At A Glance-
• NEW 8.2 kHz Circuitry: White's Increased the frequency and response to elusive deeper, gold jewelry.
• NEW Touch Pad Control System.
• NEW Completely new Ergonomically Balanced, Light Weight, Fully adjustable Chassis, only 2.5lbs.
• NEW Rugged, Water Resistant Visual Electronic Display pod.
• IMPROVED Full Time Visual Target ID with Patented Flash Technology for increased Visual Target ID Accuracy.
• NEW Selectable TONE ID; Single, Triple or Eight Tones with a distinct Lower Tone for identifying IRON/Ferrous targets.
• NEW Selectable VCO Pin Point.
• NEW Smart Notch Technology ignores common Pull Tab Band.
• NEW On the Fly Motion Depth Indicator.
• NEW Full Volume Target Response.
• NEW Adjustable Segment Sensitivity Control for Motion Discrimination.
• NEW Drop In Two Nine-Volt Battery-System for over 20 Hours of Use.
• NEW Low Battery Alert System.
• NEW Durable Plug Connector System.
• 10" Deep Scan 950-Coil.
• 1/4" Headphone Jack.
• Two Year Warranty, BOTH Parts and Labor.
Introduction:
In July of 2004 White's introduced a Trio of Significant Automatic Metal Detectors, the
Prizm Line, consisting of the Prizm II, III, and IV, bringing down $450.00 Technology to
a price-point of $250.00, these Prizms came standard with White's Low Profile 8"
Search head.
For 2005, White's has introduced the 2005 PrizmV no sporting increased depth and
Selectivity by adding some key features and White's Hottest Coil for Coin and Rings, the
Optional, 950 - Coil, now standard on the Prizm V.
The Prizm lineage can be traced back to the Classic ID series, Developed by John Earle,
One of White's: Project - Engineers. The Classics were among the deepest and quietest of
the two filter detectors. The Prizm V takes the performance to a new level, blowing
away most of the competition under $600.00.
In 1998, I completed a Field Test for White's Electronics on the Classic ID, at the time
White's entry-level detector with Visual Target Identification or (VDI). The MSRP of the
Classic ID was $450.00. The entry level of the Prizm II brought that technology down to
Classic Models (Classic IDX still in the line up) and Prizm Series.
Field Test:
Early in June I received my Prizm Prototype and started field testing at various parks
and saltwater beaches, eventually I was sent the finished Prizm V to field test.
The Prizm V has all the features of the II, III, and IV. What sets the Prizm V apart and
increases the performance up to 30% over the siblings is the NEW Prizm 950-Loop,
which is now standard (The Prizm 950-Loop is a $99.95 option for the Prizm II, III, and
IV). White's Engineers have added additional features in their Prizm V: VCO Audio to the
circuit which gives the Prizm V one of the best precise pin point modes in the industry
today, EIGHT Variable Target Tones, correspond to each of the EIGHT Audio discrimination
segments as well as ALL the features found in the other Prizms.
OVERALL Comfort and Feel:
The new Prizm V had a Great Lightweight Feel to it.
The lower the amount of weight one has to swing, the lower the fatigue and the Prizm was second to none.
The balance was excellent and the built in detector stand under the fully adjustable arm - rest
added to the overall positive feel and experience, especially when digging.
VCO Pin Point:
The Prizm allowed me to switch from standard tone to VCO Pin-Point, which I definitely
preferred. With the standard Pin-Point as I got over the target, it would increase in
volume. With the VCO engaged, the Prizm V would raise the pitch in a distinct graduated
fashion until it peaks when the 950-Concentric based design is centered so I did not find
it necessary to DE-TUNE the target manually.
The VCO feature facilitated faster than average recover of the target and I was also
able to evaluate the target characteristics better in terms of SIZE, SHAPE, and RESPONSE.
Digital Display & Touch Pads & Pin Point Mode:
The NEW Eight Segment Visual readout was easy for me to read in spite of my 24 plus year
old eyes. The Display is segmented as follows.
The Extreme Left 1st Segment is an Iron or Ferrous, generally speaking 75% plus of what
reads Ferrous can be ignored if there is a case for investigating such Ferrous Readings.
Since some micro-jewelry as well as deep coin rings can also respond in the Ferrous-Zone
if they are deep enough or small enough, one strategy I used was to open up ALL eight
segments and activate the Target Tone ID. When scanning the ground, if I did get a target
that read in ANY of the segments INCLUDING the Ferrous-Zone and it was OVER 6", I would
take a closer look at the target BEFORE just dismissing it as junk.
One of the procedures I did was after locating the target, immediately lift the loop up
so at least 6" was between the bottom of the search coil and the approximate target center.
If the target signal dropped dramatically in the Pin-Point mode, yet was coin/ring size
in it's response, I would cross sweep the target to further determine it's shape; round v
irregular. With that information, I was able to successfully dig some interesting targets
that might have fooled other models of detectors. This lead to some Ferrous readings or
Zone One Target Responses that turned out to be something deeper over 6" coins and small
Non-Ferrous targets.
With most other detectors, running an all - metal motion single tone is tiresome, but the
ultra smooth graduated Tone System (Very Low to High) was very easy to work with. I could
also switch to the Three Tone System enjoyed by the Prizm IV, also available in the V which
in essence Ferrous/Iron gives a distinctly LOW Tone, coins/rings a High Tone and some
Pull Tab/Lift Tabs a Medium Tone.
