Home James Knolan on 28 Aug 2008 02:44 am
Review: The Omega Montage Premier Shiatsu Massage Chair
This is a product review of the Montage Premier massage chair by Omega. The Montage Premier is their top of the line massage recliner. This is a structured product review which will cover the salient categories of the following: warranty, ergonomics, ease of use, key features and massage therapy. We award a score of up to 20 points per category. We then give an overall rating by summing up each individual category for a possible 100 points. This massage recliner is in the luxury class of $4,000 to $5,000.
Warranty & Customer Service: As with any big ticket purchase, you want sufficient protection from potential problems. The warranty coverage helps to reduce the risk that you the consumer are taking when buying any product. The Montage Premier comes with comprehensive warranty coverage. It has 5 years protection on the frame, 3 years on parts, 3 years on labor and you also get 1 year of parts shipping. You are also covered for the first 90 days with in-home technician service. This is a terrific warranty package. Customer service and turn around times are good and are provided by Omega. The Montage Premier earns a 19 in this category.
Comfort & Ergonomics: Massage chairs are also recliners. It is important that they are comfortable to sit in when not in use for a massage. Also, the chair needs to be ergonomically designed, so the important controls or features are readily accessible. The Montage Premier is plush and has soft synthetic leather upholstery. The back pad is comfortable and the seat is as well. The remote control comes with a wireless sub remote that is very convenient to use. The chair is designed to be wheelchair accessible allowing those challenged individuals to get in and out of the chair themselves. The leg rest is extendable an extra 4 inches and the chair can easily accommodate persons up to 6′ 6″. The Montage Premier earns a 19 in Comfort & Ergonomics.
Ease of Use: This category is about intuitive use of the massage chair controls. They should be simple and easy to use for first time users. This recliner comes with many advanced features in the remote control. It comes with a wireless sub remote which is well designed and simple to use. There are 5 single touch automatic programs. The chair back and footrest work off a wheel control like an ipod. The LCD control panel shows exactly what massage functions are being applied. The myriad of manual controls have great descriptions in the side panel of the remote. We rate the ease of use for the Montage Premier a 19.
Key Features: There is an array of great features in this massage chair, but we find the full body heat and the lower body traction system to be key features to point out. The Montage Premier comes with heating elements in the chair back, the seat and the leg rest. Each of these areas can be individually controlled. This allows the user to target the use of heat where they most need. We find heat is a great compliment to massage therapy and is used in spas throughout the world. Omega has added an effective lower body traction function. This traction function gently stretches the lower body including the lower back, hips, knees and ankles. The leg rest is brought to the horizontal position. The airbags are activated to hold your ankles in place. The leg rest then lowers successively to 3 positions. When the leg rest lowers, it stretches the muscles and tendons throughout the lower body. The Montage Premier earns a 19 in Key Features.
Massage Therapy: The Montage Premier comes with automatic and manual massage functions. The Montage Premier has 5 full body automatic courses, 4 manual massage courses, and 4 massage speed settings for a total combination of 64 manual massage courses. The manual massage techniques include Kneading, Tapping, Finger Press, and Kneading & Tapping (Shiatsu). One nice feature is the kneading and tapping speeds are independent and can be individually control in the shiatsu technique. The lower body traction is integrated with the automatic programs when activated. To ensure your total relaxation, Omega has a music-massage synchronization function. The Montage Premier is truly a full body therapy and relaxation machine. It provides a total sensory experience. The Montage Premier earns a 20 in Massage Therapy.
The Montage Premier earns a 96/100 points on our rating scale. The Montage Premier is the most comprehensive massage therapy chair on the market today. You get comprehensive warranty coverage without having to buy an extended warranty. The chair comes with a wide array of massage treatments to target practically all areas of the body. It provides a strong massage which can be softened with the included extra back pad. Bottom line, this massage chair delivers a soothing and comprehensive massage experience every time.
