Looking for a massage chair is a complicated task. There is so much technology and so many choices. If you are starting out your research, then you know that massage chairs are not cheap. We have put together a number of questions that our customers said helped them the most to really zero in on the best massage chair for their long term needs.

Who will be utilizing the Massage Chair? One of the first questions you want to ask is who do you think will be using it now and in the future? Jot down some names and think about what needs they may have. Do they have certain areas that need attention? What is they height and weight. What are their body types? Who will be the primary users of the massage chair? This will help you get a good idea of what kind of needs the chair needs to satisfy.

Where would you put the Massage Chair? Do not let this become a major problem. We have unfortunately seen fights over the placement of the massage chair. You want to think about how a given room is decorated and if the model you select will go well with the room selected. Also, you want to be aware of the dimensions of the massage chair. You need to know its upright dimensions and its reclined dimensions. In the recline position, you may need 3 feet of clearance behind the massage chair.

What functions are important in a Massage Chair? To figure out the functions that you truly need in your massage chair, first think about the areas that bother you most. Then think about your lifestyle and what potential areas do you need to plan for in the future. If you do a lot of computer work, for example, you may need something to relieve the early signs of carpal tunnel syndrome. Think about the environment you need for relaxation. Maybe you want an MP3 player so you can control what you hear, so you can relax. Do you want heat in your chair? How about a traction function to stretch parts of your body?

What should be my budget for a Massage Chair? This is always a difficult subject. There is the situation where you can only afford so much and the decision makes itself. Otherwise, it really is based on what you want out of your massage chair and are you looking at a short term and low cost purchase or a long term and potentially higher cost purchase. You can get a massage chair for as low as $500, below this you get a vibrating chair. On the other hand, you can spend up to $12,000. However, most high end chairs in the $4,000 to $5,000 range will be very effective for your needs.

What warranty information do I need to know? Always ask about the warranty coverage for any massage chair you are contemplating of purchasing. The warranty is your long term protection from defects in materials and workmanship. Warranties vary by model and by manufacturer. Take you time and balance getting a good warranty with a good massage chair.

So think about these things and see what makes sense for you. You want to do a little homework before you start which makes the whole process easier. You are making a long term investment in your health and well being. Take your time and find the perfect massage chair for your needs.

There are many massage chairs on the market today. Consumers have more choices now than at any other time. With so many choices, how can you find the best one for your individual needs? We are going to walk through the best mid range massage chairs that you can get. The mid range massage recliners are in the $2,000 to $3,000 range.

We actively test massage chairs every chance we get. If they pass our rigorous testing, then we do a selective test with out best customers and solicit their feedback. Only then do we look to take on a particular model. Our customers have asked us to put together the top massage chairs that are available today to help others in their search for the perfect mid level massage chair.

The top massage chairs that we selected also happened to come from the best massage chair manufacturers. This is no coincidence. The best just keep making the best and they are hard to beat. These manufacturers are Omega, Panasonic and Sanyo. They put a premium on research and provide therapeutic massage chairs built for the long term. They back them with comprehensive warranty coverage. They add exciting extras whether technological or stylistic. So let us start with the best of the best.

Omega OM-510 Prestigio: The Prestigio mean Prestige in Italian. The design is certainly racy like many Italian designed products. The Prestigio is a masterpiece of craftsmanship and the most beautiful massage chair available. The Prestigio also packs a punch on the massage treatment side by providing a deeply penetrating massage therapy. It is particularly effective in reaching the lumbar area than any chair we have tried.

The Prestigio comes with an air massage system. The air massage system covers your buttocks, thighs, calves and feet. The feet are taken care of with a reflexology massage that helps to provide full body relaxation. You can relax for a long time with the comprehensive warranty on the OM-510. You get 5 years on the frame, 3 years on parts and labor and 90 days in home service. This is an amazing value for a mid range massage recliner.

Sanyo SA 5000: The SA5000 is the mid range model from Sanyo. The SA 5000 has many of the same features as its higher end model the DR7700. This recliner comes with the GK roller system. The GK rollers literally reach out over the shoulders. This unique function helps to provide the shoulder with a thorough and relieving massage.

