Garrett AT Gold vs Garrett AT Pro: Which Metal Detector Is Right for You?

If you’re a treasure hunter looking to step up your game, choosing the right metal detector can be a daunting task. Two popular models from Garrett, the AT Gold and the AT Pro, offer a range of features designed for different types of treasure hunting, whether you’re searching for gold, relics, coins, or even underwater finds. Both of these detectors come with impressive capabilities, but each has its own strengths that make it suited to specific environments and needs. In this comparison, we’ll break down the key features, pros, and cons of both detectors to help you decide which one is best for your next adventure.

1. Garrett AT Gold Metal Detector

The Garrett AT Gold Metal Detector is a high-performance tool designed for serious treasure hunters, offering an impressive combination of features that make it versatile and easy to use. Operating at a high frequency of 18 kHz, it excels at detecting small gold nuggets, jewelry, and coins, making it a solid choice for prospecting. The True All Metal Mode provides excellent depth and sensitivity, allowing users to identify a wide range of metal types with precision.

One of the standout features is the Iron Audio function, which audibly identifies iron targets, helping users avoid unnecessary digging of junk iron. Additionally, the Ground Balance Window offers both manual and automatic ground balancing to handle different soil conditions, ensuring consistent performance in a variety of terrains. For those who need extra pinpointing accuracy, the included Pro-Pointer AT adds significant value. This waterproof pinpointer can go up to 20 feet deep and features 360° detection and Fast Retune, making target recovery much quicker.

Key Features, Pros, and Cons

Key Features:

1. 18 kHz frequency for detecting small gold nuggets, jewelry, and coins.
2. True All Metal Mode for maximum depth and sensitivity.
3. Ground Balance Window for adjusting to varying soil conditions.
4. Iron Audio to identify unwanted iron targets.
5. Pro-Pointer AT included, waterproof up to 20 feet with 360° detection.

Pros:

1. High sensitivity, ideal for detecting small gold and other valuable items.
2. Adjustable ground balance for different terrains.
3. Iron Audio helps reduce false finds and unnecessary digging.
4. Waterproof pinpointer included for easier target recovery.
5. Simple assembly and user-friendly design.

Cons:

1. Mixed feedback on audio quality, which might not suit everyone.

2. Garrett AT Pro Metal Detector

The Garrett AT Pro & Pro-Pointer AT Metal Detector Bundle is an exceptional choice for both novice and experienced treasure hunters looking for versatility and performance. The AT Pro detector offers impressive all-terrain functionality, allowing it to detect targets effectively in various environments, from dry ground to wet conditions. Its fast recovery speed and excellent target separation make it ideal for areas with heavy debris or mineralization, ensuring you don’t miss valuable finds.

One of the standout features of the AT Pro is its fully submersible design, which allows for use in shallow water up to 10 feet deep—perfect for those who enjoy water hunting. The Pro Mode Audio, with proportional audio and tone roll, offers detailed target feedback, allowing users to judge target depth and conductivity more accurately. Additionally, the included Pro-Pointer AT pinpointer, waterproof to 20 feet, enhances the experience with its 360° detection and Fast Retune, which makes pinpointing targets more efficient.

Key Features, Pros, and Cons

Key Features:

1. All-terrain performance with fast recovery speed and deep detection.
2. Waterproof up to 10 feet for use in shallow water.
3. Pro Mode Audio with proportional audio and tone roll for accurate target analysis.
4. Pro-Pointer AT included, waterproof to 20 feet with 360° detection.
5. MS-2 headphones for enhanced signal clarity and noise reduction.

Pros:

1. Versatile and performs well in different environments, including shallow water.
2. Detailed audio feedback helps with target depth and material identification.
3. Waterproof pinpointer included, offering fast recovery and accuracy.
4. Headphones reduce ambient noise and amplify weak signals.
5. Excellent build quality and value for the price.