Larger Surface Targets, such as Sprinkler Heads would often give an overload Tone, which
is (Very Deep) and easily recognizable.
One of the NEWEST Features is the on-the-fly Depth Reading so if you get a repeatable
Target Response, a quick glance at the lower left corner of the Prizm's NEWLY Designed
Large LCD Screen quickly tells you the approximately depth in inches from surface to eight plus
inches. Trans Bay Tip: If it's six plus inches and a coin/ring size target, you'd be wise
to extract it. Most surface junk tends to stay on average in shallow ground. Gold, by
its nature, will sink because of its heavier nature, and the NEW 8.2 kHz Circuit is
approximately 20% more responsive over the older 6.59 kHz circuit used by the Prizm's
predecessor, The Classic Series.
TARGET Response Characteristics:
When locating a good target i.e. coin or ring, the Prizm V's LCD Marker would "Lock ON"
under one of EIGHT categories.
ZONE 1: Ferrous-Deep Target
ZONE 2: Heavier Foil, Thin Band Gold Ring
ZONE 3: Nickel, New Lift Tab, and Gold-Women's Gold Wedding Band
ZONE 4: Older Larger Lift Tabs, Men's Gold Wedding Band and Older-Ring Pull Tabs
ZONE 5: Zinc Penny, Indian Head Penny, Metal Screw Cap, and 10K Class Ring
ZONE 6: Copper Penny, Dime, Silver Dime, and Smaller Silver Rings
ZONE 7: Quarter and Heavier Silver Ring
ZONE 8: Half Dollar and Silver Dollar
Again, as a Rule of Thumb, when operating a motion visual discrimination detector,
although a "Lock-On" in any one category signals a round target or possibly desirable
target, if the Prizm ID does not lock on consistently and the target is DEEP, you would
be well advised to listen to it further. The Prizm V has in my opinion about the BEST
Pin-Point Mode when coupled with its Unique Graduated Mulit-Tone VCO Audio.
As I have said in my Tips 2005 Manuscript:
In the final analysis, your detector's All Metal Pin-Point Mode can best determine the size,
shape, and characteristic response on your located target to better aid your BEST
Discriminator (Your Mind) in deciding whether to dig it or not. As an example, several
of the deeper coins over 7" I located would target ID High (Zone 8) and then down to
Low (Zone 1), but because the Prizm's On the Fly Depth Indicator read 6 plus, I would
Pin-Point the target and if it were Sprinkler Head size I wouldn't bother digging it.
I would dig ONLY if it were coin/ring sized. This strategy proved very effective.
When searching some in of the parks in my home town where nothing is that old or deep, I
elected to hunt with Zone 1 rejected, which saved me some time and battery life.
The NEW Twin 9 Volt Battery System proved to be very efficient. I got well over 20 hours,
slower to 25 during the course of field - testing. When it came to replacing the 9 Volt
Batteries, I found it very easy to do, as each 9 Volt Battery drops right in with no pig
tail to snap systems to deal with. The 9 Volt Battery Shell is more reliable than the
AA Batteries, virtually leak proof. For that convenience and freedom from leaking, in the
long run, the cost of batteries is only pennies more than the older Classic 8-AA Battery
System. You can also go to any number of electronic stores like Costco and others to
purchase the newest NIMHI 9 Volts, which are as powerful as your typical alkalines and
unlike the older Nicads, the NIMHI do not develop a memory and can save you $$$ over time.
DEFAULT VALUES:
Established by turning on the Prizm V. Then it's a matter of Setting the Proper Amount of
Sensitivity and Discrimination:
METHOD of OPTIMIZING Settings:
The Prizm V when first turned on eliminates ZONE 1 (Iron)
and Zone 2 (Clumped Aluminum). The Sensitivity Defaults to about 75%, opening up all
the Zones will enable very deep coin, ring, and target hunting as well as eliminate target
masking. Nonetheless, with Zone 1 Eliminated, the Prizm V is capable of over 7" in the
Discrimination Mode.
Since Trans Bay's Definition of Depth is the ability to hear the signal of the desired target
and keep the ground RE-ACTIVITY or NOISE in check, I was able to quickly find the Optimum
Sensitivity Setting by turning on the Prizm V and listening carefully for any
electrical-environmental interference. If quiet, I would maximize the sensitivity until
the Prizm V would start to false in the air, which was RARE. Once established in the air,
I would lower the 950-Loop to the ground and bob it up and down near the ground. If the
Prizm V's visual started to react (it would be the first to react) I would back off the
Sensitivity Setting until there was no Ground Response. With the optimum sensitivity point
established it was time to start scanning the ground.
Significant Finds:
Gold Diamond Wedding - Band, located in a ball - park and returned to the happy owner,
White - Gold Necklace
Gold Tone Casio Watch
Deepest Coins, 7 to 8"
Recommended Search Coil Accessory:
Jimmy Sierra's Prizm Bigfoot
www.jimmysierra.com
CONSLUSIONS:
With the entry of the Prizm V, White's Electronics has raised the bar in terms of Value and
Performance. Here is an ultra-quiet Fast Responding Automatic Detector with excellent features
previously found on Makes and Models costing hundreds of dollars more. When you consider the
entry Level Prizm II bringing Professional Performance and Visual Target ID at $249.95, and
the FULL Featured Depth Enhanced Prizm V at $549.95 it's no wonder that the Prizm Sales have
been HOT since July of 2004.
