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We present a review of the massage chair Sanyo model HEC SA5000. Our intention is to provide a chair buyer with an objective review and evaluation of a particular massage chair. We use a 5 category system. Each category is weighted equally. Each category can earn 0 to 20 points. The points are then summed up to give a total score. The 5 categories cover the following: Warranty & Customer Service, Comfort/Ergonomics, Ease of Use, Features and Massage Therapy. This system gives us a disciplined process for evaluating a massage chair. We hope you find this help in your search for the best massage chair for your needs. The HEC-SA5000 massage chair is priced between $3,000 and $4,000.
Warranty & Customer Service:
Let’s start at the enterprise level and evaluate Sanyo’s warranty and customer service. Warranty coverage is a good measure of a manufacturer’s confidence in their product. Sanyo provides 1-year labor, 1-year parts, and 1-year on-site service. It covers the reel mechanism for 3 years. For a company as big as Sanyo, the warranty is a bit weaker than we would expect. Sanyo has started offering an in-home service, which is an important service upgrade to compete with others in the industry. At least with in-home service they offer 1 year. Overall, customer service is competent. They have a national hotline with 24/7 service. The processing time for the service is ok. Our rating in this category is 15.
Comfort & ergonomics:
When you think of a massage chair, you think of comfort and relaxation. The ergonomics of the chair design must be comfortable and fit the users. The SA 5000 has a nice look with the triangular armrests. The armrests are well padded and comfortable. The side view of the chair is a bit plain below the armrest detail, which is a bit industrial in our view. The chair is comfortable to sit on. The padded back pad is plush and soft to the touch. The headrest pillow can be adjusted to suit different users. The leg rest is a problem area as it cannot be adjusted or lengthened. Taller users may want to see how well they fit in the chair. This chair was originally designed for the Japanese market and is therefore scaled for the target audience. Our rating in this category is 15.
User friendliness:
We are always concerned with how easy a massage chair is to use. There are more and more features and options, but manufacturers need to make it easy to use. Everyone wants the best technology has to offer, but not at the expense of a steep learning curve. We like the remote control for the SA 5000. This is a clean and simple design. There are 4 automatic programs with one-touch buttons. If you like the massage and the area, press the program save button and the chair will remember it. Additional automatic programs are available to you. The side panel controls the lower body air system with individual controls for the lower body, calf, foot and thigh. Our rating in this category is 18.
Features:
The outstanding features of the SA 5000 are the stiffness detection sensor and the GK rollers. The stiffness detection sensor is based on lie detection technology. This sensor detects stress points throughout the back. Stiffness Detection measures fatigue by monitoring changes in your sweat and heart rate. This information is then fed into the computer and the software adjusts the massage programs to target areas of stiffness or tight muscles. The GK rollers are specially designed rollers that can perform a grip or grip massage. The GK roller technology “enough” and grabs you. This is particularly effective for the neck and shoulder area. These rollers squeeze your shoulders and neck area to mimic the gripping and kneading of a professional masseuse. Our rating in this category is 18.
Message Therapy:
The SA 5000 has 4 automatic programs, 4 memory programs, 4 manual massage techniques and 4 massage courses for the targeted relief of stress zones. You can choose from 5 roller width settings and 5 massage speed settings. The 4 full body automatic courses include: Stiffness, Relax, Recovery and Fine. Sanyo integrates its exclusive multi-point shiatsu massage for legs and feet. The air system covers the lower body including the feet, calves and thighs. There are 24 airbags in total. The Air Only Comfort Class includes a multi-point shiatsu massage applied to the lower body for a soothing lower body massage. There is also an ankle grip massage. The ankle grip massage is performed by holding a series of built-in airbags around the foot. Our rating in this category is 18.
Overall, we rate the Sanyo SA-5000 84/100. The SA 5000 features many of the same technologies as Sanyo’s high-end DR7700 version. Rear roller stroke length is 28 inches compared to 31 inches on the DR 7700, but most of the same tech is in the SA 5000. The factory warranty is fine and you might want to check out an extended warranty that matches other manufacturers’ coverage. The GK rollers are a nice feature for neck and shoulder coverage. The leg rest would be more ergonomic for the American market if an extension was built in. If you are looking for a massage chair in this category, you should check out the SA 5000.
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