Major Fitness Spirit B52 Smith Machine vs REP Fitness Ares 2.0

92 facts in comparison

Based on 466 Reddit opinions. Ares 2.0 leads by 7 points.

466 opinions
Ares 2.0 leads by 7pts
Major Fitness Spirit B52 Smith Machine
75%
B
Based on
187 Redditors

Major Fitness Spirit B52 Smith Machine

~$1,099.99
85 opinions

tldr; Budget all-in-one with smith machine and dual cables. Solid value but 2x3 uprights limit accessories and quality varies.

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VS
Reddit's Pick
REP Fitness Ares 2.0
82%
B+
Based on
1,093 Redditors
Winner

REP Fitness Ares 2.0

~$2,649.99
381 opinions

tldr; Reddit has mixed feelings about the REP Fitness Ares 2.0, with users loving its performance but some experiencing issues with missing parts upon delivery.

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StabilityBuild QualityHole SpacingFootprint & HeightAttachments
STA
🔧BUI
HOL
FOO
ATT
65
Points
59
Points

Score by Category

Stability
100%80%
Build Quality
60%56%
Hole Spacing
0%50%
Footprint & Height
60%66%
Attachments
25%56%

Why is Fitness Ares 2.0 better than B52 Smith Machine?

  • Higher Reddit score (82% vs 75%)
  • Better footprint (66% vs 60%)
  • Better attachments (56% vs 25%)
  • Users love the rack & report no notable issues
  • Improved delivery times, w/ units shipping
Based on 1,280 Reddit opinions
Slight Edge

Reddit prefers the Ares 2.0

Winning by 7 points (82% vs 75%)

Better footprint
Better attachments
Users love the rack & report no notable issues
High confidence (1,280 mentions)

💬Reddit Sentiment

Based on 1,280 Reddit mentions

Overall Rating

Smith Machine
7.5/10
187 mentions
Ares 2.0
8.2/10
1,093 mentions
BUILD QUALITY
Smith Machine6.0/10
Ares 2.05.6/10
STABILITY
Smith Machine10.0/10
Ares 2.08.0/10
VALUE
Smith Machine7.8/10
Ares 2.04.6/10
ATTACHMENTS
Smith Machine2.5/10
Ares 2.05.6/10
FOOTPRINT
Smith Machine6.0/10
Ares 2.06.6/10
HOLE SPACING
Smith Machine0.0/10
Ares 2.05.0/10
⚔️

Head to Head

Head to Head

Smith Machine: 3|Ares 2.0: 3
Build QualitySmith Machine
Smith Machine60%
Ares 2.056%
StabilitySmith Machine
Smith Machine100%
Ares 2.080%
ValueSmith Machine
Smith Machine78%
Ares 2.046%
AttachmentsAres 2.0
Smith Machine25%
Ares 2.056%
FootprintAres 2.0
Smith Machine60%
Ares 2.066%
Hole SpacingAres 2.0
Smith Machine0%
Ares 2.050%
Smith Machine75%
Ares 2.082%
Ares 2.0 wins by 7 points

Key Specs

SpecMajor Fitness Spirit B52 Smith MachineREP Fitness Ares 2.0
Brand
MAJOR FITNESS
REP
Manufacturer
MAJOR FITNESS
REP
Color
Desert
Black
Height
85.0 inches
80.8 Inches
Pulley Ratio
2:1

Key Highlights

Major Fitness Spirit B52 Smith Machine
💰 $1,399 base gets smith machine + dual cable
⚠ ️ 2x3 uprights restrict attachment
🔧 Common issues: pulley friction, wide hole
👍 Surprisingly sturdy & stable for the price point
🤔 Better options exist if you skip smith machine
REP Fitness Ares 2.0Winner
📌 Users love the rack & report no notable issues
🎯 Improved delivery times, w/ units shipping
⚠ units arrived w/ missing pulleys or hardware

Topic Battles

Smith Machine: 2|Tied: 0|Ares 2.0: 3
Stability
Smith Machine wins
Smith Machine
100%
Ares 2.0
80%
🔧Build Quality
Smith Machine wins
Smith Machine
60%
Ares 2.0
56%
Hole Spacing
Ares 2.0 wins
Smith Machine
0%
Ares 2.0
50%
Footprint & Height
Ares 2.0 wins
Smith Machine
60%
Ares 2.0
66%
Attachments
Ares 2.0 wins
Smith Machine
25%
Ares 2.0
56%

Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories

📈Where They Rank

💬What Redditors Actually Say

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for REP Fitness Ares 2.0

Best Praise
+17 pts
ITT: All of us who wish Ares/Athena came out years ago
r/homegym
View
Top Criticism
+7 pts
I ordered a majority of my home vym6from them to agree that the packaging needs to be taken up another knotch. The center upright came with the bracket bent, and multiple pulley brackets came slightly bent, and one pretty severe. As well as some minor scuffs and chips in the powder coated pieces. The center upright they replaced in a timely manner, and the smaller brackets were thin enough that I could straighten them out, so I never brought to their attention, though I should have. U/kvgravy I think that you guys are striking a sweet spot for affordability and quality for the most part, and making some great and unique products. I really have been enjoying my all in one trainer with all the various attachments and bare steel power bar that I got from you guys.
r/homegym
View
3 more quotes available below

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Major Fitness Spirit B52 Smith Machine

Best Praise
+11 pts
This person has no idea… this is the b52 pro actually because it’s mine, and to answer your question , it is very smooth and the key is to ensure that you get the cables lined up lion the wheel properly. Any little kink in it will throw it off. They have cable guards that are bolted to the top to keep it in alignment
r/homegym
View
Top Criticism
+16 pts
So you work for major fitness but can't even tell what an f22 pro looks like? Go on your own website and you can tell this is a b52 lmao.
r/homegym
View
3 more quotes available below

📈Historical Price Data

Major Fitness Spirit B52 Smith Machine
REP Fitness Ares 2.0
$1200$1800$2400May '25Aug '25Sep '25Oct '25Nov '25Nov '25Nov '25Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26Low: $779.99Low: $2524.98Current: $1129.99Current: $2524.98
Major Fitness Spirit B52 Smith Machine
All-time low: $779.99(2025-10)
REP Fitness Ares 2.0
All-time low!

Which is Better?

REP Fitness Ares 2.0 Wins
82%
2.0
vs
75%
Machine

REP Fitness Ares 2.0 leads by 7 points based on 1,280 Reddit opinions.

Why Ares 2.0Winner
  • 📌 Users love the rack & report no notable issues
  • 🎯 Improved delivery times, w/ units shipping
  • ⚠ units arrived w/ missing pulleys or hardware
  • More discussed (1,093 vs 187)
Why Smith Machine
  • Better Value for Money (78% vs 46%)

❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown

Sentiment Breakdown

29%Positive
Positive
29%
Neutral
65%
Negative
6%
Based on 1,093 Reddit opinions

Sentiment Breakdown

34%Positive
Positive
34%
Neutral
55%
Negative
11%
Based on 187 Reddit opinions

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, REP Fitness Ares 2.0 or Major Fitness Spirit B52 Smith Machine?
Based on 1,280 Reddit comments, REP Fitness Ares 2.0 is the preferred choice with 82% positive sentiment vs Major Fitness Spirit B52 Smith Machine's 75%. REP Fitness Ares 2.0 leads by 7 percentage points.
Should I buy REP Fitness Ares 2.0 or Major Fitness Spirit B52 Smith Machine?
If you want the safer choice based on community sentiment, REP Fitness Ares 2.0 has stronger approval ratings (82% vs 75%). However, Major Fitness Spirit B52 Smith Machine may still be better depending on your specific needs, budget, or use case.
What do Redditors love about REP Fitness Ares 2.0?
Reddit users highlight: Users love the rack & report no notable issues. Improved delivery times, w/ units shipping. units arrived w/ missing pulleys or hardware. With 1,093 mentions and 82% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about Major Fitness Spirit B52 Smith Machine?
Reddit users highlight: 1,399 base gets smith machine + dual cable. 2x3 uprights restrict attachment. Common issues: pulley friction, wide hole. With 187 mentions and 75% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 1,280 Reddit comments: 1,093 about REP Fitness Ares 2.0 and 187 about Major Fitness Spirit B52 Smith Machine. Data was sourced from Squat Racks community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.

466 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 5/19/2026