French Fitness MSC20 Counter Balanced Multi Smith Cable Machine: Is It the Ultimate Home Gym?

The French Fitness MSC20 delivers eight training stations for comprehensive home workouts, but lacks safety arms and capacity specs that serious lifters need. Best for home gym enthusiasts and beginners seeking exercise variety with moderate lifting loads.

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Key Specifications

Height
93"
Footprint
37.5 sq ft
Weight
150 lbs
Features
13 included

Best For

How this product scores for different use cases

All-in-One Gym
90/100

With smith machine, cable crossover, pull-up bar, lat pulldown, low row, landmine, and free weight station, this provides exceptional exercise variety from one unit. The integrated weight and bar storage maximizes space efficiency for comprehensive training.

Home Gym Enthusiast
88/100

This all-in-one system with smith machine, cable crossover, pull-up bar, and weight storage provides comprehensive training options ideal for dedicated home gym users. The counterbalanced bar and multiple stations offer professional-level versatility at a moderate price point.

Beginner / Rehab
78/100

The counterbalanced smith bar provides lighter starting resistance perfect for rehabilitation and beginners building strength progressively. The vertical bar path and guided movements offer safe, controlled exercise patterns for new users.

Garage Gym Powerlifter
62/100

The lack of safety arms and J-cups limits safe heavy lifting without a spotter, which is critical for powerlifters. Missing weight capacity specs and safety features reduce confidence for max-effort compound lifts.

Commercial Facility
52/100

While featuring multiple stations, the residential-use designation and lack of commercial-grade features, linear bearings, or aluminum pulleys indicate this isn't built for high-volume gym traffic. Missing weight capacity specs raise durability concerns for commercial settings.

Apartment Fitness
45/100

The 87x62 inch footprint (37.5 sq ft) and 93-inch height requirement exceed typical apartment ceiling and space constraints. The 150-pound unit weight also creates challenges for upper-floor installations.

Our Verdict

The French Fitness MSC20 combines eight training stations into one compact unit. You get a smith machine, cable crossover, pull-up bar, lat pulldown, low row, landmine, and free weight area. This setup handles most training goals without buying separate machines.

The counterbalanced smith bar stands out for beginners and rehabilitation users. It reduces the starting weight significantly compared to standard 45-pound Olympic bars. You can build strength progressively with lighter loads.

The cable system provides high and low pulley positions for functional training. You can perform cable flyes, tricep pushdowns, and face pulls. The multi-grip pull-up bar adds variety to back workouts.

Safety features create the biggest concern with this machine. No safety arms or J-cups come included. You need a spotter for heavy barbell work, which limits solo training options.

The 87x62 inch footprint requires 37.5 square feet of floor space. The 93-inch height needs at least 8-foot ceilings. Measure your space carefully before purchasing.

At $3224, this machine costs more than basic smith machines but less than separate equipment. You save space but sacrifice some specialized features. No bench comes included, adding to your total investment.

The vertical bar path suits standard squats and presses well. Some lifters prefer angled paths for more natural movement. The residential-use designation suggests moderate workout frequency works best.

Weight plate storage keeps your gym organized and weights accessible. Bar storage adds convenience for Olympic bars and attachments. These features maximize your available floor space.

This machine works best for home gym enthusiasts wanting variety. Beginners benefit from the counterbalanced bar and guided movements. Serious powerlifters need better safety features and higher capacity ratings.

What We Like

  • Counterbalanced smith bar reduces starting weight for safer beginner training and rehabilitation exercises
  • Cable crossover system with high and low pulleys enables functional training and isolation exercises
  • Multi-grip pull-up bar provides varied grip positions for back and arm development
  • Integrated weight plate storage and bar storage keep your gym organized and maximize floor space
  • Landmine attachment adds rotational training and explosive movement options to your workout routine

What Could Be Better

  • No safety arms or J-cups included, limiting safe solo training for heavy compound lifts
  • Weight capacity not specified, making it difficult to assess suitability for heavy lifting
  • 93-inch height requires 8-foot ceilings minimum, exceeding many basement and garage gym spaces
  • No bench included with $3224 price, requiring additional investment for pressing exercises
  • Missing band pegs and dip station that competitors often include at this price point

Full Specifications

Dimensions

Height93"
Length87"
Width62"
Footprint37.5 sq ft
Weight150 lbs

Build Quality

Commercial GradeNo
Linear BearingsNo

Movement System

Smith BarIncluded
Bar PathVertical
Counterbalanced BarYes

Features

Included Features

Bar Storage
Cable Crossover
Counterbalanced Bar
Free Weight Station
Landmine
Lat Pulldown
Low Row
Multi-Grip Pull-Up
Plate Storage
Pull-Up Bar
Smith Bar

Not Included

Band Pegs
Bench Included
Commercial Grade
Dip Station
J-Cups
Leg Developer
Linear Bearings
Pec Deck
Preacher Curl
Safety Arms
Squat Handles
T-Bar Row
Weights Included

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about French Fitness MSC20 Counter Balanced Multi Smith Cable Machine – All-in-One Home Gym with Smith Machine, Squat Rack, Pull-Up Bar, Weight Plate Storage, & High/Low Pulley System

What exercises can I do on the French Fitness MSC20?

You can perform squats and presses on the smith machine, cable flyes and rows on the pulley system, pull-ups and chin-ups on the multi-grip bar, lat pulldowns, low rows, landmine exercises, and free weight training. The machine supports full-body workouts with over 50 exercise variations.

How much space do I need for this smith machine?

The machine measures 87 inches long by 62 inches wide, requiring about 38 square feet of floor space. You need at least 93 inches of ceiling height (7 feet 9 inches). Add 2-3 feet around all sides for safe movement and bar clearance.

Does the counterbalanced bar make squats easier?

Yes, the counterbalanced smith bar weighs significantly less than a standard 45-pound Olympic bar at the starting position. This helps beginners learn proper form with lighter loads and assists rehabilitation patients building strength gradually. The counterbalance makes the bar feel almost weightless initially.

Can I do heavy powerlifting on this machine?

The machine lacks safety arms and J-cups needed for safe heavy lifting without a spotter. The weight capacity is not specified in the product details. This machine suits moderate strength training better than maximal powerlifting loads.

What comes included with the MSC20 purchase?

The machine includes the smith bar, cable attachments for high and low pulleys, multi-grip pull-up bar, landmine post, weight plate storage pegs, and bar storage hooks. No bench, weights, or additional bars are included with the $3224 purchase price.

Scores

Overall Score 68/100
Value Score 62/100

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