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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: One of the challenges of modern day equipment is that there are so many features that are now included. The design challenge comes in making these devices simple to understand and easy to use. Panasonic has been involved in this arena for a long time and takes this very seriously. The remote of the EP1273 is very well laid out. It is simple to understand and using it takes hardly any time. We are impressed with the simplicity of this chair and give it an 18 in this category.

Key Features: The key features of the EP1273 are the dual use ottoman and the 8 manual massage techniques. This massage recliner has a dual-use air ottoman system. Use the air system to knead and relieve tightness in the calves. Raise the ottoman and place your feet on it for a soothing and relieving foot massage. The second use of the ottoman is the built in stretch function. Hit the button and the ottoman will at first rise up and then it will lower in 20 degree increments. This will stretch out the lower body and provide gentle relief to aching muscles. This recliner also has 8 manual massage techniques. The 8 techniques include: Shiatsu, Swedish, Hawaiian, tapping, rolling, kneading, compression and percussion. This is a great variety for a mid range massage chair. We give the EP-1273 an 18 for key features.

Massage Therapy: The EP 1273 comes with the most variety of massage treatments for a massage chair in its class. You have a choice of automatic and manual programs. You can select from 4 automatic and 8 manual massage techniques. The automatic programs run the entire chair, including the air massage system. The 8 manual massage techniques are specifically for the back. Furthermore, there are 3 massage courses that target specific areas of the back. You can also vary the roller width and the intensity settings of the massages. The leg rest comes with an air compression massage for the feet and calves. This is a nice package of thorough massage therapies for a mid range massage chair. The EP-1273 is rated an 18 for massage therapy.

Overall, the EP 1273 earns a score of 88/100. The EP-1273KL massage chair is certainly one of the better values provided by Panasonic. You get some excellent massage therapy treatments which are also available in their higher end models. The dual use ottoman is nice with the built in stretch system. We feel that the foot massage could be better, since you have to raise the leg ottoman and then bend your knees to perform. The aesthetic design of the chair is also lacking. However, the massage therapy is solid and you get a good variety of choice with this chair. If you are looking at a massage recliner in this class, then it is worth your time to check out the EP 1273 massage chair from Panasonic.

There is only so much we can put in a product review, so check out the fabulous features and functions of the Panasonic EP-1273 Massage Chair at our site. We carry the full line of Panasonic Massage Chairs including the new Real Pro Ultra series, which is the newest line by Panasonic.