PULSER 2 – Dual Motion Level 3 Vibration Machine

In Depth PULSER 2 Review and First Look

Vmax Fitness launched the original Pulser to the North America market in 2010.  At that time, they were the first company to introduce a fairly high specification machine to the consumer sector. Over the years that follow, 4 generations of Pulsers were developed, with various component upgrades to improve the machine. Just when we thought the machine couldn’t be further improved, they surprised us with a modern panel display, and a complete electronic redesign to meet high usage environments.  The refresh is definitely a welcoming change as we found the older display to be somewhat dated with its large red and blue light diodes.

As soon as the machine launched, we rush ordered one to be shipped to our location for testing.  You can also view our video review. The PULSER 2 refresh makes it currently the newest and more sophisticated vibration machine on the market when we compare all other dual motion machines. As with the PULSER, the PULSER 2 keeps the horizontal handle bar. This horizontal bar has multiple functions, it allow users to more easily hold onto the handles for balance, support, and stability. In addition, the bar strengthens the two side handles to prevent excessive column shaking at higher speeds. This shaking is quite prominent when the machine is placed on surfaces that are not completely flat and the bar helps to reduce this shaking. Excessive shaking is also common on machines that doesn’t have this horizontal bar, thus making the display difficult to read and control.

Platform Design

The machine carry over the same physical dimensions at 27” x 33” x 58”(width x depth x height) and the platform is edge to edge. When fully assembled, this machine feels very sturdy and there is a definitely a noticeable difference in the “tugging” and pull back of the column between the Vibratrim VT500 (and other machines without the horizontal cross bar) and the PULSER 2. The machine has rear wheels and if you ever need to move this beast around, you can easily use the wheels on the back for easy movement from one room to another over a flat surface (or carpet).

The vibration platform size is 27 inches wide by 20 inches deep and is the largest amongst all dual vibration machines. The platform has a true edge-to-edge design, which means you are able to completely utilize the platform even up to the edges. Other machines such as the Vmax Trio or Vibratrim VT400 have a bezel on the platform width that is included in the platform measurement but the bezel can’t actually be used when you are standing on the platform as they are sloped or slanted. The Pulser 2 platform is rated for users upto 440 lbs which hasn’t been changed since the original Pulser.

Frame, Body, Mechanics

The overall look and structural design of the Pulser 2 hasn’t changed much. Some of the premium looking features include chrome accents all around the rotary dials and the buttons on the display. A carbon fiber strip makes its way all around the base platform. It is subtle and not overdone and indeed makes the machine feel very premium. The PULSER emblem is screen printed onto the black acrylic in the front of the machine. The machine is very glossy and is prone to finger prints so its best to have a piece of microfiber cloth close by to wipe away the oil and prints after you are done with your vibration session.

The PULSER 2 uses the fourth generation high efficiency dual drive system by Vmax that consists of a 1100-watt oscillation motor and a 500-watt spiral motor. The motors in this system produce a greater lifting torque, and less heat and friction. Whats changed inside is the switch from light commercial grade components to commercial grade components. Components between the PULSER and PULSER 2 cannot be used interchangeably despite using the same connection plugs. We tried this and the machines did not power up properly, rather “misbehaving”. Now for electrical durability, we couldn’t detect a noticeable difference between the duty cycles of the PULSER and the PULSER 2 because they both felt the same when we put them through the same stress test (we ran both machines for 10 cycles of 20 minutes each, continuously).

Display and Controls

The main display has been completely changed with a more informative layout. The new display is manufactured with more advanced surface mount LED technology, which allows for the images and on screen items to be sharper (LCD-like display) and providing exceptionally longer durability than the previous display used in the original Pulser machine (and still being used by the current Vibratrim and Slimvibe / Genesis machines). Some of the LED pin-hole bulbs used to go out after about a year or so. The oscillation vibration speed setting is on the top left with a teeter totter icon and the spiral vibration is on the top right and shows an orb with vibrating lines icon. No longer do we get the L and the H to show us which vibration motion are adjusting, it was fairly meaningless before. The time countdown is right in the middle, just below the heart display. The heart visual doesn’t really do anything except it provides a pumping heart motion when the machine is in operation. It seems a bit odd to incorporate that visual. Could it be that the next revision, we might get a heart rate monitor? We concluded it might be a possibility. Vmax was mum about it when we inquired, so we will leave it at that. There is a new calorie counter just below the spiral vibration speed display. The counter mathematically calculates the calorie burned in the session and displays potentially how much calorie you are burning. It is a mathematical calculation and it does not take into account the gender, weight, height, etc… of the user. I personally would not rely on it all too much and treat it as a novelty.

