Digging The Trench

We present review of the Sanyo model HEC SA5000 massage chair. Our intention is to provide a massage chair buyer with an objective review and evaluation of a given massage chair. We use a 5 category system. Equal weight is given to each category. Each category can earn from 0 to 20 points. The points are then summed up to provide you with an overall 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 of evaluating a massage chair. We hope you find this helping in your search for the best massage chair for your needs. The Sanyo HEC-SA5000 massage chair recliner price is in the $3,000 to $4,000 range.

Warranty & Customer Service: We first cover the warranty and customer service. These are your long term protections from potential problems with your purchase. This product is has the following warranty coverage: 3 years on the roller mechanism, 1 year parts, 1 year labor and 1 year in home technician service. We like the 3 years on the roller mechanism. The best manufacturers cover parts for a minimum of 3 years, so Sanyo is a bit light here. They do offer 1 year in home technician service which is a plus. Sanyo has a national call center for customer service which is fairly competent. We give an overall rating of 15 in this category.

Comfort & Ergonomics: The SA-5000 comes with a well padded back pad on the chair back. The head support cushion is contoured and adjustable. he armrests have sufficient padding. The leg ottoman cannot be extended which may be a concern for taller users. This massage recliner was originally designed in Japan for that market and later exported to the USA. The main remote has a simple layout with one touch buttons for automatic massages. There is also a wired remote, but it has limited functionality. We give the SA5000 a 15 for ergonomics.

Ease of Use: We are always concerned with how easy a massage chair is to use. There are an ever increasing number of features and options, but the 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 Sanyo remote 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 you are getting and the area, then hit the Program Memory button and the chair will remember. This is like having additional automatic programs at your disposal. 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.

Key Features: Sanyo introduces some innovative technology in the SA-5000 massage chair. The have a stiffness detection system and a unique roller system called the GK rollers. The stiffness detection system monitors your pulse rate and your perspiration. The software then is able to determine areas of stiffness in the body and to direct the chairs attention on these areas. The GK rollers are specially designed mechanisms that allow for a gripping massage. The rollers can extend outward over the shoulders and neck areas to perform this unique gripping massage. This is very relieving for tight and soreness in the neck and shoulder region. We give Sanyo an 18 for key features.

Massage Therapy: This massage chair comes equipped with 4 full body automatic courses including Stiffness, Relax, Recovery and Fine. There are also 4 programs stored in Memory, 4 manual massage techniques and 4 massage courses. Select from 5 roller width setting and 5 massage speed settings. This model also comes with an air system for the lower body. This system has 24 airbags and covers the feet, calves and thighs. There is also a multi-point shiatsu massage for targeting the lower body for a soothing and relaxing lower body massage. The massage therapy is very effective in the SA 5000 and it scores an 18 in massage therapy.

How does the Sanyo SA-5000 stack up? We give this massage chair an 84/100 in our overall rating. There is some innovative technology contained in this mid range model. We are impressed with the GK roller system which is also in the high end Sanyo model. This provides superior coverage of the neck and shoulder regions. The warranty coverage is a bit light on the parts side and you may want to consider an extended warranty. The memory program is another nice feature enabling the chair to memorize a particular massage and its settings for repeat use. If you are looking at a mid range massage chair, this one is definitely worth a serious look.

This review takes a look at the M-2 Orion massage chair. The M-2 is the entry level massage chair produced by Omega Massage, Inc. Omega is one of the top massage chair brands and is know for their advanced technology and elegant chair designs. The Orion is a full body massage chair and is priced in the $1,500 and under category.

Omega is one of the best massage chair brands and has national distribution. Distribution is important because it signifies that the company has retail clients and has staying power. There are many companies that sell massage chairs at home shows and the internet. Potential buyers must be very careful because they may end up with a chair that does not work and no parts and no service. If you stick with the top brands you will not have these problems.

We will first evaluate the warranty coverage for the M-2 massage recliner. The Orion comes with 1 year coverage on the frame of the chair. You also get 6 months for both parts and labor. This is comprehensive coverage compared to other massage chairs in this class. Omega also provides solid customer service. They are competent and their turn around times for any issues are fast.

The M-2 has an attractive executive look to the chair. This sleek, contemporary design will compliment almost any room in the house. We like the thin chair back and the thick padded armrests. There is silver trim on the side panels giving it a nice designer touch. Omega is known for its striking massage chair designs and the M-2 is certainly no exception.

The remote control of the M-2 is fairly simple to use. It has a built in holder underneath the armrest. This is nice to not have a remote stand which is pretty common on most chairs. The remote has both automatic programs and manual programs. The automatic programs have 3 different timed settings of 5, 10 and 15 minutes. The manual programs allow you to select from 3 manual massage techniques. These include kneading, swaying and rolling. You can also select from 3 back courses. The back courses are full back, lower back and upper back.

