Marcy Diamond Elite Smith System (MD-9010G) Reviewed

Marcy Diamond Elite Smith Cage with Linear Bearings is one of the most popular home gym equipment on the market today.

In the world of home gym equipment, you can get equipment that’s as specialized or as generalized as you’d like.

Additionally, you can spend as much or as little money as you would like. The market is incredibly expansive, and there’s a pretty solid chance you’ll be able to find whatever it is you’re looking for.

Let’s see if Marcy Diamond Elite Smith Cage with Linear Bearings is worth it.

Our Ratings

Workout Versatility

9.5

Value For Money

10.0

Ease Of Use

9.5

Ease Of Assembly

9.5

Materials & Durability

9.5


Overall Rating

9.6

Product Specifications

Assembled Dimensions

70”L x 79”W x 84.5”H

Product Weight

430 lbs

Max User Capacity

300 lbs Bar & 600 lbs Bench

Key Feature

over 100 club-quality exercises

Warranty

2 years Limited On Frame

Let’s face it: home gym equipment tends to be flimsy and nowhere near as versatile as the equipment you find when you pay for a membership. But those fees add up!

Let’s say that money isn’t an object for you.

Let’s also say that you want to get a piece of home gym equipment that will allow you to do virtually any type of exercise that you could ever want to do to get a full body workout.

There are many pieces of home gym equipment out there that fit this description, but not all of them are worth the cash.

Marcy Diamond Elite Smith Cage

One such machine that’s well worth your hard-earned money is the Marcy Diamond Elite Smith Machine Home Gym with Linear Bearings.

I wanted to find out if investing in a home system might actually be able to replace my gym membership.

In this Marcy Diamond Elite Smith System with Linear Bearings review, I’ll share my thoughts about it – and let you know my final verdict.

Related Article - Working Out At Home Vs Gym

Feature Summary
  • The off-the-floor frame for the base of the Marcy Diamond Elite Smith machine provides for excellent stability during even your most intense workouts.
  • Integrated Smith machine which is safer for those training in home gyms.
  • Adjustable Smith machine bar catches and included safety stoppers act as great safety nets.
  • Durable and slip resistant diamond plated foot plate/brace for seated row exercises and alternatives.
  • Dual-action leg developer, 6 roller pads, and row/curl bar give you a great selection of home gym workouts.
  • If you want to isolate your muscles during your workouts, the inclusion of the proper pivot point on the leg developer we mentioned will be a very welcome part of this machine.
  • Marcy home gym dimensions: 95″ L x 79″ W x 86″ 
  • Marcy home gym maximum weight capacity: 600 pounds

It’s Built Like a Commercial Machine

It's built like a club machine, which means that it’s designed to mimic the experience of going to a professional gym.

The Marcy Diamond Elite Smith Cage combines three different machines into one product. They are:

  • A Smith machine with precision, linear bearings
  • An Olympic free-weight rack
  • A cable routed pulley system
man using the cable pulleys on the marcy diamond smith machine

While the Marcy Diamond Elite Smith Machine Home Gym is a serious piece of gym equipment, it’s also a great-looking product with excellent build quality.

It’s got a powder-coated finish, thick upholstery to protect your body, and a sleek design that will look great in your home gym. Some of the other features it includes are:

This Marcy home gym system has a 600-pound capacity - which is more than most home gyms. That means that it’s sturdy and safe to use no matter how big you are – or how much you’re lifting.


My Experience with the Marcy Diamond Elite Smith Cage

man standing next to the Marcy Diamond Elite Smith Cage

Now I want to share my personal experience using the Marcy Diamond Elite Smith Machine with Linear Bearings.

First, keep in mind that this is a powder dusted finish.

The shipping weight is over 300 pounds so depending on where you live – and on who your delivery driver is – they may not be able to deliver these home gyms to your door.

It also takes up a lot of space, but that's not surprising given how big Smith machines are on their own.

The dimensions are 95” high by 79” wide by 86” deep. The depth is due to the weight bench, but it is removable, so you can stow it when you’re not using it.

Assembling of the Marcy Diamond Elite Smith Machine wasn’t easy and took us several hours to assemble, but more on that later on in this review!

But now for the good part – what was it like using the Marcy Diamond Elite home gym?

I decided to try everything for this review – and there was a lot to try because this product comes with a bunch of attachments:

  • Lat Pull Bar
  • Triceps Rope
  • Ankle Strap
  • Chrome Row Handle
  • Smith Bar (As Part Of The Smith Machine)

My Exercise Routine and Thoughts

man using the low row attachment on the marcy md-9010g

I started out with some leg work on the bench. The action when I was doing leg curls was quite smooth – maybe not quite as good as the machines at my gym, but way better than any home machine I’ve tried.

The bench was comfortable but a little higher off the ground than I’d like. I think it might be awkward to use for women or men of below-average height.

Another note about the bench – I think someone very tall might not be able to get full extension when doing a vertical shoulder smith press while on the bench.

Shoulder presses require you to lift your arms completely overhead, which could be difficult with limited range of motion and height. You may want to look into some overhead press alternatives if you are above average height.

The Smith bar is sturdy – again, maybe not as solid as a commercial smith machine, but the quality is clear.

I didn’t have any problem using the Marcy Diamond Elite Smith Machine home gym, and it seems like it would easily handle more weight than I’m lifting now.

