Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Product Review about the Sanyo HEC-SR1000K Massage Chair

By James Knolan

Sanyo has a full range of massage chairs in their product line. We are going to take an in depth view of the entry level model for Sanyo. The model SR 1000K is the subject of this product review. Our reviews are systematic and we judge any massage chair is five critical areas. We give a point rating of up to twenty points per area for a total possible score of 100. This is the SR-1000K massage chair recliner by Sanyo.

Warranty Coverage & Customer Service: First let us get the driest part of the review out of the way first-the warranty coverage. OK, we all know that warranty coverage is important in complicated machines like massage chairs. But what kind of coverage do you get from Sanyo? Sanyo provides the same warranty for all its chairs. The good news is that it adds up to good coverage for an entry level chair. You get 3 years of warranty for the roller mechanism, 1 year parts and labor, and 1 year in home service. There is also a call center for issues, should they arise. We give the SR1000 a 19 for its warranty.

Comfort & Ergonomics: The science of ergonomics is the study of things can be designed to fit the human body. In other words, we have natural ranges of motion and buttons, controls, etc. need to be within those ranges. The buttons on the remote are a decent size for most fingers. The main power is located on the side of the chair which is ergonomic but you still have to remember. The leg rest has a foot extension that needs to be flipped by your feet. Sanyo could work these things out a little better in our opinion. We give it a 17 overall.

Ease of Use: This is perhaps a category because it is a pet peeve of ours. Let's face it our world is getting more complex and so are the devices in it. It is the responsibility of the maker of these items to keep it simple. We found the remote to have too many steps to get what you want compared to other massage chairs. This was surprising given that it was a Sanyo. But nevertheless, it is what it is. We rate the SR-1000 a 16 for ease of use.

Key Features: This massage chair comes with the Sanyo stiffness detector. The stiffness detector uses technology borrowed from lie detectors. The stiffness detector in the SR 1000 can sense tightness in the muscles of the body and other points of stress. The user holds the side of the remote and the chair can detect these areas of stiffness. The chair will then target these areas for relief. The other interesting feature is the shape sensor. The shape sensor takes a measurement of the position of the shoulders. The chair then identifies where the shoulders are at and adjusts the massage accordingly. The rollers width will then become less when it gets to your shoulders and for your neck area. These are some advanced electronic features that are unique to Sanyo. We give a rating of 18 for key features.

Massage Therapy: The Sanyo SR 1000 massage chair has the capability to massage your back, neck, shoulders, calves and feet. We consider a full body massage chair one that also has a seat massage which the SR1000 lacks. The SR 1000 comes with 2 automatic programs. One is for a more soothing massage and the other targets you after more vigorous activity. There are 3 manual massage techniques and there are 3 manual courses. The manual courses enable you to target a particular area with a massage treatment. You also get your calves and feet via the leg rest. The SR 1000 rates a 17 for massage therapy.

The Sanyo SR 1000K scored 87/100 points in our rating scale. The SR-1000 has some very unique electronic features for an entry level massage chair. It has one of the strongest warranty coverage for its price range. The foot massager can be hidden from view which adds to the aesthetics of the chair. The chair comes with a nice wood accents adding to its design flair. The massage therapy is effective. This is certainly a great value for its class. If you are looking for a massage chair recliner in this category the SR-1000K certainly merits your consideration. - 16650

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