Garrett ACE Series Comparison - 200, 300, 400

The Garrett ACE 200 operates at 6.5 kHz with a 6.5″ x 9″ coil and 4 sensitivity levels, while the ACE 300 adds enhanced iron discrimination and three search modes. You’ll find the ACE 400 offers the most capability with its 10 kHz frequency, 8.5″ x 11″ DD searchcoil, 8 sensitivity adjustments, and Iron Audio feature. All models include Digital Target ID and cam-lock construction, but discrimination resolution improves appreciably as you move up the lineup. The differences in coil technology and frequency directly impact your detecting performance in various ground conditions.

Table of Contents hide

1 Key Takeaways

2 Key Features and Specifications Across the ACE Lineup

3 Search Coil Technology and Operating Frequency Differences

4 Discrimination Capabilities and Audio Performance by Model

5 Frequently Asked Questions

5.1 What Is the Price Difference Between ACE 200, 300, and 400 Models?

5.2 Can the ACE Series Detect in Saltwater or Wet Beach Conditions?

5.3 How Deep Can Each ACE Model Detect Coins and Relics?

5.4 Are ACE Detectors Suitable for Gold Prospecting in Mineralized Ground?

5.5 What Is the Learning Curve for Complete Beginners Using ACE Models?

6 References

Key Takeaways

ACE 200 features 6.5″ x 9″ coil and 4 sensitivity levels; ACE 300 adds enhanced iron discrimination and pinpointing mode.
ACE 400 offers 8.5″ x 11″ DD coil, 8 sensitivity levels, Iron Audio, and superior Digital Target ID capabilities.

Operating frequencies differ: ACE 200 runs at 6.5 kHz while ACE 400 operates at 10 kHz for improved accuracy.
Search modes increase across models: ACE 200 has single-mode, ACE 300 offers three modes, ACE 400 provides four modes.
ACE 400 includes 2-year warranty and supports larger aftermarket coils for enhanced depth and ground coverage performance.

Key Features and Specifications Across the ACE Lineup

When evaluating metal detectors in the ACE lineup, you’ll find that each model builds upon its predecessor with measurable improvements in detection capability and feature sets.

The ACE 200 starts with a 6.5″ x 9″ PROformance searchcoil and four sensitivity adjustments.

The ACE 300 advances with enhanced iron discrimination and built-in pinpointing mode.

The ACE 400 tops the series with an 8.5″ x 11″ DD PROformance searchcoil and eight sensitivity levels.

You’ll get Digital Target ID across all models, with the 400 adding Iron Audio for superior target identification.

Material durability comes standard through cam-lock stem construction.

Battery life remains consistent across the lineup, supporting extended detecting sessions.

The ACE 200 operates at 6.5 kHz frequency, while the ACE 400 increases to 10 kHz for improved accuracy.

FastTrack Ground Balance and 48 frequency shifts optimize performance in challenging conditions, giving you reliable operation anywhere. The ACE 400 comes with a 2-Year Warranty for added peace of mind.

Search Coil Technology and Operating Frequency Differences

The ACE series utilizes two distinct coil technologies—concentric and DD (Double-D)—each engineered for specific detecting conditions and target types.

Concentric coils deliver symmetrical detection fields, maximizing depth in neutral soils while offering superior target separation and pinpointing accuracy.

DD technology excels in mineralized ground and saltwater environments, providing up to 30% depth gain through higher sensitivity tolerance.

The 8.5″ x 11″ DD outperforms the standard 6.5″ x 9″ concentric across most targets, while the 14″ x 11″ Reaper DD increases ground coverage by 25%.

Smaller coils like the 5″ x 8″ DD Ripper concentrate detection for trashy sites. The 5″ x 8″ configuration proves particularly effective for detecting fine jewelry and small coins in areas with heavy iron presence.

Aftermarket options including Detech’s 15″ x 12″ SEF Butterfly enhance coil efficiency through improved ground balance and stability, giving you enhanced frequency variation performance beyond stock configurations. The 14″ x 11″ coil’s rugged, waterproof construction makes it ideal for use in shallow water environments while maintaining durability during extended field operations.

Discrimination Capabilities and Audio Performance by Model

Discrimination capabilities escalate substantially across the ACE lineup, with each model delivering progressively refined target separation algorithms.

Superior discrimination technology defines the ACE series evolution, providing detectorists with increasingly sophisticated iron rejection and target identification capabilities at each tier.

You’ll find the ACE 200 offers basic iron discrimination with single-mode operation.

While the ACE 300 advances your discrimination accuracy through three search modes and enhanced iron resolution.

The ACE 400 represents peak performance with specialized Iron Audio, four search modes, and superior Digital Target ID precision for challenging environments.

Audio clarity improves dramatically from standard alerts on the ACE 200 to enhanced multi-tone systems on the ACE 300 and 400.

You’ll benefit from Iron Audio on the ACE 400, which distinctly identifies ferrous targets through dedicated tones.

The ACE 300 and 400 include headphones, delivering clearer signals and better volume control for precise target identification in iron-contaminated sites.

The ACE 400 utilizes an 8.5 x 11 DD search coil that provides superior target detection capabilities compared to the smaller coils on entry-level models.

The ACE APEX VIPER introduces multi-frequency detection technology, enabling simultaneous operation across multiple frequencies for enhanced target identification in mineralized soil conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Price Difference Between ACE 200, 300, and 400 Models?

You’ll find the ACE 200 starts around $170, while the ACE 300 costs $370-$399, and the ACE 400 ranges from $358-$479. Each price jump delivers enhanced metal detector features and improved user interface capabilities for your detecting freedom.

Can the ACE Series Detect in Saltwater or Wet Beach Conditions?

Like a fish out of water, the ACE series struggles in saltwater environments. You’ll face severe limitations with fixed ground balancing and no waterproofing. Saltwater resilience is minimal—dry sand works, but wet beach performance deteriorates rapidly near the tideline.

How Deep Can Each ACE Model Detect Coins and Relics?

You’ll reach 4-5 inches with the ACE 200, 6 inches with the 300, and 9-11 inches with the 400 and Apex on coins. Their discrimination modes and target identification help you pinpoint depth capabilities based on conductivity.

Are ACE Detectors Suitable for Gold Prospecting in Mineralized Ground?

ACE detectors aren’t perfect for mineralized gold prospecting—you’ll face limitations with hot rocks and ground interference. You’re better off using proper metal detecting techniques with specialized PI or high-frequency units, plus maintaining discrimination settings for ideal performance.

What Is the Learning Curve for Complete Beginners Using ACE Models?

Ready to hunt treasure today? You’ll master ACE presets instantly, but true proficiency demands 100 hours of field time. Beginners’ tips: start with default settings and practice tone recognition. Learning curve strategies include sensitivity adjustment and consistent hunting sessions.