digital wireless protocol, about 4 ms, 36 automatic channels | Audio in step with the swing; no Bluetooth lag. |
| Weight about 735 g (1.6 lb) fully equipped, without the remote on the stem | All-day swinging; the remote can ride on your belt or chest instead of the stem. |
| LiPo batteries: remote and headphones 365 mAh, coil 700 mAh; about 11 h per charge; about 3 h to charge | One 3-output cable charges remote, coil and headphones at the same time from any certified 5 V / 1 A USB supply. |
| S-Telescopic Lite stem, 22.8 in (58 cm) folded to 51.2 in (130 cm) extended | Fits a daypack; adjusts to any height. |
| Sunlight-readable LCD with adjustable low-power backlight | Readable at noon on the beach and at dusk in the woods. |
| MI-6 pinpointer link, Go Terrain smartphone app, lost-gear finder | Paired MI-6 or headphones can be made to ring and flash within 82 ft (25 m), even switched off. |
| Software updates over USB-C through XP's online updater | The remote and headphones take XP's updates; register the detector there for the warranty at the same time. |
ICON vs ICON X: Which One Do You Need?
XP sells four configurations across the ICON and ICON X. Both share the FMF engine, the ICON28 coil, 25 sensitivity levels, the same tones, notch, ground modes, batteries and the 16 ft (5 m) rating with the BH-02. The ICON X adds a third single frequency and more adjustment range.
| Feature | XP ICON (no headphones) | XP ICON + WSA ST (this package) | XP ICON X (no headphones) | XP ICON X + WSA ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless headphones included | No (speaker) | Yes (WSA ST) | No (speaker) | Yes (WSA ST) |
| Frequencies | FMF + 4, 14 kHz single | FMF + 4, 14 kHz single | FMF + 4, 14, 28 kHz single | FMF + 4, 14, 28 kHz single |
| Factory + user programs | 3 + 3 | 3 + 3 | 6 + 6 | 6 + 6 |
| Reactivity levels | 5 (1 to 5) | 5 (1 to 5) | 7 (0 to 6) | 7 (0 to 6) |
| Ferrous target ID resolution | 1-point steps | 1-point steps | 0.5-point steps | 0.5-point steps |
| Audio Type settings | 3 | 3 | 6 (adds Enhanced audio response) | 6 (adds Enhanced audio response) |
| Stem | S-Telescopic Lite | S-Telescopic Lite | S-Telescopic Lite Carbon (carbon middle section) | S-Telescopic Lite Carbon (carbon middle section) |
| Weight without remote on the stem | about 735 g (1.6 lb) | about 735 g (1.6 lb) | about 710 g (1.6 lb) | about 710 g (1.6 lb) |
| Best fit | Speaker hunters and the lowest price into XP | Wireless audio on day one | Fine-tuning control, speaker or your own XP headphones | Fine-tuning control with wireless audio in the box |
Choose this package if you want the ICON's simplicity with wireless audio out of the box. The XP ICON without headphones is the same detector for speaker use or for XP headphones you already own. The XP ICON X and the XP ICON X with WSA ST headphones are the step up when you want the 28 kHz single frequency, six programs and finer reactivity. If you are weighing the ICON against the DEUS II: the ICON shares XP's FMF technology and wireless ecosystem with the XP DEUS II, and the DEUS II adds a much deeper settings tree, more programs and a 66 ft (20 m) dive rating with its BH-01 headphones. Everything that fits both ICON models is on our XP ICON and ICON X accessories page.
Who It's For
The ICON with WSA ST belongs with the first-time buyer who wants to start on multi-frequency rather than trade up to it later, the park and field hunter who wants a light wireless machine, and the DEUS II owner who wants a second XP detector that shares coils and headphones. The 11 in (28 cm) coil covers ground fast in parks, pastures and plowed fields, and FMF keeps it quiet on wet salt sand.
Honest limits: there is no dedicated gold-prospecting program on either ICON model, so small natural nuggets in mineralized goldfields are outside its design brief. The WSA ST headphones are rainproof, not submersible, and under water the only audio is the wired BH-02. The speaker and a wired headphone output cannot run at the same time. The base ICON does not have the ICON X's 28 kHz frequency, reactivity 0 and 6, Enhanced audio response or 0.5-point ferrous resolution. The remote and headphone batteries are user-replaceable, but XP publishes no user procedure for the coil battery, so treat that as dealer service. And while FMF handles black sand and salt, XP's own precautions say not to run the detector in heavy rain or storms.
What Comes Standard in the Factory Box
- XP ICON remote control (ICON-RC) with 3 factory programs and 3 user slots
- ICON28 11 in (28 cm) FMF search coil with coil cover and lower stem
- S-Telescopic Lite stem (blue)
- WSA ST wireless stereo headphones
- 3-output USB charging cable for remote, coil and headphones
- 5-year XP parts and labor warranty, registered online with XP; batteries and accessories carry XP's 2-year term
XP's manual is free to download: XP ICON and ICON X user manual (PDF). The program defaults, the dive procedure with the BH-02 and the battery replacement steps are all in it.
