A metal detector including transmit electronics having a plurality of switches for generating a repeating transmit signal cycle for transmission by a transmit coil. The repeating transmit signal cycle includes at least a high voltage period, and at least a low voltage period, the low voltage period followed by a substantially zero voltage period. The output impedance of the transmit electronics is less than three times the equivalent series resistance of the transmit coil during the low voltage period and the substantially zero voltage period.