The PULSER 2 comes with 9 preset programs indicated by P1 through P9, 3 user definable programs indicated by U1 through U3, and a manual mode indicated by “88”. The current mode selected is displayed just underneath the oscillation vibration speed. The middle of the console is the Start/Stop button, rotary dials for the oscillation and spiral vibration, PROG, STANDBY, rotary dial for the MODE, and TIME up and TIME down buttons. Rotary dials are used for speed and mode/program control. You no longer need to press Up and Down hundreds of times just to change to the desired speed or frequency you want to vibrate at. The rotary dials make changing the speeds a breeze, turn it counter-clockwise to slow down or stop, turn it clockwise to crank it up. Just few quick full turns will bring the machine all the way to the maximum speed (60) or all the way to zero.  One new feature of the PULSER 2 is the addition of a push button to the rotary dial. Pressing the respective rotary dial will set that particular vibration to 0, and the other vibration to 1. This makes alternating vibration movements a breeze with just one button press.

Turning the MODE rotary dial will cycle through the 9 preset exercise programs (P1…P9) built into the machine and the 3 user definable programs (U1, U2, U3). You can alter U programs using a special combination of commands. Programming the definable programs is a little bit difficult and frustrating. Programming your own routine may easily take 10-20 minutes as you fiddle around with the speed and time settings to set. It is a matter of setting each stepping (there are 12 of them in total) with a speed for the oscillation vibration, spiral vibration, and the time it will run at the speeds for. If you are up for it, programming can be great as you can design a program (or 3 programs) that suit you or your family’s needs. We kind of gave up after about 10 minutes and decided to use them as is since they were already pre-programmed at the factory. We wished the programming was changed to something more intuitive and more user friendly as it was exactly the same across similar machines such as the Pulser, Vibratrim VT500, and Vibrapro Genesis.

The Test

When using the machine, make sure to stand shoulder width apart and have your knees slightly bent so that you do not jam your joints. Once you press start, there is a new 3 second ready count down timer and indicates the machine is about to start. The rotary dials for the oscillation and spiral speed control is responsive and all buttons have a great click and tactile feedback to it. Buttons feel sturdy and well built. The on-the-fly response of the rotary dials is amazing. It is significantly easier to adjust the speeds compared to pressing buttons and you can rapidly change from say a speed of 5 to a speed of 45 in less than 2 seconds. Just rotate the dial to set the desired speed. To be honest, it will be very hard going back to a machine with just push buttons as they have slower response and will take longer to adjust the various speeds from the two motors.

The platform size shines when you take advantage of the super wide 27″ platform and increasing the distance of your feet from the center of the platform. It gets very powerful at speed greater than 40 on the oscillation vibration as I placed my feet at the edge and I had to slow it back down as I felt my muscles cramping up. Similarly, the spiral vibration feels just as powerful. The high vibrational frequency numbs my leg and it doesn’t matter where I place my feet, as the vibration is the same all across the platform. The platform also comes with 2 notches to attach hand straps onto the machine for upper body and arm exercises.

Final Thoughts

The PULSER 2 is a good successor to the original PULSER with a redesigned display, new operating functions, and internal components overhaul. The display LEDs will last longer, and the description on the screen is more meaningful and modern looking. The new calorie counter is a nice little addition that some users will appreciate. The programming function to modify the user programs could have been worked out better, luckily those programs were initially factory set, so we can simply ignore it and assume there are 12 pre-set programs. Comparing against other similar looking dual motor machines, the PULSER 2 is the most recently refreshed and updated of the bunch and it is easy to recommend this over other machines in the sub $2500 category. The new rotary speed dials are still the best innovation to come into the vibration industry. The revamped display, commercial grade components make for a durable, modern looking residential or professional-use machine. The PULSER 2 is a great choice for home users and professionals that want an easy to use vibration machine with powerful dual vibration functions that can support and assist a wide range of health benefits in a residential or clinic-type setting.