Hey bud, welcome to TNET. This is a great place and I am sure that you will like it. Nothing "cheap" about your QDII. it is just inexpensive.

Sounds like you are hooked. Congrats on the finds. Take your time and learn your machine, listen to what it is telling you, learn from it, If something is frustrating you, figure it out, find out why this is happening or why that is going on. It will make you a better detectorist and make other people wonder why you can do so well with your "cheap" Bounty Hunter. You have a very capable detector and don't let anyone tell you different. And by the way, earphones will make a big difference on battery life. I use a harbor freight pin pointer, I don't think they come cheaper than that, and mine works fine. Take care and happy hunting.
capt.