Garrett AT MAX Metal Detector: Complete Guide to Features, Specs, and Setup

The Garrett AT MAX is a treasure hunter’s machine, built for depth, wireless audio and rugged reliability all in one. Whether you’re looking for coins on dry land, relics in mineralized soil, or jewelry in the surf, this guide breaks down every feature, spec, package option, and setting so you know exactly what the AT MAX does and how to run it.

What Is the Garrett AT MAX Metal Detector?

Garrett AT MAX is an all terrain Very Low Frequency metal detector for dry ground, mineralized soils and up to 10 feet deep water. Detector Warehouse calls it the most versatile and advanced all-terrain VLF detector that Garrett has ever made, with greater depth of detection and built-in Z-Lynk Wireless Technology over past AT series models such as the Garrett AT Pro.

Garrett advertises the AT MAX as their most versatile all terrain detector, one unit for coin hunting, relic hunting, jewelry hunting, cache hunting, organized hunts and water hunting. Rather than having to change machines for different environments, a detectorist can take the AT MAX from a park lawn to a saltwater beach without changing gear.

The “all terrain” tag is important because the electronics and housing of the detector are sealed against dust, humidity and full submersion. Land hunters get a tough, weatherproof tool and water hunters get a detector that can be swept underwater without a separate waterproof housing. This versatility is the main reason that the AT MAX is recommended to detectorists who search more than one kind of site.

See the Garrett AT MAX product page for the full product listing and latest prices or compare it to other models in the Garrett AT series. You can also begin at the Detector Warehouse homepage to see what the store has in stock.

You can view the full product listing and current pricing on the Garrett AT MAX, or compare it against other models in the Garrett AT series. You can also start from the Detector Warehouse to see everything the store carries.

Garrett AT MAX Key Specifications

These numbers are important because they tell you how the detector will actually work. The 13.6 kHz frequency is lower than the AT Pro’s 15 kHz, which gives up some small target sensitivity for more depth on mid to large conductive targets like silver coins and brass relics. The AT MAX has 175 points of ground balance resolution which keeps it stable in both salt affected beach sand and iron heavy mineralized soil.

Core Features Explained

Z-Lynk Wireless Technology

Z-Lynk is Garrett’s proprietary wireless audio system embedded into the AT MAX control housing. It sends audio to the included MS-3 headphones at a rate Garrett claims is six times faster than standard Bluetooth, cutting down the audio lag that can throw off target discrimination. Pairing is automatic, no cable between detector and headphones and connection is not affected by other wireless devices around. This means less gear for the detectorist to deal with in the field, and no delay between the swing and the tone when audio is concerned.

Automatic Ground Balance Window

This is a Garrett exclusive feature that balances the detector to a range of values at once, instead of one fixed point. In areas where the ground varies locally such as patchy mineralization or uneven soil composition this smooths out false signals and keeps the audio threshold smooth. This makes faint, deep targets easier to hear because the machine is not responding to every little shift in the mineral content of the ground.

High Resolution Ground Balance

The AT MAX provides 175 points of ground balance resolution that can be set manually or automatically. This is what allows the detector to perform at full capacity in conductive soils like saltwater beach sand and highly mineralized ground. The higher the resolution the more precise the machine is at tuning out the ground signal. This means more stable audio and better target separation in difficult soil.

True All Metal Mode and Discrimination

The AT MAX features 4 search modes all with Pro Audio plus True All Metal Mode. True All Metal Mode finds every type of metal and gives you the deepest possible detection along with the most sensitivity, because it doesn’t filter anything out. The detector’s 44 iron discrimination segments allow you to fine-tune the aggressiveness of iron rejection in the other modes, which is handy if you want to separate small relics or jewelry from iron trash.

Iron Audio and Threshold Adjustment

With Iron Audio you can hear discriminated iron in both True All Metal Mode and the Discrim modes so instead of iron targets going totally silent, you will get an audible signal for things like bottle caps and nails before deciding whether to dig. The detector itself produces a constant background hum that can be tuned so faint, deep targets are more clearly visible against it. This is controlled by the Threshold Adjustment. Both are included with every AT MAX package.

Backlit Display and Larger Numbers

The AT MAX features a backlit LCD display for low-light viewing and larger digital target ID and iron discrim numbers on the screen. Combined with controls designed to be reached with one finger while searching, this keeps the detector easy to read and adjust without breaking your swing.

Garrett AT MAX Packages: Which One to Buy

If you just want the detector, Detector Warehouse sells the AT MAX by itself. Should you need everything in one order, from a pinpointer to extra coils, there are several package options available with the AT MAX. Here’s what each includes and what it costs.

AT MAX, Wireless Headphones, Waterproof

$685.99

Detector, coil, MS-3 headphones, hat. No pinpointer included.

