It gives you pretty much every feature you could want in a luxury treadmill including a large 15" LCD TV, long 60" belt, adjustable cushioning, lifetime warranty and highly stable feel.
Unlike lesser priced treadmills with TV's this TV is set on it's own separate frame so that even when you pick up the pace or increase your incline, the TV never shakes.
So is it the right treadmill for your needs?
Here's a quick review to help you decide:
Quick Stats:
Price: $2999 (Sale)
Motor: 3.0 HP
Speed: 0.5-11 MPH
Incline: 0-15%
Treadbelt: 20 x 60"
Folding: No
Heart Rate Monitor: Hand Grip & Wireless
Warranty: Lifetime on Parts, Frame & Motor, 1 Year on TV and Service
Strengths:
15" flat screen LCD TV - This is a similar set-up as you'd find in a $4000 health club treadmill. This TV sits above the console on it’s own tilting frame and comes with it's own manual and warranty.
The TV comes with connectors for Cable, Satellite, DVD player or even a video game console. It includes 2 hi-fidelity 5 Watt speakers and a plug for your headphones.
While there are several more economical treadmills with built in TVs, those that are embedded in the consoles can sometimes (not always) leave a treadmill useless if they break. The Smooth 9.45 TV attaches separately and can be easily removed if it warrants a repair -without affecting the treadmill operation.
Another advantage to this set-up is that even if you run or increase the incline on the treadmill, the TV remains stable and doesn't shake or wobble.
Hydra Suspension™ Adjustable Cushioning - This cushioning system is unique to the new 9 series of Smooth treadmills. You can adjust the cushioning to 12 different levels.
This is a great feature to have since various runners often prefer different levels of running surfaces.
400 lb User Weight Capacity - This is one of the highest user weight capacities you'll find in a home treadmill. Along with a 290 lb machine weight and commercial grade deck it makes for a very stable feeling treadmill. The 9.45 can take rigourous use and still hold up quite well.
Extra Long 60" Running Belt - While most belts range from 52" to 56", the longer running area on the Smooth 9.45 TV treadmill makes it ideal for taller users or runners who really want to pick up the pace.
Motion Control on Handrails - This is another feature unique to Smooth series treadmills. To speed up you wave your hand over the motion control on one handrail and to slow down you wave your hand over the other handrail. While most people will like the feature, it's especially handy for taller runners.
(Sometimes when you have long legs, leaning close to the console to adjust the speed can result in you running up against the treadmill hood - depending on how the frame is built).
Lifetime Parts, Motor and Frame Warranty - while many treadmill give you a lifetime frame warranty, it's hard to find one that covers the motor and parts for a lifetime. Even commercial $3500 treadmill don't cover parts for a lifetime so this warranty is exceptional.
Conclusion:
The Smooth 9.45 TV Treadmill is a deluxe runner's treadmill, similar to the ones you see in high-end gyms. We love the separate set-up of the TV and treadmill which gives you a stable TV that won't shake while running.
You also get a highly stable, solid feel, motion control on the handrails, extra long 60" belt, lifetime warranty and and 12 levels of adjustable cushioning.
While the price may be a bit high for someone who just plans on occasional walking, if you want a health club treadmill with TV - without necessarily paying $5000+ for it the Smooth 9.45 is an excellent value.
Where To Buy:
You can buy the Smooth 9.45 direct from the Smooth manufacturer. They often offer free shipping plus you may also save on sales tax.
