Lets Talk About The Nexus Standard MP V3+

Having used the new Nexus MP V3+ both on the river foreshore and out in my fields I now feel comfortable writing about it. The V3+ is a cross between the MP V2 and MP V3, it's a merging of the two with a few differences, some within its operation and others under the hood. 

The new Nexus Standard MP V3+ has all the features of the MP V3 as well as the key points listed below.

• Iron rejection / VCO switch - Iron rejection when pushed forward. When pulled back enables momentary VCO, returns to off state when released. 
• Iron indicator on the RGB meter with Blue color.
• The depth is the same. MP V3+ has stronger signal responses, which can be beneficial when searching for items such as small coins.
• Easy to use on salt water beaches, the iron rejection function can cancel signals from the salt water.
• MP V3+ has faster recovery speed. 

Fantastic In The Iron On The River Thames Foreshore 

Like all Nexus machines the V3+ feels solid in the hands and when I'm swinging it I feel like I'm holding a precision instrument, which I am, for me personally it's a far more refined unit compared to the MP V3. I couldn't run the MP V3 on the river Thames here in London because it didn't have an iron reject option, let's remember that the Thames foreshore is probably the most iron contaminated terrain on the planet with huge bits of iron buried at all levels. 

Due to this an iron reject option makes the hunt more controlled, but one point I'd like to make when using the V3+, I can actually run it in 'all metal' mode with the VCO engaged and it performs great, meaning that with this specific machine 'on the foreshore' I don't actually have to use the iron reject setting if I don't feel like it. Putting this point aside, when using the MP V2 in iron reject mode with the dual tone engaged, it doesn't perform as well and the V3+ in iron reject with VCO audio engaged. The reason for this is simple, the dual tone audio isn't as fast as the VCO, because of this the V3+ is a more efficient performer in this hunting scenario. 

What you get when hunting with the V3+ with both VCO and iron reject engaged is a quieter hunt because, depending on where you have your discrimination set, it mutes a lot of the iron out. Non ferrous targets will come through with a beautiful clean, smooth and rounded tone and there won't be any distortion around the edges of the target. The large iron that might break through is easily identified by switching out of iron reject and into momentary VCO mode. This is achieved by a simple flick of the switch that's located underneath the control module. Not only this but if you stay in iron reject mode you'll hear a break up and distortion on the edge of the iron, this can be subtle but when you know what to listen for it's easy. Also the high tone you get will be overloading, this is something else you'll learn over time.

Iron Reject & Momentary VCO switch

When you switch into momentary VCO large iron will have a dual audio to it, it will have both a high and low tone meshed together. Just like every other Nexus machine that I own, iron of any size and shape can also be identified by using the perimeter of the coil. When I'm hunting foreshore areas with lots of large flat iron I will switch into VCO mode and slowly approach the 'suspected large iron targets' on their outer edge. If the low tone comes in first then I know I'm dealing with large iron, this is a method I've demonstrated and written about loads in the past. Because the V3+ has the mode changing switch under the module all of this is done quickly and with ease. It needs to be noted that I don't have the meter switched on when I'm hunting in heavy iron, the audio is faster than the meter response. 

Another benefit of having both the VCO and iron reject engaged at the same time is the machines ability to identify coke, I made a video showing how I do this which I've posted below. It's a very simple process of using the perimeter of the coil and listening for a distortion as you approach the suspected coke target.

 

Unlike the V3 that doesn't light up the LED meter on iron, the V3+ shows ferrous metals as blue but I need to point out that not all iron comes in blue, you might get a mixed signal, for example green and blue or yellow and blue. Once again you can suss out what the target is by using VCO audio combined with the edge of the coil. Depending on what land I'm hunting on I nearly always dig mixed signals because it could be a nonferrous target in close proximity to iron. Another reason could be the machine lighting up on the edge of a large piece of iron. Either way with repeated use you will learn how to confidently identify all target scenarios - proper practice makes perfect. 

In regards to small deep iron the LED responds exactly like the V3 does, it displays what I call the after thought, this is when you get a nudge on the meter at the end of each swing. This occurs because the machine isn't locking onto the target in the centre of the coil. I always highlight the "after thought" point because if people don't understand what to look and listen for they could be fooled into digging these types of signals thinking that they're non ferrous, which in turn makes people think the discrimination isn't working correctly.

How Can You Tell The Difference Between An After Thought Response On Deep Iron And A Small Nonferrous Target Response?

This is simple, the coil will lock on central and the meter response will mimic your swing movement from right to left and left to right. It's a subtle set of "tells" but once mastered you won't be digging the deeper iron by mistake. Everything I'm describing is the unique language that Nexus metal detectors have, if you don't master them then you will struggle. It must be highlighted again that you have to control every single element of this machine and modify accordingly as ground conditions change, if you're not prepared to do this then don't waste your time or money. People have ridiculed me in the past for saying statements like this but all I'm doing is telling the truth and saving those with an automated way of thinking from wasting a lot of time, frustration and money, I'm not here to sell you anything.

In regards to signal response the V3+ appears more punchy than the V3, this can been seen on a recent Thames video I posted where the machine is battering the small hand forged nail heads and tiny pieces of lead with zero threshold. In the fields the audio and meter is beautifully defined on all targets of different sizes, depths and conductivities, I was running my dual 20' coil the other week in the fields and the signal response on a lovely small buckle I found was really large compared to the targets size. 

Large Signal Responses On Small Targets

There really isn't a great deal more to say, is the V3+ worth upgrading to if you have a V2, yes it is, what about if you have a V3, well that decision is entirely up to you. At this point in time Nexus is only producing the V3 and V3+ and to be totally honest you can go wrong with either. It has to be understood and pointed out again that these machines aren't designed for beginners or people just getting into the hobby. Every area of Nexus operation has to be mastered to get the most out of the machine and if you're not prepared to put the time in then neither the V3 or V3+ are for you.