Patrick Electronics Blastmaster Ev+

Headphones have become a standard piece of equipment for most metal detector users to both increase battery life and block out much of the distracting background noise caused by traffic, the wind, playing children, or the crashing surf on an ocean beach.
One of the biggest complaints heard from treasure hunters when discussing headphones is the uncomfortably loud signal caused by a large target near the surface or when using the pinpoint mode on many models to center the coil over a target. Joe Patrick, owner of Patrick Electronics, has designed a compact electronic device which not only eliminates this problem, but can also help locate targets previous treasure hunters have overlooked.
Unlike some other devices currently on the market, the BlastMaster EV+ is not a battery-powered signal amplifier but rather a self-powered, signal-activated device that obtains all necessary operating voltage from the audio signal coming from the detector itself. Additionally, there are no complicated adjustments required to achieve optimum performance on virtually any detector currently in use. If you own more than one type of detector, it can be interchanged simply by unplugging it from the headphone jack on one unit and re-inserting it on the other.
The BlastMaster has been constructed with ultra-miniature electronic components, and as a result, is not much larger than a standard headphone jack. The EV+ is actually the second model designed by Joe. In addition to offering about 60% more volume to the headphones (while still, limiting signals from surface targets) than the original BlastMaster, it emphasizes the high frequency portion of the audio signal from the detector making some of the faint signals more noticeable.
FIELD TEST
After removing the BlastMaster EV+ from its plastic carrying case and reading over the instruction sheet that came with it, I brought out several different metal detectors to see how the device affected the signals they produced on various targets. As Joe mentions in the instructions, the biggest difference will be seen if a treasure hunter normally operates with the volume control on either the detector or headphones set at less than full volume.
Many people do this because of the loud signal produced by a surface target; however, by doing so, some of the weak signals caused by deeply buried targets or even objects such as a coin on edge may be missed.
Setting up one of the detectors, I adjusted both volume controls to the maximum position and passed a 50-cent piece in front of the loop about one inch away. The resulting signal was almost painful, so I decreased the volume level on the headphones to about 75% and swept the coin past the loop again. This time the sound level was comfortable, and continuing to move the coin outward, I was able to get a clear, discemable signal at 8 inches. If I had been hunting in an area that contained a large number of targets within the first inch of the surface, this is how I would have set the volume controls.
Next, I plugged the BlastMaster EV+ into the detector and inserted the plug on the headphones into the other end. Leaving the volume controls set at the same position, I repeated the test. I did not notice much difference, if any, as I moved the coin past the loop, and was still able to get a signal at 8 inches away.
I then turned the volume control on the he ad-phones to the maximum position and again passed the coin about one inch from the bottom of the coil. This time, despite having increased the volume level, the signal it produced was uncomfortable to listen to. I began moving the coin away from the loop, and this time, I was able to hear a definite signal with the coin at almost 9 inchesan increase of nearly 1 full inch. How many sites do you know of where an additional inch of detection depth would produce some keeper targets? I repeated this test with three other detectors and found the results comparable.
I tried using the BlastMaster EV+ during several trips to local hunting sites and after a short learning period, was quite satisfied with its performance. One of the areas I searched was a playground/picnic area near where I work that is extremely trashy. Despite dating back to the 1940s, I have only heard of 6 older coins coming from this site. Setting both volume controls to maximum, I started searching near the barbecue pit area under the large pine trees.
In the past, the blasts from the surface trash have caused me to either give up and try elsewhere or decrease the volume setting, possibly causing me to miss the fainter signals. The first few good signals near the grill produced clad coins and a memorial penny within two inches of the surface.
At the base of one of the trees, I received a signal that was clear but noticeably weaker than the previous signals. Switching to the pinpoint mode and sweeping across the target, the meter indicated that it was about six inches deep. Before recovering it, I unplugged the BlastMaster EV+, reinserted the headphones into the detector, reduced the volume level to 75%, and rechecked the target.
This time, I was just barely able to detect it if I scrubbed the coil over where the target was buried. Cutting a plug and removing the loose dirt, I carefully removed a 1944P silver war nickel that had been resting at a 45-degree angle from just over 5 inches. This one example showed me that the BlastMaster is a piece of equipment that I will be taking with me on many of my future treasure hunting expeditions, particularly in older areas containing a large amount of surface trash.
SUMMARY
If the loud signals from your current headphones have caused you to reduce the volume level at which you search, you should consider giving the BlastMaster EV+ a try. Not only will it allow you to hunt comfortably at maximum volume, but the number of targets that you have been passing up just might surprise you. Even if you currently hunt with the volume set at maximum level, the added comfort that the BlastMaster EV+ provides by eliminating the ear-blasting signals caused by surface signals makes it well worth the low price it sells for.
The cost of the BlastMaster is $34.95 plus $2.00 shipping and handling, and Joe is so confident that it does what it has been designed to do, that it comes with a 14-day money-back guarantee. For information on other products available through Patrick Electronics or to order the BlastMaster EV+, give them a call at (800)242-2528 or (412)384-5211 and be sure to mention that you read about it in Treasure Facts.