Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Massage Chair Review: Sanyo SA 5000 Massage Recliner

By James Knolan


The focus of this product review is the mid range Sanyo SA5000 massage chair. We will evaluate this massage recliner in 5 separate categories ranging from warranty coverage to massage therapy. Each category can earn up to 20 points. An overall rating is given by adding up the scores for each category for a total of 100 possible points. This structured review helps to balance the review and provide a consistent basis for comparison. Let us take an in depth look at the Sanyo SA5000.

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: When one thinks of a massage chair, you think of comfort and relaxation. The ergonomics of the chair design needs to be comfortable and fit the users. The SA 5000 has a nice appearance with the triangular armrests. The armrests are well padded and comfortable. The side view of the chair is a little plain below the armrest detail which is a little industrial from our point of view. The chair is comfortable to sit in. The upholstered back pad is plush and soft to the touch. The headrest pillow can be adjusted to accommodate different users. The leg rest is one area of concern in that it cannot be adjusted or extended. Taller users may want to see how well they fit in the chair. This chair was originally designed for the Japanese market, so it is scaled for the target population. Our rating in this category is 15.

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: This massage chair comes equipped with 4 full body automatic courses including Stiffness, Relax, Recovery and Fine. There are also 4 programs stored in Memory, 4 manual massage techniques and 4 massage courses. Select from 5 roller width setting and 5 massage speed settings. This model also comes with an air system for the lower body. This system has 24 airbags and covers the feet, calves and thighs. There is also a multi-point shiatsu massage for targeting the lower body for a soothing and relaxing lower body massage. The massage therapy is very effective in the SA 5000 and it scores an 18 in massage therapy.

The overall rating earned by the SA 5000 is an 84/100. We like some of the new technology integrated into this massage recliner, especially the GK rollers. This provides an outstanding massage for the shoulders and neck areas. The stiffness detection sensor is interesting but requires the user to hold it during the massage. We would like to see better warranty coverage from Sanyo without having to purchase an extended warranty. This is a good quality chair and has some excellent features for a mid range massage chair.

About the Author:

No comments: