What Pinpointers, Headphones, and Other Accessories Add to a Metal Detector Setup

Accessories change how a detector behaves in the field more than most buyers expect. A pinpointer shortens recovery time once you have a signal, headphones control how much of the detector's audio you actually hear and who else hears it, and a second or larger search coil changes depth and coverage. On MetalDetector.com you can buy these items separately or bundled with a detector, and the bundles listed on the site show the practical difference: the Garrett AT Max with an 8.5 x 11" coil plus MS-3 Z-Lynk wireless headphones is listed from $549.99 against a regular price of $807.99, while the same detector body without that bundle is not shown at that price. The sections below cover what each accessory does, which models the site lists, and when buying separately makes more sense than a bundle.

Pinpointers: finding the target inside the hole

A pinpointer is a small handheld detector used after your main detector has narrowed a target to roughly a shovel-width. You switch the main detector off or set it aside, push the pinpointer into the hole or run it along the plug, and it signals when it is within a few centimeters of the metal. This is the step that most often eats time on a hunt, especially in loose soil or trashy ground where the target keeps sliding out of the hole.

The site lists several pinpointers as standalone products:

The Z-Lynk detail matters if you already own Garrett Z-Lynk wireless headphones: the Pro-Pointer AT can send its signal to the same headphones, so you are not pulling the headset off to hear the pinpointer. The XP MI-6 is the natural pairing for an XP DEUS II because it shares that platform's wireless ecosystem. If you own a different brand, check whether the pinpointer is a standalone unit or tied to a specific wireless system before buying.

Headphones: audio control, not just comfort

Headphones do two jobs. First, they block wind and ambient noise so weak, deep signals are audible; second, they keep the detector's tones from broadcasting to everyone nearby. Wireless models remove the cable that snags on brush and lets you set the detector down while digging.

The site lists the Whites ProStar headphones at a sale price of $19.00 (regular $89.00), and the Garrett MS-3 Z-Lynk wireless headphones appear as part of the AT Max bundle rather than as a separately priced line item in the excerpt. The practical rule: match the headphone's wireless protocol to your detector. Z-Lynk headphones work with Z-Lynk-equipped Garrett models; a generic Bluetooth headset may add latency that makes fast target response harder to judge. Wired headphones are the safe choice for any detector with a standard headphone jack and cost less.

Search coils and waterproofing: compatibility is the constraint

A search coil is the part that actually transmits and receives, so swapping it changes depth, target separation, and ground coverage. The site's listings pair specific coils with specific detectors — the Minelab Vanquish 540 with its V12 12"x9" double-D waterproof coil, the Fisher F5 with waterproof 10" and 4" concentric coils, the Garrett Ace 400 with an 8.5 x 11" DD waterproof coil. Coils are not interchangeable across brands, and often not across models within a brand, so a coil purchase should be checked against the detector's own compatibility list rather than bought on size alone.

Waterproof ratings are the other compatibility trap. A waterproof coil does not make the control housing waterproof; the AT Max and AT Pro are listed as waterproof detectors, while other models in the same price band may only have a waterproof coil. If you plan to hunt wet sand or shallow water, confirm the control box rating, not just the coil.

Buying separately vs. in a bundle

Bundles on the site are priced as discounts against a stated regular price, which makes the accessory cost visible. The AT Max bundle at $549.99 versus $807.99 regular includes the MS-3 wireless headphones; the Fisher F5 at $199.97 versus $379.00 includes two coils. Buying separately makes sense when:

• You already own compatible headphones or a pinpointer from the same wireless family.
• You want a pinpointer that works across several detectors rather than one locked to a single brand.
• The bundle's included coil is the wrong size for your ground — a large coil for open fields, a small one for trashy sites.

Buying the bundle makes sense when the included accessories are the ones you would have chosen anyway and the discount is larger than the sum of separate sale prices. Compare the bundle's regular price against the individual sale prices on the same page before deciding; the site shows both, so the arithmetic is straightforward.

What the site itself tells you

MetalDetector.com describes itself as an authorized provider serving the detecting community since 1983, with free shipping on orders over $150 and a competitive return policy. Those terms apply to accessory orders as well as detectors, which matters if you are testing a pinpointer or headphone fit and may need to return it. The site organizes shopping by type — hobby, security, professional, industrial — so accessory pages sit alongside the detectors they fit rather than in a separate catalog.