Revolutionary new concept in workout motivation…or simply a clever marketing ploy? In all honesty, the ProForm 980 Audio Trainer Treadmill is probably a bit of both. According to Proform.com  “Now you can lose weight and feel great in just 8 weeks with iFit® Workout Card Technology. Simply plug in your Workout Card, press go and let iFit® do the rest, it’s really that easy.” If it was that easy we’d all be a lot thinner, but to its credit, the ProForm 980 Audio Trainer isn’t all marketing fluff.

This machine features a capable powerplant that produces 2.25 continuous-duty horsepower–plenty of juice to move along the average user. The treadbelt is a full 20″ x 55″ and features a stated 325 lb. weight capacity. In our tests, this machine was best suited for a user under 250 lbs.

As for the “audio training” features, there are some cool additions on this treadmill that will definitely spice up your workout. First is ProForm’s iFit system. This feature allows an special iFit card to be plugged directly into the treadmill. Each iFit card features a different 8-week workout program designed to help you reach a specific fitness goal. iFit cards can be had on the ProForm website for anywhere from $29.95 for a single card to $89.95 for one of the Jillian Michaels 3-packs.

Other audio components on this unit include a music port so you can plug in an iPod or other mp3 player, plus an Intermix Acoustics™ 2.0 Sound System which, as far as we could tell, is a set of speakers in the console.

The ProForm 980 Audio Trainer includes a lifetime warranty on both the frame and motor and is priced at a reasonable $1,199.00 at most retail outlets. If you’re a serious runner this machine probably shouldn’t be number one on your list. But if your a casual exerciser that enjoys the added motivation of audio training and upgradeable workout programs, the ProForm 980 should definitely do the trick.

Click Here to learn more about the ProForm 980 Audio Trainer Treadmill.