The Sanyo SA-5000 is a unique blend of massage therapy and advanced electronic features that truly enhance your massage experience. There is a physical shape sensor that tracks your body’s movement in the massage chair. As you move, the massage program is adjusted to compensate for your new position. There is a stiffness detector which is based on lie detector technology. This stiffness detector monitors your pulse and level of perspiration from your finger. From this information it determines where you have tension in your muscles and it focuses the massage on relieving those points. The warranty coverage included with the SA 5000 has 5 years on the roller mechanism, 1 year parts, 1 year labor and 1 year in home repair service. This is truly an innovative massage chair and a glimpse into the future of robotic massage therapy.

Panasonic EP30003: The EP 30003 is part of the Real Pro Elite series of massage chairs from Panasonic. The EP-30003 comes with a new massage technique which is ultra fine kneading or Junetsu. Junetsu uses small circular motions and reverberates through the muscle to the bones to provide deep tissue relief. This is an effective massage therapy.

One unique function in the mid level massage chairs is the lower body traction system put into the EP 30003 massage chair. The traction system works via the leg rest. The leg rest will grab hold of your feet and then rise horizontally. It then slowly lowers to 3 successively lower positions. This helps to elongate the leg muscles to increase the range of motion of your joints. The EP30003 comes with the following warranty coverage: 3 years parts, 1 year labor and 1 year in home repair service. This is a good, solid chair built by Panasonic massage chairs.

These are the best chairs made by the top manufacturers: Omega, Sanyo and Panasonic. These companies continue to push the envelope of massage chair therapy and add cutting edge design, electronics and new massage treatments. They are all backed with good warranty protection to give you excellent value for many years to come. If you are looking for the best massage chairs then you now know what they are.

We have put together the best shiatsu massage chairs available on the market today. Shiatsu is a massage technique originating in Japan centuries ago. These shiatsu massage techniques have been successfully replicated by technology and incorporated into the best massage chair brands. Massage chairs got their start in Japan, but have since spread throughout the world. Many top manufacturing companies are pushing the limits of technology to bring you the best shiatsu massage therapy.

The best shiatsu massage chairs are not cheap by any stretch of the imagination. They are a long term investment in your health and stress management. The massage recliners that we will perform the best shiatsu massages will range between $4,000 and $5,000 in price. These provide full body massage capabilities for many years to come.

Shiatsu is a fairly complicated massage technique. It uses a variety of hand movements and it also uses acupressure. Acupressure is a derivative of acupuncture. It uses the body’s trigger points to induce relaxation of the major organs and the whole body. Replicating these techniques is not easy and requires software, mechanical movements and electronics to make it all come together.

The best massage chair brands make the best shiatsu recliners. These are made by companies such as Panasonic, Sanyo and Omega. You will find many that claim to be shiatsu recliners, but the best technology has been developed by these firms. The other important aspect is warranty coverage, which you can be assured with these top companies. Here are some of the best shiatsu massage recliners being offered.

Sanyo has rolled out its GK roller mechanism in its high end HEC DR7700 massage chair. This GK roller mechanism performs a unique gripping massage. This is a superior massage for the shoulders and neck areas. These specialized rollers provide relief for tense muscles in the shoulder, neck and upper back areas. This shiatsu massage recliner is also has many other shiatsu features to satisfy the most demanding massage therapy requirements.

The high end Montage Premier massage chair from Omega is a paragon of massage therapy and relaxation. This shiatsu massage chair identifies your acupressure points on your back and then focuses the massage on providing soothing, whole body relaxation. The Montage Premier comes with an arsenal of tools to help you with stress management and relaxation. You can also find an MP3 music player to take your mind off the day’s stressful events. There is a lower body traction system to stretch you out and elongate those tight leg muscles.

Not to be outdone, Panasonic has their EP 30004 shiatsu massage chair. This is part of Panasonic’s Real Pro Ultra series of massage recliners. This shiatsu recliner comes with a new massage technique called Junetsu. Junetsu means ultra fine kneading in Japanese. This massage uses small circular motions and deep tissue penetration to provide serious muscle relief. The Panasonic EP-30004 is loaded with other great features as well.

These 3 massage chair companies have excellent shiatsu massage recliners. Panasonic, Sanyo and Omega are the top shiatsu massage chair brands available today. You can find almost every conceivable function has been masterfully integrated into this massage recliners. If you are looking at massage chairs, then you really owe it to yourself to check out these name brand massage chairs.

