Matrix A30 Review

 

Matrix A30 Review – Highlights:

The Matrix A30 elliptical is an impressive commercial-grade elliptical with a few twists that you don’t find on other brands.

Technically, the A30 is called the Matrix A30 Ascent Trainer – referring to the fact that you get power incline on this model (and can add a bit of a climbing motion to your training).

 

 

 

The design offers a unique twist. The A30 is constructed with a Matrix-exclusive suspension design that does away with the tradition wheel-and-track design.

The wheel-and-track-free design gives you smoother, more consistent feel with less friction.

(You also have less to clean as elliptical trainers with wheel-and-track designs also tend to get dirty or dusty. You have to keep them clean to avoid the wheels getting dirty and potentially coming off the track.)

This design also tends to give you a more compact footprint – making the machine great if you’re in an apartment or smaller workout area. however the side arms on this trainer also make you feel like you have a lot of support and substance to the machine when you’re on it.

Matrix A30 Review – The Consoles:

 

We can’t do any Matrix A30 review without talking about the consoles. This is really impressive – with the Matrix A30 you can choose from 3 different consoles depending on your preferences, budget and fitness needs.

So you can choose the best console for you – you’re not stuck paying for features you really don’t want or need:

 

#1 Simple XR Console

This is a backlit blue LCD display (not touch-screen sensitive). It shows you your workout basics without a lot of the fluff and entertainment options of the other 2 consoles (no speaker system, no full-color console etc.)

 

There is some WiFi connectivity which you can use to track your workout stats with the Viafit app – or use to connect to the Passport player (see below for explanations).

This is also the most affordable option and great for people who just want to see the basics when they workout.

 

 

#2 Intuitive XER Console

This is a larger more intuitive, touch-screen, full color console. It includes Wi-Fi Connectivity for access to your favorite social apps like Netflix, Facebook, Hulu, YouTube, Twitter etc.

So you can watch Netflix shows or catch up with your Facebook friends on this console – very cool.

 

The Bluetooth connectivity on this console supports wireless headphones or polar heart rate monitors.

You can also watch scenery in large living color from this console with Virtual Active (see below for more on Virtual Active). Like the XR console, it works with Viafit to track your workouts and with Passport player.

 

 

#3 Ultimate XIR Console

This is a whopping 16 inches (vs 10 on the XER Console). It’s full-color, touch screen and, unlike the XER console is HD.

 

You get Wi-Fi Connectivity for access to your favorite apps like Netflix, YouTube, Facebook and more. Plus this console also comes with a fully-functional internet browser – so you can go online and surf the net as you run.

The speakers and sound-quality are also higher-grade on this console (vs the XER console). Basically this console is built for someone who wants the full, health-club-like entertainment and online experience as they workout.

 

 

Burn More Fat with Sprint 8:

 

Sprint 8 is a unique HIIT training workout (included with all Matrix A30 consoles) that is designed to give you maximum results in minimum time.

 

 

In 20 minutes you’ll do 8 all-out sprints designed to maximize fat burning both during and post-workout.

In fact according to studies done by Johnson health (the company behind Matrix), Sprint 8 users burned up to 27% of their body fat in just 8 weeks without changing their diets at all – which is amazing.

The best part?

They only did 3 workouts a week. So you can get results from just 3 twenty-minute workouts a week with Sprint 8 on this machine.

 

 

 

Run World Trails with Virtual Active

Virtual reality is popping up in fitness equipment more and more these days – and Matrix is one of the leaders in this area.

Virtual Active (included on the XER and XIR consoles) is a first-person, forward-motion video experience designed to enhance your cardio workout.

You can run beautiful trails and see the actual scenery around you on your elliptical console. The workout footage is synced to the speed and intensity of your workout to give you a more realistic “running outdoors” feel.

Here’s a video showing you how it works (You really only need to watch the first 36 seconds – the rest of the video is not a Matrix A30 review – it’s just about using Virtual Active with your Matrix bike).

 

 

Matrix A30 XER and XIR consoles come preloaded with 2 destinations – Northern Rockies and American Northeast.

You can choose to have a guided or basic workout. With the guided workout, you’ll get a trainer guiding you through your workout, giving you tips and encouraging you along the way. With the basic workout, you run alone without the trainer and just enjoy the scenery in quiet solitude.

 

 

Matrix A30 Review – More Benefits:

All Matrix A30 console options will work with the Passport player device. Passport is an additional option that lets you add the virtual reality trail-running experience to your TV (instead of just your console).

You can connect Passport to your TV, and get high definition destination footage in large, living color synced to your speed and intensity (passport player is sold separately and is pre-loaded with 2 destinations).

 

 

Another benefit is that the Matrix A30 works with Viafit (a free tracking app) to track your daily workouts and sync them to your favorite fitness apps. This is a great tool to see how far you’ve come and challenge yourself to go even further in your fitness goals.

 

 

Matrix A30 Review – Anything Else You Should Know?

While Matrix advertises the stride length as “variable” (and it is, running from 20 – 24 inches), you should know that the stride only changes when you alter the incline on this trainer.

You can’t just select your chosen stride from the console and go – you have to adjust the incline.

And while price might be prohibitive for some people, you do get what you pay for with this trainer.

The construction is top-level (as are all of Matrix products) which you can see in everything from the heavy 30-pound flywheel to the proper ergonomic footpedals and the “Perfect Stride” design that closely mimics the way you run outside.

Plus the Exact Force Induction brake gives instant resistance changes. Because there are no moving parts in this system, it’s also quieter and more durable than traditional magnetic braking systems.

Overall this is a high-end commercial-grade elliptical that is built to give you the ultimate training experience.

 

 

 

Where to Buy and Save:

You can get the Matrix A30 elliptical (along with the latest upgrades to the consoles) direct from the Johnson Manufacturer here. They have a ton of videos explaining every feature of the trainer – so you can really drill down and see how it works.

You can also take advantage of any ongoing sales (they have several throughout the year) and get Free Shipping to your home.

 

Click Here To Save on the Matrix A30