This week I’m to review the Golden Mask 5+ SE which is the metal detector I have been using for the last three years. I love this detector, it is without question right up in my top five machines. The performance is staggering and I also like the build quality and comfortable use and balance.
A bit of News, UK Metal Detectors is proud to announce that we are the official UK distributor for the Golden Mask products!
Frequencies
The Golden Mask 5+ SE can operate at two frequencies; this is 8 kHz or 18 kHz. The GM technicians recommend using 18 kHz, this is true for most places because for decades of detecting with low-frequency devices (5-8 kHz) lots of areas have previously been exhaustively cleared out and all that is left are small coins and other finds that were missed by low-frequency detectors. 18 kHz is an important frequency, however, I used 8 kHz to search for military relics in the woodlands, as there is known military activity during 1st and 2nd W/W. For example, at good depth, I found a bullet with a calibre .303. In 1941 someone in this place fired from a rifle, driving a bullet deep into the ground.
Comfortable
The metal detector is extremely comfortable and well balanced in weight. Even though the GM is powered by 10 x AA batteries, it does not tire the hand and after 4 hours of detecting, my arm, was not in any discomfort. The handle grip is a good width, and your fingers comfortably hold the detectors weight, unlike thin stems which I find difficult to hold (at least for my big hand).
Battery Compartment
The battery compartment should be protected from moisture and water, cleaned of dirt, because it contains the speaker, a sound transmitter for wireless headphones, and a button for switching between headphones and the built-in speaker. Also in the battery compartment, there is a charging connector which is convenient – all ten batteries are charged at the same time and remain in the metal detector. This reduces the risk of going detecting with empty batteries.
Preferred settings for the Golden Mask 5+ SE
It is not an XP Deus, and the number of settings here is not the highest, of course, that simplifies the work with a metal detector. Less headache for the user = more finds, definitely! Options of combinations for the settings on the Mask 5+ SE is enough, but I will only touch on those that I use constantly during detecting in the woods or on the field.
Usually, I dig at 18 kHz, so I put in the settings at 18 kHz and the Bi-Tone mode. The two-tone DISC is best suited for searching new places and general detecting because despite the screen you already understand which signal the device is delivering – in a low tone it reacts to objects of iron, and the high tone informs you it is a positive signal. However, as with any other metal detector, if you have a few interesting objects on the site, then it makes sense to put the “all metals” mode and get another two centimetres of depth, and suddenly get to your cherished find?
GAIN. The gain setting, it is also a sensitivity function. I set this depending on the situation and ground, but in most cases, I go for a value of 2. If the GM 5+ SE is a bit erratic and some interference, then do a reset by pressing ENTER, or alter the frequency of the detector. If nothing changes, then it will be necessary to reduce GAIN and, therefore, to lose a little depth.
PowerBox set to High, that is, a high value, this gives an increase in depth, especially for small targets.
Golden Mask 5+ SE Results
In general, I was extremely impressed with this metal detector. If you look at the price (£529.00), then in Europe this metal detector at such a price has zero competitors. In fact, I would say this will outperform all top end detectors, it really is an amazing high-performance detector. There were teething problems back 2018 however, these have all been fixed, therefore, it is doubtful that you will get any issues. Mine runs perfectly and continues to find great stuff every time I go out. What can I say? If you want to buy it, then you need to visit UK METAL DETECTORS who are the UK Distributors, they originally introduced Golden Mask to the UK back in 2009. Here is a review for the GM 3+ that was published in Treasure Hunting Magazine. Many of my fellow detectorists who used XP, Minelab and Garrett before, have switched to the metal detectors from Golden Mask, which shows it proves itself out in the field, a good trend and characterises the ability of the manufacturer, here the main rule is that not always the most expensive metal detectors will bring more finds than a metal detector of exceptional build quality and performance for under £600.
Top-of-the-line Detector
In general, it turned out that I used the Mask 5+ SE for open farm fields, I have different fields – both crop and pasture, however, in the summer when all the fields have crops and the ground is hard, I had to dig in woodlands. It brought its fruits, of course. Golden Mask 5+ is a top-of-the-line VLF metal detector in the company’s line-up and, as it should have, as a top model, it has all the necessary settings for detecting on any location.
Finds Coins at Depth
The detector sees coins perfectly and you do not have to worry with a properly set up settings, and a correct method of ground balancing, the metal detector will not miss a small coin at a depth of 20-30 cm. As an example, one of the coins I found in the woods a George V Shilling. This coin lay right next to a small tree, so it was a bit difficult to dig, however, thanks to the use of a small 7” DD Coil the coin was discovered from a depth of about 28 cm!
Compact
The metal detector is very compact and perfectly folds together with the coil and wires in a convenient design that fits into a standard travel bag, as an example – a 65-liter KAEWA Drybags where the GM easily fits with a small shovel. Or a backpack for detecting, as sold in a lot in different stores for metal detectors. Even though the metal detector control box is waterproof for dust and water, but the detector cannot be immersed, I would recommend using it with a cover.
Spectrometer
An interesting option on the Mask 5+ SE screen which I believe is an innovative idea – it is a spectrometer or a spectral visual screen interface. Many metal detectors have VDI with a numerical value of the reflected signal, which shows us about what metal can be found in the ground and under the coil. The VDI at the Mask 5+ SE is in the upper right corner and has values from -5 to 99. Values of -5 and up to 0 are objects from ferrous metals, and everything in the positive segment (above 0) are objects from non-ferrous metals. But, near the bottom of the screen a scale, simultaneously with the VDI exponent, the graphs grow – sometimes they are simple (high pillar), sometimes wide and intermittent, stretched over half the scale, but what does all this signify? Of course, no reading or value is 100% accurate and therefore the detectorist must interpret the results, however, in most cases, it works well. The spectrometer’s display may fluctuate depending on the position of the coil’s height above a target, the speed of the coil’s sweep, height, and other factors. I could precisely establish the type before the target was dug. For example, even when sweeping from both sides, it gave a steady reading on the spectrometer and the same VDI indicator, by which it was clear that it was a coin.
Preferred settings for the Golden Mask 5+ SE
It is not an XP Deus, and the number of settings here is not the highest, of course, that simplifies the work with a metal detector. Less headache for the user = more finds, definitely! Options of combinations for the settings on the Mask 5+ SE is enough, but I will only touch on those that I use constantly during detecting in the woods or on the field.
Usually, I dig at 18 kHz, so I put in the settings at 18 kHz and the Bi-Tone mode. The two-tone DISC is best suited for searching new places and general detecting because despite the screen you already understand which signal the device is delivering – in a low tone it reacts to objects of iron, and the high tone informs you it is a positive signal. However, as with any other metal detector, if you have a few interesting objects on the site, then it makes sense to put the “all metals” mode and get another two centimetres of depth, and suddenly get to your cherished find?
GAIN. The gain setting, it is also a sensitivity function. I set this depending on the situation and ground, but in most cases, I go for a value of 2. If the GM 5+ SE is a bit erratic and some interference, then do a reset by pressing ENTER, or alter the frequency of the detector. If nothing changes, then it will be necessary to reduce GAIN and, therefore, to lose a little depth.
PowerBox set to High, that is, a high value, this gives an increase in depth, especially for small targets.
