Matrix E50 Elliptical Review

Quick Summary

The Matrix E50 is the more advanced of two compact ellipticals in the Matrix Fitness residential collection. This impressive cross trainer provides the standard 20” stride, yet with a center drive it has especially convenient dimensions for home use.

Other key features are ultra-smooth induction braking, multigrip handlebars and a choice of three consoles.

Pricing starts at $3899.

Get details from our complete Matrix E50 review below.

Specifications

Model	Matrix E50
Rating Our custom rating considers all of the elliptical's features, specs, warranties, and 100's of user & expert reviews, to save you time!	87.3%
List Price Suggested retail price, typically higher than the price you'll pay with our recommended retailers.	$3,899
Best Price Since prices change daily, this link goes to our preferred retailer for the best price we've found.	$3,899
Resistance Resistance is what determines calories burned per stride. The more levels, the more precisely you can control the difficulty.	30 Levels
Resistance Type The type of resistance affects the performance of your elliptical. Magnetic and Eddy-Current are the most common types.	Electronically Adjustable
Stride Length Stride Length is important for comfort and smooth strides. A stride length of 18-21 inches is ideal for most heights (5'3 - 6'7).	20"
Pedals Elliptical pedals can be cushioned and adjustable for maximum comfort and minimum impact on joints for injury prevention.	Oversized with rubber inserts
Incline Some elliptical trainers can be set at an incline to increase difficulty and burn more calories.	n/a
Flywheel The flywheel controls the smoothness and resistance of your workout. In general, the higher the better.	n/a
Programs Elliptical Programs allow you to complete a workout with changing speeds and inclines, without changing anything manually.	5-13
User Profiles For each profile the elliptical allows, you can create a custom user account with saved programs and goal settings.	n/a
Heart Rate Heart Rate programs allow you to track how many times your heart is beating per minute (bpm), and some control the workout for you.	Yes
Display Elliptical Display refers to the screen you'll look at to monitor workouts. LED and LCD displays are similar to TV screens.	XR, XER or XIR
Max. Weight Max User Weight is the amount of weight, in pounds (lbs), that it can safely support, which can represent durability.	325 lbs
Dimensions Dimensions are included to help you figure out if this elliptical will fit properly (Length x Width x Height and Height x Depth).	57.5” x 29.5” x 67.8”
Upper Body Most ellipticals have handles to hold while you're working out that provide an upper body workout.
Accessory Tray Some ellipticals include an accessory tray for holding items such as water bottles, wallets, keys, or MP3 players like iPods.
Speakers Ellipticals that include a sound system allow you to listen to your MP3 player/iPod through built-in speakers (without headphones).
Cooling Fans Cooling Fans are designed to help keep you cool during an intense workout on your elliptical.
Folding? Some ellipticals are designed to conserve space by folding up. This is a convenient option, but some features might be reduced.
Quick Controls Quick Controls allow you to select speed, incline and even workout programs with the touch of a button (usually on the handles).
Warranty The warranty is an important part of your investment. The longer the warranty, the longer you can get free/discounted repairs.	Frame: Lifetime Parts: 7 Years Labor: 2 Years

Our Rating

Rating: 87.3/100. Compact and customized, the Matrix E50 stands out in the $2000-and-up elliptical price class. Thanks to center drive engineering, the E50 can fit a healthy 20” footpath into a remarkably small space. Customization comes with precise control over resistance (there are 30 levels) and a choice of three impressive consoles.

Matrix home elliptical consoles all provide workout guidance with classic fitness machine programming, plus they can simulate outdoor hikes with Virtual Active video that responds to the user’s movement. Additionally two Matrix consoles have the manufacturer’s Sprint8 app for eight-week high intensity interval training.

The choice of three consoles helps shoppers control costs, letting them buy the machinery they like without paying for electronics that won’t be used. While the basic Matrix console is rather simple, the top option is loaded with digital treats including a 10” touch screen, a web browser, social media apps and much more.

An industry-leading warranty package contributes to the Matrix E50’s overall appeal. In particular the seven-year parts protection is a customer-friendly match for the $3899 base price. Here are other pros and cons to consider.

