If you are looking for a massage chair, then it is important to find unbiased information regarding potential shiatsu massage chair options. Reviews and evaluations can point out the relevant aspects of each product. To assist apotential purchaser researching massage chairs, we evaluate 5 key categories which include Warranty & Customer Service, Comfort/Ergonomics, Ease of Use, Features and Massage Therapy. Each category is worth up to 20 points. All points are added up to give a total score based on the 5 categories. A disciplined, systematic approach takes out bias and presents facts. We review the Luxury range of $4,000 to $5,000 and feature the Panasonic Real Pro Elite EP-3222 massage chair.
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: Comfort and ergonomics are important design characteristics with a massage chair recliner. Panasonic massage chairs are fairly well designed and comfortable. The armrests are padded and the material soft. The upholstery on the chair back is soft and fits the back well. The head pillow supports the head and is plush. The footrest is not adjustable, so taller buyers beware. The Real Pro Elite Elite is a 17 in Comfort & Ergonomics.
Ease of Use: Ease of Use is an important consideration with the advance of electronics. The average massage remote has an average of 15 buttons. This can just be overwhelming without an engineering degree unless it is designed right. The remote control of the Panasonic Real Pro Elite is fairly intuitive to use. Additionally, Panasonic has added Voice Guidance. Of course, voice guidance is a mixed blessing. It is good when you need something and annoying when you do not. The 4 automatic programs are easy to use where one can select and just sit back and relax. The side panel contains more manual controls for the manual massage techniques and the lower body air system. The Focus button is a nice option which allows the user to repeat a massage that it just performed. Our rating in this category is 17.
Key Features: The important features of the Panasonic EP-3222 are the Swede-Atsu which is designed to replicate the techniques of a massage therapist, 33 airbags in the lower body air massage system and the back rollers cover 185 square inches. The Swede-Atsu uses rubber massage heads to replicate the stoking of the palms of the hand, pressing by the heal of the hand, and kneading with the thumbs. The expanded back coverage to 185 square inches is impressive to cover your back thoroughly. Panasonic packs a whooping 33 airbags into the Real Pro Elite. There are 3 lower body massages including Grasp, Auto and Squeeze. There are a number of impressive features included in the EP-3222. Overall Rating for the Panasonic Real Pro Elite for features is 19.
Massage Therapy: The Panasonic Real Pro Elite comes with One 5-minute Quick Program, Four 14-minute Pre-Programs, 4 full body automatic courses, One 14-minute Self Program, 5 massage speed settings for a total combination of 14 massage courses. Automatic one button massage functions include: Shiatsu, Gentle, Deep and Refresh. The lowerbody massage is powered with 33 airbags for full coverage. The Swede-Atsu massage system has realistic massage therapy techniques similar to a massage therapist. This shiatsu massage recliner provides increased back coverage with rollers that can go wider to cover more of the back. Our rating in this category is 19.
How does the Panasonic Real Pro Elite EP-3222 stack up? Overall, our rating of the Panasonic is an 87/100. Panasonic continues to expand the range of capabilities of its massage chairs with greater back coverage, voice guidance and its Swede-Atsu massage system. The massage chair design is very modern, perhaps, too much so, but that is a matter of taste. Panasonic massage chair technology for both the mechanical and pneumatic provide for a thorough, firm overall massage. Panasonic needs to add an extendable footrest to accommodate taller people. Otherwise, the Real Pro Elite is a solid all-around therapeutic massage chair. - 16083
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: Comfort and ergonomics are important design characteristics with a massage chair recliner. Panasonic massage chairs are fairly well designed and comfortable. The armrests are padded and the material soft. The upholstery on the chair back is soft and fits the back well. The head pillow supports the head and is plush. The footrest is not adjustable, so taller buyers beware. The Real Pro Elite Elite is a 17 in Comfort & Ergonomics.
Ease of Use: Ease of Use is an important consideration with the advance of electronics. The average massage remote has an average of 15 buttons. This can just be overwhelming without an engineering degree unless it is designed right. The remote control of the Panasonic Real Pro Elite is fairly intuitive to use. Additionally, Panasonic has added Voice Guidance. Of course, voice guidance is a mixed blessing. It is good when you need something and annoying when you do not. The 4 automatic programs are easy to use where one can select and just sit back and relax. The side panel contains more manual controls for the manual massage techniques and the lower body air system. The Focus button is a nice option which allows the user to repeat a massage that it just performed. Our rating in this category is 17.
Key Features: The important features of the Panasonic EP-3222 are the Swede-Atsu which is designed to replicate the techniques of a massage therapist, 33 airbags in the lower body air massage system and the back rollers cover 185 square inches. The Swede-Atsu uses rubber massage heads to replicate the stoking of the palms of the hand, pressing by the heal of the hand, and kneading with the thumbs. The expanded back coverage to 185 square inches is impressive to cover your back thoroughly. Panasonic packs a whooping 33 airbags into the Real Pro Elite. There are 3 lower body massages including Grasp, Auto and Squeeze. There are a number of impressive features included in the EP-3222. Overall Rating for the Panasonic Real Pro Elite for features is 19.
Massage Therapy: The Panasonic Real Pro Elite comes with One 5-minute Quick Program, Four 14-minute Pre-Programs, 4 full body automatic courses, One 14-minute Self Program, 5 massage speed settings for a total combination of 14 massage courses. Automatic one button massage functions include: Shiatsu, Gentle, Deep and Refresh. The lowerbody massage is powered with 33 airbags for full coverage. The Swede-Atsu massage system has realistic massage therapy techniques similar to a massage therapist. This shiatsu massage recliner provides increased back coverage with rollers that can go wider to cover more of the back. Our rating in this category is 19.
How does the Panasonic Real Pro Elite EP-3222 stack up? Overall, our rating of the Panasonic is an 87/100. Panasonic continues to expand the range of capabilities of its massage chairs with greater back coverage, voice guidance and its Swede-Atsu massage system. The massage chair design is very modern, perhaps, too much so, but that is a matter of taste. Panasonic massage chair technology for both the mechanical and pneumatic provide for a thorough, firm overall massage. Panasonic needs to add an extendable footrest to accommodate taller people. Otherwise, the Real Pro Elite is a solid all-around therapeutic massage chair. - 16083
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