Equinox coils
Equinox Coil Compatibility Chart: Which Coils Fit Which Minelab Machines
Quick answer
The Minelab EQX 06, EQX 11 and EQX 15 fit the Equinox series, with the 06 and 15 also published for the X-Terra Pro. Coiltek NOX coils are published as compatible with the Equinox 600, 700, 800 and 900 and the X-Terra Pro, submersible to 5 metres on the 700 and 900.
Coils are not interchangeable between brands, and they are not always interchangeable within one. This page collects what Minelab and Coiltek actually publish about which coil goes on which machine, including the waterproof depth, which differs between the older and current Equinox bodies. Where a maker does not publish compatibility with a given machine, this page says so rather than assuming.
That last point matters for one machine in particular. The Minelab X-Terra Elite is not named in the compatibility text of the coil listings used here, even though the Minelab X-Terra Pro is. If you own an Elite, confirm with Minelab before buying rather than assuming the Pro compatibility carries across. For what each coil size does to depth and separation, see the coil size chart.
Top pick
Minelab EQX 06 Coil (6 inch)
The 6 inch Double-D is the coil that changes what an Equinox finds on hunted-out ground, and Minelab publishes it as fitting the Equinox series and the X-Terra Pro.
Price was accurate when this page was compiled and changes often.
Which coils fit which machines?
Compatibility and waterproof depths exactly as the manufacturers publish them.
Minelab publishes 10 feet of submersion for the EQX coils on the Equinox 600 and 800 and 16 feet on the X-Terra Pro, Equinox 700 and 900, which is the single most useful line in this table.
| Coil | Size | Published to fit | Published waterproof depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minelab EQX 06 | 6 in round Double-D | Equinox series, X-Terra Pro | 10 ft with the EQX 800, 16 ft with X-Terra Pro, EQX 700 and 900 |
| Minelab EQX 11 | 11 in round Double-D | Equinox series | Waterproof, depth follows the machine rating |
| Minelab EQX 15 | 15 by 12 in Double-D | Equinox series, X-Terra Pro | 10 ft with the EQX 600 and 800, 16 ft with X-Terra Pro, EQX 700 and 900 |
| Coiltek 10 by 5 NOX | 10 by 5 in elliptical Double-D | Equinox 600, 700, 800, 900 and X-Terra Pro | 3 m on the 600 and 800, 5 m on the 700, 900 and X-Terra Pro |
| Coiltek 15 inch NOX | 15 in round Double-D | Equinox 600, 700, 800, 900 and X-Terra Pro | 3 m on the 600 and 800, 5 m on the 700, 900 and X-Terra Pro |
Compatibility statements are quoted from the Minelab and Coiltek listings. The X-Terra Elite is not named in those listings, so it is absent from this table rather than assumed compatible. Coiltek publishes a 2 year warranty on NOX coils.
What is each coil actually for?
Size is the decision. Everything else follows from it.
The 6 inch coil is for trash, the 10 by 5 elliptical is the compromise, the 11 inch is the all-round default and the 15 inch is for open ground only.
| Site | Coil to fit | Why | What you give up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old house site, dense nails | EQX 06 | Best separation available on the platform | Depth on coins, ground covered per hour |
| Trashy park, picnic ground | EQX 06 or Coiltek 10 by 5 | Reports targets the stock coil blends together | Coverage |
| Mixed ground, unknown site | EQX 11 | The stock coil does everything acceptably | Nothing, it is the compromise by design |
| Iron-heavy ground with acreage | Coiltek 10 by 5 | Long footprint, narrow width, good separation | A little depth against the stock coil |
| Pasture, ploughed field | EQX 15 or Coiltek 15 | Depth on large targets and the most ground per sweep | Separation in trash, and weight at the coil |
| Dry beach, open sand | EQX 15 | Coverage, and beach trash is usually sparse | Separation near boardwalks and pathways |
Minelab publishes the EQX 15 as having more depth capability than the EQX 06 and 11, and publishes the EQX 06 as the choice for smaller targets such as coins and jewellery.
