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The History of Marquise Diamond Engagement Ring

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Filed under Jewellery

The History of Marquise Diamond Engagement Ring
by Alice Sy

Did you know that the marquise design of diamond rings is believed to originate in France as far back as the 18th century?

King Louis XIV asked jewelers to design a unique shape of a diamond that is similar to the sultry way his then mistress, the Marquise de Pompadour smiles. This shape of diamond is slender and elongated with ends that are pointed much like the lips.

More and more couples today prefer the marquise diamond engagement ring because of its practicality, it is more affordable than the round or oval cut diamond. If you want to have a less conventional cut diamond, this is the right choice.

The shape of the marquise diamond engagement ring may be deceiving, since it is elongated; it seems larger and heavier than its actual carat size.

Just like the radiant cut diamond engagement ring, the marquise diamond engagement ring is cut in a multifaceted way and appears to have a bow-tie effect when light reflects on it. It produces an effect of dancing lights and radiates in the sun. And this characteristic adds for its popularity for engagement rings.

The proportion of the marquise diamond engagement ring varies, but the gem experts and jewelers say that the perfect proportion for this type of ring is that width should be the same length as its height that achieves a more prominent and radiant bow-tie effect.

For practical and aesthetic reasons, instead of having the marquise diamond engagement ring to be a solitaire diamond, you can add other precious gems or stones or have it in bridal set engagement ring. This way you can have the manifestation of having a larger diamond stone intricately designed that looks expensive.

The marquise diamond engagement ring is perfect for any woman, it actually flatters the fingers because of its cut, making the fingers seem elongated and elegant.

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10k Choice of White or Yellow Gold Marquise Solitaire Diamond Engagement Ring (1 ct, J-K Color, I2-I3 Clarity)


Product Review of the Panasonic EP30004 Massage Chair

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Filed under Furniture

Product Review of the Panasonic EP30004 Massage Chair
by James Knolan

This review will take a look at one of the Panasonic Real Pro Ultra series of massage chairs. The Real Pro Ultra is the current massage recliner series rolled out by Panasonic. We will look at the EP 30004 model. This chair will be reviewed in 5 key categories. Each category can earn up to 20 points for a total possible score of 100 points. We will evaluate the recliner in each of the following categories: Warranty & Customer Service, Comfort/Ergonomics, Ease of Use, Features and Massage Therapy. Let us see how this massage chair rates..

Warranty & Customer Service: In any transaction one party takes on more risk than the other. Warranty coverage helps to reduce your risk which is especially important on higher ticket items like a massage chair. You want to have long term protection. The EP-30004 is covered with 3 years on the parts and 1 year labor. This is the warranty offered by the manufacturer. It is rather short in comparison to the other top brands, so you really want to consider purchasing an extended warranty. Of course, this also drives the cost of this model up. Customer service is provided by the retailer, so this varies depending on your purchase the chair.

Comfort & Ergonomics: To provide relaxation, a massage chair needs to be comfortable to sit in. Also, the design of the chair must be ergonomic, so you do not have to struggle to make adjustments with the chair. The Real Pro Ultra has soft padded armrests. The head pillow can be adjusted for each user and is also detachable. The chair back and seat are plush when seated. The leg ottoman can be adjusted up to 5 inches of additional extension. The controls are located in easy and accessible areas. The EP-30004 is well designed for comfort and ergonomics. We rate this recliner an 18 in this category.

Ease of Use: There is a virtual explosion in the features of new massage chairs. This is a wonderful trend that has great implications for consumers. The only downside is to keep the remote controls simple and easy to use in the face of increasing functionality. The EP 30004 has a fairly simple and straightforward remote. If you need assistance using the remote, the Real Pro Ultra comes with a voice guidance system to walk you through the proper steps. This is helpful for first time users or for trying something new with the chair. There are one button automatic controls and there are also manual controls. You can also store your favorite programs for up to 4 different users. We give this chair a 19 for ease of use.

Key Features: The Real Pro Ultra series of chairs comes with a new massage technique developed by Panasonic. This massage technique is called Junetsu or ultra fine kneading. This Junetsu massage provides targets the muscles with one-second circular thumb movements like that of a professional massage therapist. Junetsu quickly loosens up tight muscles. The spiral circular motion reverberates down through the muscles to invigorate you down to the surface of your bones. This function is a very effective and quick way to get the muscles to release. The other important new feature in the EP 30004 is the shoulder and arm stretch. This function actually provides traction for the arm and shoulder. The stretch is accomplished by the airbags holding the arm and then the chair back moves back slightly to stretch out the arm and shoulder area. This helps to remove tension and to increase your flexibility and joint mobility. The EP 30004 earns a 19 in key features.