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AT MAX with Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk Pinpointer

$830.98

Adds the Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk wireless waterproof pinpointer. The standard starting point.

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AT MAX with 2 Coils + Pro-Pointer

$1,050.06

Pinpointer plus a second 6" x 11" Viper DD coil for trashy or tight-space sites.

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AT MAX with Waterproof Headphones + Pro-Pointer

$1,055.97

Pinpointer plus a second pair of Garrett waterproof submersible headphones for underwater use.

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AT MAX with 2 Coils, Waterproof Headphones + Pro-Pointer

$1,200.97

Pinpointer, second Viper DD coil, and waterproof submersible headphones together.

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AT MAX with 4 Coils + Pro-Pointer

$1,321.97

Pinpointer plus 3 extra coils: 6"x11" Viper DD, 5"x8" PROformance DD, and 4.5" Super Sniper, all with covers.

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Garrett AT MAX vs AT Pro vs AT Gold

The AT Pro and AT Gold are both part of the same Garrett all terrain family and share the 10 foot waterproof rating. The AT Gold's higher 18 kHz frequency makes it more sensitive to very small gold targets, which is why prospectors lean toward it over the AT MAX or AT Pro. The AT Pro sits as the versatile, general-purpose option, while the AT MAX adds built-in Z-Lynk wireless audio and greater detection depth for detectorists who want the most capable all-around machine in the lineup. For a deeper side-by-side breakdown of the AT Pro and AT Gold specifically, see our AT Pro vs AT Gold comparison.

Who Should Buy the AT MAX?

• Beach and water hunters who need a machine that ground balances to saltwater and handles full submersion
• Relic hunters working mineralized soil where ground balance stability matters most
• Coin hunters who want strong detection depth and a clear digital target ID readout
• AT Pro owners looking to upgrade to built-in wireless audio and improved ground balance resolution
• Detectorists who hunt multiple environments and want one detector instead of separate land and water machines

If your hunting is centered on one specific environment, our beach and saltwater, high mineralization, relic hunting, and underwater collections can help you compare the AT MAX against other detectors built for that specific use case.

How to Set Up the AT MAX for Best Results

Ground Balancing

Begin with Automatic Ground Balance in any new location so the detector can read the soil and set a baseline. In erratic mineralization areas use the Automatic Ground Balance Window so that the detector will spread its balance over a range rather than locking onto one single value. Manual ground balancing gives you the most control but it takes practice to correctly read the audio response. Rebalance when you change to a significantly different type of ground, e.g. from dry sand to wet sand at the waterline.

Sensitivity Settings

If the site is trashy or highly mineralized, decrease the sensitivity to prevent false indications and instability. In clean low mineral ground run the sensitivity up to get the most depth out of the machine. If you hear chattering or erratic audio, it is usually a sign that the sensitivity setting is too high for the ground conditions you are in.

Discrimination Settings

When coin hunting, setting your discrimination to reject iron trash will save you time in the field by skipping over obvious junk signals. Many detectorists will use discrimination or switch to True All Metal Mode for relic hunting as relics can read close to iron on the target ID scale and full discrimination can make you skip over good targets.

Pairing Z-Lynk Headphones

Just power on the AT MAX and MS-3 headphones simultaneously and they will automatically pair in seconds via Z-Lynk, with no manual setup required. If your headphones are ever not connecting, turn both devices off and on again one after the other to reset the pairing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Buy the Garrett AT MAX from Detector Warehouse

If you have decided the AT MAX fits how you hunt, you can pick one up directly from the Garrett AT MAX on Detector Warehouse. Every unit ships with the full package covered in this guide, including the MS-3 wireless headphones, submersible DD coil, and 3 year warranty. Detector Warehouse states that 98 percent of orders ship within 24 hours. Detector Warehouse also backs every metal detector with a price match guarantee, so you are not stuck comparing prices across multiple sites before you buy.

Beyond the AT MAX itself, Detector Warehouse carries the full Garrett metal detector lineup, so you can compare the AT MAX side by side with the AT Pro or AT Gold before deciding. If you already own an AT MAX and need a spare coil, coil cover, or set of headphones, those are stocked separately as well. You can also browse the full Detector Warehouse store for accessories, other brands, and current specials.

Ready to Get Started

The Garrett AT MAX is built for detectorists who want one machine that handles land, water, and mineralized ground without compromise. Check current pricing and package options on the Garrett AT MAX, or browse the full Garrett metal detector lineup to compare it against the AT Pro, AT Gold, and other AT series models. Have questions before you buy? Our FAQ page covers common questions on shipping, warranty, and setup.

Still have questions about the AT MAX or which Garrett detector fits your style of hunting? The Detector Warehouse team is available at 844-344-4465 or by email at help@detectorwarehouse.com, Monday through Friday from 9am to 12am CST, with chat support on weekends.