Nokta Makro Introduce 'The Legend' Simultaneous Multifrequency Machine

Nokta Makro has announced the release of their new simultaneous multi-frequency machine ‘The Legend’.

We have been waiting for this new machine since it was first shown at Detectival 2018 and now the wait is finally over. Of course, it may be a couple of months yet until the machine makes it into stores, so probably too late for Christmas. But, it might be something to start the detecting new year off with.

The Name?

As mentioned, the new SMF machine from Nokta Makro is called ‘The Legend’. This name was chosen via a competition that the company ran back in 2018.

What Coil Does It Come With?

There are two packs available. The WHP version comes with Bluetooth headphones and the 11″ coil. There is also a Legend Pro Pack which includes Bluetooth headphones, 11″ and 6″ coils plus a waterproof spare battery. The battery was originally going to be external to the control box but the decision was taken to move it back into the housing and have a “spare” external battery instead.

Who Is The Competition?

The competition here is very clearly the Minelab Equinox 600 and 800. Given the spec of the machine, it is clear that Nokta Makro is looking to knock Minelab from the top of the SMF tree.

Wireless Headphones?

The Nokta Makro Legend comes with low latency Bluetooth headphones as standard but you can use any Bluetooth headphones with the machine. These should also be APTX Low Latency if you wish to avoid large amounts of lag. There are plenty of options on the market though. The August EP650 would be just one example.

Frequencies?

The Legend has 5 single frequencies as well as 3 SMF modes. The selectable single frequencies are 4, 10, 15, 20 and 40 kHz. The 3 SMF modes are one for Park and two for the beach. The beach SMF is split into Dry and Wet Sand modes. This is similar to the system used on the Garrett Ace Apex.

What Does It Look Like?

The Nokta Makro Legend makes use of the same fully waterproof control box as used in the Simplex+ although the buttons have now been changed to the more defined rubberised type. The machine also has a carbon fibre lower stem and an aluminium upper stem. It can collapse down to just 25″/64cm. Weight is similar to the Simplex+ at around 3lb/1.36kg.

Price & Availability

The recommended retail price for the WHP Pack is $749 ($635 street price) in the USA, €749 in Europe and around £679 which puts it squarely up against the Minelab Equinox 600.

The Legend Pro Pack, which includes the 11″ and 6″ coils as well as Bluetooth headphones and a waterproof spare battery pack will cost $899 ($765 street price) in the USA, €899 in Europe and £789 in the UK which is going to be quite some competition to the Equinox 800 which currently retails at £899 here.

The Legend was due to start shipping in December 2021. However, there have been inevitable delays and it is quite possible that we won’t see the machines at retail until January or February 2021.

Conclusions

It is early days and no one has yet had a chance to test the retail version of the new machine but just going on what has been seen so far and looking at the specifications it does seem like Minelab may have some competition on their hands. Especially as there is only a single version of The Legend at both price points. So if you opt for the cheaper WHP Pack you are still getting the full feature set and the Bluetooth headphones for the money. The Minelab Equinox 600 sacrifices two of the selectable single frequencies that are a feature of the more expensive Equinox 800 and comes without Bluetooth headphones.

With 5 selectable single frequencies, selectable recovery speed, 60 selectable polyphonic tones, variable tone frequency and tone break. Built-in flashlight, clock on the display as well as the recording of time used plus three coil sizes available on release, it is a compelling package. Time will tell if it is one that wins over Minelab users.