Author Archive for James Knolan

Product Review of the HT-7120 Massage Chair

Published
by
James Knolan
on November 28, 2008
in Furniture
. 0 Comments
by James Knolan

We are going to evaluate and review the HT-7120 massage recliner from Human Touch. Over the years, we have developed a 5 category review process to provide balance and consistency for our readers. We will review the HT 7120 in the following categories: warranty coverage and customer service, comfort and ergonomics, ease of use, key features and massage therapy. We score each category up to 20 points each and sum them up for an overall possible rating of 100 points. The Human Touch line is extensive and the HT 7120 is in the $2,000 to $3,000 price range.

Warranty Coverage and Customer Service: We start with warranty, since this is the consumer’s long term protection against the occurrence of defects in workmanship. The warranty coverage for the HT-7120 is 3 years on the structure, 1 year on parts and 90 days labor. Labor is provided for 90 days and Human Touch will cover the shipping to and from the customer during this period. There is in home technician service available, but at the customer’s expense. This is a very light warranty by industry standards. Customer service is provided by Human Touch and they are competent at diagnosing problems. We rate the warranty coverage for this recliner a 12.

Comfort and Ergonomics: Ergonomics is the science of designing products to fit your body and its associated movements. This is particularly important with massage chairs where you need to relax. The HT 7120 has a good ergonomic design and construction. It fits the body well and the adjustments are well positioned. Interestingly, you can adjust the width of the leg ottoman but it cannot be extended. We give this massage recliner an 18 for comfort and ergonomics.

Ease of Use: We are always concerned how the controls of the massage chairs are going to be with so many new features being added to these chairs. Regardless, the controls need to simple and easy to use for the users of the recliner. Human Touch has come out with a very well designed remote for the HT 7120 with a slim design. It has control buttons on two sides of the remote which is unique. The remote goes into a pocket on the chair, so there is not remote stand. The leg ottoman is flipped manually and takes some coordination. We give it a 19 in this category.

Key Features: The HT 7120 has some unique and innovative features. The calf massage width adjustment and the compression massage technique are the two key features we will point out. The leg ottoman comes with a width adjustment to better fit the feet or the calves. There are 6 different width settings to tailor to your specific needs. The compression massage emulates a sports type massage with deep tissue pressure. Two types of techniques are used which are alternating strokes and a rocking motion. The stroking spreads and applies pressure to deep muscle tissue. The rocking motion helps to loosen the spinal joints. This can help with overall posture and improve mobility. We give this massage recliner an 18 in key features.

Massage Therapy: The HT-7120 comes equipped with 3 pre-set programs, 5 manual massage programs and 3 level height controls for your back. The 3 pre-set programs are sore muscle relief, energy rejuvenate and auto-demo. The 5 manual programs are rolling, kneading, compression, percussion and vibration. There are heating elements built into the lower back or lumbar area to soothe lower back pain. There is a full body stretch mode which decompresses your spine. The feet and calves are massaged with the rotating leg ottoman. This is a therapeutic massage chair with effective massage therapy. We give the HT 7120 a 19 in massage therapy.

The overall rating we give the HT 7120 is an 86 points out of 100. We like the contemporary design of this classic massage chair recliner. The massage therapies are thorough and invigorating. We are concerned with the light warranty with this recliner. The HT 7120 comes with some advanced features and has an easy to use remote. If you are shopping for a mid range model, then the HT 7120 is a massage chair recliner worthy of your attention.

About the Author:
Learn more regarding this futuristic massage chair recliner. Read our reviews regarding Human Touch Massage Chairs. Human Touch has a large selection of massage chairs in addition to the HT-7120 Massage Chair. Peruse our other reviews.

Massage Chair Buying Cliffnotes

Published
by
James Knolan
on November 23, 2008
in Furniture
. 0 Comments
by James Knolan

If you are looking for a massage chair, then check out some of the helpful tips we have put together. There is many new technologies, features, options, styles that finding a place to start is sometimes difficult. We present some broader considerations applicable to most massage recliners. Take your time and find the best chair for your longer term needs.

Research Massage Chairs: The internet allows you to research massage chairs fairly quickly and conveniently. Check out the main manufacturers or brands. There are many resellers, but few actual manufacturers. Find the few top brands that are of interest to you and then go to the manufacturer website or call them. Most manufacturers do not sell direct, but they will answer your questions. Request literature and the find specifications and features list, etc. Call some of the retailers or internet retailers and ask them their opinions. Ask your friends or any you know who has a massage chair.

