23 Aug 09 Sanyo HEC-SR1000K Massage Chair Recliner
This review covers the entry level massage chair made by Sanyo, which is model HEC-SR1000K. The SR 1000K massage chair recliner has some of the same features as some of Sanyo’s higher end models. Our product review makes an evaluation in 5 separate categories and up to 20 points are awarded in each category. The total points are added up to give an overall rating for the massage chair. Here is our review of the Sanyo SR1000K massage chair recliner.
Warranty Coverage & Customer Service: At the outset we start with this topic because this takes off quite a few worries of your mind, being durable equipment that you are going to use for along time. Massage chairs are composite machines and it is always helpful to have longer and sufficient warranty coverage. SR-1000K recliner from Sanyo offers a long and varied warranty coverage. Here it goes: Roller mechanism is warranted for 3 years, 1 year labor coverage, and 1 year coverage for parts, coupled with 1 year of home service cover. An entry level chair couldn’t have a better warranty. And, that’s not all. Sanyo has a national call center for delivering prompt and quick service after sales. We consider offering it 19 for warranty coverage and service after sales.
Comfort & Ergonomics: This forms a very important feature for entry level massage chairs. If the chair itself is not comfortable to the desired level, it very much defeats the intended purpose. Of the many chairs we tried, we realized that SR1000K is more comfortable. There is provision for a head pillow that can be adjusted to individual’s comfort and there is a lush back pad. The main power button located on the left is convenient to access while seated on the chair. You can push out the foot massage mechanism by bending a bit. Now, that is not the so ergonomic part of the massage recliner but the overall comfort and other ergonomic features prompt us to offer it 17 marks.
Ease of Use: Every new model introduced in the market has a host of features. That rather makes its use quite complex, all the more so for a beginner. We feel the chair should offer a friendly operation and allow the user to have easy access to its different features. The Sanyo SR-1000 has an advanced remote with many features.
It may take you sometime for getting used to the equipment and familiarize yourself with the series of buttons that perform the desired action. It was thoughtful of the manufacturer to have provided light level indicators the enable you to keep a watch on intensities. The ease of use surely qualifies for 16.
Key Features:
This massage chair is provided with the Sanyo stiffness detector. The technology employed in stiffness detectors is comparable to what we have in lie detectors. SR 1000 has a stiffness detector designed to sense tightness of different muscles of your body. It also senses other stressful points. As the user holds the remote, the chair goes to detect stiffened areas and targets the same to provide relief. Sanyo has included a new feature in the form of a shape sensor. It takes into account the position of the shoulders. Then, the chair goes to locate the exact position of shoulders and adjusts itself for an effective massage. The roller width automatically adjusts itself while moving from your shoulders to the neck. The incorporation of these helpful easy to use features demands a rating of 18 for key features.
Massage Therapy:
This is the most important category, since this is what a massage chair is all about. The SR 1000K has the following manual massage techniques: massage, tapping, combination, stretch 1 and stretch 2. You have the facility of a combination of the massages by combining stretch 1 and stretch 2 functions. Two automatic programs, Relax and Recovery are also included. You decide the massage first, and then you can choose the region of the body to be targeted. You may choose neck/shoulder, upper body, or waist. The equipment is provided with a calf and foot massager. The leg rest is designed for being used directly on the calves. While continuing to be in your chair, you may just flip down the foot massager for being used. The leg rest can nearly be used for any part of your lower body. You may conveniently use it for your calves, soles of feet, back of knees and the Achilles tendon/heal. The massage therapy of the SR-1000 qualifies for a 17.
In all The Sanyo SR 1000K scores 87/100 points on our rating scale. There are not many entry level massage chairs with such advanced electronics features. For its price, one couldn’t ask for a better warranty coverage. Here’s a well designed chair that has oodles of aesthetics and incorporates ergonomics features to a large extent and provides effective massages. We won’t be surprised if you narrow down your choice to this particular model, for we are sure this is one of its kinds in the category that offers value for money.
03 Aug 09 Few Robotic Massage Chair Reviews
A shiatsu massage chair is an ideal device to get a therapeutic massage. Shiatsu is the technique of applying pressure with fingers and thumbs to meridians, energetic pathways to a common man. The process improves the flow of energy. Despite the claims of many manufacturers that their robotic massage chairs are capable of giving a shiatsu massage, most of them fail to deliver the required results. Some of the popular makes are reviewed here enabling you to decide which ones give a real shiatsu massage.
An inadequately designed cheap chair is not capable of giving a shiatsu massage. For a good and effective shiatsu massage you should be prepared to invest an amount of at least $1800.00 in a massager. Shiatsu very precisely explores and exactly locates the position of pressure points on a human body. Cheaper versions as produced by HoMedics and iJoy just don’t have that technology.
Another fact of the trade is that the Japanese companies alone are the best manufacturers of these chairs. It will not be improper to mention that whatever developments are incorporated by the Japanese in their machines, are soon copied by the other manufacturers. With 25% of the householders having at least one machine, competition is very tough there. And, we know that competition is compelling for manufacturers to produce better products. As a result, Japanese companies invest a lot in the development of the product by way of improved technology and innovative features.
Some of the affordable models come from Fujikura. Its model Fujikura 2000 costs around $1800.00 and has an intelligent roller system that is capable of adjusting to the contours of an individual’s neck and spine. Its other features include an arm massager and 26 air bags of which 20are based at the foot and calf massager. And, look at this variety of massages it can offer: rolling, kneading, shiatsu results, compression and percussion, chop action and flapping. It comes with a built in music therapy system. For its price it’s a very good machine with all the desirable features one can think of.
Now, study some of the features of the OSIM iSymphonic. It not only plays the music while giving a massage, but the type of music played automatically selects the kind of massage you get. Inada, another Japanese company first developed this remarkable software. . The iSymphonic is priced for around $3,500.00. It incorporates highly technical, yet user friendly features like an infrared scanning of the body of the user to find exact body shape and the location of the pressure points to give the real experience of an original shiatsu. It has five Healthcare programs, allowing you to set your own courses thus giving you a complete control of the massage you decide to have. Compared to Fujikura, it has no arm massagers.
The Sanyo HEC-SA5000K Massage Chair is rated as one of the top models that are available. It’s quite expensive and sells for about $4,300. It has body shape sensors along with automatic roller adjustment. To take care of the generally larger frames that the Americans have, it is provided with five width settings and has a longer vertical stroke length of 31”. The Grip massage mode for the shoulder and neck area is excellent. Though priced higher, it has no arrangements for arm massagers.
India is considered to be the world leader for manufacturing of robotic massage chairs. The model Inada i2 (HCP-i.2A0 comes cheaper than the Sanyo and OSIM. Priced at just $3300.00 it makes a perfect choice that justifies the cost. It’s stylish, has great features with latest technology. Could there be anything better!
