You’ll find the AT Max outperforms the AT Pro with Z-Lynk Wireless Technology delivering audio in just 17 ms—six times faster than Bluetooth—while 175 ground balance points give you 75% more range to handle extreme mineralization, saltwater, and hot soils. The 13.6 kHz frequency combines with True All Metal mode for maximum depth, and you get 44 iron discrimination segments plus digital Target ID (0-99) for precise conductivity analysis. The waterproof design operates up to 10 feet underwater, and four search modes adapt to any terrain condition you’ll encounter.
Key Takeaways
- Z-Lynk Wireless Technology delivers audio in 17 ms, six times faster than Bluetooth, with MS-3 headphones supporting Iron Audio mode.
- 175 ground balance adjustment points provide 75% more range than AT Pro for extreme mineralized soils and saltwater conditions.
- Enhanced saltwater performance with specialized reset setup protocol and improved detection depth on faint targets compared to AT Pro.
- 13.6 kHz operating frequency with 44 iron discrimination segments and dual-layer filtering for precise target identification in challenging environments.
- Fully waterproof to 10 feet with improved dustproof sealing and lighter weight at 3.03 lbs for extended hunting comfort.
Z-Lynk Wireless Technology and Enhanced Audio System
When you’re sweeping your searchcoil over a promising target, Z-Lynk wireless technology eliminates the frustration of tangled cables while delivering audio signals in just 17 milliseconds—six times faster than standard Bluetooth connections. This near-zero delay guarantees you’ll hear precisely what’s beneath your coil in real-time, essential for accurate target identification.
The AT Max’s integrated wireless connectivity operates on 2.4 GHz frequency-hopping radio, providing unlimited interference-free channels even when detecting alongside other users.
You’ll experience 20 kHz audio fidelity through the included MS-3 headphones, capturing every nuance of Iron Audio and Pro modes at 13.6 kHz VLF frequency.
Auto-pairing connects instantly without configuration hassles.
The weatherproof WT-1 transmitter and WR-1 receiver deliver 30 hours runtime per charge, liberating you from both cables and constant battery anxiety. The system pairs seamlessly with the included Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk, enabling wireless pinpointing to work in tandem with your detector for faster target recovery. The MS-3 headphones deliver high-fidelity audio that ensures you won’t miss subtle signals from deep or challenging targets.
Advanced Ground Balancing for Extreme Conditions
You’ll encounter challenging environments where standard ground balancing falls short—wet saltwater beaches, highly mineralized soils, and alkaline terrain demand precision.
The AT Max delivers 175 points of ground balance resolution, giving you granular control to neutralize even extreme soil interference. This high-resolution system handles both conductive saltwater conditions and mineral-heavy ground, ensuring you’re detecting targets instead of fighting false signals. Choose between automatic and manual ground balancing modes to match your detecting style and soil complexity.
Regular rebalancing during your search is essential when moving between different terrain types or when soil conditions shift. This practice ensures consistent target identification and maintains optimal detector performance throughout your hunt, especially when transitioning from dry sand to wet areas or between zones with varying mineral content.
High Resolution Ground Balance
Because the AT Max operates across diverse terrain—from saltwater beaches to volcanic black sand—its High Resolution Ground Balance system delivers 175 discrete adjustment points to neutralize ground minerals that would otherwise mask targets.
You’ll achieve superior ground stability through precise soil calibration, whether you’re hunting ferrous-laden red clay or conductive saltwater environments.
When you encounter hot ground conditions above value 75, the system enables quarter-point increments displayed via bar graph pixels—giving you surgical control where typical detectors falter.
This resolution lets you bias settings slightly positive to enhance small target responses or negative to reject hot rocks and terracotta interference.
The system cancels naturally occurring minerals while preserving your ability to hear faint metal signals, ensuring you’re not fighting the ground—you’re reading through it with clarity that separates weekend hobbyists from serious hunters.
The detector’s 13.6 kHz operating frequency proves particularly effective for targeting silver, gold, and brass objects in challenging ground conditions.
For unstable conditions in severe mineralization, you can spread the ground balance range using the automatic window feature to gain additional stability.
Mineralized Soil Performance
High Resolution Ground Balance provides the framework, but the AT Max’s mineralized soil performance system transforms those 175 adjustment points into a detection advantage. This capability allows you to perform effectively where extreme conditions would cripple conventional detectors.
You’ll achieve 75% more ground balance range than the AT Pro, letting you hunt alkaline deposits and iron-rich zones that previously forced equipment limitations.
