Nokta Makro Simultaneous Multi-Frequency Machine News!

As mentioned in previous articles, Nokta Makro is in the process of bringing a new SMF (simultaneous multi-frequency) machine to the market. There has been a lot of rumor and speculation about what this machine will be and how it will perform against the competition. Some of this information is correct but a lot of it is not.

Nokta Makro’s Marketing Director, Dilek Gonulay has recently confirmed some of the rumors and firmly dispelled many others.

What We Know

The Name?

The first thing that needs to be cleared up is the name of the new machine. It will not, as previously reported, be called ‘Lightning’. The name will only be released on the day of the product launch.

The Release Date

The new machine is still set for release in 2021 but this is by no means guaranteed. There are still things that could prevent the machine from being in users’ hands before the end of the year. Nokta Makro had originally planned to launch the machine in the Summer but when they received the prototypes it was decided to improve and add some things. This involved new tooling for parts, which is a slow process. Everything has now been finished and the company is simply awaiting the arrival of these new parts.

What Coil Does It Come With?

The machine will ship with an 11″ coil as standard and there will also be a 6″ coil available, although it was not confirmed if the 6″ would be on sale at launch. Dilek did mention the possibility of a “Pro Pack” but that is just a possibility.

Who Is The Competitor?

Dilek categorically stated that as far as Nokta Makro is concerned, there is only one machine that they consider to be a competitor. She did not say what that machine is but I think we all know it is the Minelab Equinox.

Wireless Headphones?

This is one of the most interesting things. Nokta Makro is ditching their proprietary wireless audio which required the use of Nokta Makro headphones. The new machine will have Low Latency Bluetooth as seen on the Minelab Equinox and Vanquish 540. This means users can choose their own, more budget-friendly headphones from a wide range of suppliers.

Frequencies?

Nokta Makro has not stated which frequencies the new machine will operate on. However, Dilek did say it would go high enough for gold prospecting. The machine will also have several selectable single frequencies in addition to the simultaneous multi-frequency mode.

What Will It Look Like?

Dilek confirmed that the new machine will indeed be using the same fully waterproof control box housing as used in the Simplex+ but there the similarities end. This is not a higher-level version of that machine. This is new technology. The machine will also have a carbon fibre stem, flashlight, and vibration mode. She would not give more details as of course, things can change right up to launch day.

Price – What Will It Cost?

At this time no price is being given. It still needs to be finalized. The only indications of a possible price point are that Dilek said this will not be an entry-level machine and will be priced competitively with the competition. As Nokta Makro has already indicated that they only consider one machine to be their competitor and we believe that machine to be the Minelab Equinox. I would hazard a wild guess that it will be somewhere around the £699 mark.

Conclusions

All the above is what we know and is information provided by Nokta Makro. Apart from the price of course, which is pure conjecture on my part.

Taking everything into consideration and reading between the lines, it does look like Minelab will have some real competition at last. The Equinox is a great machine but it has not been without issues, most notably leaking control boxes and battery problems. It is due a revamp but it looks like Nokta Makro will beat them to the finish line.