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Whole body vibration machines have evolved since they first came out. Every year they seem to get better. At first, there were the teeter totter models, then it went to linear motors, and now the newest ones, as of 2009, have eliminated motors all together. Now put a subwoofer that causes sonic vibration to move the plate up and down with no variance.
But, of course, there are advances in technology all the time and there are pros and cons of each type of machine which doesn't mean one model is better than another. It all depends on what you are using it for. If you are just using the plate to do pushups on, then you don't have to get the best one.
I will say that I can foresee some models being phased out soon, especially the type that I hear complaints about that jar peoples' backs and knees. The best ones are very expensive and I am not talking about some MLM model that has its price jacked up. I think the prices of these will come down in about 10 years but with the prices of the materials going up I don't see it happening soon.
"THE BEST Vibration Machine"
Do you really need the best? I found out that the best didn't make me break my wallet. You always have choices. It is a total rip off it it goes 25 hz and higher and only holds 250 lbs. You are then getting half body vibration... not whole body vibration.
Consumer caution: THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT: Look out for those that make you get your upper body to the bottom of the plate. This can cause damage to the nerves and cause brain damage. I am serious. This is not a joke. The way that the frequencies are calibrated, most people are perfectly fine with the head being far away in the stand up position.
Questions You Should Ask of Expensive Machines
1. How many horsepower is your motor in your machine? Make sure they tell you the peak horsepower and they also tell you the constant horsepower. Don't just go by the biggest motor with the largest horsepower.
2. What's the main thing to look for in a quality vibration plate machine? 1st, the motor structure and type, 2nd, the frame and plate integrity and welding, 3rd, the supporting parts.
3. Is a plastic frame or metal frame better? Metal always. Common sense.
4. Ask about warranty. Find out if total labor expenses are covered, shipping back and forth, and how long it will take to fix it. Find out if they will replace it if there is a problem.
5. Ask different dealers what their best prices are. After you get a feel for prices after talking to at least 5 dealers, come up with an offer for each of them. If you know what they pay for their machine, you have better leverage so you can demand the price you want to pay. The more dealers you email this to, the more likely one will take you up on your offer.
Plate Comparisons:
Teeter tooter models are totally different than the pure z axis force (up and down only). Ask what % of vertical vibration your model has, or you might have to visit a chiropractor due to your hip abrasion and other damage to the body. You will know if this is happening because you will be producing cortizol.
Power Comparison Review
A 15 amp is more than adequate for a vibration plate machine. Most of the models are 15 amps or lower. If you see one that is higher than 15 amps that might mean that the motor is not efficient or that it is very powerful. Just when these were becoming popular and the upgraded motors were put in the machines, the sonic speaker models came out. Now, the machines are more "green" and take up less power to run. The older models eat up tons of electricity.
There are $7,000 machines that are rated at 15 amps and $14,000 machine rated machines rated at 15 amps. The $14,000 one that has better components can handle heavier weights without the machine pulling more than 15 amps (this applies to motors as a rule). It is similar to having a sports car driving up to 100 mph and a cheap, non sports car driving up to 100 mph. The sports car can do it with ease and less wear and tear while the cheap car has to strain the engine's components to reach the same speed.
Vibration Plate Machine Industry Terminology
Absorbed power - This is power absorbed by you or the machine, or the floor.
Amperage - This is the amount of power the motor is pulling out of your wall outlet. If you have a 13 amp motor and you are pulling over 13 amps, you run the chances of the motor burning out or a huge decrease in longevity.
Efficiency - The ratio of power output to power input. There are certain models that have 3.5 HP with 13 amps and others with 3 HP with 13 amps. One misrepresents its output horsepower right on the box. This is what mislead me on one of my first two machines I bought.
EMF - Comes from models not using a sound coil. A disturbing frequency without resonance.
Frequency - Unit of length used to determine energy type: (i.e. electromagnetic spectrum), metric system. 20-35 hz is optimal.
Full Session - Number of minutes required to achieve desired results.
Horsepower - An index of the amount of work a machine or motor can perform. One horsepower is equal to 746 watts. Since power is equal to torque multiplied by speed, horsepower is a measure of a motor's torque and speed capability; e.g., a 1 HP motor will produce 36 lb-in. at 1,750 rpm.
Injury potential - Some models are more likely to cause injury than others depending on the vibrational variance in top to bottom vibration.
Lineal - When the plate moves straight up and straight down without any other movements. Even if you stand on the edge you will still go up and down.
Mid-range instability - A phenomenon in which a motor can fall out of synchronism due to a loss of torque at mid-range speeds. The torque loss is due to the interaction of the motor's electrical characteristics and the driver's electronics. Some drivers have circuitry to eliminate or reduce the effects of mid-range instability. This is a common problem on some WBV machines.
Pivotal - When the plate tilts side to side (one foot goes up and the other foot goes down)
Static exercise - Holding a position or pose while not moving while the machine is vibrating.
Vibration Duration - How long you can use the machine without stopping it.
Vibrational Magnitude - another way of saying amplitude
Warm Down Time – The number of minutes it takes before the machine is ready for use after usage.
Wattage - This defines the amount of horsepower. 746 watts equals one horsepower.
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