Panasonic EP30004 Shiatsu Massage Chair Massage Chair Review
Panasonic has its new line of massage chairs. The Real Pro Ultra series incorporates some of Panasonic’s newest technologies in massage therapy. The subject of this review is the EP-30004 shiatsu massage recliner. This model is a high-end luxury massage chair model. We’ll take a look at some of the new features and warranty coverage for this shiatsu massage recliner.
Panasonic is a household name in electronics, so you don’t have to worry about honoring your warranty in the future. We like to caution prospective massage recliners buyers to also opt for a trusted brand. There are many small importers that offer cheap massage chairs with great guarantees that are never honored in the future. That said, Panasonic will be there in the future.
What type of warranty coverage is provided with the EP 30004? You get 3 years of parts coverage and 1 year of labor coverage. Panasonic now provides in-home technical support with the Real Pro Ultra series and covers you for 1 year. They also cover shipping costs for the first year. We like the 1-year in-home tech support, which is great coverage. We see that the 1 year labor is quite short compared to other manufacturers. If possible, try to get an extended warranty for more coverage. This is especially important on expensive items like massage chairs with lots of moving parts.
There are some notable new features incorporated into the Real Pro Ultra series of massage chairs. EP 30004 has a lower body stretch and a shoulder stretch. There is also a new massage technique called Junetsu. The Junetsu massage technique literally means ultra-fine kneading in Japanese. The Junetsu massage technique uses small circular motions and a second of firm thumb-like pressure. The effect of this massage is to reverberate through the muscle and penetrate to the bone surface.
The EP-30004 comes with an arsenal of massage therapies for your enjoyment. There are four previous programs which are shiatsu, deep, Swedish and stretching. There is also a quick 5-minute pre-program that covers a variety of massage techniques and features. You can use some massages in the manual massage mode for a total of 8 possible manual massages. These include ultra knead (Junetsu), shiatsu, knead, Swedish, stretch, tap, roll, and grab. There are also 5 ways to target certain regions of the back, including: neck, shoulders, mid, lower, and full back.
You can also create auto-programs to target specific regions with particular massage techniques. These are quite simple to create. For example, you can select the lower back and a deep tissue massage. Then select the duration and intensity of the massage you want. You can also save these programs. It will save programs for up to 4 different users. There’s also a voice guidance system for those less inclined to read the owner’s manual to figure these things out.
The lower part of the body is covered with an air compression massage system. This system uses strategically placed airbags throughout the massage recliner to target the hands, arms, feet, calves, thighs, and buttocks. The massage technique is a squeeze, hold, and release compression style. This is very soothing and relaxing for the extremities of the body. Additionally, there are stretching capabilities for both the legs and the shoulders. These are great for helping to increase flexibility by lengthening muscles.
The design of the chair has a rather industrial look to it, which is probably the most disappointing aspect of the massage recliner. The leg rest can be extended another 5 inches, which is an important feature. The air massage for hands and arms is hidden under the covers of the armrests. These armrest covers open to the side and hands or arm can be placed inside. It is good to hide this device inside the armrest and not make it visible.
Overall, the Real Pro Ultra series has some great features over its previous series, the Real Pro Elite. We like the direction Panasonic is taking with its massage chairs. We’d like to see better warranty protection and a better design aesthetic. However, the massage therapy is very effective and the chair is quite well designed. This is definitely a shiatsu massage chair worth considering at the higher end of the market.