| Despite being founded and administered in | | | | Essentially, the massage is synchronized to and |
| Singapore, when you buy an OSIM massage chair | | | | orchestrated by the music that is being played. |
| you're actually buying a Japanese designed and | | | | Therefore, if you play something like 'hard rock' |
| built product. That's because all OSIM chairs are | | | | you're going to get a good pummeling, but if you |
| made by the Family Inada company in Japan - the | | | | play some Brahms you'll get a much more |
| makers of the some of the world's most | | | | relaxing massage. |
| technically advanced and best massage chairs. So, | | | | It should be noted that this unique system was |
| bearing in mind who actually built it, how does the | | | | developed by Inada and not OSIM and took |
| OSIM iSymphonic rate? | | | | several years to develop. It works by |
| Ron Sim founded OSIM in Singapore over 20 | | | | automatically altering the intensity of the rollers |
| years ago. At first the company sold electrical | | | | and altering the type of massage mode in |
| products but during the recession of the | | | | response to the music. The rollers in the back |
| mid-eighties, Sim realized that in order to survive | | | | respond to the bass sounds, and the leg vibrators |
| and flourish, the company had to have its own | | | | respond to the midrange frequencies. Sounds in |
| branded products. Sim saw that there was a | | | | the treble range set off tapping and vibration near |
| growing, international demand for home wellness | | | | the spine. |
| products and therefore decided to market and sell | | | | The OSIM iSymphonic comes with 5 Healthcare |
| robotic massage chairs under his company's name. | | | | programs and you can set your own massage |
| OSIM had no history in manufacturing chairs so | | | | courses, giving you complete control of your |
| the design and production was outsourced to | | | | personal massage - each program last 15 minutes. |
| Inada, in Japan. This was an astute move. Inada | | | | The motorized recline has a range of between |
| were already the market leaders in the selling of | | | | 120 and 170 degrees. There are airbags in the leg |
| high-quality chairs in the Japanese (and | | | | rests and on the seat. The leg massage uses |
| international) market. Using Inada to manufacture | | | | vibration in conjunction with the airbags. The chair |
| the chairs, OSIM was assured of a brand that | | | | doesn't have arm massage, which is a real shame. |
| would be respected and would place its chairs in | | | | If you're wondering how the OSIM compares to |
| the top-end, high-value part of the market. | | | | the Inada, I would have to say that in terms of |
| So, when you buy an OSIM massage chair you're | | | | functions and features there is no difference - not |
| getting the same technology and components of | | | | surprising as Inada makes both. What will sway |
| an Inada chair. They share many of the same | | | | you in either direction is styling. Personally, I do |
| features such as infrared sensors to accurately | | | | prefer the look of the OSIM. Another |
| measure you before a massage in order to find | | | | consideration is the earphones. With the OSIM you |
| the correct shiatsu pressure points, powerful | | | | get a pair of headphones which you wear; with |
| motors, the same massage modes and build | | | | the Inada the headphones are built-in to the head |
| quality. | | | | rest. Again, which is preferable is a subjective |
| Both companies have released a chair with an | | | | matter. Some don't like to wear headphones |
| integrated music therapy system. There's the | | | | during a massage as they can feel somewhat |
| Inada W.1 massage chair and the OSIM | | | | restricted. I prefer headphones as the only sounds |
| iSymphonic - the OSIM chair was released before | | | | I want to hear during a massage is the music I'm |
| the Inada. | | | | listening to; wearing headphones does this better |
| The music therapy system in both chairs isn't a | | | | that built-in ones. |
| simple matter of listening to your favorite music | | | | As to price, there's very little in it; the OSIM being |
| during a massage; it's far more sophisticated. | | | | a tad cheaper. |