This is a product review of the Montage Premier massage chair by Omega. The Montage Premier is their top of the line massage recliner. This is a structured product review which will cover the salient categories of the following: warranty, ergonomics, ease of use, key features and massage therapy. We award a score of up to 20 points per category. We then give an overall rating by summing up each individual category for a possible 100 points. This massage recliner is in the luxury class of $4,000 to $5,000.

Warranty & Customer Service: The warranty coverage is your protection against factory defects. It is important to have good coverage, since massage chairs have both electronics and mechanical systems. The Montage Premier has very strong coverage direct from the factory. You get 5 years on the frame, 3 years on parts, 3 years labor and 90 days in home technician service. They even cover shipping of parts for 1 year. Customer service and support is good from Omega. We rate the warranty and service a 19.

Comfort & Ergonomics: Massage chairs are also recliners. It is important that they are comfortable to sit in when not in use for a massage. Also, the chair needs to be ergonomically designed, so the important controls or features are readily accessible. The Montage Premier is plush and has soft synthetic leather upholstery. The back pad is comfortable and the seat is as well. The remote control comes with a wireless sub remote that is very convenient to use. The chair is designed to be wheelchair accessible allowing those challenged individuals to get in and out of the chair themselves. The leg rest is extendable an extra 4 inches and the chair can easily accommodate persons up to 6′ 6″. The Montage Premier earns a 19 in Comfort & Ergonomics.

Ease of Use: One thing is for sure, more features and options are being added into massage chairs, which is great. However, as more features are introduced manufacturers need design the products to be easy and intuitive to understand. We have seen our share of complex controllers that only cause frustration with users. The Montage Premier comes equipped with many advanced features and many manual massage options. Omega introduces a wheel button for adjusting the footrest and chair back. The wireless remote is controls virtually 80 percent of the chair functions and is the size of a credit card. Manual controls are still located in the side panel of the main remote, but you have great controls with the convenient sub remote. This is the only chair that you do not have to get up when laid back in the chair to make adjustments. The Montage Elite earns a 19 in Ease of Use.

Key Features: The Montage Premier comes packed full of fantastic features. We will point out two in detail. The lower body traction system and the synchronized music feature. The lower body traction is designed to stretch the lower body from the hips to the ankles. The recliner activates the airbags to hold your ankles and raises the legrest horizontally. It will then recline the legrest to 3 lower positions stretching the lower body as it goes. This is very relieving and helps to increase your flexibility of joints and muscles. The other unique feature is a music synchronization function. When activated, the massage movements actually follow the tempo of the music being played. The Montage Premier comes with an MP3 player and headphones. This is very soothing and helps to induce full body relaxation. We give this recliner a 19 for its key features.

Massage Therapy: The Montage Premier comes with automatic and manual massage functions. The Montage Premier has 5 full body automatic courses, 4 manual massage courses, and 4 massage speed settings for a total combination of 64 manual massage courses. The manual massage techniques include Kneading, Tapping, Finger Press, and Kneading & Tapping (Shiatsu). One nice feature is the kneading and tapping speeds are independent and can be individually control in the shiatsu technique. The lower body traction is integrated with the automatic programs when activated. To ensure your total relaxation, Omega has a music-massage synchronization function. The Montage Premier is truly a full body therapy and relaxation machine. It provides a total sensory experience. The Montage Premier earns a 20 in Massage Therapy.

This impressive massage chair earns a 96/100 in our evaluation. The Montage Premier has solid massage therapy. It covers most everywhere to effectively relieve and soothe tired and aching muscles. You get outstanding warranty coverage direct from the factory without the need to purchase an extended warranty. There are the additional treatments of full body heat with individual heating controls for the chair back, seat and leg rest. Get stretched out with the lower body traction system. Relax and drift off with the included headphones to your favorite music. If you are in the market for a massage chair in this range, then this is one of the top contenders.

This is a review of the mid range massage chair the SA 5000 by Sanyo. This review covers 5 different categories including Warranty & Customer Service, Comfort/Ergonomics, Ease of Use, Features and Massage Therapy. We give equal weight to each category which can earn up to 20 points. The scores of the individual categories are summed to give an overall rating of a possible 100 points. We have found this system to cover the salient points of the massage chair. Let us take a look at the SA 5000.

