Nordictrack Audiostrider 1490 Elliptical Review

What To Know Before You Buy

 

(Please Note: The Audiostrider 1490 is not the “Spacesaver SE9i Elliptical” – Please Click Here to read the full review of the Nordictrack Spacesaver SE9i elliptical.)

 

The Nordictrack Audiostrider 1490 elliptical is an upgrade to an all-time favorite – the Audiostrider 990, which has been around for years and earned several “Best Buy” awards

While the 990 has always been a popular starter model (under $1000), the 1490 comes with a bit more substance and several premium features you don’t get with the 990.

For example, you get a larger console with a full color, touch-screen web browser, as well as a free wireless heart rate monitor and controls on the moving arm bars.

Is the 1490 Elliptical right for you? Here’s a review to help you decide:

 

 

The Basics:

 

Price: $1499 + Free Shipping

Resistance Levels: 24

Stride: 18″

Folding? Yes

iFit? Yes – Built-In

iPod Dock? Yes

Weight Capacity: 325 lbs

Warranty: Lifetime Frame, 3 Year Parts & 1 Year Labor Warranty

 

 

Pros of the Nordictrack Audiostrider 1490:

 

#1 Full Color Web Browser

If you get bored easily you’ll love this option – a full color web browser built right into the elliptical console.

You can read your emails, catch up on business news or even watch Youtube videos while you workout – making your exercise time fly by!

 

 

#2 Power Incline

Although this is becoming more common with ellipticals, incline is one of the things that originally made the audiostrider series so popular.

Incline changes the slope of the elliptical movement – which means you end up training different muscle groups. This also gives you an overall more effective and challenging workout.

You can change the slope from 0 to 10 degrees from the console of the machine – or from the moving arm bars.

 

 

 

#3 Incline/Resistance Controls on Arm Bars

This is another upgrade from the 990 model. You can change the resistance or incline from the moving arm bars. This is convenient because you don’t have to always be reaching up to the console to change these things during your workout.

 

 

#4 Oversized, Adjustable Pedals

The 1490 elliptical helps you customize your workout even more with the adjustable pedals. You can choose from 3 different toe-heel angles to find which one feels most comfortable for you.

Plus different toe-heel angles may also help you to target and tone different muscle groups. Also, the pedals are built closer together than previous models to reduce stress on the hips.

This more closely mimics a natural stride pattern which also gives you a more comfortable, natural workout.

 

 

#5 Snap Assembly

While everyone wants a high quality elliptical, nobody wants to spend hours putting it together. Nordictrack has taken this into consideration and made the 1490 crosstrainer super-simple to assemble.

It’s basically put together in 3 steps out of the box – which should only take a few minutes (not hours!) and ready to go. So you could be using it within minutes of getting it into your house. While this won’t affect your future workouts – it’s just a great way to cut down on the little headaches that can come with putting your elliptical together.

 

 

#6 Folding To Save Space

It’s getting harder to find a folding elliptical these days – that still gives you the stability of the Audiostrider 1490.

If you want to save space or have a workout area that doubles as something else (like a living room), this is a very handy feature.

Just fold up the unit and roll it away when you’re done working out (there are wheels on the bottom).

 

 

#5 iFit Live – Built In

iFit LIVE let’s you do everything you could imagine – and then some. You can download new workouts from Jillian Michaels, track and sync your workouts online, map out new trails to run with Googlemaps and more.

The Nordictrack Audiostrider 1490 is iFit ready – meaning that you don’t need to buy the iFit module like you do with the 990 model.

 

 

 

 

#6 Free Wireless Heart Rate Monitor

You get a free wireless monitor with this model. Most people prefer the wireless option because you don’t have to continually grasp the hand sensors to get a heart rate reading (when you’re grasping the sensors you’re NOT working your arms – so it kind of cuts into your workout). People tend to find that a wireless monitor is also more accurate.

 

 

Cons of the Nordictrack Audiostrider 1490 Elliptical:

 

#1 iFit Subscription Module Required

While you don’t need to buy the module – you will need to purchase a yearly subscription to iFit if you want to use it (around $99). You don’t need iFit to use this elliptical – you can still use the web browser, built-in workouts, etc without it. But it’s something to keep in mind.

 

 

#2 Limited Incline

While it’s nice to have the incline on this trainer, this doesn’t give you the range of incline that some trainers (like the Elite 12.9 does). While I don’t have the official word on this from Nordictrack, my guess is that this is a trade-off because of the limits of the folding elliptical design.

 

 

Bottom Line?

If you want the benefits of the 990 Audiostrider (folding, rear-drive, incline) – with a lot of luxury options thrown in (iFit built-in, web browser, arm bar controls, wireless heart rate monitor), then the 1490 is a great option.

Plus, it can be hard to find a folding elliptical that is also highly stable (and gives you the comforts of a higher end machine).

 

Where To Buy and Save

You can get the latest version of this elliptical (now renamed the Spacesaver SE9i) direct from the Manufacturer here. Plus if you use the link below you can also get Free Shipping to your home, which will save you about $150.

Click Here to Save on the Nordictrack Audiostrider 1490 Elliptical