Evaluate all the Information: Weigh out the features, styling, warranty, etc for the massage chairs that you like. Also, who is going to use the massage chair? What are their weights and heights? What types of needs do they have and what features are the best to cover those who will use it? Did you get to actually try the massage chairs on your list? If you did not, then you may find a retailer carrying that massage chair in your area. If not, some internet resellers offer a 30 day trial period. However, most will refund your money less all shipping expenses. Check around and find out.

Review the User Manual: The best day is when you first get to sit in your massage chair! All the hard work is behind you! Now, you get to enjoy, but of course, you may need to review the user manual. Familiarize yourself with the main functions of the remote control. Understand the manual massages versus just pressing the automatic ones. You can really effectively target areas for relief with most massage chairs. But most of all, enjoy, you have earned it!

Features of Massage Chairs: You will need to start to put a list together of important features for you. What features are important to you? Do you want a massage chair with just a back massage? Do you want lower body massage? Do you want heat? Do you want to have a music player? Do you want a manual recline or motorized recline? There are many important decisions to make. You will want to prioritize your list. Not all massage chairs will have the exact combination to match your list. At some point you may need to make some tradeoffs.

Using the Chair Properly: To get the most out of you massage recliner and your investment: it is important to use the chair properly. Understand the main functions on the remote control. When you first sit in the chair, get comfortable. Recline the chair to what is right for you. The further you recline the stronger the massage. Raise the footrest either horizontal or so that your legs are bent 90 degrees. Adjust the head pillow so it supports your head or just push it behind the chair. Once you are comfortable, then you should start the massage.

Think of your time as investment in finding a long term health care need. A massage recliner can be a fantastic asset. They can be one of the best purchases you make, if you take your time and find out what is most important to you. Find the best massage chair to fit your needs. You will be happy you did.

About the Author:
Get helpful tips, advice and new information from our Massage Chair Buyer’s Guide to discover the best massage recliner for your requirements. We have articles, product reviews and Buyer’s Guides to help.

Massage Chair Review: Sanyo HEC-DR-6700K Massage Chair

Published
by
James Knolan
on November 21, 2008
in Furniture
. 0 Comments
by James Knolan

Sanyo massage chairs boast some of the most advanced electronic features to compliment their massage therapy. One of their higher end models is the DR 6700. This model is the subject of this review. We will analyze the DR6700K and point out its relevant features. We evaluate massage chairs in five key areas where up to 20 points can be earned in each area. Here is our evaluation of the HEC-DR6700K Sanyo massage chair.

Warranty & Customer Service: You want to make sure that you get sufficient warranty protection with your massage chair. These are complex machines and you want to be protected down the road. So what type of warranty do you get with the DR6700K? This recliner comes with 3 years on the roller mechanism. You also get 1 year of parts and also 1 year of labor. In home technician repair service is also provided for the first year free of charge. This is a pretty good warranty of this level of massage chair. Sanyo has now established a national call center for warranty issue and provides good service. We rate the warranty and customer service an 18.

Comfort & Ergonomics: One of the key elements in design today is the discipline of ergonomics. Ergonomics is the study of how the human body moves. Sanyo has built a fairly well designed chair from an ergonomic standpoint. All is within easy reach. Additionally, the DR6700 is form fitting to the body. The back pad and seat are comfortable to sit in when the chair is not running. Sanyo has done a pretty solid job and we give it an 18.

Ease of Use: We really like that massage chair manufacturers are adding features like there is no tomorrow. The counter-weight to this is ease of use. If a device is overly complicated, then it just won’t get used, no matter how great the feature. The Sanyo comes with two remotes. The chair has a main remote and a sub remote. The sub remote must be held for it to perform the stiffness detection. It is an interesting feature, but not at the expense of having a second remote. We give the DR6700 a 17.

Key Features: There are two electronic features integrated into the DR-6700 that are both worth pointing out. These are the physical shape sensor and the stiffness detector. The physical shape sensor memorizes the position of your body. If you move in the massage chair, then the sensor detect such movement. It then adjusts the massage program to your new position. The stiffness detector is based on Sanyo’s lie detector technology. It works by measuring your pulse rate and your level of perspiration. From there correlations have been made to areas of your body originating this increased stress and the chair will then target those areas. We rate these interesting features an 18.

