Nokta Makro Simplex+ Metal Detector with Wireless Headphones

The Nokta Makro Simplex is one of our most popular new metal detectors, and for good reason. 

It’s easy to use straight out of the box, and finds targets that other metal detectors leave behind. It’s also very affordable. Based on our customers’ reviews, the Nokta Makro Simplex detector performs right up there with our top-of-the-line detectors. 

The Simplex is cheap, but performs like a high-end detector. It’s lightweight and compact enough to fit in a backpack. 

You can purchase the Simplex with wireless headphones or without. 

Kellyco sent out a dozen Simplexes for our customers to test out and review. Every one of them reported that it was a top performer. 

“With the depth, recovery speed, wireless headphones, waterproof capability, light weight and entry level price, this machine is guaranteed to fit into your lineup,” said Kellyco customer and test user Scott Troekler. “The Nokta Makro Simplex runs a constant threshold in all metal mode. Park mode has very quick recovery speed and is ideal for trashy sites like curb strips. Field mode is fantastic. It’s a deep hitting mode that will find relics, coins and jewelry! Beach mode has a stable search on the beach and salt water.” 

Factory Included Accessories:

1. Metal Detector System Control Box

2. Waterproof DD Search Coil 28cm / 11" (SP28) & Cover

3. USB Charging & Data Cable

4. Nokta Maro Wireless Headphones

5. User Manual & Warranty Certificate

Getting Started

To set up the Simplex, just plug in the headphones and turn it on. It really is that simple. One important thing to note is that while the Nokta | Makro Simplex is waterproof, the headphones are not. 

It works right out of the box, but it does offer the opportunity to manually adjust your settings. The detector will start in the two-tone field mode when it’s turned on. You can then change the mode based on ground conditions. 

The Simplex features four search modes: all metal, field, park and beach. 

If you’re new to detecting, lay out different types of metals on the ground and experiment with your detector to get used to the tones. Adjust the sensitivity and discrimination and see what changes. It’s a fun experiment and will help you out in the long run. 

Mode Evaluation

The Nokta Makro Simplex metal detector includes 4 search modes: All Metal, Park, Field and Beach. 

All Metal

The "All Metal" mode on the Simplex metal detector means that nothing is filtered out. It will recognize all types of metals, including a lot of junk. This mode on the Simplex provides incredible depth while maintaining excellent separation and target ID indicators. You will have to ground balance. 

It’s an easy mode to use. With its steady, ultra-sensitive threshold, targets that would normally be out of reach suddenly come to life. 

For those of you that are new to metal detecting, the threshold is the constant “hum” you hear in the background. When your discrimination setting is turned on, you hear a tone break in the hum when you’re hovering over something of value. It’s going to hum until you hit the target. The Nokta | Makro Simplex is very sensitive and will pause whenever it knows something is there. 

Park

The "Park" mode on the Nokta | Makro Simplex is effective at separating out the hidden treasures in sites with undesirable targets. It finds the good stuff, even when it’s surrounded by trash. Park mode uses a three-tone detecting mode, meaning the tones are different for different types of metal. Generally, the low tones are iron, mid-tones are brass and high-tones are more valuable metals. 

Parks are typically very trashy with lots of junk. The discrimination settings make the Simplex a winner here. It’s got a fast response time and the target separation features go a long way. 

This mode is a comfortable starting point for beginners. It’s best for metal detecting in yards and parks, where accurate target identification is central to your success. Coin shooting is also a blast in this mode. 

The Simplex hits on small gold jewelry very well. It identifies targets with a nice, clean sound and has excellent separation and discrimination abilities. 

“Park mode was by far my favorite,” said customer Mike Keefer. “It has three tones: low, mid and high. I’m used to those tones with my current detector. Field mode is the deeper of the settings, but unfortunately it only has two tones. I’ve tried it in my town park and there was just too much junk in the ground. The Simplex’s back light and flashlight are a pretty cool design. I’ve paid good money for name brand machines that don’t even have a backlight, so this is a big plus. I also love the freedom the wireless headphones offer.”

Keefer reported finding some nice relics, including a Civil War three-ringer bullet at almost 10 inches deep in a local park that gets hunted frequently. 

“I dug wheat cents at 8 inches, which is pretty impressive,” he said. “The discrimination is great with a quick, speedy recovery. I have used some top-brand detectors, and this hangs right in there with them for half the price! It’s a great little machine.” 

Field

"Field" mode is a great choice for relic hunters. You’ll get little to no unwanted signals due to its two-tone audio and ferrous and non-ferrous metals are easy to distinguish. Farm fields, woods and sites with little to no unwanted signals are the domain of field mode. 

This detector has accurate target response and great depth, which makes relic hunting that much easier. 

Kellyco VIP affiliate Matt Ryan was using his Simplex in field mode when he got a great signal ringing up lower than a penny. His sensitivity setting was turned up halfway. 