Warranty & Customer Service: Let us start at the company level and rate the warranty and customer service for Sanyo. Warranty coverage is a good benchmark of the manufacturer’s confidence is its product. Sanyo gives a 1 year labor, 1 year parts and 1 year in-home service. It does cover the roller mechanism for 3 years. For a company as large as Sanyo, the warranty is a little weaker than we would expect. Sanyo did start offering in-home service, which is an important service upgrade to match others in the industry. At least with in-home service they provide 1 year. Overall, customer service is competent. They have a national hot line with 24/7 service. Turnaround time on service is ok. Our Rating in this category is 15.

Comfort & Ergonomics: The SA-5000 comes with a well padded back pad on the chair back. The head support cushion is contoured and adjustable. he armrests have sufficient padding. The leg ottoman cannot be extended which may be a concern for taller users. This massage recliner was originally designed in Japan for that market and later exported to the USA. The main remote has a simple layout with one touch buttons for automatic massages. There is also a wired remote, but it has limited functionality. We give the SA5000 a 15 for ergonomics.

Ease of Use: With the number of features increasing every year in massage chairs, keeping the remote controls simple and easy to use is paramount. We like the simple, yet functional design of the SA 5000 remote control. You have 4 one-touch buttons for automatic massages. There is a Program Memory function which will record the last few minutes of the massage and store it for later use. There is a wired sub remote for the pulse monitoring which must be held during the massage. The manual controls are neatly located in a side panel of the remote control. We give this massage recliner an 18 for ease of use.

Key Features: The SA-5000 comes with some unique technology from Sanyo. They include their GK roller systems for neck and shoulder massage. They also have a stiffness detection system integrated into the massage recliner. The GK roller system can reach out over the shoulders. It performs a grip massage that is effective to relieve tension and soreness in the shoulder and neck regions. The stiffness sensor is based on lie detector technology. It monitors your pulse and perspiration to determine areas of stiffness in the body. This is then fed into the computer which then directs the massage for those specific areas. The SA 5000 earns an 18 in this category.

Massage Therapy: The SA 5000 comes with 4 automatic programs, 4 programs stored in Memory, 4 manual massage techniques and 4 massage courses for targeted relief of stress areas. You can select from 5 roller width setting and 5 massage speed settings. The 4 full body automatic courses include: Stiffness, Relax, Recovery and Fine. Sanyo incorporates its exclusive multi-point shiatsu massage for the legs and feet. The air system covers the lower body including the feet, calves and thighs. There are a total of 24 airbags. The air only comfort course includes a multi-point shiatsu massage is delivered to the lower body for a comforting lower body massage. There is also an ankle grip massage. The ankle grip massage is performed by holding a range of built in airbags around the foot. Our rating in this category is 18.

Overall, we rate the Sanyo SA-5000 an 84/100. The SA 5000 comes with many of the same technologies as Sanyo’s high end version the DR7700. The stroke length of the back rollers is 28 inches compared to 31 inches for the DR 7700, but most of the same technology is in the SA 5000. The factory warranty is just ok and you may want to explore an extended warranty to equal other manufacturer’s coverage. The GK rollers are a nice feature for neck and shoulder coverage. The leg rest would be more ergonomic for the American market if there was an extension built in. If you are looking for a massage chair recliner in this category, the SA 5000 is one you should check out.

This product review is of the HT 7120 massage chair recliner by Human Touch. We will review this massage recliner in 5 separate categories including the following: warranty coverage and customer service, comfort and ergonomics, ease of use, key features and massage therapy. Each category can earn up to 20 points for a total possible rating of 100 points. The HT 7120 is a mid range massage chair in the $2,000 to $3,000 range.

Warranty Coverage and Customer Service: When purchasing a big ticket item such as a massage chair, you need to make sure you are comfortable with the warranty coverage. There is a wide range of warranty coverage with massage chairs. Human Touch provides you with 3 years for the structure, 1 year for parts and 90 days labor and parts shipping expenses. This is a rather light warranty compared to the industry. Customer service is very good and competent. We give Human Touch a 12 in this category.

Comfort and Ergonomics: This is a well designed massage chair. The massage recliner is very comfortable to sit in when not being used for a massage. The head support pillow is detachable and adjustable for different users. The armrests are sufficiently padded. Human Touch has a unique controller for the chair. It has functions on two sides which is simple and easy to use. The leg ottoman cannot be extended which is a drawback, but you can adjust the massage well width. This is a unique feature for this recliner line. The HT 7120 rates an 18 for ergonomics.