Pros:

Compact
20” Stride
Cushioned Pedals
Exact Force Induction Braking
30 Resistance Levels
Multiposition Handlebars
Preset Workouts
Wireless Heart Rate Monitoring
Grip Heart Rate Monitoring
Wireless Data Tracking
Passport-Ready
Optional Speakers
Optional Integrated Virtual Active Video
Optional Mobile Apps & Web Browser
Reading Rack
High Capacity (325 pounds)

Cons:

Fixed Stride
No Incline
Not Portable
Extra Cost for Passport Media Player

Introduction

The Matrix E50 is a high-end elliptical trainer engineered for home use. Despite its impressive 300 pounds, this model requires relatively little space thanks to its center drive design. Key points are a comfortable 20” stride; 30 levels of resistance with precise induction braking; optional upper body exercise; and a choice of three workout consoles. Here’s a list of Matrix console names, screen sizes and screen types:

XER 6” touchscreen
XIR 10” touch screen
XR 8.5” LCD

Read on for details about workout programs and other features of the E50 elliptical trainer.

Workout Programs

Three workout consoles are compatible with the E50 and other Matrix home ellipticals. The XR console has five classic workout programs, the XER has ten, and the XIR has 11. These consoles also support special workouts:

The Sprint8 exercise app is built into the Matrix XER and XIR consoles. With settings for a wide range of fitness levels, Sprint8 presents eight-week training courses that are proven to bring rapid results through high intensity interval training (HIIT). Some benefits of completing a Sprint8 program with its anaerobic exercise are weight loss, an increase in lean muscle mass, and a healthier LDL cholesterol count.
All three Matrix elliptical consoles let the machine work with Virtual Active video tours. Virtual Active videos are filmed in popular urban and rural tourist destinations around the world, and they adjust to match the user’s pace of exercise. Virtually hike through real jungle, explore coastal and mountain paths, trek through small towns or busy cities and more! Some videos include informative tour guides and some let you go solo. Virtual Active is integrated with the XER and XIR consoles; three videos are included and can play on their 6” and 10” touch screens. Another option with any Matrix console is connecting Virtual Active to a home TV. This requires the separate purchase of a Passport Media Player, which typically arrives preloaded with another two video tours.

In sum, the Matrix E50 is ready to support traditional elliptical workouts, eight-week Sprint8 HIIT courses, and immersive video getaways.

Matrix E50 Features

Cardio monitoring is made easy with the choice of contact grips and wireless telemetry on all E50 ellipticals. All Matrix home elliptical consoles have ViaFit connectivity as well. ViaFit makes it easy to send statistics from each elliptical session to other mobile apps and devices that you might use for fitness, such as MyFitnessPal and FitBit.

The key feature distinguishing the Matrix E50 from the cheaper E30 is the resistance system. The E50 uses induction braking, a technology that allows even smoother and faster response than is possible with the E30’s magnetic braking. The E50’s system also offers a higher maximum resistance level, making it better than the E30 for trainees with more physical skill and/or heavier bodies. A final advantage of the E50’s induction braking is its division into 30 levels versus 20 on the lower model. The 30 levels are divided into smaller increments to give the trainee more precise control over the elliptical pedals’ resistance.

The E50’s elliptical stride follows a 20” path, which is comfortable for adults of most sizes. Pedals on the Matrix E50 are upgraded with rubber inserts. The pedals are oversized to allow for foot repositioning during exercise, which helps promote endurance.

Handlebars move for upper body training but can also be kept stationary. The E50 elliptical (but not the E30) is specially designed to support multiple grip positions. This can promote comfort and helps people isolate different muscles.

Speakers are built into the XER and XIR. These consoles have ports and chargers for MP3 players and other mobile devices.

Getting online during exercise is especially convenient with the XIR console, which has a web browser for its 10” touch screen. Additionally both the XER and XIR are loaded with mobile apps including Facebook, Twitter, Hulu, YouTube,

MyFitnessPal and Weather.

Each Matrix home elliptical has a bottle holder, an accessory tray and a reading rack.

Warranty & Guarantee

The Matrix E50 home warranty includes:

– Frame: Lifetime
– Motor: Lifetime
– Deck: Lifetime
– Parts: 7 Years
– Console: 5 Years
– Labor: 2 Years

Matrix home ellipticals are sold with 30 day trials.

Conclusion

The Matrix E50 elliptical offers precise resistance for the benefit of trainees at all skill levels. Compared with the slightly cheaper E30 it can serve a wider range of ability levels, plus it’s enhanced with cushioned pedals and multiposition grips. If you have a rather short inseam though, you might prefer an elliptical with adjustable short-to-long stride such as the Yowza Islamorada or Sole E95s.