20 May 10 iJoy 130 Massage Chair Review
The iJoy 130 massager is a well accepted chair offered by Interactive Health and includes the company’s patented Human Touch Technology (HTT). iJoy massaging chair is designed to give trendy looks, deliver a realistic massage and offer value for money. But, I’m not too sure if this chair is trendy or tacky, and how close is the quality of its work to the natural one and whether it is the best massage chair for the price it sells?
The price range of The100 series of massage chairs from iJoy varies from $600 – $750. The 130 model sells for about $750. Like other models, the design accent is quite on a young and trendy theme. First of all I find the designs awful. My first reaction was as if a children’s balloon artist was entrusted with their design. Though many people may like the overall style and designing of the chairs, I wouldn’t venture into having one in a room where it would be seen by others.
But, it’s not the style alone, even the colors fail to please aesthetically. Imagine chair in scarlet red, purple or the most unbelievable shades of green. Yet, black and cashew are not so disappointing.
Talking of aesthetics, bring to mind the kind of upholstery used on these chairs. They all are covered with faux suede. It may look just fine initially, but this kind of fabric is hard to clean or wipe off. It’s beyond anybody’s understanding why the manufacturer decided against synthetic leather that is employed by most manufacturers.
Another drawback is that the control panel is built-in on one of the armrests. That makes difficult to rest your arms. Most wouldn’t like to have the panel under the lower arm, lest they press some button accidentally. On removing the control panel, you get a good gaping square hole there.
A not so comfortable feature of this chair is that it’s rather at a lower level, closer to the ground, whereas most robotic chairs are quite high off the ground, and people prefer to climb into a chair rather than just sitting down in it.
Probably, you guessed why it is so low? Yes, it has no foot massager. If you like to have one, then go for a stand alone iJoy ottoman with a built-in foot unit. But, it doesn’t come cheap and substantially adds to the cost of the equipment.
Nonetheless, the iJoy 130 robotic chair does provide all the special functions. There are four in all: rolling, kneading, compression and percussion. Each function can be performed using one of the four options that comprise of full, upper, lower and manual position. There is provision for manual adjustment of the back rollers to desired height that makes you feel comfortable.
How about the quality of the work? Well, it’s just fine. The iJoy Human Touch Technology doesn’t give a feel anywhere near to the real thing, but it is good nevertheless. The unit is also a bit noisy, which in a way takes away the ‘soothing’ and ‘relaxing’ experience that you expect. But there is a solution to that- listen to music!
Justifiably, the iJoy 130 massager delivers a good massage. If you can just overlook its design and visual features and use earphones, this robotic massage chair could almost deliver an enjoyable experience.
27 Apr 10 OSIM Massage Chair Reviewed
Though not a Japanese make, OSIM massage chairs because of their sophisticated engineering pose a god competition to Japanese majors like Sanyo, Fujikura and Inada. They are amongst the more expensive range of machines. Here, s a review of some of their latest models and their ratings in terms of dollars versus features.
Ron Sim founded this company in Singapore and continues to run it still. Though established in 1980, the company didn’t take long to establish itself among the big manufacturers in the field of robotic massaging chair. Four of its present models of chairs are: the NORO Harmony, iMedic, iSymphonic and iDesire. Here, have a look at the features of different models and how each compares with what’s already available in the market.
The OSIM NORO Harmon chair (NR-75): This is their cheapest model, selling for about $900. It has an integrated calf massager and is upholstered in faux suede. Though prices very low for a section of consumers it lacks stylish looks and reminds one of the iJoy range of massage chairs, equally cheap with equally unwelcoming looks.
Yet, it’s far better than an iJoy. It provides 5 working modes, kneading, rolling, tapping and dual (rhythmic percussive tapping with the kneading massage). Its combination of three manual modes includes: kneading, tapping or dual with full or partial rolling. You need to adjust the rollers manually and position them the way you like. Each mode is programmed to last for fifteen minutes.
This is just enough for the purpose, but if you could slightly raise your budget, it will be worth having a look at the Human Touch HT 100 massage chair. This has better looks and has a calf massager, which can be adjusted manually to have your foot relaxed as well. The massage modes are almost identical but it also provides full, partial and spot functions.
The OSIM iMedic massage chair priced for about $2000 has far superior looks with its faux leather upholstery. It offers these three programs:
1. A 30-minute Healthcare program that gently kneads from neck downwards to cover the shoulders before reaching to the base of the back with air bags massaging your calves.
2. A 20-minute Well-Being program that includes a gentle tapping massaging work all over the back, shoulders and neck with simultaneous massaging of legs.
3. A Relax program that may last from 10 to 99 minutes.
The outstanding feature of this machine is that before starting with the massage, its rollers glide down the back of the user and suitably adjust the pressure for a more sensitive, therapeutic experience.
Well, the missing feature of this chair is that there’s no arrangement for a foot massage. That way The Fujikura 2000 chair is a better option and reduced cost. It offers calf and foot unit plus arms massage, which the iMedic doesn’t. It has more air bags and a built-in music system. Considering its price, the OSIM iMedic is disappointing.
The OSIM iSymphony, though a marvelous chair that sells for around $3500, sadly provides no facility of foot massage. Its design includes an infrared scanner to scan your body before the unit starts, adjusts the rollers of its own to give you a superb massage. What’s more, it comes with a music therapy system, which is entirely different than the system provided with the Fujikura noted above. The intensity of the service is perfectly synchronized with the music that you play. So, if you are in mood for a strong and intense massage, play loud and fast music, whereas a slow music gives you a gentle massage.
The OSIM iDesire probably has all the functions that you can imagine in a robotic massaging chair. It’s quite expensive at $4500 but has all the features and functions. Yes, it also has a calf and foot massager. The foot unit has a Reflexology Map. It uses extrusions to press on vital reflex points on your soles. Along with the foot massage you may enjoy a tri-action arm massage. It includes eight healthcare programs but allows you to program an individual message of your choice and combines up to nine massage actions.
Of all the ISOM massage chairs the iSymphony and the iDesire, both have somewhat different features that are missing in competitors’ models. Of course they are expensive, they certainly are worth the price.
Tags: osim massager
05 Oct 09 Repose R600 Massage Chair Review
We are quite excited by the outstanding chairs being offered by Repose. But, having included them recently and without enough experience with the manufacturers, we don’t think it is justified to offer them the same kind of ranking as is normally reserved for manufacturers who have had enough time to prove themselves. Nevertheless, the Repose 600, because of the features offered in that price range certainly keeps it a notch above the rest of the chairs.
Let me start with the features of the R600. Music being my favorite, requires that I make a mention of MP3 player at the outset. Like some of the more expensive Omega chairs, Repose has integrated an MP3 player and programmed the massage to go with the beat. Music of its own is known to relax you. Now, imagine the heightened relaxation one could have with massage being synchronized to music!
The other feature that relaxes your body is heat. This chair delivers heat to your feet and lower back. So, it’s not only music but also the dual combination of music and heat that makes you really comfortable.
It’s amazing indeed that the Repose 600, being so reasonably prices could go to include a high-tech feature like body scan. This feature enables the chair to scan your body type to adjust itself as per the expected requirements.
And while delivering the high-tech features, the Repose doesn’t overlook the needs of basic functions. It has all the basic functions that go to include roll, rock and vibration. And, it combines all these functions with four programs that can be automated to: Gentle, Relax, Enliven, and Repose while offering you the liberty of manual adjustments too.
Here, have a look at its affordability. It’ll be difficult to find another chair with the kind of features offered by Repose at the price it sells for. It’s priced about $300 less than the Omega 510, yet incorporates the same foot massager as the Omega does. Well, Omega may well argue that its foot massager that includes the pressure point technology is decidedly better, but a difference of $300 in price would encourage a buyer to seriously consider having the Repose.
Though there is nothing exceptional about warranty, yet it’s not bad either, with a three-year warranty for parts and a one-year labor warranty to cover mechanical defects and workmanship.
We have no reservations in highly recommending this chair and could have ranked it still higher but for our limited exposure to the manufacturer. Another factor that comes in way of offering a higher rank is our rating system that attaches more important to the treatment that the manufacturer gives to its customers. Once we have gathered data on that front, we shall definitely revise this ranking. Till such time, Repose is an excellent value for your money.
Tags: buy repose massager, cheap repose chairs, repose massagers
