Discount Smith Machines

Affordable Smith Machines

Universal SS1500 Smith Station

also known as

Universal Smith Station Home Gym

Click here if you don't have time to read the review

"Discount smith machines" does not really do justice to the Universal SS1500 Smith Stations. Although I wouldn't call them best in their class, I would most certainly call them affordable smith machines. But even so, Universal have tweeked the SS 1500 just a little to really set it apart from the rest of the field. And if those modifications are what you look for in a smith machine then you may agree with some of my colleagues that it deserves a very high rating indeed. I also called them discount smith machines because most online dealers offer them at about $200 below retail.

By now you want to know what those tweeks are so I won't hold out any longer. There are actually 3 features of this gym that deserve special attention:

1. the smith machine guide rods are angled at 7 degrees. Biomechanically, that 7 degree angle closely resembles the natural motion of a free squat and also closely resembles the path of free bench and free shoulder press. Now I haven't had a great deal of experience with these type of machines other then a little play before writing a review.......but I do have a colleague who is always going on about what a superior machine they are and how they represent the future for all smith machines
    

2. the height of the row pulleys can be adjusted. Now this feature has really sparked my interest. If you have read any of my other reviews you may have noticed I am passionate about cables. They are versatile, non-gravity dependent, easy to use and easy to adjust. Well, Universal have taken the concept of high and low cables into new territory. No longer do you have a high cable pulley and a low cable pulley. Instead, they have only one cable pulley (per side) and its height adjustable. Yes that's right.....I said "height adjustable". Simply by pulling a pin you can now move the pulley into one of many positions until you have it just right. That's GREAT!
    

3. as if I wasn't already excited enough over the cables, I'm pleased to announce there's more. They are independent. That is each has its own weight load. Doesn't sound like much but usually both cables pull on the one load. This means if you are doing 2 arm exercises, your strongest side will always take more than half of the load which just leads to even greater imbalance. Won't happen here

Features

• heavy steel, rust and scratch resistant, powder coated frame
   

• angled smith machine guide rods
   

• smith bar has Olympic stabilizers and safety catches
   

• height adjustable spring catch to protect against descending too far
   

• height adjustable cable pulleys
   

• 2 cable handles and chain extensions

Size

At the base the Universal SS1500 is 47 inches x 50 inches

Pros

I've listed the best pros already in the 3 point list above but there are a couple of others

• just briefly I'll restate that the guide rods are angled, the pulleys are height adjustable and they are independent
   

• additionally, the smith has a height adjustable spring catch. Not all smiths have this and it makes your workout just that little bit safer

Cons

• I'd like to see the cables a little further apart in the high position. You can't really do a nice stretched open cable cross-over from that angle. The way around it would be to do your cable crossovers on your knees
   

• the low row doesn't have a foot plate to brace against when low rowing

Overall

This is a great machine. The angled guide rods and the height adjustable cables add a touch of class. It is a popular machine as you will see below by the number of reputable sellers that keep it in their inventory.

Sellers

SPECIAL UPDATE - The Universal SS1500 is no longer available. But Universal have re-released it as the "Universal Smith Station Home Gym".  It is virtually exactly the same, except for some slight structural improvements.

If you want a combo smith machine but are also after something that will allow you to do really stretched open cable crossovers I suggest you have a look at the Mega Smith System home gym