Massage Therapy: There is a number of effective massage therapies integrated into the DR-6700. There are the four auto-programs which include Fine, Relax, Recovery and Stiffness. You can also select from five manual massage techniques. The manual techniques are Shiatsu, Tapping, Kneading, Combo and Grip. Grip is perhaps a unique massage to the Sanyo line. The intensity of the massage can be adjusted based on your needs. There are manual massage course which provide focus on specific areas of the back, neck and shoulders. These massages are both effective and relieving. We give this massage chair 19 out of 20 points for massage therapy.

So how did the DR6700 do overall in our review? We give it an overall rating of 90 points. This is an advanced massage chair with some thorough and invigorating massage therapies. The warranty for the parts and labor is a bit cheap for the high end range. The chair does deliver with some interesting electronic features and the Grip massage is a soothing relief. If you get a chance, check out more about the HEC-DR6700 massage chair.

About the Author:
Interested in learning more about the incredible Sanyo Massage Chairs? Peruse about all the fabulous features of the full line of Sanyo Massage Chair. Sanyo is famous for its unique electronic devices and its invigorating massage therapy.

The Sanyo HEC-DR7700K Shiatsu Massage Chair Review & Evaluation

Published
by
James Knolan
on October 23, 2008
in Furniture
. 0 Comments
by James Knolan

If you are a potential massage chair buyer, then finding an unbiased review of a given massage chair can be helpful. Here are 5 important categories to evaluate the total massage chair experience. This system gives equal weight to each of the 5 categories with each category having from 0 to 20. A 100 point score means the chair and the company has achieved total excellence. The 5 categories are Warranty & Customer Service, Comfort/Ergonomics, Ease of Use, Features and Massage Therapy. The discipline of a systematic approach provides for balance help those seriously considering a massage chair. The Sanyo HEC-DR7700K is the subject of this review. This luxury shiatsu massage chair is in the $4,000 to $5,000 range.

Warranty & Customer Service: Warranty and customer service come from the company that makes the massage chair. A warranty protects the customer and customer service must rectify issues one may have. With the HEC-DR7700K, Sanyo covers 3 years on the roller mechanism, 1 year on parts, 1 year labor and 1 year in-home service. In most cases, Sanyo has 1 year covering shipping. Sanyo covers the roller mechanism for 3 years, but other parts and labor is only 1 year. Sanyo forces the customer to purchase an extended warranty for additional protection that other manufacturers already. On the customer service side, Sanyo overall is available 24/7 and has average competence and average turnaround times. The Sanyo HEC-DR7700K is a 14 in Warranty & Customer Service.

Comfort & Ergonomics: Massage chair recliners should fit the body and be comfortable to site on. The Sanyo DR7700K is well padded and the chair back comfortable. The detachable head pillow is designed well to support the head. The seat is average to sit in and the armrests are plush. Unfortunately, the footrest cannot be adjusted which limits the chair to shorter individuals. Taller people feel some restriction with the footrest. Overall Rating for Sanyo DR7700K for comfort and ergonomics is 15.

East of Use: Massage Chair manufacturers are building in more technology and features into their chairs. Users need to be able to quickly, easily and intuitively understand how to use of a product. The HEC-DR7700K comes equipped with advanced features. The main remote control has 4 auto programs and a Zero Gravity button to recline the chair back. Overall, this Sanyo remote is fairly intuitive and simple to use. The sub-remote is a tied to the chair with a cable. But the main remote is simple in design and easy to use. The Sanyo HEC-DR7700K is a 19 in Ease of Use.

Key Features: The most prominent features of the Sanyo HEC-DR7700K are the GK Rollers and Zero Gravity. Zero Gravity is a leaned back position where the pressure from your body evenly distributed across your back and your knees are above your heart. The GK Rollers are jointed massage heads that push outward from the chair back and can grip your shoulders. The most impressive feature is the GK rollers as they bring a third dimension into the robotic massage world. The sensation of the rollers coming over the top of your shoulders is an important advance in massage chair technology. The massaging capabilities of the Sanyo HEC-DR7700K are solid. Our rating in this category is 18.

Massage Therapy: The DR7700K has 4 full body automatic courses, 5 massage speed settings and in a total combination of 83 manual massage courses. The manual massage techniques include the following: Shiatsu, Kneading, Tapping, and Kneading & Tapping. Additionally, because of the GK roller system, Sanyo offers Grip, which is a squeezing sensation. Sanyo incorporates various stretches. The DR7700K massage chair uses 24 airbags with projections that perform a shiatsu massage on the calves and an undulating sole shiatsu massage. There are a wide range of massage capabilities and the GK rollers add a critical third dimension. Our rating in this category is 19.