The Automatic Ground Balance Window delivers ground stabilization by simultaneously calibrating across multiple values, eliminating the false signals that mask faint targets in severe soil mineralization.
Field testing confirms considerable detection capacity increases in hot ground where predecessors failed.
Your True All Metal mode combines with enhanced transmit power to maintain depth despite mineral interference, while Iron Audio cuts through trash signals that mineralized environments amplify. The pulse width modulation audio delivers sharp, responsive signals that provide detailed target information, improving your ability to interpret faint responses in heavily mineralized conditions. The 13.6 kHz frequency works in conjunction with the enhanced electronics to maximize detection depth even when confronting challenging mineralized terrain.
Saltwater Beach Capability
Your ideal setup requires resetting the unit, dropping sensitivity three notches, engaging Zero mode with iron discrimination at 43, and setting threshold to -3.
Auto-balance in wet sand, then manually reduce ground balance by 2-3 points.
This configuration delivers minimal chatter at crossover zones and water’s edge, outperforming the AT Pro’s saltwater capabilities while preserving detection depth on faint targets. Cycle through F1-F4 frequencies to minimize electromagnetic interference and maintain stable operation. If the detector becomes chirpy during use, repeat the setup steps to restore quiet operation and optimal performance.
Maximum Detection Depth and True All Metal Mode
When you’re searching for maximum target detection depth, the AT Max delivers a substantial performance increase through its enhanced transmit power and refined electronics.
The 13.6 kHz operating frequency optimizes metal detection on silver coins, gold jewelry, and brass relics while providing eight sensitivity adjustments for deeper penetration.
The true all metal mode cuts discrimination entirely, substantially increasing your depth and sensitivity beyond standard search modes.
You’ll detect all metal types with adjustable threshold capability for hearing faint deep signals, plus iron audio identification for discriminated targets.
Field tests confirm definite target depth superiority over AT Pro and AT Gold models in both discriminate and all-metal configurations.
The high-resolution ground balance with 175 points handles mineralized soils effectively, reducing ground noise to reveal deeper targets you’d otherwise miss.
Waterproof Construction and All-Terrain Durability
Built to withstand complete submersion to 10 feet, the AT Max delivers genuine waterproof performance in both freshwater and saltwater environments without compromising detection capabilities. The waterproof materials extend throughout the standard 8.5″ x 11″ DD coil and control housing, eliminating concerns about equipment failure during underwater searches.
Terrain adaptability features include:
- Dustproof sealing that protects internal components during desert and beach hunting
- High-Resolution Ground Balance with 175 adjustment points for mineralized soils
- Weatherproof construction maintaining performance through rain, humidity, and extreme conditions
- Lightweight 3.03 lb design with padded arm cup reducing fatigue during extended searches
You’ll handle saltwater beaches and freshwater rivers with identical effectiveness. The included coil cover adds protection, while the rubber grip ensures control in wet conditions.
Precision Target Identification and Discrimination Controls
You’ll find the AT Max’s Digital Target ID system displays conductivity values from 0-99, giving you numeric precision that works alongside 44 iron discrimination segments to separate valuable targets from trash.
The notch discrimination feature lets you create custom rejection patterns by adjusting individual segments, allowing you to silence specific conductivity ranges while maintaining audio on targets you’re hunting.
This discrimination framework integrates directly with the detector’s multi-tone audio system, where accepted targets produce distinct tones based on their conductivity while rejected items either stay silent or trigger iron grunts when Iron Audio is enabled.
Digital Target ID System
As detection technology has evolved, the Garrett AT Max’s Digital Target ID System stands as one of its most sophisticated upgrades, delivering numerical precision that transforms how you interpret subsurface targets.
The 0-99 scale provides target accuracy through enhanced readability, while 44 points of iron resolution deliver discrimination precision that separates ferrous from non-ferrous finds. You’ll maintain control even in challenging environments:
- High-Resolution Ground Balance (175 points) stabilizes ID readings across mineralized soil.
- Pulse Width Modulation audio delivers sharp acoustic feedback synchronized with numerical displays.
- Backlit interface ensures visibility during low-light conditions.
- Iron Audio integration pairs proportional sound response with digital readouts.
Operating at 13.6 kHz with fast recovery speed, you’ll identify multiple targets rapidly across four search modes, including True All-Metal for unrestricted exploration.
Notch Discrimination Segments
The AT Max’s 12-segment notch discrimination system delivers surgical control over target acceptance, enabling you to reject specific conductivity ranges while preserving detection depth across the remaining spectrum. Target segmentation operates through two methods: menu-based selection for deliberate pattern creation, or real-time ELIM button activation when you encounter unwanted targets in the field.
