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Marcy Diamond Elite Smith Cage Review

    workout stations of Marcy Cage System MD-9010G

    If we want to buy a home gym in most of the cases, we bump into weight stack machines, which give basic options to exercise. However, if we wish to have more versatile strength training equipment, Marcy Diamond Elite Smith Machine, which is an improved Smith machine, is a much better buy.

    Why?

    Firstly, you can choose from a lot of types of exercises. Marcy supports over 100! So, you can have a total body workout. It has many workout stations to choose from. It lets you have bodyweight, cable, and free weight home workouts.

    Moreover, compared to stack home exercise machines, it has far more weight capacity, so you do not have to be afraid that you outgrow your gym. In most of the cases, stack home gyms support a maximum of 150 lb, while Marcy allows up to 300 lb.

    It costs more, about a thousand bucks, but it is an excellent/price value weight machine with mid-range maximum capacity. Hence, it should be suitable for most people.

    What do you get for this price?

    • Smith machine with an Olympic barbell (linear bearings).
    • Half power rack.
    • Adjustable weight bench with leg development attachment.
    • Cable crossover station.
    • Low and high pulley functions.
    • Multiple weight plate pegs

    To sum up, Marcy MD 9010g smith machine is the best Marcy home gym available today.

    Keep in mind that it supports both Olympic weight plates and bars, but they are not included, which means extra cost for you.


    Marcy Diamond Elite Smith Cage System Workout Stations

    Feature Details
    Cable system dual upper pulley cables and lower cables
    Accessories shiver bar, v-bar, triceps rope, pulley cable handles, lat bar, ankle strap,
    Adjustable bench adjustable back and seat pad, adjustment angle ranges from -13 degrees to 81 degrees
    Squat rack placing the included bar catches and safety catches at the front use it with Olympic bar
    Smith bar safely lift without a spotter
    Bench attachments preacher curl pad, curl handle, leg developer (leg extension, leg curl), dual function leg developer
    Foot plate lower pulley for seated rows

    1. The Marcy Smith Cage System

    Marcy Smith Machine features

    The best way to improve your strength and muscle mass is by using free weights such as a bar or dumbbells. The Smith system provides a safer way to exercise since the motion is more controlled, and you can quickly put the bar back in case of an emergency. Hence, you may train without the need of a spotter (although for lifting heavy a helper is always required to prevent injuries.)

    Thanks to professional linear bearing on the smith machine, the barbell moves smoothly without annoying snagging thanks to the linear bearings. It does not need much maintenance, just use a silicone spray once in a while.

    What kind of exercises can you do with this workout station?

    Most importantly, the compound ones such as bench press, squats, military presses, deadlift, etc. Listing all would be hard.

    The maximum weight capacity of the Smith station is 300 lb, which is suitable for home trainers, but not for advanced weightlifters. Some customers use it over that load (350-400 lb), but I would not recommend avoiding breakage and injuries.

    The highest barbell catchers are below 80 inches, so taller guys, above 6.2 feet, find it a bit low when squat. Also, the space between the smith bar catches is a bit long. There are only 9 levels of safety catches. Hence, someone may find a bit uncomfortable to find the optimal settings for his height for specific home exercises. More dense barbell catches would be useful. But, the safety stoppers are extended so mounting and unmounting the bar is safe.

    The system comes with 2 sets of safety stoppers that you can use on the front bar so you can use another Olympic bar neglecting the control of the Smith machine. This way, it can be used as a half-power rack.

    Finally, the Marcy Diamond smith cage comes with 6 weight plate storage pegs to have order at your home gym.

    If the power rack function is more important for you, then the Marcy Weight Bench Cage Home Gym is might be a better option for you.


    2. The Adjustable Weight Bench

    MD-9010G adjustable workout bench

    With the system, you also get the adjustable Marcy Diamond Elite bench. It is an FID bench so you can adjust it to incline, decline, and flat positions providing even more types of exercises. For example, you can do an incline bench press that works your upper pecs better.

    The adjustable weight bench comes with a leg development attachment that works smoothly and provides an excellent training experience. You can do leg extensions and leg curls. The maximum weight you can use on the leg developer is 100 lb. The roller pads are thickly padded for comfort. With the squat rack, you can strengthen your leg muscle groups completely. Hence, you can have all the most beneficial leg exercises (leg curl, squat, leg extension, etc.)

    Also, you get a preacher curl pad, which is large and has comfortable padding and angle. Trainers like it.

    However, removing the mentioned attachments is not that easy since they are bolted. This way relocating the adjustable bench is a bit complicated (it is heavy), and the backrest is short for taller guys if the attachments are on. Hence, some users got a lighter flat bench instead of bench and military pressing.

    The maximum load is 300 lb. A more robust weight bench would be useful, but enough for most of us.

    You can also use it to do a wide range of dumbbell exercises.

    To sum up, the bench itself is not bad; it provides a good workout experience for most of the trainers. However, removing the attachments and moving it is a bit complicated.


    3. The Butterfly Station

    pec fly station MD-9010G-min

    The butterfly press station is useful if you want to add more variety to your chest workouts. It comes with two well-padded simple arms that use the resistance generated by the rare upright weight bar. There is nothing special about it.

    If you like the chest fly exercise, do it. But, I would get rid of it to have more space inside the Marcy Diamond smith machine. Bench press and its variations that you can do with this home gym equipment are enough to gain your pecs.