Cons:

1. Some users may find the audio tones challenging to interpret at first.

Comparison of Garrett AT Gold vs Garrett AT Pro

When comparing the Garrett AT Gold and the Garrett AT Pro, both products are high-quality metal detectors aimed at serious treasure hunters. However, each has its own strengths and unique features tailored to different types of searching and environments.

Key Features Comparison

Both the AT Gold and AT Pro offer impressive features, but there are a few critical differences in terms of functionality, included accessories, and depth of capabilities.

Feature	Garrett AT Gold	Garrett AT Pro
Frequency	18 kHz for enhanced sensitivity to small targets	15 kHz for balanced depth and accuracy
Waterproof Depth	Waterproof up to 10 feet	Waterproof up to 10 feet (detector); 20 feet (pinpointer)
Ground Balance	Manual and automatic ground balance	Manual ground balance with advanced features
Audio	Iron Audio & standard audio	Pro Mode Audio, Proportional Audio, Tone Roll
Included Accessories	Pro-Pointer AT (waterproof), headphones not included	Pro-Pointer AT (waterproof), MS-2 headphones
Weight	3.03 lbs (1.37 kg)	6.5 lbs (2.95 kg)

Performance and Sensitivity

Garrett AT Gold:

The AT Gold operates at a higher frequency of 18 kHz, which makes it particularly well-suited for detecting small targets such as gold nuggets, jewelry, and coins. This frequency allows the detector to pick up on small and faint targets with great precision. For gold prospecting, the AT Gold is a top choice. The True All Metal Mode further enhances sensitivity, offering the deepest depth for all types of metals. Its ground balance functionality ensures stable performance in varying soil conditions, whether you’re detecting on wet soil or highly mineralized ground.

Garrett AT Pro:

The AT Pro, with a frequency of 15 kHz, offers a more balanced performance, providing excellent depth and target separation. Its strength lies in the ability to detect a wider variety of targets, making it versatile for treasure hunting in different terrains. The Pro Mode Audio feature, including Proportional Audio and Tone Roll, gives the user detailed feedback about target conductivity and depth, which is a useful tool when searching for different metals. The AT Pro is especially advantageous in environments where there may be interference from trash or mineralized ground, as its fast recovery speed and superior target separation ensure you won’t miss valuable finds.

Waterproofing and Durability

Both detectors are waterproof up to 10 feet, making them great for shallow water hunts, whether it’s a wet beach or a stream. However, the AT Pro has a slight edge in terms of waterproofing accessories. The Pro-Pointer AT pinpointer included in the AT Pro bundle is waterproof up to 20 feet, which is a big advantage for users who plan to do deep-water searches. Additionally, the included MS-2 headphones are designed to filter out external noise, providing a better, more focused detecting experience.

While the AT Gold does not come with the same waterproofing accessories (like headphones), its performance in wet environments remains strong, thanks to its own waterproof capabilities.

Weight and Comfort

The AT Gold weighs 3.03 lbs (1.37 kg), which is relatively light and comfortable for extended hunting sessions. Its ergonomic design makes it easy to handle for users of all levels, especially those who may not want the added bulk of heavier models.

In contrast, the AT Pro weighs 6.5 lbs (2.95 kg) due to the extra equipment included in the bundle, such as the Pro-Pointer AT and MS-2 headphones. While the added weight may be noticeable during long outings, the bundled accessories make it worth considering for those who value comprehensive gear.

Conclusion

Both the Garrett AT Gold and the Garrett AT Pro are outstanding metal detectors, but they serve slightly different purposes depending on your treasure-hunting goals. The AT Gold excels at detecting small gold nuggets and offers highly sensitive detection in challenging terrains, making it ideal for prospectors. On the other hand, the AT Pro offers more versatility with its all-terrain capabilities, better audio features, and additional accessories like the waterproof pinpointer and headphones, making it perfect for those who want an all-in-one solution for various treasure-hunting scenarios.

Enjoyed this guide of Garrett AT Gold vs Garrett AT Pro? Then be sure to check out our other metal detector guides.

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