In this article we are reviewing Garrett ACE 400. It provides maximal functionality and a good package set, thus you get a quality metal detector for quite an affordable price. All these makes the device a rather interesting option to consider.
Contents
The metal detector purpose
The ACE product line from Garrett offers a range of budget-friendly metal detectors that cater to both beginners and experienced users. As you progress through the line, from the ACE 250 to the ACE 400, you will notice corresponding improvements in performance capabilities.
Among these models, the Garrett ACE 400 stands out as a top-selling option, celebrated for its combination of robust features and excellent value. This reputation is supported by its impressive specifications and comprehensive package.
Recent design enhancements have improved the performance of the Garrett ACE 400 compared to earlier models. Key updates include:
- Increased operating frequency of 10 kHz, which enhances detection depth and sensitivity.
- VDI (Visual Display Indicator) for better target identification.
- An Iron Audio function, allowing users to hear discriminated iron targets.
- Frequency shift options to minimize interference from other detectors.
- An advanced discrimination scale for improved target filtering.
| Model | Garrett ACE 400 |
| Weight | 2.9 lbs (1.32 kgs) |
| Length (Adjustable) | 40″ to 53″ (1.016 m – 1.3462 m) |
| Batteries | 4 AA (included) |
| Headphones | Included |
| Warranty | 2 year |
| Circuit Type | VLF |
| Standard Searchcoil | 8.5″ x 11″ DD PROformance |
| Operating Frequencies (kHz) | 10 |
| Water resistance | Waterproof coil |
| Submersion Depth | No |
| Iron Discrimination Segments | 4 |
| Ground Balance | Preset |
| Search Modes | 5 |
| Audio Threshold | No |
| Sensitivity/Depth Adjustments | 8 |
| Electronic Pinpointing | Yes |
| VDI (0 to 99 scale) | Yes |
| Build-in flashlight | No |
- Extra Included Accessories: Garrett Pro Pointer AT – Provides all terrain…
- New Iron Audio allows user to hear discriminated iron targets and to alter the…
- New Digital Target ID with a 0 to 99 scale offers target information
- New higher frequency (10 kHz) provides better sensitivity on low and…
- New Adjustable Frequency to help eliminate interference
Last update on 2024-12-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Source: Amazon Affiliates
The review
All Garrett metal detectors are manufactured on the company’s own factories located in the US; all materials and component parts pass quality review.
Included in the Garrett ACE 400 package are:
- The metal detector and coil
- Coil cover
- Four AA batteries (already installed)
- Branded wired headphones
- Coil hardware kit
- Garrett ACE rain cover
- Instruction manual
The standard package provides essential accessories like a coil cover, a protective case for the control unit, and headphones, allowing users to start detecting immediately without needing to purchase additional components.
The shaft
The Garrett ACE 400 features a design that prioritizes consistency and recognizability within the ACE product line, adopting many elements from its predecessors. This design choice reflects the manufacturer’s commitment to maintaining a cohesive brand identity.
Construction and Build
The ACE 400 features a sturdy construction made of three shaft sections. The middle and upper sections are crafted from lightweight aluminum alloy, which is coated with wear-resistant paint. The bottom section is made of durable plastic, contributing to the detector’s overall rigidity while keeping the weight manageable.
The shaft offers nine length-adjustment holes, allowing users to customize the length from 40 inches to 53 inches (1.016 m – 1.34 m). The device weighs only 2.9 lbs (1.32 kg), making it a convenient option for extended use.
Ease of Assembly
Assembling the Garrett ACE 400 is straightforward, requiring less than three minutes. The easily recognizable orange-yellow control unit and armrest are securely attached to the upper shaft section.
Comfort and Adjustability
The armrest is designed to provide a reliable fixation of the forearm, and it comes with a strap featuring a touch-and-close fastener for added security. The polyurethane handle is ergonomically shaped, ensuring a comfortable grip during operation.
Enhanced Fixation System
Unlike previous models that used spring buttons for shaft section fixation, the ACE 400 incorporates camlocks for added security. This significant improvement is also found in higher-end Garrett models like the AT Gold, AT Pro, and AT Max. The camlock system prevents any loosening at the junctions, ensuring construction integrity and reducing the risk of phantom signals from the coil. As a result, users can enjoy a more reliable detecting experience with clear signals from targets.