Ease of Use: The massage chair industry is always adding features into chairs which is outstanding. The counterbalance to many features is ease of use. With so many new features, figuring out how to take advantage of them can be frustrating. The HT 7120 comes with a very well designed remote control. It is slim remote and has controls located on 2 sides of the remote. The remote is descriptive and fairly easy to use. There is no remote stand, so the remote tucks away in a pocket. The only cumbersome operation is flipping the leg ottoman, but other than that we give the HT 7120 a 19 in ease of use.

Key Features: The features that stand out in the HT 7120 are the compression massage and the width adjustment in the leg ottoman. The compression massage is similar to a sports therapy massage. Sports therapy massages use deep tissue and firm pressure to stimulate the muscles. The HT-7120 uses a rocking motion and stroking. The rocking motion loosens the spinal joints and the stroking elongates and applies pressure to the muscles. The width adjustment of the leg ottoman is a novel function. The channel can be set to different widths to better fit your calves or feet. The channel has airbags, so the compression can be increased or decreased by changing the channel width. The 7120 gets an 18 in this category.

Massage Therapy: The HT-7120 comes equipped with 3 pre-set programs, 5 manual massage programs and 3 level height controls for your back. The 3 pre-set programs are sore muscle relief, energy rejuvenate and auto-demo. The 5 manual programs are rolling, kneading, compression, percussion and vibration. There are heating elements built into the lower back or lumbar area to soothe lower back pain. There is a full body stretch mode which decompresses your spine. The feet and calves are massaged with the rotating leg ottoman. This is a therapeutic massage chair with effective massage therapy. We give the HT 7120 a 19 in massage therapy.

Overall, we rate the HT-7120 an 86/100. This is a sleek and contemporary design for a massage chair. We are concerned with the really short warranty compared to others in the industry. These chairs are well built and designed, but warranty is your long term protection and this warranty is one of the shortest. The massage therapy is very effective and the controls are simple and easy to use. This is certainly a massage chair recliner that deserves your attention if you are looking for a solid mid range model.

This product review is of the HT 7120 massage chair recliner by Human Touch. We will review this massage recliner in 5 separate categories including the following: warranty coverage and customer service, comfort and ergonomics, ease of use, key features and massage therapy. Each category can earn up to 20 points for a total possible rating of 100 points. The HT 7120 is a mid range massage chair in the $2,000 to $3,000 range.

Warranty Coverage and Customer Service: Warranty is at the company level, but nonetheless, warranties vary significantly with massage chairs. You want to make sure you have sufficient long term protection for this key investment. The HT 7120 warranty coverage is as follows: structure is covered 3 years, parts are covered 1 year and labor is covered 90 days. Human Touch also covers shipping expenses for parts for the first 90 days. The warranty coverage is on the low end for the industry and this price level. Customer service is provided by Human Touch and is effective. The HT 7120 earns a 12 in warranty and customer service.

Comfort and Ergonomics: With any massage chair design, ergonomics is an important aspect of design for comfort and relaxation. We like the ergonomics of the HT 7120. It has a very contemporary design, yet it fits the body well and is very comfortable to sit in. The controls are laid out well and positioned in good locations. The leg ottoman can be adjusted in the width of the wells, but you are unable to extend the leg ottoman. This recliner earns an 18 in this category.

Ease of Use: The massage chair industry is always adding features into chairs which is outstanding. The counterbalance to many features is ease of use. With so many new features, figuring out how to take advantage of them can be frustrating. The HT 7120 comes with a very well designed remote control. It is slim remote and has controls located on 2 sides of the remote. The remote is descriptive and fairly easy to use. There is no remote stand, so the remote tucks away in a pocket. The only cumbersome operation is flipping the leg ottoman, but other than that we give the HT 7120 a 19 in ease of use.

Key Features: The features that stand out in the HT 7120 are the compression massage and the width adjustment in the leg ottoman. The compression massage is similar to a sports therapy massage. Sports therapy massages use deep tissue and firm pressure to stimulate the muscles. The HT-7120 uses a rocking motion and stroking. The rocking motion loosens the spinal joints and the stroking elongates and applies pressure to the muscles. The width adjustment of the leg ottoman is a novel function. The channel can be set to different widths to better fit your calves or feet. The channel has airbags, so the compression can be increased or decreased by changing the channel width. The 7120 gets an 18 in this category.