The chair back has the roller unit which provides the back massage. The Orion comes with 23 inches of travel. This means the rollers will move up and down your back 23 inches. The chair back is relatively thin for a massage recliner and is fully upholstered front and back. Many chairs have a plastic back cover. The chair back can be reclined back 170 degrees with a range of motion from 115 to 170 degrees. The chair recline is manually controlled by pushing a lever and leaning back to the desired angle. Returning the back rest to its upright position requires the user to sit up and the piston will bring the chair back up.

The seat has two types of massages built into it. There are eight rotary massage heads in the seat to provide a soothing massage to the buttocks and thighs. The massage level can be set to 3 different levels for your comfort. Additionally, there is a vibration massage in the seat as well. The vibration can be set to 3 levels of intensity to stimulate the capillary vessels enhancing blood flow.

The leg rest is adjustable in two different ways. You can raise the foot rest up to 90 degrees to a full horizontal position. You can also extend the foot rest out up to 4 inches. This is very convenient to position the leg rest massager exactly where you want on your legs. The calf massage can be set to 3 levels of intensity to provide the level of penetration desired. The leg rest is operated with a manual control lever to raise or lower.

We find that the M-2 recliner is an outstanding value in the entry level massage chair range. This is a full body massage chair and has some outstanding features. We particularly like the sway massage function to loosen up tight back muscles. There is also a negative ion function which helps to remove stale oxygen away from the body to provide a more refreshing massage. You get comprehensive warranty coverage from one of the top massage chair manufacturers. If you are looking at entry level massage chairs, the M-2 Orion may be just for you.

The days of simply walking into a new model home and buying a “problem free” product may be numbered. While you may be thinking newer is a “safer” bet with respect to quality and finish in a home, this is not always the case. Many buyers sometimes end up very surprised to find that what they thought they bought, was not what they actually received. Furthermore, they discover that trying to rectify the matter is often times an uphill battle. Consider yourself forewarned!

The time and effort it takes to finally arrive in your new home can be stressful enough without the added anxiety of dealing with unexpected problems after you move in. Failing to take the time to assess the physical condition of a new home is a recipe for disaster. Unexpected repair costs can be crippling if you are on a tight budget.

Engaging an experienced Halifax home inspector to conduct a pre-delivery Halifax home inspection will ensure that the specifications, material grade and quality, and construction methods agreed to are, in fact, being adhered to.

The following outlines a list of interior and exterior elements a qualified Halifax home inspector will thoroughly examine prior to you taking delivery of your new home:

INSPECTING THE INTERIOR

Plumbing fixtures

* there are no chips in bathtubs, toilets, and sinks

* faucets function as they should

* cabinets are securely attached to the wall

* caulking around tub and shower enclosures and counter top back splashes is sealed

Doors

* doors are well-fitted and operational

* locks are properly installed and do not rattle

Kitchen

* there are no scratches or marks on counter tops, cupboard doors, sinks, and appliances

* cabinet doors align correctly

* spaces for appliances have been measured

* range hood fan and light have been tested

* electrical outlets above the counter are operational

Interior finishes

* wall finishes show no uneven paint coverage or shadowing

* handrails are securely fastened and smooth to the touch

Closets

* doors are secure and open and close without a problem

Floors

* there are very few squeaks when walking on the floor

* floor covering surfaces are relatively flat

* seams in carpets and vinyl sheets are tight

* ceramic tiles have no surface cracks

* joints between ceramic tiles are properly filled with grout

* flooring shows no damage, stains, or shade differences

INSPECTING THE SYSTEMS AND EXTERIOR

Heating

* there is no damage to furnace and hot water heater

* check the capacity, shut-off mechanisms, and type of filtering

* verify the location and number of cold air returns

* verify the location of fuel lines and shut-off devices

Electrical System

* locate the electrical panel and explain the functions of each breaker/fuse

* inspect the ground fault and arc fault circuit interrupters (GFCI/AFCI)

Basement

* walls are safe from water penetration

* the floor slopes towards a drain

* joists should span no more than 2.1 meters (without bridging/strapping/engineered flooring)

* basement is properly insulated

Brickwork

* mortar joints are filled to capacity

* there are weep holes above windows and doors and at the bottom of the brick

Shingles

* extend over the roof edge at least 12 millimeters

* corners are not lifting

* is properly gas-proofed

* joints are sealed

Other Considerations

* find the switches for mechanical ventilation and circulation fans

* locate the plumbing system shut-off valves

* ensure that grading slopes gently away from the house

* where the frame meets the wall of the house, ensure caulking is complete around windows and doors

* roof vents are as close as possible to ridge of roof

In summary, a pre-delivery Halifax home inspection by a qualified Halifax home inspector may not uncover anything major, but will give you peace of mind…peace of mind that is well worth the price!