The Minelab VANQUISH 340 is a good first detector for weekend hunts in parks and yards. For under $200 at Minelab’s US store, you get Multi-IQ simultaneous multi-frequency, three search modes and four sensitivity levels, with almost nothing else to learn. The trade-offs are clear: only the coil is waterproof, Minelab’s spec list has no pinpoint mode, it runs on AA batteries, and there is little to adjust as you improve. For a little more, the VANQUISH 360 fixes most of that.

This review is desk research from Minelab’s tech specs and US store listings, checked on October 3, 2026. Nobody at Backyard Prospectors has used this detector.

Key specs

Spec VANQUISH 340 VANQUISH 360 (for comparison)
Frequency Multi-IQ Multi-IQ
Search modes All Metal, Jewelry, Coin All Metal, Beach, Park
Pinpoint Not listed Yes
Sensitivity 4 levels 5 levels
Discrimination segments 5 6
Target ID range -19 to 40 -19 to 99
Target tones 3 (low, mid, high) 3
Waterproofing Coil only, to 1 m (3.3 ft) Fully waterproof to 5 m (16 ft), IP68
Coil V10 10" x 7" Double-D V10X 10" x 7" Double-D
Power 4 x AA alkaline (included) Internal rechargeable lithium-ion
Weight 2.6 lb (1.2 kg) 2.6 lb (1.16 kg)
Headphones Not included; 3.5 mm jack Not included; 3.5 mm jack
Warranty 3 years 3 years
Maker’s price band (Oct 3, 2026) Under $200 (SKU 3820-0001) $200 to $250 (SKU 3820-0006)

What the VANQUISH 340 does well

Multi-IQ at a starter price. Minelab’s Multi-IQ runs several frequencies at once, so there is no frequency to choose. For a beginner moving between a lawn, a park and a ball field, that is one less decision.

Very little to learn. There are three modes (All Metal, Jewelry, Coin), four sensitivity levels, three volume levels and five discrimination segments. Three tones do most of the work. Minelab describes low tones for iron, mid tones for targets such as gold, and high tones for silver. The wide -19 to 40 ID scale gives a quick read without a long list of numbers to memorize.

Light and easy to share. At 2.6 lb, collapsing to 30 inches, it suits kids, partners and short sessions, and it fits in a car trunk.

3-year warranty on the control box and coil.

Where it falls short

  • Coil-only waterproofing. The V10 coil is rated to 1 m, but the control box is not. You can hunt wet grass and the edge of the water, not wade.
  • No pinpoint mode in the spec list. Minelab lists pinpoint for the 360 but not for the 340. Learn to pinpoint with the coil by sweeping across the signal from two directions at right angles, or budget for a handheld pinpointer. The first 30 minutes checklist includes a pinpointing practice step.
  • AA batteries. Four alkalines come in the box. You will want rechargeables for regular use.
  • Little room to grow. There is no ground balance, recovery speed or iron bias adjustment (iron bias is fixed at High), and the ID scale stops at 40. Once you want to tune for trashy or mineralized ground, you will have outgrown it.
  • No headphones included.

VANQUISH 340 or VANQUISH 360?

Pay a little more for the VANQUISH 360 if any of these apply: you want to wade or detect in the surf (fully waterproof to 5 m), you want a pinpoint button, or you want a rechargeable battery. The 360 also has a Beach mode, five sensitivity levels and a wider ID range.

Stick with the 340 if your hunting is dry land, mostly yards and parks, and under $200 is the budget.

Who should buy it

Buy it if: you are new to the hobby, you will detect a few weekends a month in parks or the yard, and you want to swing more than you adjust.

Skip it if: you want beach or water hunting, you already enjoy adjusting settings, or you hunt heavily mineralized ground or gold country.

Before your first outing, read the yard detecting checklist for utility lines, permission and digging plugs. The audio tones guide explains how to read the 340’s three tones.

FAQ

Is the VANQUISH 340 waterproof?

No, just the coil. Minelab rates the V10 coil waterproof to 1 m (3.3 ft) and gives the control box no submersion rating. For full submersion, look at the VANQUISH 360 (IP68, 5 m).

Does the VANQUISH 340 have pinpoint?

Minelab’s VANQUISH 340 spec sheet does not list a pinpoint mode, while the VANQUISH 360 sheet does. Plan to pinpoint with the coil or carry a handheld pinpointer.

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