White's Spectra V³™ Metal Detector

First Impressions of White's Spectra V³/Vision Metal Detector

It goes deep...and it is LOUD! Too loud if you are using plug-in headphones. The lowest audio threshold setting is 1 (0 is off, 8 default) and for me, even the setting of 1 is too loud. The target volume is also too loud by default (56). This can be adjusted down to 48, but it is still too loud. I think a set of plug-in headphones with a volume switch is probably the way to go. Unfortunately, my Pioneer SE-205 headphones does not have a volume switch.

UPDATE: White's has a fix for the audio problem. Version 1.1 has fixed the loud volume problem. Send your Spectra V3/Vision with headphones to:

White's Electronics
Attn: Todd Marshall
1011 Pleasant Valley Rd.
Sweet Home OR 97330

Don't send the battery, coil, or S-rod. All they need is the main body and the headphones.

NOTE: YOU WILL LOSE YOUR CUSTOM PROGRAMS AND PROGRAM CHANGES.

While using the wireless headphones I did not encounter the volume problem except when first connecting and then disconnecting. The wireless headphones do have a couple of problems. First, the two AA batteries will last 20 hours (plus or minus 4 hours). Second, the padding is not deep enough to fit your ear. It presses your ear against your head and after a few hours of this, it becomes very uncomfortable. They do work well and there was no delay of the signal from detector to headphone...none! I could even walk 20 feet away from the detector and still hear the threshold. It is nice to detect without a headphone cord getting in the way.

So far I have used it at churches and schools that I (and others) have hit hard over the years. On the first two hunts I found a couple of wheat's and new coins. The third hunt got much better (probably because I was getting used to the Vision). Hunting an old church that has been pounded hard by just about everyone in the county that has a detector, I managed to pull up a 1914 Barber dime at 6 inches. The target volume on the Barber was just as loud as if it was on top of the ground. Hunting an old high school that has also been pounded hard, I found a 1941 Mercury dime also at 6 inches. I think the Mercury was on edge because the pinpoint signal was weak. The discriminate signal was loud and clear.

Two silver dimes thanks to the new Vision metal detector.

Click here to enlarge picture.

Hunting the same church as above with the Vision produced this nice 1898-S Barber half dollar. It was located next to a huge tree, 8" deep. The VDI indicated 83 so I was pleasantly surprised when this half popped up.

I think the best way to describe the Spectra V³/Vision is it's a DFX on steroids. It has a navigation menu system, 10 preset programs, active search screen, pinpoint screen, a new active/analyze screen (with target size), live controls (for on the fly adjustments to program settings), sensitivity (with Tx Boost), audio, discrimination, frequency (three, search with one or all three), ground balance/tracking with ground probe, information/configure, help balloons, and a restore factory programs. Click here for more about the features.

Since I have been using an XLT and DFX for over 10 years, I was surprised that you have to do a manual ground balance after first turning on the detector and setting it up. Hold in the trigger switch while pressing Enter and pump the detector up and down on the ground a few times to get a steady threshold and you are ready.

The depth scale now goes to 13 inches. It also displays 1/4 inch depths. Target icons are more realistic. The foil icon looks real and there is a bullet and button icon for the relic mode.

I ran the detector in the Coins and the Coins & Jewelry modes. In these modes by default, the detector runs in three frequencies at the same time. I ran in Coins at 2.5 Khz which is more sensitive to silver and copper. I would not recommend it in a trashy area. The active/analyzer screen works great. It saved me from digging a lot of trash (even though the target registered in the coin range). I also dug up nickels...something I haven't done in quite a while. The Vision is hot on nickels!

I could not purchase the Vision from Kellyco. They were instructed to sell the Spectra V³/Vision to walk in customers only. I called White's and they shipped one to a local dealer in my area. It did not come with a manual or instructional DVD. Owners are instructed to fill out a post card and one will be sent when the manual is complete. I hope Jeff Foster and Jimmy Sierra are working on an in-depth manual for the Spectra V³/Vision.

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