Massage Therapy: You get a virtual arsenal of massage therapies with the HT-7120 recliner. Select from 3 pre-set programs, 5 manual massage techniques and 3 height adjustments for the back. The 3 pre-set programs include sore muscle relief, energy rejuvenate and auto-demo. The 5 manual massage techniques include rolling, kneading, compression, percussion and vibration. The height adjustment enables you to set where you want the massage on your back. Additionally, you can stretch your lower body, or add heat to your lumbar area as well as massage your feet and calves. This recliner gets a 19 in this category.

The overall rating we give the HT 7120 is an 86 points out of 100. We like the contemporary design of this classic massage chair recliner. The massage therapies are thorough and invigorating. We are concerned with the light warranty with this recliner. The HT 7120 comes with some advanced features and has an easy to use remote. If you are shopping for a mid range model, then the HT 7120 is a massage chair recliner worthy of your attention.

We present review of the Sanyo model HEC SA5000 massage chair. Our intention is to provide a massage chair buyer with an objective review and evaluation of a given massage chair. We use a 5 category system. Equal weight is given to each category. Each category can earn from 0 to 20 points. The points are then summed up to provide you with an overall score. The 5 categories cover the following: Warranty & Customer Service, Comfort/Ergonomics, Ease of Use, Features and Massage Therapy. This system gives us a disciplined process of evaluating a massage chair. We hope you find this helping in your search for the best massage chair for your needs. The Sanyo HEC-SA5000 massage chair recliner price is in the $3,000 to $4,000 range.

Warranty & Customer Service: We first cover the warranty and customer service. These are your long term protections from potential problems with your purchase. This product is has the following warranty coverage: 3 years on the roller mechanism, 1 year parts, 1 year labor and 1 year in home technician service. We like the 3 years on the roller mechanism. The best manufacturers cover parts for a minimum of 3 years, so Sanyo is a bit light here. They do offer 1 year in home technician service which is a plus. Sanyo has a national call center for customer service which is fairly competent. We give an overall rating of 15 in this category.

Comfort & Ergonomics: This section looks at the ergonomics of the design for comfort and relaxation. This chair comes with padded armrests which are soft and comfortable. The head support pillow is adjustable and contoured to support the head. The back pad is plush and well padded. The leg ottoman is in a fixed position and cannot be adjusted. This can be a drawback to taller users. The layout of the remote control is good and within easy arms reach. There is a wired sub remote that has minimal adjustments included. The SA5000 earns a 15 in this category.

Ease of Use: We are always concerned with how easy a massage chair is to use. There are an ever increasing number of features and options, but the manufacturers need to make it easy to use. Everyone wants the best technology has to offer, but not at the expense of a steep learning curve. We like the Sanyo remote for the SA 5000. This is a clean and simple design. There are 4 automatic programs with one-touch buttons. If you like the massage you are getting and the area, then hit the Program Memory button and the chair will remember. This is like having additional automatic programs at your disposal. The side panel controls the lower body air system with individual controls for the lower body, calf, foot and thigh. Our rating in this category is 18.

Key Features: The SA-5000 comes with some unique technology from Sanyo. They include their GK roller systems for neck and shoulder massage. They also have a stiffness detection system integrated into the massage recliner. The GK roller system can reach out over the shoulders. It performs a grip massage that is effective to relieve tension and soreness in the shoulder and neck regions. The stiffness sensor is based on lie detector technology. It monitors your pulse and perspiration to determine areas of stiffness in the body. This is then fed into the computer which then directs the massage for those specific areas. The SA 5000 earns an 18 in this category.

Massage Therapy: The SA 5000 comes with 4 automatic programs, 4 programs stored in Memory, 4 manual massage techniques and 4 massage courses for targeted relief of stress areas. You can select from 5 roller width setting and 5 massage speed settings. The 4 full body automatic courses include: Stiffness, Relax, Recovery and Fine. Sanyo incorporates its exclusive multi-point shiatsu massage for the legs and feet. The air system covers the lower body including the feet, calves and thighs. There are a total of 24 airbags. The air only comfort course includes a multi-point shiatsu massage is delivered to the lower body for a comforting lower body massage. There is also an ankle grip massage. The ankle grip massage is performed by holding a range of built in airbags around the foot. Our rating in this category is 18.

