| They say if you want the best shiatsu massage | | | | the foot massage area. Basically the foot |
| chair you should always buy Japanese. Well, Sanyo | | | | massager doesn't do that great a job, and at this |
| are Japanese, so do all its chairs give you the | | | | price I'd want more. A better option, and a few |
| best possible shiatsu at a fair cost. The answer is | | | | hundred dollars cheaper, is the Human Touch HT |
| yes, some models give a great massage at a | | | | 125 massage chair. It has a better, sleeker and |
| great price but some others fall short and you'd | | | | more pleasing design, has comparable massage |
| be better off looking at other brands - even | | | | functions and programs and the foot massager is |
| non-Japanese at that. | | | | much better. |
| There's no denying that Sanyo makes some of | | | | The Sanyo HEC-SA5000K massage chair retails |
| the best robotic massage chairs on the market | | | | for around $4,300 and is a much better option if |
| and is firmly placed in the top tier of Japanese | | | | you have the budget. It comes with everything |
| manufacturers like Fuji, Inada and Fujikura. Its | | | | that the HEC-SR1000K has and much more. |
| chairs don't come cheap costing upwards of | | | | There are 4 memory courses, 9 automatic |
| $3,000 and at this price you really do want value | | | | courses and an amazing 83 manual course |
| for money. But if you do want a decent shiatsu | | | | combinations. There are also 5 massage speed |
| massage you do have to look at chairs with a | | | | settings. And, this model comes with a decent |
| minimum price tag of around $1,800. And despite | | | | foot massager for both calves and feet - there |
| what Japanese manufacturers might tell you, | | | | are airbags and a multi-point heated shiatsu |
| many non-Japanese companies also make chairs | | | | massage. |
| that deliver a great shiatsu massage. | | | | For what you get the HEC-SA5000K offers very |
| The cheapest model is the Sanyo HEC-SR1000K | | | | good value for money and I would recommend it. |
| massage chair retailing for around $3,000. It's | | | | The Sanyo HEC-DR7700K massage chair costs |
| been designed to have a sleek, lightweight and | | | | over $5,000 and is the most well-appointed of the |
| contemporary look. It has wooden arms and | | | | models. It has everything that the HEC-SA5000K |
| wood trim on the foot rest. Unlike other chairs it | | | | has but it also comes with 2 antigravity positions, |
| isn't thick or bulky looking and its black faux | | | | an air only massage for a very relaxing massage |
| leather gives it an understated look of luxury. | | | | and an ankle compression massage. However, |
| However, I really don't like the overall look of this | | | | with its price tag it puts the HEC-DR7700K in |
| chair. This is manly because of the back legs | | | | direct competition with the Inada ROBO massage |
| stand. Far from looking sleek and stylish, it looks | | | | chair. The ROBO chair comes with 3D rollers and |
| kind of industrial or like an after thought and it isn't | | | | the very technically advanced feature of voice |
| helped by the exposed metal and grey trim. | | | | control; you can actually sit back and control just |
| Like all Sanyo massage chairs it comes with | | | | about every operation of the chair with just your |
| something called Stiffness Detection. Using pulse, | | | | voice. |
| perspiration sensors and vibration the chair | | | | Which of the two chairs gives a better massage |
| adjusts the massage output automatically to relax | | | | is a subjective opinion. Personally, I like both just |
| and invigorate stiff joints and muscles. There are | | | | as much, so all I will say is that, if you are |
| 7 massage programs: Neck and Shoulders, Waist, | | | | considering the HEC-DR7700K, it may be worth |
| and Leg - the remaining programs comes from a | | | | your while taking a look at the Inada ROBO as |
| combination of the Leg with the other 3 | | | | well. |
| programs. The chair comes with power recline to | | | | Of the three, my favorite Sanyo massage chair is |
| an angle of 170 degrees. | | | | the HEC-SA5000K. It has enough of the features |
| The programs and back and shoulder massages | | | | I'd want at a price I'd be happy to pay. |
| are good; however the chair lets itself down in | | | | |