What It Is

Panasonic has introduced a new series of massage chairs. This new series is called the Real Pro Ultra. There last series was the Real Pro Elite. The first of this series is the EP 30003 massage chair. This review will look at some of the features and discuss the warranty coverage of this chair. This chair is a mid range model in the $2,000 to $3,000 price range.

First, we take a look at the post-sale protection for the consumer. This includes both the warranty and customer service in the event that you require service on the chair. The warranty covers certain aspects such as labor and parts covered by the manufacturer. The warranty coverage protects the consumer and takes some risk out of the purchase. Not all warranties are the same. Panasonic provides you with 3 years on the parts on the major components. Items like upholstery are excluded from the warranty. You also get 1 year labor and 1 year shipping of parts covered by the factory. This coverage is good on the parts, but is rather short on the labor. Panasonic is now offering in-home technician service to bring it up to the level of the best chair manufacturers. Most retailers will offer extended warranty coverage to match the better companies, but at additional cost. Customer service is provided by the retail establishment where the chair is purchased, so service levels are highly variable.

Technology is advancing at a breathtaking pace. The amount of features being added to massage chairs is nothing short of extraordinary. With the variety of features comes a challenge with keeping the chair easy and intuitive to use. The EP30003 has a very nicely designed remote control. It has buttons to activate automatic programs directly. It also comes with a voice guidance system. The voice guidance system will talk you through the controls that is great for beginners to use. You can also memorize programs. If you like a particular massage you can memorize the program so you can select it whenever you like without having to reset the controls.

The important features of the Panasonic EP-30003 are the Junetsu massage and the extendable leg rest. Panasonic research has yielded a new massage technique called Junetsu. This technique is aimed at deep penetration of the muscles. It uses small circular motions combined with firm pressure. This combination provides for a penetrating and invigorating massage to targeted areas of the back. Junetsu is defined as ultra fine kneading and this is an effective massage technique. The other key feature we like is the extendable leg rest. Although this is not quite as exciting as the Junetsu, it is important for the American market. With few exceptions, massage chairs are designed for the Asian market and secondarily exported to America. The typical American is taller and heavier than the typical Asian. This is reflected in massage chairs which are small for Americans. Panasonic finally introduces 5 critical inches to extend the leg rest. It is a start in the right direction.

The Real Pro Ultra has a sleek, post modern design. It is somewhat industrial in its design and lacks some designer touches. This is a bit of a drawback. The massage recliner is comfortable to sit in. It has soft padded armrest covers. The synthetic leather is surprisingly soft to the touch. There is a contoured head pillow to give support. The backpad has adequate padding to be soft to sit in. The rollers do not stick out too far when not in use, so the chair is comfortable to sit in when not being used for massage. This is overall a well designed chair.

This is perhaps the most important category, since the massage makes or breaks the chair. The Panasonic EP-30003 comes with automatic and manual programs. For one touch convenience, select from four 15-minute Pre-Programs, One 5-minute Quick Program. The Pre-programs or automatic programs include Shiatsu, Swedish, Deep, Stretch and Quick. Shiatsu is for severe tightness and tension; Swedish is for gentle invigoration and enhanced blood flow: Deep is for mild tightness and tension; Stretch is for a refreshing stretch of the lower body; Quick is for a variety of techniques in 5 minutes. Manual massage techniques include: Junetsu, Shiatsu, Swedish, Knead, Stretch, Tap and Full Roll. The lower body air system covers the calves and feet only.

The Real Pro Ultra is the new series of massage chairs by Panasonic. The EP-30003 is the entry level lounger at the mid range price level. We like the Junetsu massage techniques for its deep penetration capability. This is a great innovation included in this chair. The aesthetic design of this chair is its only major issue with us. The quality and reliability of this chair is pretty solid. If you are looking a mid tier massage chair, this is definitely worth your consideration.