Overall, we rate the Sanyo SA-5000 an 84/100. The SA 5000 comes with many of the same technologies as Sanyo’s high end version the DR7700. The stroke length of the back rollers is 28 inches compared to 31 inches for the DR 7700, but most of the same technology is in the SA 5000. The factory warranty is just ok and you may want to explore an extended warranty to equal other manufacturer’s coverage. The GK rollers are a nice feature for neck and shoulder coverage. The leg rest would be more ergonomic for the American market if there was an extension built in. If you are looking for a massage chair recliner in this category, the SA 5000 is one you should check out.

This is a product review of the Montage Premier massage chair by Omega. The Montage Premier is their top of the line massage recliner. This is a structured product review which will cover the salient categories of the following: warranty, ergonomics, ease of use, key features and massage therapy. We award a score of up to 20 points per category. We then give an overall rating by summing up each individual category for a possible 100 points. This massage recliner is in the luxury class of $4,000 to $5,000.

Warranty & Customer Service: For the consumer, the warranty is a form of risk reduction. In any transaction, one party takes on more risk than the other. The warranty is to reduce the risk of the consumer and balance out the transaction. Therefore, warranty is especially important on higher ticket items. The Montage Premier is backed by one of the best warranties available. Omega Massage gives you 5 years on the frame, 3 years on parts, 3 years labor and 90 days in-home service. Omega also covers any parts shipping expense for one year. This is a more comprehensive warranty than any reputable manufacturer. From a customer service standpoint, Omega has a national warranty call center and is responsive and technically competent with minimal turnaround times. The Montage Premier earns a 19 in Warranty & Customer.

Comfort & Ergonomics: The ergonomic design of this chair is well done. The chair comes with a 4 inch leg rest extension. The recliner is wheelchair accessible for users that are physically challenged. The controls are very accessible and this chair comes with the first wireless sub remote. This provides excellent convenience as most of the controls are available on the sub remote. The chair is comfortable to sit in. It can fit individuals who are 6′ 6″ and has a weight limit of 300 pounds. We score this a 19.

Ease of Use: This category is about intuitive use of the massage chair controls. They should be simple and easy to use for first time users. This recliner comes with many advanced features in the remote control. It comes with a wireless sub remote which is well designed and simple to use. There are 5 single touch automatic programs. The chair back and footrest work off a wheel control like an ipod. The LCD control panel shows exactly what massage functions are being applied. The myriad of manual controls have great descriptions in the side panel of the remote. We rate the ease of use for the Montage Premier a 19.

Key Features: There is an array of great features in this massage chair, but we find the full body heat and the lower body traction system to be key features to point out. The Montage Premier comes with heating elements in the chair back, the seat and the leg rest. Each of these areas can be individually controlled. This allows the user to target the use of heat where they most need. We find heat is a great compliment to massage therapy and is used in spas throughout the world. Omega has added an effective lower body traction function. This traction function gently stretches the lower body including the lower back, hips, knees and ankles. The leg rest is brought to the horizontal position. The airbags are activated to hold your ankles in place. The leg rest then lowers successively to 3 positions. When the leg rest lowers, it stretches the muscles and tendons throughout the lower body. The Montage Premier earns a 19 in Key Features.

Massage Therapy: The Montage Premier comes with automatic and manual massage functions. The Montage Premier has 5 full body automatic courses, 4 manual massage courses, and 4 massage speed settings for a total combination of 64 manual massage courses. The manual massage techniques include Kneading, Tapping, Finger Press, and Kneading & Tapping (Shiatsu). One nice feature is the kneading and tapping speeds are independent and can be individually control in the shiatsu technique. The lower body traction is integrated with the automatic programs when activated. To ensure your total relaxation, Omega has a music-massage synchronization function. The Montage Premier is truly a full body therapy and relaxation machine. It provides a total sensory experience. The Montage Premier earns a 20 in Massage Therapy.

The Montage Premier earns a 96/100 points on our rating scale. The Montage Premier is the most comprehensive massage therapy chair on the market today. You get comprehensive warranty coverage without having to buy an extended warranty. The chair comes with a wide array of massage treatments to target practically all areas of the body. It provides a strong massage which can be softened with the included extra back pad. Bottom line, this massage chair delivers a soothing and comprehensive massage experience every time.

