Panasonic EP 30003 Real Pro Ultra Massage Chair Review
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: It is important that the manufacturer stand behind its product and provides good customer service. Panasonic has 1 year labor and 3 year parts. Panasonic uses a counter to monitor the machine hours. The warranty will expire after 1,000 hours of use. Panasonic has average warranty coverage. Customer service is through your retailer or national service centers. Service time and quality is variable and dependent on where service is obtained. Our Rating in this category is 16.
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: Intuitive and easy to use are some of the hardest elements to get right with today’s electronics. Massage chairs have so many features, that some controllers become an unsightly mess. You have to spend hours over the manual to figure some of them out. This severely detracts from the massage therapy environment. Panasonic has a simple control. They incorporate along the top of the control the automatic massages for one button selection. You can tailor massages fairly easy and the learning of the control is rather fast. We give an 18.
Key Features: 2 of the best features of the Real Pro Ultra is the reflexology foot massage and the Junetsu massage. Most people do not yet understand the importance of the feet in massage therapy. When stress is put on the body, the body activates the hands and feet for action. The major organs then gear up to for support. Reflexology foot massage helps to reverse this process. The Panasonic EP 30003 comes with reflexology foot massage that helps relax the whole body. The other important feature is an ultra fine kneading called Junetsu. Small circles are made with firm pressure. This provides a penetrating and deep tissue relief. We rate this an 18.
Massage Therapy: The most critical function are the massage therapies that can be delivered by the chair. This recliner is capable of full body massage. It covers the back and neck with the back rollers. The lower body is covered comprehensively with the air massage system. The Panasonic Real Pro Ultra has 5 automatic programs 4 manual massage techniques and 4 manual courses. With the auto programs choose from the following: Refresh, Shiatsu, Deep, Swedish and Stretch. There are a total of 14 airbags for calf and foot coverage. We give the Real Pro Ultra a 19 for this category.
What is the overall rating for the Panasonic Real Pro Ultra EP30003 TU? Adding up our scores, we rate the Panasonic EP30003 TU as an 88/100. The best feature is the Junetsu ultra fine kneading massage. Panasonic developed this for its higher end chairs and was able to integrate into the EP 30003 at a much lower price point. The remote control also has the voice guidance system which is nice for new users. The warranty for the Real Pro Ultra is about average. You may want to investigate extended warranties for additional protection. Some taller users may find the chair too small, but try it to be sure. The massage chair is solid and reliable with some good technology for the price point. If you are looking at massage chair recliners in this range, you should check this one out.