Shiatsu Massage Chair Recliner Review of the Panasonic EP30003 TU
This is a review of the Panasonic EP 30003 Real Pro Ultra massage chair. Our system of massage chair review is based on 5 categories. We give each category equal weight of up to 20 points. We add them all up to give a possible score of 100 points. This systematic approach helps guide users by giving apples to apples comparisons of different massage chairs and manufacturers. Let us take an in-depth look at the midrange model EP 30003 Real Pro Ultra by Panasonic.
Warranty & Customer Service: After sale support and service is important for your longer term peace of mind. Each manufacturer is different. Panasonic has 3 year parts and 1 year labor. Panasonic has integrated an hour counter mechanism. This hour counter tracks how long the chair is used. Panasonic gives 1,000 hours of warranty coverage with this counter. The warranty coverage ends after 1,000 hours of usage. You may need to consider an extended warranty with this chair to match some of the other chair brands. We rate it a 16 for this category.
Comfort & Ergonomics: Ergonomics is the practical element of design for comfort and fit of the body. The massage chair is built for relaxation, so the design must assist in getting the user comfortable and within reach. Panasonic takes ergonomics serious and does a solid job with the Real Pro Ultra. The back pad is plush, with an adjustable head pillow. The armrests are padded. The remote is fairly simple and intuitive for a massage chair. One area that is lacking is a footrest extension. This chair was not originally designed for the American market, so taller users may not fit as well. We rate this chair as a 17 for ergonomics. The head pillow can be adjusted to fit different heights of users. The arm rests are padded and are fairly wide. The footrest does not extend, so this can be problematic for taller users. Taller users would have to bend their knees to get a foot massage or extend the footrest horizontal to and put their legs through. Our rating in this category is 17.
Ease of Use: With more and more features, options and choices being offered in massage chairs, ease of use is important. Some remote controls are clustered with a mind boggling array of controls. The problem is to learn all these options. The top manufacturers design controls and adjustments to be intuitive and easy to understand and use. Panasonic has vast experience with electronics and uses that to keep its controls simple and intuitive. The control is well designed and the descriptions accurate to keep learning fast. We rate it an 18 for this category.
Key Features: The Real Pro Ultra by Panasonic has an pressure point sensor and the exclusive Junetsu massage therapy. The human body has around 350 pressure points. There are almost 100 for the back, neck and shoulders. The EP 30003 has a body scan to sense these pressure points. It then tailors the shiatsu style massage to the individual user. Panasonic also developed the Junetsu massage therapy into this model. The Junetsu uses firm pressure with a penetrating circular motion for the back. This is a unique massage offered only by Panasonic. We give the EP 30003 an 18 in this category.
Massage Therapy: The lower body air massage has 14 strategically placed air bags. These air bags cover the calves and feet. It also includes the foot reflexology massage. The really fine kneading is a new feature by Panasonic called Junetsu. This massage penetrates deeply providing effective relief. At the top of the control there are 5 automatic programs which include: Refresh, Shiatsu, Deep, Swedish and Stretch. You can also select from 4 manual massage techniques and choose 4 manual massage courses. Manual controls include tapping, kneading, rolling and combination. This midrange model scores a 19 rating.
Ok, the moment of truth. The overall rating for the Panasonic EP 30003 is an 88/100. This is a solid rating for a solid chair. The Real Pro Ultra is a good performer in the mid range massage chair market. The reflexology foot massage and the addition of Junetsu massage is great value at this price point. The warranty is OK. You would hope for better protection from Panasonic, so check out an extended warranty. This is a long term investment for your health. If you are tall, then you may want to try this chair to see how well you fit. If you are looking for a mid range shiatsu massage chair recliner then this could be a good choice for you.
