Detector Electronics Superphone 2001 & Super Probe

Detector Electronics Corp. was founded in 1983 by David and Sondra Bernzweig, both avid treasure hunters, with the goal of producing a line of accessories for the treasure hunting community that would let everyone get the most out of their detectors. Over the past 15 years, they have developed the reputation of a company that delivers what they promise and their products are in use worldwide.

Recently, Detector Electronics has released two new products the Superphone 2001 and Super Probe. Both of these were developed based on requests from active treasure hunters and as typical of the way the company operates, were not released until they had been thoroughly tested and met their strict standards of quality.

Features

Since Detector Electronics inception, their product line has been built around a unique patented electronic circuit developed by their engineering team. This circuit was originally packaged in a small box which attached to the side of a metal detector and allowed users to plug a standard set of headphones into it. Simply called the "DEPTHMAS-TER", its name described its effectiveness in helping treasure hunters improve both the quantity and quality of their finds.

Before you simply dismiss this as just another set of headphones, you need to read further. The circuitry in the headphones takes the audio signal from the detector and through the magic of electronics, enhances even the weakest signals which most treasure hunters would either miss entirely or simply ignore assuming it to be caused by changes in ground conditions. Typically these signals indicate a target just at the edge of the detectors detection envelope or one buried on edge. In addition to enhancing the weak signals, the circuit built into the Superphone II also reduces the strength of the audio signal produced by large or shallow targets. This prevents the users hearing from being temporarily affected by a loud signal causing him (or her) to miss a weak signal that might be nearby.

In 1987, the company incorporated their circuit into a set of high quality headphones that had been built to their specifications called Superphones. These became extremely popular due to their proven performance in the field. In 1993, the headphones were redesigned and released as the Superphone II. In an effort to further enhance the product, the staff designed a new case, improved cord connector and tweaked the electronics to give even better performance in the field. The result of these efforts is the Superphone 2001.

The new Superphone 2001 has been completely redesigned with the comfort of the user in mind. Weighing only ounces, it features padded oval earcups which fit the ear snugly thereby blocking out virtually all outside noise and a unique adjustable headband which prevents them from slipping off the users head even when bending over to recover a target. The quality of construction is readily apparent when you pick up a pair.

An innovative feature introduced with the Superphone II and now found on the Superphone 2001 is the removable (and as a result, replaceable) 10 foot long coiled cord which connects the headphones to the detector itself. On conventional headphones, the wires inside of the cord frequently break at the point where the cord enters the ear cups. This in turn renders the headphones inoperable, and most treasure hunters are then forced to go out and buy a new set. This feature will greatly extend the life of the Superphones as a replacement cord can be purchased in the event it does become damaged.

The electronics are powered by a single 1.45 volt button-type battery which fits inside a holder mounted under the padding of one ear piece. It will provide at least 50 hours of use and replacements can be obtained from either the factory or local sources such as Radio Shack. If the battery does go dead while you are out in the field, the electronic circuitry can be bypassed by pushing the right volume control switch in to the OFF position and they will then function as a set of high-quality headphones.

The Superphone 2001 is equipped with a standard 1/4 inch stereo plug. There are three different plugs available, depending on the specific make and model of your detector. Since the cords are removable, you can purchase the appropriate cords if you have more than one detector rather than buying multiple sets of headphones.

My wife and I are both avid Superphone II users so we were extremely interested in seeing how the new model felt and performed in the field. The first thing that strikes you about the Superphone 2001 is the units rugged construction. You can tell it was designed with the active treasure hunter in mind. We both used the new headphones on several of our favorite detectors and found them to be extremely comfortable even after extended periods of use.

The built-in circuitry did what it was designed to do and deeply buried targets were much easier to detect with the 2001 versus conventional headphones. Several pre-1900 coins and numerous Civil War relics were added to our collection that would otherwise have been missed while testing the Super Phone 2001 headphones.

Initial Impressions

Accurately pinpointing a target once the detector has located it has been a longstanding problem for treasure hunters. After all, simply knowing a target is beneath the coil is only half of the challenge of recovering targets pinpointing and recovering the target is as important to your overall success as your search technique. If you are not able to pinpoint the target, it will not only take you longer to recover it but you have a good chance of damaging the target in the process.

Based on requests and feedback from their customers, Detector Electronics began work on a self-contained, electronic pinpointing probe that would help treasure hunters locate targets in less time and with less chance of damage. While there are similar probes on the market, the staff at Detector Electronics set a goal of not simply releasing a copy of what else was available but rather to produce a quality device that met the high standards their customers had come to expect from them.

After extensive development and testing, the Super Probe was released. Its compact size; 2 1/4 inches by 3 3/4 inches by 1 inch, makes it ideally suited to tuck in your shirt pocket or find pouch when it is not being used. Another option, depending on the type of detector you own, is to use double-sided Velcro tape to attach it to the detector housing. It is powered by a single 9-volt battery which provides 100 hours of use. The probe itself is 4-inches in length. A single knob turns the unit on and sets the sensitvity level. An orange light at the base of the antenna lets you know the unit is on as well as illuminates the ground beneath the probe if you are hunting in low light. A green light on the side of the unit will glow brightly and an internal speaker will buzz when a target has been detected. Even if you are wearing headphones, the buzzing can be felt through the case so you do not have to remove your headphones to locate a target.

When I first received the Super Probe, I did not see much use for it after all, Ive been hunting for 35 years and didnt really need any help in pinpointing targets. Well, I can honestly say that after a few trips with the Super Probe in my pocket, I have come to depend on it to help me find targets quickly in the red Georgia clay I hunt in. Clad coins and pennies are often difficult to find yet a quick sweep of the plug and hole with the Super Probe greatly reduces the recovery time. My 9-year old son Paul has also become attached to the Super Probe and has asked for one for his birthday. He really enjoys detecting; however, he quickly gets discouraged when he cant find the target. The Super Probe has all but eliminated this problem for him.

Summary

These two accessories live up to the standard of quality associated with the name Detector Electronics. The Super Phone 2001 will help you get the maximum performance out of your detector and find targets that you might otherwise have missed. The Super Probe will enable you to quickly locate these targets and then recover them without damage.

The Superphone 2001 sells for $139.95 and comes with your choice of one cord. Additional or replacement cords can be purchased for $21.95. The Super Probe sells for $119.95. Both products are covered by a one year warranty (six months on the cord).

For the name of your nearest dealer or more information on any of the other products in their line, call the factory at (508) 626-0244 / (800) 446-0244 or write them at 419 Worcester Road, PO Box 2132LT, Framingham, MA 01701.