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.
First is how the manufacturer rates in both warranty coverage and customer service. The manufacturer needs to stand behind its product. Sanyo gives a 1 year labor, 1 year parts and 1 year in-home service as well as 1 year shipping. Panasonic puts a machine life cap of 1,000 hours of use. Sanyo gives a relatively short warranty which is on par with Panasonic but lower than most manufacturers. The electronics company’s such as Sanyo (or Panasonic) work off selling extended warranties. Sanyo now offers in-home technician service and may pay for shipping for the first year (not always clear). They have a national hot line with 24/7 service. Customer Service and turnaround time is average. Overall Rating for Sanyo warranty and customer service is 14.
Comfort & Ergonomics: Comfort and ergonomics are important design characteristic with a shiatsu massage chair. Sanyo designed the DR7700K to compete in the luxury class known for comfort and relaxation. This shiatsu lounger is well padded with nice upholstery. The armrests are padded and comfortable. The Sanyo DR7700K is a bit restrictive to accommodate taller users. Sanyo designed this chair for the Asian market and is importing it here without modifying it for the taller American market. The Sanyo DR7700K is a 15 in Comfort & Ergonomics.
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 the Zero Gravity Position. Sanyo designed jointed massage heads into the GK Rollers that have the capability to grip the shoulders. This GK Roller system is the first attempt by a massage chair manufacturer to bring in a third dimension to massage. The gripping action is soothing in the shoulders and neck areas. Zero Gravity is achieved by raising the knees above the heart with the chair back 170 degrees. The Sanyo HEC-DR7700K is an 18 in Key Features.
Massage Therapy: The Sanyo HEC-DR7700K has both automatic and manual massage settings. Sanyo incorporates 4 full body automatic courses, 4 manual massage courses, and 5 massage speed settings for a total combination of 83 manual massage courses. The manual massage techniques include Shiatsu, Kneading, Tapping, and Kneading & Tapping. Sanyo has some stretching capabilities for the lower body and has 24 airbags of coverage. The airbags have projections to perform shiatsu acupressure massage. There is a good variety of massage therapy techniques in this massage lounger. The Sanyo HEC-DR7700K is a 19 in Massage Therapy.
We just reviewed 5 categories ranging from warranty to features to ergonomics. How does the Sanyo HEC-DR7700K Based on the 5 categories the total score for the Sanyo HEC-DR7700K is a 85/100. The Sanyo HEC-DR7700K provides fairly thorough full body massage therapy. The technology is innovative and reliable. Sanyo has one of the weaker warranties providing less protection for the customer. The Sanyo HEC-DR7700K integrates some interesting features to locate trouble areas and provides good relief to the shoulders and neck. The Sanyo has most of the elements of a great massage chair, but seems to be lacking from its roots. The sensory experience missing seems to be music and with Sanyo’s background in stereos just seems odd. This is a luxury class massage chair and has solid technology, but just seems a bit incomplete. The Sanyo HEC-DR7700K is just average for the luxury class of shiatsu massage chairs.
