Star Trac E-TBTi Elliptical Review

Brief Overview

The cost of this machine is simply not justified when you consider other options available from True, Precor and LifeFitness.

Overall Quality

Yes, you get a personal viewing screen with the E-TBTi but why not pay $3K to $4K for a True or Precor and buy a great flat screen to mount on the wall in front of the machine. You will have a better experience with the audio/visual, the quality of the machine will be similar, and you will save money overall.

The Star Trac E-TBTi is a high quality elliptical, but the price is much too high. You do get a personal viewing screen, but you'd be better off buying a different machine and a separate TV. If you've got the $6,850 to spend on this model, you'll be able to afford one that is a much better value.

Ergonomically speaking, this machine isn't very impressive. You can find plenty of ellipticals that cost $5,000 less than this one and offer a more natural range of motion. The lack of adjustability is even more concerning. 20 levels of resistance give you the ability to align your workout with your fitness levels. Ellipticals selling as much as $6,400 less than this one have as many options for adjustments.

As far as projected reliability is concerned, this model is great. At this high of a price, however, it's almost disappointing. A few ellipticals that cost only $3,000 have longer life expectancies. The quality of parts used is also much lower than it should be considering the $6,850 price tag.

The noise levels of this machine are average. Most ellipticals make about the same amount of noise regardless of their price. If quietness during operation is a major concern for you, you can easily find models that do a better job in this area that cost less, but we don't expect the average user to be bothered by the amount of noise this one makes.

The warranty on the Star Trac E-TBTi is great. The labor, headphone jack, iPod connector, and USB port are covered for 90 days; wear items and labor are covered for 1 year, and parts are covered for 2 years. While the coverage is impressive, it doesn't make up for the atrocious price.

The E-TBTI elliptical, while very good, is not as good of a value as the E-TBT. Frankly, I can't see the point of paying the extra money for this unit especially since the company behind it is still struggling.

Conclusion

Strap it on and get ready to drain your pocketbook. It's strange to say that it is worth the money. With the full 15" LCD screen, iPod integration, and other entertainment controls this StarTrac elliptical has all the bells and whistles that the unfettered consumer might need to show off to their friends. Don't expect a discount, and don't expect a good value, but you will definitely get a good elliptical for your money!