The coil
Garrett’s marketing team has responded to user feedback by replacing the previous 6.5×9-inch mono coil with the new 8.5×11-inch Double-D PROformance™ coil. This upgrade leverages Double-D technology, enhancing detection depth compared to the mono coil.
Compatibility and Durability
The Double-D coil is also featured in other Garrett models, such as the AT Pro and AT Max, showcasing its versatility. It is designed to be completely leakproof, with a durable compound filling on the underside to improve wear resistance.
While the company claims that the coil does not require an additional protective cover, I purchased a plastic coil cover for my ACE 400, which proved beneficial. In a previous review of the AT Pro, we noted that the coil scratches easily during beach hunting when it comes into contact with stones and sand. Although the ACE 400 is not specifically designed for beach hunting, including an extra protective case in the packaging would enhance its durability.
Operating Frequency
The Garrett ACE 400 operates at a frequency of 10 kHz, positioning it as a high-quality mid-frequency metal detector. Higher operating frequencies improve the likelihood of detecting small targets, although they tend to attenuate faster in the ground. Earlier models operated at lower frequencies of 6.5 kHz or 8.5 kHz, which balanced detection depth and sensitivity, particularly for beginner detectors.
With its 10 kHz frequency, the ACE 400’s coil offers significant potential for both detection depth and sensitivity to small, complex targets.
Coil Design
The search coil features an oval shape that is flattened on both the top and bottom. This design allows for effective operation in space-constrained environments, making it an excellent choice for various detecting scenarios.
The headphones
The standard package of the Garrett ACE 400 metal detector includes branded Garrett™ ClearSound Easy Stow headphones, equipped with audio-level control. These headphones have been favored by experienced detectorists for years, as they excel at capturing faint and brief signals from deeply buried and small ferrous targets.
Importance of Headphones
When detecting objects buried deep underground, weak signals may occur that can easily be missed without headphones. Relying solely on the device’s external speaker can lead to missed opportunities, especially in noisy environments.
Background noise, such as wind, nearby highways, and operational farm machinery, can drown out important signals. Additionally, sounds from neighboring metal detectors can further obscure faint tones. Using headphones ensures that you remain fully focused on the signals received, enhancing your detection experience.
Wired vs. Wireless
While it is unfortunate that the ClearSound Easy Stow headphones are wired, it is understandable given the budget-friendly nature of the device. Including wireless headphones in the package would likely increase costs significantly. For those serious about their detecting hobby, the advantages of the wired headphones in terms of sound clarity and reliability make them a valuable addition to the ACE 400.
The battery
The Garrett ACE 400 metal detector comes with a standard package that includes a set of batteries. While the device has improved its power efficiency, it still operates on the same power-supply circuit that requires four AA batteries.
Battery Life and Recommendations
A set of four AA batteries provides an impressive 25 to 40 hours of continuous use, making the ACE 400 suitable for extended treasure hunting sessions. To ensure optimal performance, the manufacturer recommends using only high-quality batteries.
Cost-Effective Options
For budget-conscious users, investing in rechargeable batteries is advisable. Utilizing accumulator batteries can significantly reduce long-term costs associated with powering the Garrett ACE 400, allowing you to focus more on your detecting adventures without the worry of frequent battery replacements.
The control unit
The Garrett ACE 400 features a standard plastic casing for its control unit, which houses several key components. The battery compartment, located on top, is protected by a slip cover for added convenience.
Control Unit Features
At the bottom of the control unit, there is an external speaker and a jack for connecting the searchcoil. The coil is securely connected via a thick double-braided wire, with a plug that includes a threaded screw for a dependable connection. Additionally, there is a 1/4-inch headphone jack on the opposite side of the control unit, allowing users to connect their headphones for an enhanced auditory experience.
User-Friendly Interface
The front panel is equipped with an LCD display and six control buttons, providing an intuitive interface for users. One significant improvement in the Garrett ACE 400, compared to its predecessors, is the inclusion of a VDI (Visual Display Indicator) that shows numbers ranging from 0 to 99 on the LCD. This upgrade addresses a common complaint among users of older ACE models, who found the lack of a numerical VDI limiting.
Understanding VDI
The VDI number displayed in the center of the screen increases with the conductivity of the detected metal; higher conductivity yields a higher VDI number. This feature is a rarity among budget-friendly metal detectors, making the ACE 400 a standout option for both novice and experienced detectorists.