Who you are buying from
History Seekers is a small American business and a working detecting channel: over 1.1 million people follow our hunts on Facebook and YouTube. Everyone here detects, from the top down: gold, relics, coins, jewelry, even float copper. We hunt with the gear we sell, and the person who answers your call has real dirt time. Every purchase keeps everyday Americans working.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the XP ICON and the ICON X?
Both run XP's FMF simultaneous multi-frequency with the same ICON28 11 in (28 cm) coil, 25 sensitivity levels and the same waterproof rating. The ICON X adds a 28 kHz single frequency on top of 4 and 14 kHz, 6 factory and 6 user programs instead of 3 and 3, 7 reactivity levels (0 to 6) instead of 5 (1 to 5), 0.5-point ferrous target ID resolution instead of 1-point, 6 Audio Type settings including Enhanced response instead of 3, and a carbon middle stem that trims it to about 710 g from the ICON's 735 g. The 28 kHz frequency is for small, low-conductive targets such as thin gold jewelry. If none of those matter to your sites, the ICON is the same engine for less.
Is the XP ICON waterproof?
Yes: IP68 and waterproof to 16 ft (5 m) at its ceiling, with two ratings you should know. With the standard cap fitted, the remote and the ICON28 coil are good to 5 ft (1.5 m) for up to 30 minutes, which covers wet sand, creeks and shallow surf. The full 16 ft (5 m) rating requires XP's BH-02 bone-conduction headphones, whose waterproof connector replaces the cap, plus the waveguide that carries the radio link under water. The WSA ST wireless headphones in this package are rainproof, not submersible, and must not go in the water.
Does the remote have a speaker if I do not want to wear the headphones?
Yes. The ICON remote has a built-in speaker and selects its audio output automatically between the speaker, the wireless headphones, a wired headset and the BH-02. Hunting in hot weather or wanting to hear your surroundings, you can leave the WSA ST off and take every tone from the remote. The speaker and a wired headphone output do not run at the same time.
Can the XP ICON find gold?
Gold rings and jewelry, yes: FMF reaches 40 kHz and the target ID scale prints a small gold jewelry zone low on the conductivity range, so chains, thin rings and earrings in parks and on beaches are within reach. Nugget prospecting is not: the ICON platform's six factory programs are Field, Trashy Field, Forest, Park, Wet Beach and Beach and Surf, and none is a gold-prospecting program. Within XP's range, the DEUS II with its Gold Field program is the machine for goldfields.
Can I use DEUS II coils and headphones on the ICON?
Yes. XP's manual lists the ICON as compatible with DEUS II coils and headphones: the 9 in (22.5 cm), 11 in (28 cm) and 13x11 in (34x28 cm) FMF coils and the HF2 elliptical, plus the WS6 ST, WSA ST and WSA XL ST headphones and the MI-6 pinpointer. DEUS I coils (X35 and HF), the WS4 and WS5 headphones and ORX accessories do not fit. The remote stores several paired coils and switches between them with one click; a new coil pairs automatically when you put it on charge.
How long does the battery last and how do I charge it?
XP rates the remote, the WSA ST headphones and the coil at about 11 hours each per charge, depending on audio output and settings, and a full charge takes about 3 hours. The included 3-output cable charges all three at once from any certified 5 V / 1 A USB supply. The remote and headphone batteries can be replaced by the user (XP part BAT-RCST-001) or by an XP dealer; the coil battery has no published user procedure, so leave that to a dealer.
Is the XP ICON good for beginners, or should I buy the DEUS II?
The ICON is built for the detectorist who wants XP performance without XP's full menu: power on, choose one of three factory programs and hunt, with sensitivity, reactivity, notch and ground balance still adjustable when you are ready. It is a sound first multi-frequency detector and a light second machine for a DEUS II owner, since the coils and headphones interchange. Buy the DEUS II instead if you want its deeper settings tree, more programs and the 66 ft (20 m) dive rating.
Is History Seekers an authorized XP dealer?
Yes. History Seekers Metal Detectors is an authorized XP dealer; every ICON we sell is new, sourced through XP's authorized US distributor, and carries the full 5-year XP warranty. We also price match: contact us with the competitor's current listing so we can verify it.
History Seekers Metal Detectors is an authorized XP dealer; every ICON we sell is new, sourced through XP's authorized US distributor, and carries the full 5-year XP warranty. We run XP machines on our own permissions and will help you choose a program, pair a second coil and get finding. We price match: contact us at 256-284-2247 with the competitor's current listing so we can verify it. Because at History Seekers, the story is more important than the artifact.
See everything that fits your machine:What Fits the XP ICON and ICON X