Each notch corresponds to specific conductivity values, allowing you to silence trash while maintaining audio on desired metals. Notch customization works independently from the 44-segment iron discrimination system, giving you dual-layer filtering capability.
You’ll silence junk targets without compromising depth, as discriminated items still display numerically without audible tones. This precision proves essential in trashy environments where you’re hunting specific target types—silver seekers can eliminate mid-conductors while relic hunters fine-tune iron rejection parameters without menu diving.
Audio Tone Identification
Beyond visual target identification, the AT Max’s multi-tone audio system transforms conductivity readings into distinct acoustic signatures that let you classify targets before you dig.
Target tone customization operates through three discrimination modes—Custom, Coins, and Zero—delivering proportional PWM audio that varies signal strength based on depth.
Audio signal clarity improves through 33 threshold adjustment levels (-9 to +23), letting you optimize faint target detection in challenging soil conditions.
The system distinguishes targets through:
- Low-tone ferrous alerts for Digital IDs below 35, including nails and iron artifacts
- Enhanced Iron Audio that identifies discriminated bottle caps through flat construction characteristics
- Proportional signal modulation producing sharp responses for shallow targets, softer tones for deep ones
- Continuous threshold control adding or subtracting background hum for customized sensitivity
This acoustic intelligence eliminates unnecessary digging while preserving relic hunting opportunities.
Versatile Search Modes and Searchcoil Compatibility
When hunting diverse terrains, you’ll rely on the AT Max’s four distinct operating modes to adapt your detection strategy.
All Metal delivers maximum depth with continuous audio response, while Custom mode enables complete target customization that persists through power cycles—letting you program discrimination patterns for specific hunting conditions.
Zero mode activates all 12 discrimination pixels simultaneously, providing thorough detection without notching out targets in cleaner sites.
The factory Coins mode offers preset patterns you can instantly deploy.
Your searchcoil options perform ideally when swept one inch above ground at three feet per second.
Eight sensitivity levels let you combat interference while maintaining detection capability in mineralized soil.
Iron Audio functions across all modes, giving you an acoustic target verification without switching settings.
Motion-based detection keeps operations fluid.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Battery Life Expectancy With Continuous Use?
You’ll get 7-8 hours of power duration with standard alkalines, far below the claimed 20 hours. Battery longevity improves dramatically with the RnB Power Plus pack, delivering over 40 hours for extended detecting sessions without interruption.
Can the Detector Be Used in Saltwater Surf Hunting?
Yes, you’ll excel in surf hunting—the AT Max’s saltwater modulation technology and 175-point ground balance eliminate interference in challenging surf environments. You’re waterproof to 10 feet, handling wet sand and waves while detecting targets 6-10 inches deep.
Are Replacement Coils Included or Sold Separately?
Replacement coils aren’t included—they’re sold separately as accessories. You’ll find excellent coil compatibility with Garrett’s 9″x12″ PROformance and third-party options like Detech’s 13″ Ultimate. These accessory options expand your detecting capabilities beyond the standard 8.5″x11″ DD searchcoil.
Does the Warranty Cover Water Damage From Submersion?
the warranty coverage doesn’t explicitly address water damage from submersion. You’ll find it conspicuously absent from the terms, leaving a gray area. Contact Garrett directly to determine if your specific situation qualifies for protection.
What Is the Recommended Operating Temperature Range for This Detector?
The AT Max’s operating temperature range isn’t officially published by Garrett. However, based on similar models like the Pro-Pointer AT, you’ll likely get maximum range performance between -35°F to 158°F in various hunting conditions.
References
- https://www.metaldetector.com/products/garrett-at-max-metal-detector
- https://garrett.com/garrett-at-max-w-ms-3-wireless-headphones/
- https://e-catalog.com/GARRETT-AT-MAX.htm
- https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/garrett-at-max-metal-detector
- https://kellycodetectors.com/blog/garrett-at-max-review/
- https://www.mysurveyingdirect.com/products/garrett-at-max
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ4WSAsmNMo
- https://detectorpower.com/products/garrett-at-max-waterproof-metal-detector-with-8-5×11-dd-search-coil
- https://garrett.com/sites/default/files/2019-11/1539400_zlynk_wireless_manual_en.pdf
- https://detectorwarehouse.com/products/garrett-at-max-with-2-coils-waterproof-headphones-free-pro-pointer-at-z-lynk-pinpointer
