Posts Tagged ‘chair’
Our goal is to present a potential massage chair purchaser with an unbiased, thorough and comprehensive review of the Panasonice Real Pro Elite. 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 Panasonic Real Pro Elite EP-3222 shiatsu massage chair price is in the Luxury range of $4,000 to $5,000.
Warranty & Customer Service: First is how the manufacturer rates in both warranty coverage and customer service. The manufacturer needs to stand behind its product. Panasonic gives a 1 year labor, 1 year parts and 1 year in-home service as well as 1 year shipping. Panasonic puts a machine life cap of 1,000 hours of use. Panasonic gives a short warranty combined with the 1,000 hour cap (for heavy users), the warranty rates as ok. The electronics company’s such as Panasonic (or Sanyo) like to sell extended warranties. Panasonic offers in-home technician service and will pay for shipping for the first year. Customer service is through your retailer. Service times vary on the service center location. Overall Rating for Panasonic warranty and customer service is 15.
Comfort & Ergonomics: The comfort and fit of a shiatsu massage chair is important. Otherwise, the chair will only be used for massage. The chair back and armrests of the Panasonic Real Pro Elite are comfortable and the upholstery is well padded. The head pillow is soft and the thickness is appropriate. The footrest is comfortable, but cannot be adjusted. If you are 5′ 10″ or more, then your knees must be bent when the footrest is raised. This is the least ergonomic part of the chair. The average person in the US is taller than in Asia, so the footrest can be an issue. Our rating in this category is 17.
Ease of Use: Ease of use is defined as how intuitive the controls and how complicated are they to use without reading the instructions. Panasonic has lead in the development of remote controls using LCDs and other advanced features. The Real Pro Elite EP-3222 has many features and correspondingly many buttons on the control. Most are intuitive, but some take some getting used to, which means lower ease of use. Panasonic tries to compensate for this with its “Voice Guidance” feature. The automatic massage buttons are located across the top of the controls for easy access and they have a “focus” button which allows you to repeat the massage action that occurred. The Real Pro Elite has a side panel with additional manual massage controls for the lower body massages. Overall Rating for the Panasonic Real Pro Elite for ease of use is 17.
Key Features: The most prominent features of the Panasonic EP-3222 are the Lower Body Air System and the Swede-Atsu massage system. The lower body air system has 33 airbags covering your hips, thighs, buttocks, calves and feet. There are 3 lower body massages including Grasp, Auto and Squeeze. The Swede-Atsu replicates the stoking of the palms of the hand, pressing by the heal of the hand, and kneading with the thumbs. The Swede-Atsu has rubber massage heads built into the rollers. These mechanisms can replicate the feeling of the palm, thumbs and heal of the hand. The Swede-Atsu is a good massage system. The Panasonic Real Pro Elite shiatsu massage chair is a 19 in Key Features.
Massage Therapy: The massage functions are included in the Real Pro Elite EP-3222 includes Four 14-minute Pre-Programs, One 5-minute Quick Program and One 14-minute Self Program has 4 full body automatic courses, 5 massage speed settings for a total combination of 14 massage courses. The automatic massage functions include the following: Shiatsu, Gentle, Deep and Refresh. Panasonic equips the EP-3222 its exclusive Swede-Atsu massage system providing a thorough and realistic array of massage therapy choices. The lower body has 33 airbags of coverage and three programs to choose from. This shiatsu massage chair provides good tension relief for the lower body and increased lateral coverage on the back. Overall Rating for the Panasonic EP-3222 massage recliner for massage therapy is 19.
How does Panasonic Real Pro Elite EP-3222 rate? Overall, our rating of the Panasonic Ep-3222 is an 87/100. The remote control is easy to use, intuitive and comes with the Voice Guidance. The back and lower body massages are pretty comprehensive and effective. The warranty is a bit of a concern, since the direct factory warranty is rather short. It is possible to purchase an extended warranty, but this impacts the delivered price. If you are tall, then the footrest is an issue, since it cannot be adjusted. However, the technology used seems reliable and delivers a thorough massage. If you are looking for a shiatsu massage recliner in this category, this is definately one to seriously consider.
Looking for a massage chair can be a daunting challenge. There are so many interesting features to be aware of when searching for the perfect massage recliner. This is an important investment in your longer-term health. Some people view these as luxury items but those who need consistent and reliable massage therapy find them necessities. If you are just starting out looking for chair, here are some considerations we have put together for your benefit.
What You Need: First you need to think about what you need in a massage chair. Do have back problems? Do you get stiffness in the shoulders? Do your feet ache after work? These are just some of the questions you should ask to identify what types of massages may be appropriate for you. You also want to think about what you may need in the future as well.
2) Quick Fix or Long Term Solution: Are you looking to get into a massage chair to relieve one symptom over a short time period. Maybe you want a entry level massage chair that is simple to use and lower price. Or are you looking for a longer-term solution where you expect long term performance and many advantageous features. Lower end massage chairs have short warranties and are built with lower quality components. Higher end massage chairs have longer warranties, more features and are built with higher quality components.
Massage Chair Features: You should think about some of the features you would want in a massage chair. Are you mainly concerned with the back massage? How about the lower body? Find out some of the basic massage techniques available and also other features. Massage chairs often have MP3 players, stretching systems and heating elements.
Try a Massage Chair: Research some places where you may be able to tie a massage chair. It is important to get a feel for some of the massage techniques. You also want to make sure that any particular trouble areas are sufficiently served. Finding a place to try your favorite chair can sometimes be challenging.
Massage Chair research: The Internet allows you to research very quickly. Do a search of your favorite brands. Find the models in your price range or with feature set that you would like. You can print out the model specifications at most Internet dealer sites.
6) Long Term Considerations: Evaluate the warranties of each manufacturer. How long is the coverage? Companies like Sanyo and Panasonic only have a 1 year warranty. Others may have 3-5 year warranties (at no additional cost). Also, what type of service will they provide if you have a problem? Do you have to ship your massage chair or take it to an authorized service center? Massage chairs weigh 100lbs to 200 lbs and shipping is expensive. Some manufacturers offer in home service. Be aware before you buy!
Weigh the Information: If you have to balance out massage chair features, chair design and cost. Make sure that you are getting the features you want over the long term. It is sometimes better to pay a little more to have peace of mind. Stick with a reputable manufacturer and you will have fewer problems.
Location of Chair: Think about where you want to put the chair. Remember that massage chairs will recline and many have leg rest which will extend out. The footprint of a typical massage chair can be significant. Some need as much as 6 to 7 feet from the wall.
Time To Get It: You done your research, you checked out chairs and you know your needs. Now it’s time to go ahead and make your purchase. Shop around and see what type of deal you can get. You can check the full prices at retail locations or on the Internet. This is a significant purchase and many times shipping and tax may be included.
10) Sit Back and Relax: The best day is when you first get to sit in your massage chair! All the hard work is behind you! Enjoy, you have earned it!
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