How does the Sanyo HEC-DR7700K stack up? Overall, our rating of the Panasonic is an 85/100. Sanyo brings some cutting edge technology with their GK Rollers and Zero Gravity into its massage chairs. The design is fairly modern leaning toward minimalist. The controls are fairly well designed and easy to use. Main drawback is the weaker warranty coverage and added expense for an extended warranty as well as the footrest not being adjustable. Otherwise, the Sanyo HEC-DR7700K has solid technology and is fairly effective in delivering relief. Hopefully, Sanyo will design more for the American market and include more ergonomic chairs in the future, but for now the HEC-DR7700K is a solid choice.

About the Author:
Learn more regarding the Sanyo DR7700K Massage Chair. Check out our product reviews, articles and more for your perusal. Find out how Sanyo is one of the best massage chair brands at http://www.massagechairwarehouse.com/ for all your massage therapy requirements.

Improve Your Golf Game with a Massage Chair

Published
by
James Knolan
on July 30, 2008
in Furniture
. 0 Comments
by James Knolan

If you are really serious about playing at your best, then warming up is a critical first step. You may be mentally ready to play, but your body needs to be poised to perform. A regular warm up routine consisting of stretching and increasing blood flow is important. The body knows it is being prepared for physical exertion. Massage chairs have the ability to assist in the warm up and warm down for sports activities.

You may have to play golf with back pain or shoulder pain. Maybe this is from a previous injury or sometimes, things just go. Shoulder and back pain are like little grains of sand that tend to just grind on you. You play, but that pain has to be overcome. This can be especially aggravating for you golf swing. The swing is the critical movement in golf. Small changes in you swing make for wide variation of where the ball gets placed after you hit.

The golf swing when done without an adequate warm up can actually cause damage to the muscles and tendons. Warming up helps to increase the elasticity of the muscle tissue. This helps increase your range of motion. The golf swing has a very long range of motion. Loosening up the muscles and tendons with a massage chair can be effective to increase blood flow and get your body started.

If you back muscles are not flexible, then your swing may suffer accordingly. Think of the motion of teeing off. The arc that the golf club needs to make is a long range of motion. You have to position your feet, shoulders and head correctly to get a good, consistent swing. Everything is related. If your have back discomfort or tightness, then your swing will be off as well.

Prior to your next golf outing, try a simple warm up routine. Your warm up should include basic stretching. Stretch out the legs, arms and your torso. You want to get your muscles flexible in the movements you will make when golfing. You can go for a short walk to get your blood flowing and pick up your heart rate. This helps to get nutrients flowing to your muscles. Make sure you warm up starting 30 minutes before you play. You do not want to start too early to warm up.

Shiatsu massage therapy is a great way to get an invigorating warm up. Shiatsu effectively warms up the muscles, increases blood flow and increase alertness. Some of the top manufacturers of massage chairs like Panasonic, Omega and Sanyo have shiatsu massage therapy. A very effective model of massage chair is the Panasonic EP 30004.

If you want to warm up your neck and shoulders, then try the HEC-DR7700 massage chair by Sanyo. Sanyo has developed a unique massage roller system that can effectively grip. This grip massage is very effective in the shoulder, neck and upper back areas. This is a great massage to get prior to playing golf.

Stretching is important to perform before your golf outing. The Montage Premier massage chair by Omega comes with a lower body traction system. This traction system actually stretches out the entire lower body. The Montage Premier will hold onto your feet and then it stretches you out. This helps to elongate the muscles of the lower back, hips, thighs, knees and ankles. Use this in conjunction with the built in heating elements for a great warm up.

Your golf swing makes or breaks your golf game. To make sure your swing is at its peak, warm up your body prior to golfing. Not only does it help your swing, but it also helps to reduce the chance of injury. Back and shoulder pain are so common among golfers. Many of these ailments can be avoided by simply warming up and warming down. Massage chair recliners are a great compliment to your warm up.

About the Author:
Perfect swing accuracy with a proper warm up in a shiatsu chair recliner that provides excellent massage therapy. Check out the selection for the best shiatsu chair recliners from top brands like Sanyo, Panasonic, Omega