Do coil covers and control box covers matter?
They are the cheapest protection on the machine. Minelab supplies a replacement skidplate with the Minelab EQX 06 Coil (6 inch) and includes a cover with the Minelab EQX 11 Coil (11 inch), and the separate Minelab EQX 11 Coil Cover and Minelab EQX 15 Coil Cover are the replacement parts when the original wears through. A cover costs a small fraction of a coil and is the only thing between the winding and whatever is buried in the ground you are sweeping.
The screen is the other part that suffers. Equinox Control Box Cover is published as usable with the Equinox 700 and 900, and its listing notes that it also covers the flashlight, so it may need modifying if you rely on that. It is one of the cheapest accessories in the catalog and it protects the part of the machine that is scratched first.
What about headphones and pinpointers across the range?
Headphones follow the same compatibility logic as coils. Minelab ML105 Wireless Headphones is published for the Manticore, Equinox 700 and 900 and the X-Terra Pro, so it is the one set that covers a multi-machine Minelab kit. Minelab ML 80 Wireless Headphones is the older Minelab low latency set. Neither works submerged, because wireless audio does not pass through water, which is what Minelab Equinox Waterproof Headphones exists for.
Pinpointers are brand agnostic, so Minelab PRO-FIND 40 and Garrett Pro-Pointer AT both work alongside any machine here. The one thing worth checking is interference: Minelab publishes Detector Interference Free technology on the PRO-FIND range specifically to reduce interference with an operating detector. If you are assembling a full kit, the intermediate setup lists what goes together, and the reference hub has the rest of these charts.
Sources
- Minelab EQX 06, EQX 11 and EQX 15 coil specifications
- Coiltek NOX coil product specifications
- Minelab Equinox 700 and 900 instruction manual
- Minelab PRO-FIND 40 and ML105 product listings
Frequently asked questions
Do Equinox 600 and 800 coils fit the Equinox 700 and 900?
Minelab publishes the EQX coil range as fitting the Equinox series, and lists specific waterproof depths for both generations: 10 feet with the 600 and 800, 16 feet with the 700 and 900. So the coils carry across, but the submersion rating changes with the body. Buy against the rating of the machine you actually own rather than the deepest figure on the box.
Will an Equinox coil fit the X-Terra Pro?
Minelab publishes the EQX 06 and EQX 15 as fitting the X-Terra Pro as well as the Equinox series, and Coiltek publishes its NOX coils as compatible with the X-Terra Pro too. The X-Terra Elite is not named in those same listings, so confirm with Minelab before buying for an Elite rather than assuming the Pro compatibility transfers.
Are Coiltek NOX coils as good as the Minelab ones?
They are the established aftermarket alternative, published as fully compatible with the Equinox 600, 700, 800 and 900 and the X-Terra Pro, with a two year warranty. Owners usually choose them for balance on the shaft or for a size Minelab does not offer, such as the 10 by 5 elliptical. Both are Double-D coils with skid plates fitted.
Which coil should I buy first for an Equinox?
A small one, if your machine came with the 11 inch coil only, which is the case for the Equinox 700. The stock coil is already the all-round size, so the gap is separation rather than coverage. The EQX 06 or the Coiltek 10 by 5 will find targets on hunted ground that the stock coil merges with the surrounding iron.
Can I use a coil from another brand on my Equinox?
No. Coils are tuned to the electronics of a specific platform and use machine-specific connectors, so a Nokta or Garrett coil will not work on a Minelab body. Stick to coils the maker publishes as compatible with your exact model. Fitting an unsupported coil at best gives you nothing and at worst risks damage that no warranty will cover.
Researched, not professional advice. This page is compiled from published specifications, manuals and owner-review consensus, not hands-on testing. Target ID numbers, depth figures and settings vary with soil chemistry, moisture, target size, depth, orientation and firmware version, so treat every figure here as a starting point and verify it against your own machine's manual and your own ground. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.