“I picked that location because the trees were really old,” Ryan said. “That is usually something that I pay attention to. I used field mode because it seems a lot deeper than the other modes to me, and I prefer the tones on it. After I cut the plug and used my pinpointer to locate the coin, I realized I had dug up an old coin. Completely shocked, I looked at the coin and realized I dug up an 1863 Civil War era Indian Head Penny. It’s the oldest coin that I have ever found.” 

Beach

The Nokta | Makro Simplex's beach mode excels in salty, wet sand conditions. With the ability to ground balance between the ranges of 0-99.8 while ignoring ground noise and ferrous targets, the Nokta Makro Simplex is able to locate targets effectively in even the most mineralized beaches. This setting allows you to ignore iron and similar targets and perform ground balance on any type of ground. 

For those seeking their treasures along the coastlines or in highly mineralized soil conditions "Beach" mode will up your finds count and lower your blood pressure, according to customer Chris Armstrong.

“The Nokta Simplex is all that the name implies,” he said. “Simple to use, with the features, power and depth to instill confidence in an expert user. Don't let the price point fool you — the intelligent design, rugged waterproof build quality, ability to be updated and easy to use features of the Simplex will leave enthusiasts of any age or ability feeling that they are making no compromise in choosing this machine.” 

Evaluation of Features

Auto Ground Balance vs. Manual Ground Balance

Manual ground balance is useful in cases where automatic ground balance can’t be achieved, or in instances where you may want to tweak the metal detector in any given soil condition. The auto ground balance feature of the Simplex is extremely accurate.  The detector has streamlined manual ground balancing into a few simple steps. It will feel familiar to experienced users, and beginners will get the hang of it quickly. 

Notch Discrimination

The Nokta | Makro Simplex’s notch discrimination is easy to set up. Discriminating in segments of five, the Simplex allows for quick, easy to use notch filtering.

If you are detecting in a very trashy area and the detector is getting too many iron signals, instead of notch discrimination, you can use the "Iron Volume" setting to lower or completely turn off the volume of ferrous metals. This will allow your Simplex to find targets deeper in the ground. 

Vibration Mode

Vibration mode surprised some of our test users. The handle vibrates when a target is identified,  and also along with a notification on the display and an audible tone. If you’re hearing impaired, detecting in a noisy environment, or not using headphones and don’t want to disturb people around you, it’s a useful feature. This feature could drain your battery life faster, though. 

Waterproof Features

One benefit of having a waterproof detector that has nothing to do with detecting: cleaning your machine! Our test users were happy to be able to wash off the Simplex without having to worry about getting the control box wet. The wireless connection will be lost as soon as the system box is submerged completely underwater, however. Keep in mind that the wireless headphones are not waterproof. 

A sturdy design, light weight and ability to accurately identify targets are the keys to a successful waterproof detector.

“Sturdy design, light weight and accurately identifying targets are the keys to a successful waterproof detector,” said Armstrong. “Excelling in these factors along with intelligent, forward thinking design elements such as a collapsible shaft, and a backlit screen are why the Simplex is moving towards becoming the machine of choice for water hunting.”

Test user Javi Blanco agreed. 

“The waterproof features on the Simplex make everything easier,” he said. 

Battery Life

Blanco was also thrilled with the battery life. 

“The battery life is excellent,” he said. “I’m very happy with the Simplex and would rate every feature a 10/10.” 

The battery life on the Nokta | Makro Simplex is above average. One test user reported detecting for two days in a row and losing only two bars of power. It allows for 12 hours of continuous use in both hot and cold temperatures.

Extreme temperatures can affect the battery life and the Simplex’s performance. Be cautious of overheating.  

If the battery does die, the detector can be run off an external USB battery charger. These are solar powered and extend the time you can be out detecting!

If you need to charge the detector before use, it only takes about three hours. 

Backlight/Flashlight

The screen is easy to read in both bright and dark conditions. The hunt light is great for night time detecting. It shines down onto the coil, which can extend your detecting time as long as you want. The back light offers adjustable brightness as well as an automatic setting. 

With three levels of brightness and a large, easy-to-read screen, all the information is right at your fingertips no matter the time of day. 

Wireless Headphones

There is no lag time between the detector and the headphones. The detector’s wireless headphones provide crisp, concise responses to even the smallest of targets. If you’ve never hunted with wireless headphones, get ready to feel unleashed! You won’t be tethered to your detector. These are very comfortable to wear, according to many of our customers. 

Pro Tips

If you’ve used the Simplex in salty water:

1. Wash the system box, shaft and the coil with tap water and be sure no salt water is left in the connectors. 

2. Do not use any chemicals for cleaning and/or for any other purposes. 

3. Wipe the screen and the shaft dry with a soft, non-scratch cloth. 

Don’t carry metal objects while using the Simplex. Keep the detector away from your shoes while walking — it could detect metal on you or inside your shoes. 

Nokta | Makro was founded in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2001, as just Nokta Detectors. It expanded its research and development team in 2011 and made significant investments in terms of developing new detection technologies. It acquired Makro Detectors in 2014, and now exports to more than 150 countries in six continents.