Modes of operation
The Garrett ACE 400 retains the same operational modes as its earlier models, offering a range of options tailored for various detecting scenarios:
Modes of Operation
- Zero Discrimination (All Metal): This mode detects all metal types, making it ideal for thorough searches.
- Relics: Specifically designed for locating historical items, this mode is fine-tuned to detect various metals commonly found in relics.
- Coins: Optimized for coin hunting, this mode can help target specific types of coins.
- Jewelry: Tailored for finding jewelry, this mode focuses on detecting valuable items.
- Custom: Fully adjustable by the user, this mode allows for personalized discrimination settings that are saved in the device’s memory.
These pre-set discrimination templates are perfect for beginners, making it easier to navigate the complexities of metal detecting. Each mode features different pre-set sensitivity levels and discrimination settings, which can be adjusted in all modes except Zero Discrimination.
Customizing Discrimination Settings
For example, if you wish to search for silver coins specifically, you can start in the Coins mode and apply discrimination to exclude nickel, copper, and zinc. This is done using the two buttons on the right side of the control unit, allowing you to fine-tune your search based on the items you want to find.
If you find a target that produces an unwanted signal, such as a bottle cap, you can quickly exclude that segment from the discrimination scale.
Pinpointing Targets
To locate a target more accurately, you can utilize the pinpointer function by pressing the middle button on the bottom of the control panel. The vertical scale on the right of the screen provides an approximate depth of the detected target. Note that this scale is displayed upside down, with graduation marks starting from the top instead of the bottom.
Adjusting Sensitivity
In addition to selecting the operating mode, detectorists can adjust the metal detector’s sensitivity. The sensitivity scale is located in the middle of the screen at the bottom and consists of eight segments.
The left button at the bottom serves as the on/off switch and also controls the Iron Audio function.
Understanding Iron Audio
Iron Audio is a valuable feature that enhances the detection of ferrous targets, allowing you to receive tone signals from these targets even when their corresponding discrimination sections are disabled. For instance, if this function is turned off, a rusted bottle cap may emit a non-ferrous signal; however, with Iron Audio activated, it will produce a distinct ferrous tone.
While this function is beneficial, it’s advisable to turn it off in areas with a high concentration of iron debris to avoid becoming overwhelmed by noise. When in doubt about a signal, activating Iron Audio can help differentiate between “good” and “bad” signals, but it requires practice to interpret these signals accurately.
Using Zero Discrimination Mode
We’d like to highlight the Zero Discrimination mode, which operates with no discrimination at all. This mode allows the metal detector to achieve maximum detection depth since any discrimination applied can reduce the ability to detect deeper targets. This mode is especially useful in areas with minimal iron debris or for thorough searches in popular detecting locations.
Main Modes of Operation
The ACE 400 operates using two primary modes:
- Dynamic Mode: The main search mode, where the detector generates a signal only when the searchcoil moves over the ground.
- Static Mode: This pinpointer mode is used to pinpoint the exact location of a detected target, requiring minimal movement of the searchcoil.
Ground balance
The Garrett ACE 400 does not have an adjustable ground balance function. The ground balance value is pre-set by the manufacturer, meaning you cannot modify it as you can with other models, such as the AT Pro.
Given this limitation, I would not recommend the ACE 400 for use in areas with highly mineralized soil, as it may struggle to provide optimal performance under those conditions.
Adjustable Frequency
The Garrett ACE 400 is a single-frequency VLF device that operates at a frequency of 10 kHz. However, it offers a useful feature that allows for slight adjustments to the operating frequency.
This function is particularly beneficial when treasure hunting alongside a friend using the same model or another detector with the same frequency, as both devices can interfere with each other’s signals if not kept at a proper distance.
When interference occurs, the detectors can produce unwanted noises and disrupt your search. In such cases, you can easily suppress the noise by pressing a single button, shifting the operating frequency slightly to reduce interference and enabling you to search comfortably in close proximity to your partner’s device.
Conclusions
The Garrett ACE 400 metal detector stands out as the most powerful device within the beginner-friendly ACE product line, offering a comprehensive set of features. It is an excellent choice for those who want a balance between functionality and affordability, without the commitment to a more expensive semi-professional model or overly simplistic devices.
If you prefer an alternative to Garrett, the Fisher F44 is a commendable option. It matches the performance of the ACE 400, making it a viable choice for novice detectorists.