With so many massage chairs on the market, how does one navigate to find what is right for them? One effective method our past customers have told us is by comparing reviews of massage chairs. We are going to review a Panasonic massage chair which is in the mid-range level. The model is the EP1273 massage recliner. Our review process rates a massage chair in 5 key areas. Each area is worth a possible 20 points. The overall score is attained by adding up the scores in each key area for a possible score of 100 total points. We present our review of the EP-1273 by Panasonic.

Warranty Coverage & Customer Service: Even though Panasonic is one of the most famous brand names there is on the market, you still want to make sure you get adequate warranty protection. Even the best of companies have off days and you certainly do not want to be stuck with a massage chair made on an off day. Here is the warranty you get with the EP1273: there is one year coverage on parts and labor. For this price range, these are shorter times than other competitive brands. You get 1 year of free part shipping which is good. The best coverage is the one year in-home service. This is above industry norms for this price range. Customer service for Panasonic is average. We give the warranty coverage for this model a 16.

Comfort & Ergonomics: This is an important category for massage chairs-after all, your goal is to relax. The design of the chair from an aesthetic point of view is a bit sterile and industrial. However, once you take a seat, it if comfortable to sit in. The EP-1273KL has a soft, detachable head pillow. There is also an extra back pad. It is a comfortable chair to sit in. The ergonomics of the chair are thought out and everything is well within reach. The control is simple and buttons easy to push. We give the EP1273 an 18 in comfort and ergonomics.

Ease of Use: As technology advances, we are seeing that more features are being added at incrementally lower costs. That is an excellent trend for consumers. On the other side of this is for manufacturers to keep the use of their equipment simple and easy to use. Luckily, Panasonic is an expert in this field. The EP 1273 is no exception. You can master the controls very quickly and easily. We give this massage chair an 18 for ease of use.

Key Features: There are quite a few important features, but we will narrow it down to two. The two key features are the 8 manual massage treatments and the Swede-Atsu massage mechanism. Panasonic incorporates an amazing array of eight manual techniques. The manual techniques include Shiatsu, Swedish, Hawaiian, tapping, rolling, kneading, compression and percussion. There is a massage therapy for virtually every need. The other key feature is the Swede-Atsu massage mechanism. This is a mechanical feature that is designed to replicate the feel of the use of thumbs and the palm of the hand. The mechanics were patterned after real hand movements and then built into the massage chair. These advance features rate an 18 in our book.

Massage Therapy: This is the most important category for a massage chair. Obviously, the massage therapy needs to be effective or else it is a disappointment. There are eight manual massage techniques that will please the most demanding of massage enthusiasts. You also can choose to target specific regions of the back or pinpoint a specific place. The pre-programs provide effective full body massage at the touch of a button. There are 3 fifteen minute massage programs and a five minute program. These are well programmed and provide effective relief. The air massage system adds the calves and feet into the equation. Overall, you get a very good set of massage treatments for this price range. We give the EP 1273 an 18 in this category.

We rate the EP 1273 an 88/100 in our overall rating. The EP-1273 is packed with some great massage techniques. This full body massage chair provides the most massage techniques in its price category. You get a thorough arsenal of massage treatments. The stretch function is a great addition and provides an effective method to relieve tight muscles in the legs. The warranty on this model is less than we would like to see. If you are looking for a full body massage chair, the EP1273 certainly provides solid massage therapy compared to massage chairs in its class.