The　two　commonly　used　sources　in　the　multi-transient　electromagnetic　(MTEM)　method,　square-wave　and　m-sequence,　have　different　anti-noise　performance　which　had　been　theoretically　discussed　in　previous　studies.　But　the　onshore　contrast　experiment　had　rarely　been　conducted.　An　onshore　experiment　was　performed　over　the　Laizhou　gold　deposite,　China,　and　the　results　obtained　with　two　different　source　signatures　were　compared　and　analyzed.　The　signals　had　the　same　amplitude　∼40　A　and　about　the　same　length,　so　they　had　approximately　equal　energy.　Two　data　sets　with　extremely　different　signal-to-noise　ratio　(SNR)　were　acquired　with　different　source-receiver　offsets.　The　skin-depth　of　two　sources　was　analyzed;　the　recovered　earth　impulse　responses　indicated　that　m-sequence　can　compensate　the　high-frequency　attenuation　handsomely　and　the　powerline　noise　suppression　of　m-sequence　is　22　dB　greater　than　the　suppression　of　the　square-wave,　which　demonstrated　the　superiority　of　m-sequence　in　MTEM　data　processing.　©　Published　under　licence　by　IOP　Publishing　Ltd.