Matrix T7xe Treadmill incl Virtual Active Review

The Matrix T7xe Treadmill is the flagship fitness product from Matrix, whose goal has always been to make commercial grade equipment that stands out, rises above, and sets new industry standards.

The following product article takes a brief look at the main features, including the design, available workout programs and even quality of assembly instructions to help you decide if this is the best treadmill for your style of training.

Design features and transport

Being the top of the line product in the Matrix treadmill range you can be sure of some very clever features that set it apart from earlier models, including a large touch screen and the Exclusive Ultimate Deck System to help reduce the impact on your knees and joints while running.

Moving up towards the display console it’s clear a lot of thought has gone into the design of the crossbar handles and hand rails. The handles include speed and incline adjustments which are kept within easy reach and are designed to allow you to change the settings using your thumbs to prevent you needing to let go of the heart rate hand sensors which are also built into the handles.

If you are looking to buy a treadmill for use at home when you may be training alone it’s important to make sure you find a design that has safety features to help protect against injury.

The Matrix T7xe achieves this by including a safety key. This is a simple device that has a clip at one end for attaching to your clothing.

The other end attaches to the display console so that if you do fall then the safety key pulls out of the display console and the running belt comes to a stop almost immediately.

Another important feature is the addition of the levelling foot on the underside of the running deck at the back. This can be installed to improve running deck stability if you have the running deck positioned over slightly uneven ground.

Due to the Matrix T7xe being such a heavy treadmill (weighing around 180kg) it is recommended that you make sure there is room to setup the treadmill where it can be safely stored and not be in the way when not in use. The full dimensions and weight limits can be found at the end of this article.

Ease of assembly

Although the overall design is kept looking relatively simple, there are actually quite a few steps to go through to assemble the Matrix T7xe.

In contrast to some treadmills that provide you with poor instructions and little or no steps to follow, the user manual contains in depth instructions to walk you through every stage of the setup.

A full list of components is provided to make sure you have all the required parts, which are conveniently split into colour coded bags to make them easier to identify.

By following just 7 steps you can go from having the parts laid out on the floor to having a fully operational, top of the range treadmill.

Each of these 7 steps provides you with a clear list of the items required to complete it as well as an exploded drawing of how the parts should fit together.

Matrix T7xe Treadmill – Features Summary

Integrated 38 cm / 15″ touch screen display with FitTouch Technology for intuitive performance
Vista Clear Television Technology — the most vibrant picture quality in the industry
Compatible with Nike + iPod
Ultimate Deck System for superior performance and durability
5.0hp Dynamic Response Drive System with lifetime motor warranty

Display console design

The quality and usability of the display console are two of the points that really set this treadmill apart from similarly priced models.

One of the main improvements made with the Matrix T7xe over the T5x model is in the size and quality of the display screen.

This extra large 15″ screen delivers you vibrant picture quality in full colour and is touch screen to make menu navigation and selection even easier.

While this extra large screen benefits your workouts from a functional point of view by displaying important workout information much larger and clearer, it also doubles as an excellent entertainment center.

If you enjoy listening to music while working out then there is a special screen specifically for scrolling through your playlists and choosing which music to listen to once you connect your iPod to the display console.

If listening to music doesn’t make your workouts more enjoyable then there is even the option to use the screen to watch TV, with quick select buttons for choosing the channel and adjust the volume.

In terms of the display of your actual workout information, a lot of thought has clearly gone into making this as intuitive and aesthetically pleasing as possible. Instead of just a number to keep you informed of your elevation and speed settings you can have two bars that fill up to different levels (See gallery image).

To give you an idea of how far through your workout you are at a glance, there is a progress bar displayed in the center of the screen which gradually fills up as your training session progresses.

Other workout information such as heart rate, distance, time, calories burned and pace is also displayed at the bottom of the screen.

Workout programmes

The Matrix T7xe provides you with 4 main types of workout program together with a fitness test option. These being ‘Manual’, ‘Level Based’, ‘Fat Burn’ and ‘Heart Rate Controlled’.

Each of these workout options is easy to find and setup thanks to the touch screen interface and clear control design.

Manual program – If you enjoy working out at your own pace and want to be in constant control of the incline and speed settings then this is the perfect program for you.

If the number of calories burned is important to you then you can even enter your bodyweight to provide you a much more accurate result.

Level based programs – Whether you have been training for years or if this is your first time on a treadmill, the wide range of level based programs provided with the Matrix T7xe ensures there is an effective workout option for every fitness level.

Essentially these programs will automatically adjust the resistance to simulate a hill climb, the intensity of which can be set before you start your workout.

Fat burn programs – A different style of the level based programs, ‘Fat burn’ varies the intensity to focus heavily on increasing the amount of calories burned, allowing you to set the intensity and workout duration before you start.

Heart rate controlled programs – These programs are excellent if you want to improve your cardiovascular health. After setting your target heart rate you just need to enter your age, desired workout length and bodyweight to start training.

Although this is more information than the other workout programs, it is important to calculate the correct heart rate training range for you and is a sign to look for on all high quality treadmills.

After entering this basic information the incline of the treadmill will then adjust automatically to ensure you stay within your target heart range and get the most effective workout.

Matrix T7xe Treadmill

The Matrix T7xe Treadmill has been designed for anyone that’s serious about their indoor running and cardio training.

The impact absorption system reduces the impact on your joints, making it perfect for anyone recovering from an injury or looking for a low impact form of exercise.

As well as the wide range of effective workout programs, one of the most attractive features is the Vista Clear Television Technology that delivers a very crisp and vibrant digital display.

This is particularly noticeable when either choosing to watch TV, or even using the ‘Virtual Active’ option, where you see you virtual running progress through real life environments such as streets or mountains. A high quality machine that offers over 25,000 miles of maintenance-free performance, while at the same time offering some excellent entertainment options.

Product dimensions: 215cm (L) x 86cm (W) x 147cm (H)
Product weight: 181kg
User weight limit: 182kg