NordicTrack AudioStrider 990 Pro

Bottom Line

The NordicTrack AudioStrider 990 Pro has great features for the price, but proves to be unreliable in the long run, according to user reviews.

Performance

Split between sturdy and smooth. The AudioStrider 990 Pro is equipped with a 26-pound flywheel and steel frame, and can accommodate up to a 350-pound user. Its performance, however, appears to vary greatly. Some owners say it has a sturdy platform and smooth ride, while others claim the 990 Pro is noisy and "wobbles during use."

The 990 Pro has an adjustable stride length of 20 to 23 inches, which is rare for an elliptical costing less than $1,000. It features 24 digital resistance levels controlled via a silent magnetic resistance system, but a limited incline from 15 to 40 degrees.

Ease of Use

Intuitive control console. The AudioStrider 990 Pro's 7-inch backlit screen displays speed, time, distance, resistance, incline, pulse and calories burned. One big plus is that it's iFit compatible and has a slot on the center console to hold a laptop, but this wireless module must be purchased separately. IPod and MP3 input plugs are included, but users rate the speakers as only average.

The control console contains 30 workout programs preset with speed, time, resistance and distance settings. The 990 Pro has no heart-rate interactive programs, but the stationary handles will track a user's heart rate. A Polar heart-rate monitor chest strap is included.

Durability

Disappointing. Despite its improved stability over the former folding design, the AudioStrider 990 Pro is a letdown in terms of durability. Consumer reviews call it unreliable at best, with many saying the machine began having problems within the first two years; one had issues with the belt slipping off the pulleys. A user complains at ConsumerReports.org, "I have had this elliptical for a couple of years and have had to replace the slide arms four times, the foot pads three times, and gone through at least four wheels."

Customer Service

Average warranty, but poor service. NordicTrack provides an average warranty with the AudioStrider 990 Pro: lifetime on the frame, three years on parts and one year for labor, but some consumers had little success with customer service. One says that after his elliptical broke, he didn't receive correspondence for months, and another received the wrong part from the manufacturer.