    4. The Pulley System – Cable Crossover, High and Low Pulleys

    Marcy Cage System cable crossover

    A lot of people like working out with the cable machine since they can focus on one particular muscle group better, plus it is beginner-friendly home workout equipment.

    The Marcy Diamond Elite Smith System with Linear Bearings comes with a set of two high pulleys so you can do exercises like bent forward cable crossover, flyes, lat pulldowns, etc. But, it does not have a set of two low pulleys as the fitness machines have in the commercial gyms. So, you cannot do exercises like low cable chest flys. But, it has a single low pulley at the rare part of the workout machine so you can do the separate arm versions of these exercises.

    The high pulleys function smoothly and pivoting. Although shorter users think they should be a bit longer for a more comfortable starting. The low pulley has a foot plate for effective rowing.

    The maximum load of the cable system is 200 lb.

    When we buy a home gym with a weight pulley system, it is crucial to know generated resistance.

    • The low pulley of MD-9010 generates 200%. That means if you put on 20 lb, the real resistance you feel will be approximately 40 lb.
    • For the lat pulldown and the butterfly (pec fly station), the value is 100%. So, 20 lb feels 20 lb.
    • And for the front cable crossover arms 50%-50%. So, the added wights are divided between the two arms.

    These resistances are acceptable for cable crossovers.

    What would be good to have?

    Well, I’m a big fan of bodyweight training, so I neglected the pull-up bar and dip bars. Although, you can use the barbell for doing such exercises like bodyweight rows. Or the bench for leg raises and decline push-ups.


    Stability, durability & robustness

    When we purchase a weight training machine, in this case, a multifunctional home gym, strength, and stability are two key features that we must check out.

    The Marcy Diamond Elite Smith Machine is made of 14 gauges heavy-duty tubular steel frame and weighs almost 250 lb. Both are good signs that we are talking about a sturdy construction. The weight plate pegs actually can hold up to 600 pound, the Smith capacity is 300 lb, and the pulley has 200 lb, so the system must be well-made. Most of the parts are covered with anti-corrosion enamel, and the bars are chrome coated for durability. To sum up, for home use it is unquestionably suitable.

    As you can see, the Marcy cage home gym system has a sort of off-the-floor stabilizers giving excellent stability to it. On top of that, its weight is about 250 lb, so that also provides a better balance. Hence, there is no need to drill it to the ground, but using the rubber gym mat is recommended for floor protection and maximum security.

    To sum up, Marcy Diamond Elite home gym is a robust piece that is perfect for home use.

    Marcy MD 9010g Diamond Elite smith Cage Video Review

    Credit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgLo1VfcM_E

    Independent Reviews

    Love this home gym, it is a really convenient way of working out from home.. Installation wise it was pretty straight forward just followed step by step, but I would have liked to received at least some extra screws/nuts/washers incase of any misplacement. Will recommend to others. Pleased and happy with this home gym.

    Zeke

    We purchased the cage/smith a few weeks ago and so far we are extremely satisfied. Given the price, it feels extremely solid and well built. I think it will last a very long time. The cables run smoothly, it’s ergonomic, and we keep finding ways to use it. I would definitely recommend it.

    Fred Rio (source)

    FAQ

    What kind of accessories are included with the Marcy Diamond Elite Smith Cage?

    You will get the following: ankle strap, triceps rope, two handle grips, a lat bar, and a shiver bar.

    What else will I need?

    An important thing you should not forget that weight plates are not included with the Diamond Elite smith cage. So, you need to buy an Olympic weight set if you do not own yet. The system supports 2″ Olympic plates. That is an extra cost without a doubt, but you can find good sets at an affordable price here.

    Also, the Marcy Diamond 9010 Smith cage machine comes with its own barbell attached to the sliding bars, but it is not removable. Hence, if you want to lift weights without the Smith station, you need to buy an Olympic bar to use it as a half rack. Learn more on Marcy Smith machine workouts.

    How hard is it to assemble the Marcy smith machine?

    Well, this is a rather big workout machine with a lot of functions so assembly will take a few hours without a doubt. Tools are not included, so you need screwdrivers and wrenches. But, the manual is clear and easy to follow. Customers do not find it too difficult to put it together.

    Keep in mind, it is big and bulky total body gym stuff, so you relocating is not easy once it is assembled.

    What about maintenance?

    Nothing serious. Just use some lubricant on the linear ball bearings regularly.

    Marcy 9010g Smith Machine Review

    James Wright

    Versatility
    Assembly
    Stability
    Durability

    Summary

    The Marcy Diamond Elite Smith Machine is an excellent price/value total gym system that is suitable for most people. Its weight capacity, the numerous exercises it provides for total body training as well as its price makes it a good buy for home strength training. It is not for powerlifters, but for most of us, it is a valuable buy.

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    4 thoughts on “Marcy Diamond Elite Smith Cage Review”

    1. I’m looking for a smith cage with all the functionality that the Marcy Elite system comes with but a maximum height of 80 inches. Is there a set up out there that can accommodate my height requirements?

    2. I was interested in this home gym model but was not sure how the Lat pull downs can be done. In the picture, there is a curve barbell attached to one side, would I though it would be hard to do lat pull downs sitting cross.

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