Minelab Manticore vs CTX 3030 The Showdown - Real Digs

Here is a very fair comparison with REAL DIGS for the Minelab Manticore and Minelab CTX 3030. This was non-trashy site but everything settles deep due to flooding etc. One machine comes out on top IMO. My final thoughts will be at the very end of the video. Enjoy.

Gear I've owned, tested, and recommend:

Minelab Metal Detectors:

Minelab Equinox Carbon Fiber Shafts:

Nokta Makro Metal Detectors

Garrett Metal Detectors

XP Metal Detectors

Pinpointers:

Shovels:

Backpacks:

Detecting How-to Books by Andy Sabisch:

Applications that help me w/YouTube

For Correspondence send mail to:
The Mental Metal Channel
PO Box 19
New Windsor, MD 21776

Thank You!
The Mental Metal Channel

[Keepinyoungdiggin]

As an owner of a CTX I can’t see enough of an improvement to justify investing the Manticore at this time. If I was a new buyer that opinion would change. I still like the GPS AND XChange2 .

[oldArmyVet]

I really like having the ferrous and non ferrous numbers on the etrac and 3030. They show you so much Plus you can decipher from clad and silver coins. Why minlab hasn't incorporated that in the newer machines is beyond me

[Windsurfingaddict]

From what I see here and other videos the Manticore is still calling iron good targets more so than CTX and other machines, still waiting for someone’s work around or an update to fix it, thanks for comparison 🥳🥳

[IDigHistoryInIowa]

Great video. I’ve used the etrac for 15 years and it’s just like the ctx. Was made shortly after the etrac to be waterproof basically. Same coin magnet. If you walk around the iron with the ctx it should Null more. Both the etrac and ctx may sound good one direction but if you walk around it then you’ll hear the iron null. Think I might stick with my etrac. It was $1500 15 years ago.

[PursueTheUnknown]

I own a Manticore, CTX, Deus 2, Legend, Sovereign, CZ21, Vanquish, plus a few PIs. I have no brand favorites, I use what performs best. CTX is the best performer out of all of my VLF machines, with the Sovereign a close second. I'll take rock solid target ID over a tiny bit of extra sensitivity to low conductors any day. The Deus 2, Legend, and the Manticore give good hits on Iron constantly, huge fatal flaw. What's worse, the Manticore gives iron tones on deep non-ferrous targets... which the Legend and Deus 2 don't do. These new machines are trying to eek out every bit of sensitivity, but are becoming unstable with the target ID in the process. If I can't trust the target ID, I'll just use a PI (I'm a beach hunter) and get 3-4 inches more depth.

I get it, you want to like the Manticore... but the CTX won your comparison by a mile. IDing iron correctly is the simplest thing you expect of a VLF metal detector, and the Manticore doesn't do it accurately.

[vonborgestad]

I know I loose some depth on the ctx3030 with Auto sens +3, but I use auto sens if there's more trash in the ground. If I use manual sens 24-27 I get great depth and a pretty stable ctx3030

[jerrytalley]

I really like the large display and clear description on the screen. I never got used to the Nox menu and now the Legend menu. Just struggle with them for some reason? I guess it’s because you have to memorize what each little icon means, then the sub menus under each one?

[iggie]

The CTX will not always make a tone for a coin in the ground coin mode you are using. It is very clear about this in the manual. If I use this mode I will reference the display anytime the threshold breaks and the see if target trace builds in a acceptable area regardless of any sound at all. If iron nails are above this will almost always happen.

[bells]

Nice video Scott! Thanks for sharing and the work you do.

[christianwelder]

Love your show and it helps me alot so thanks. Now that the update for the Manticore is out, it would be interesting to see the CTX330 and The Manticore test again. I think with the update it changes things a bit. Thanks Glenn AKA Ontario Heritage Hunter

[Findingwithfrequency]

I tend to disagree with you on CTX thing I'm a CTX user it clearly showed the iron targets it's a combination between the sound and the Target ID but even in the sound it was letting you know it was iron you had to actually make the coil make the sound that you were looking for if you were just walking in detecting that scenario would have not happened the manticores been showing it has some iron falsing issues

[DigginDuo]

This makes me wanna pull my CTX out again. Great video

[ingeludvigsen]

Thanks for your opinion. I do also have both machines. But just got the manticore . Still learning this machine. But as you mentioned. Manticore is more fast. But the CTX is as you say, when you detecting a coin. You do really know what you will get. But anyway. Manticore is just released. Probably updated software soon.

[ChristyLand-gtbz]

SOLD my 3030 after 8 years, and now its the Manticore #1so light and finding deeper targets, Florida beach..

[DCDetector]

Thanks for the video. My 2 cents is I liked the CTXs response. I felt it was a bit more accurate on that first iron the Manticore called good, and I like the tone of the CTX better than the Manticore.

[freedomdiggersmetaldetecti]

Decent comparison. I think the CTX is still the king of Target identification the Manticore is the clear winner in many other categories.

[jamiedigsit]

Thanks for the review!! I've been watching quite a few side by sides on the Manticore, It only makes me like the 800 even more. To tell you I have not seen any great depth improvements in the dirt (maybe on the beach). Depth is something most people strive for and I would rather have Better discrimination. All the fancy screen stuff is a way to not have control of your machine. Minelab has a hard time with iron next to a good target, But if you pull out of multi and try single freq. you'll have a better chance. I have had the 800 for about 2 years and I almost never run multi anymore. I find that 10khz on the 800 is near the king of freq's. I'm assuming the Manticore can run single Freq. So maybe you can do a video of it in single vs multi to see depth improvements or not. Also running low recovery speed will give you great depth on most machines.I really like your content, you seem to really keep it honest. Also I'm a south eastern PA detector, red clay and iron goodness. Maybe we can cross paths and share some info.

[paulandresen]

Quite the puttanesca of targets. CTX seemed to ID a bit better. Manicore called one of the iron targets good and the CTX didn't. Thanks for the video, I would like to see more like this.

[ohiofredl]

Thanks for vid.I. keep hearing about new ctx 3030 coming out in spring.

[donaldphelps]

Good video, the comparison was pretty good and I agree with your findings. I have been trying to put together a coin program for the manticore that is similar to what I had with the equinox. I just need to get one so I can try it out. I can’t believe how long it is taking Minelab to get them out to us.