Our goal is to present a potential massage chair buyer with an unbiased evalution and review of a given massage chair. We have developed a 5 category system to evaluate a massage chair. We give equal weight to each category and give 0 to 20 points rating and then add them up to present an overall score. Our categories include Warranty & Customer Service, Comfort/Ergonomics, Ease of Use, Features and Massage Therapy. This systematic approach forces us to a disciplined method of evaluating a massage chair to help guide anyone looking at massage chairs. The Omega Montage Elite shiatsu massage chair price is in the Luxury range of $4,000 to $5,000.

Warranty & Customer Service: Warranty and customer service come from the company that makes the massage chair. A warranty protects the customer and customer service must rectify issues one may have. With the Montage Elite, Omega Massage covers 5 years on the frame, 3 years on parts, 3 years labor and 90 days in-home service. Additionally, Omega has 1 year covering shipping. Omega provides a more comprehensive warranty well above the other manufacturers in this category. Omega only covers 90 days in-home versus others with 1 year. With this exception, Omega provides strong warranty coverage. On the customer service side, Omega overall is responsive and competent with minimal turnaround times. The Montage Elite is an 18 in Warranty & Customer.

Comfort & Ergonomics: A massage chair needs to be comfortable and fit the body. A massage chair needs to be more useful than just for massage. The Omega Montage Elite is comfortable and the upholstery is well padded and plush. The detachable head pillow is soft and the thickness is appropriate. The Omega Montage Elite comes with a wireless remote control about the size of a credit card for convenience. The foot rest is extendable out 4 inches for much taller people. Incredibly, this massage chair recliner fits people as short as 4′ 10″ to 6′ 6″. Our rating in this category is 19.

East of Use: Massage Chair manufacturers are building in more technology and features into their chairs. Users need to be able to quickly, easily and intuitively understand how to use of a product. The Montage Elite has many advanced features and many manual options. The main remote control has 5 auto programs and a wheel button for adjusting the footrest and chair back. This remote is fairly intuitive. The wireless remote is a distilled version of the main remote and is simple in design and allows for virtually all the controls of the massage. The only significant exception is the air pressure on the lower body can only be adjusted from the main remote. Like most main remotes, a side panel contains many manual controls including manual massages and adjustments to the lower body air system. The wireless remote is compact, convenient and now a must have. The Montage Elite is a 19 in Ease of Use.

Key Features: The most prominent features of the Omega Montage Elite are the Lower Body Traction and Footflex Reflexology foot massage. Omega built in a traction function to gently stretch out your lower back, hips, knees and ankles. The footrest is raised horizontally; the airside activates to hold your ankles and then lowers successively to 3 positions. As the footrest lowers your muscles and tendons are stretched throughout the lower body. The Footflex reflexology uses airbags to hold and gently squeeze your foot at the arch and the heel at your reflexology points. Omega has brought the lower body air massages up to par with the back massage technology. Omega has a thorough array of massage for the back, neck, shoulders and base of the skull. The Montage Elite is a 19 in Key Features.

Massage Therapy: The massage functions are included in the Montage Elite includes 5 full body automatic courses, 4 manual massage courses, and 4 massage speed settings for a total combination of 64 manual massage courses. The automatic massage functions include the following: ShiatsuKneading, Tapping, Finger Press, and Kneading & Tapping (Shiatsu). The Montage Elite comes loaded with great massage therapy tools. Choose from the lower body traction, full body heat, lower body compression massage and 64 combinations of back massage. Music is probably the most overlooked feature in most massage chairs. The reality is music takes you away from your environment. The Montage Elite has music-massage synchronization function. Not only do you drift off to your favority music, but the massage will actually be to the tempo of the music. Simply outstanding! Overall Rating for the Omega Montage Elite massage recliner for massage therapy is 20.

We just reviewed 5 categories ranging from warranty to features to ergonomics. How does the Omega Montage Elite Score? Based on the 5 categories the total score for the Omega Montage Elite is a 95/100. The Montage Elite provides a thorough, comprehensive and full body massage therapy. The technology and simplicity of this shiatsu massage chair is what the luxury category is all about. Omega has one of the strongest warranties providing protection for the customer. The Montage Elite has brought all elements from music to foot massage to lower body traction into a wide range of massage therapies and sensory experiences. If you are looking at a luxury class massage chair, the Montage Elite is of the strongest contenders.