The low cable row handle is nice, but I couldn’t get full range of motion from the low pulley. I guess that’s to be expected – if you want that you should buy a rowing machine.

Overall, the Marcy Diamond Elite Smith Machine gave me a great workout. The best thing about in my opinion is that it’s versatile.

It’s probably the closest you can come to having a complete gym at home – and having it is saving me money on my gym membership every month.

Workout Stations & Versatility

This Marcy Diamond Elite home gym combines the qualities of a smith machines and cable pulley systems with weight stacks. This makes it extremely versatile and great for a full body workout. 

The Smith machine comes with an Olympic bar which can be loaded with Olympic weight plates.

This, combined with the adjustable bench, makes it great for bench press, incline bench press, squats, deadlifts and other compound movements.

You can even remove the bar from the smith machine away from the weight bench to give yourself more space. The safety catches are perfect for doing heavy lifts without needing a spotter.

The cable pulley system, attached to the weight stacks, can be used with various handles and set to low, medium, or high.

This is great for rows and arm exercises, with a specific preacher curl station which can be used for a bicep or leg curl. 

The dual press arms on Marcy home gyms are excellent for training one side at a time, and work best for back and chest exercises. 

There's also a leg development station with a foot plate for leg press, so you can really work your lower body.

There's a lot of options with this Marcy Diamond Elite home gym, and it makes a great alternative to traditional weight lifting. 

Try These Workouts!


Assembly & Maintenance Of This home Gym

This Marcy Diamond Elite home gym is quite challenging to assemble.

The parts come in 3 boxes and are clearly labelled, but the instructions themselves aren't particularly clear.[1]

Unfortunately, Marcy uses diagrams instead of written instructions and doesn't name all the parts needed for each section.

The assembly itself has a few different elements, but you need to start with the frame, then the cable system, then the smith machine, and then the adjustable bench and other parts. 

The cables are the most challenging part of the home gym to put together and you'll need to spend more time on this part. 

I would allow 10-12 hours to assemble this home gym if you haven't done it before, and you may need help from a friend.

The good news is that once it's set up, the Marcy Diamond Elite home gym is fairly low maintenance. Marcy has included a 2-year warranty on this smith machine, which is decent for products in this categories.[2]

You should clean it weekly to get any dirt from the surfaces, and you may need to oil the cables if they start to stick or make noise. 

It's worth keeping an eye on your home gym floor because Marcy Smith machine home gyms are heavy.

If you can, install some durable home gym flooring underneath this Smith machine to prevent any damage.

Pros and Cons of the Marcy Smith MD-9010G

Pros

  • Extremely durable commercial quality machine
  • Includes a lot of extra attachments
  • Integrated smith machine and smith bar
  • Uses free weights, which allows for great training flexibility
  • Great value for money
  • Over 100 types of exercises

Cons

  • Can take up over 10 hours to assemble
  • Does not come with weight plates or a pull up bar
  • Not ideal for someone living in a small apartment or home
  • Needs better instructions for assembly, maintenance, and how to use

Who Is It Best Suited For?

This home gym is best suited for those with experience looking to build muscle mass at home

Smith machines make heavy weight training a lot safer, and the smith machine integration into this Marcy diamond elite home gym gives you a lot of possibilities.

Plus, the fact you load your own weight plates instead of selectorized means you can lift heavy and start building muscle.

The smith machine cage system, Olympic bar, and cable pulley system are all the features which make this machine a great addition for anyone switching from a commercial gym to a home gym. 

There's a lot of versatility in this home gym but it's not as well suited for beginners. 

The freedom of the smith machine and free weights can actually be confusing at first, and simpler home gyms with a cable system may be easier while you learn the exercises. 

Other people who would benefit from the Marcy diamond elite home gym: 

  • Intermediate lifters who can't get to the gym regularly 
  • Those with home gyms that can't fit multiple pieces of strength training equipment
  • Those who don't have room for a full power rack

Frequently Asked Marcy MD-9010G Smith Cage Questions

How much does the smith bar weigh on the Marcy Diamond Elite Smith Machine?

The smith machine bar on the Marcy Diamond Elite weighs 25 pounds, which is about average for home smith systems. 

How much weight can the Marcy Diamond MD-9010G hold?

The Marcy MD-9010G can hold up to 300 lbs on the smith bar, which is low compared to other smith cage systems. The max weight capacity for the cables and bench is 600 lbs.

Where can I buy replacement parts for this smith machine?

You can buy Marcy Diamond Elite replacement parts straight from the Marcy website. It's best to get in contact with the manufacturer if you require a specific part.

Our Ratings

Workout Versatility

9.5

Value For Money

10.0

Ease Of Use

9.5

Ease Of Assembly

9.5

Materials & Durability

9.5


Overall Rating

9.6

Conclusion

So, with all that said, what’s our final verdict on the Marcy Diamond Elite Smith Cage Home Gym?

If you’ve been shopping around for the ultimate addition to your home workout setup, this is one of the best options you have.

References:

1. https://www.marcypro.com/content/Product_Manuals/Smith_Machines/20180621MD-9010G%20Owner%27s%20manual.pdf 

2. https://www.marcypro.com/marcy-smith-machine-cage-system-md-9010g

Last Updated on July 10, 2023