Massage Therapy: This massage chair makes use of the nearly 100 acupressure points on your back and neck. Choose from the soothing palm style of Swedish massage, or perhaps deep tissue kneading, or Shiatsu massage. This chair has a variety of techniques for invigorating these energy acupoints. Choose from manual massage courses for the back which focus on a particular area or region. There are two stretch functions included in this recliner. There is one for the lower body and one for the shoulder. For the feet, the foot wells have adjustable and removable plates that incorporate reflexology. The reflexology massages stimulates trigger points on your feet. This helps to increase blood and energy flow throughout the entire body. This chair has many beneficial massage treatments that are very effective. The EP30004 earns a 19 for massage therapy.

The Panasonic EP 30004 rates as a 90/100. We really like the new and innovative features of this recliner. The shoulder stretch is another important advance for massage chair technology. The Junetsu massage technique provides good deep penetration for those hard to get at areas in the back. The remote is simple to use and comes with the voice guidance feature. The manufacturer’s warranty is a bit on the light side and should be beefed up with the purchase of an extended warranty. The only point of concern we have is the industrial look of the chair. We do not understand why Panasonic continues to neglect the design aesthetics of their massage chair line. But overall, this is a very solid chair from an important manufacturer. If you are in the market for a luxury massage chair, then this one should be on your short list of choices.

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Check out the Panasonic EP30004 Massage Chair.

Panasonic Real Pro Ultra Massage Chair In Black


Stylish Men’s Winter Fashion: The Pea Coat

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Filed under Fashion and Style

Stylish Men’s Winter Fashion: The Pea Coat
by Ray “Gypsy” Timmons

For those of us in the northern hemisphere, winter weather is quickly approaching. Staying stylish in the winter means choosing classic winter coat looks. The pea coat is a classic, that is both enduring and always alluring.

Like most pillars of men’s fashion, the pea coat’s story can be traced back to the military. Since the eighteenth century, overcoats resembling the modern pea coat have been used by European and American naval personnel. Even today, the pea coat is regular issue to the heroic men and women of the United States Navy.

As a result of the classic pea coat’s timeless silhouette, various version designs are available at many stores. Also, since it’s a military uniform piece, pea coats can be bought from army surplus outlets for unbelievably cheap prices. If you’d like to buy a designer pea coat, most brand names sell their own versions of this stylish and practical winter garment.

Despite the location you buy your coat from, you should find one that doesn’t differ in construction far from the classic military original. Here’s what you ought to take note of when you shop for a pea coat:

* Good quality pea coats are composed of durable and warm wool, so be skeptical of any type of pea coat that isn’t primarily composed of quality wool for its external layer.

* Big lapels, large naval type buttons, and vertical or diagonal pockets are noticeable components of classic pea coats.

* Your clothing should always fit you! A pea coat can seem overly bulky on a man who has a thin frame. If you have a slender build, take your coat to your local alterations shop and have them make it more fitting to your size and shape.

A well maintained pea coat can be a useful wardrobe piece as it can be both dressed up or dressed down. With the addition of a scarf, red or white will do, your winter pea coat outfit will keep you fashion forward and warm and all winter long.

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London Fog Men’s Wool Blend Pea Coat

Kenneth Cole Reaction Men’s Eden Wool Pea Coat

GUESS Richter Peacoat



Consumers guide for your home sauna

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Filed under Home Improvement and Appliances

Home Saunas are relaxing, private, luxurious and, best of all, free of any nude hairy men.

Which would you prefer: a wet or dry sauna? Most people envision a dry sauna when the word is mentioned. The dry sauna consists of wood walls and ceiling. A Finnish sauna has water you can pour over hot rocks or stones to produce steam. A steam room is what wet saunas are usually refered to. Both provied a distinctive experience.

If you’re going dry, do you want a traditional Finnish sauna or an infrared sauna? A traditional Finnish stone sauna can provide a more authentic feel to your home sauna. The main actual difference is that a Finnish sauna works by heating the air, which in turn heats you. An infrared sauna directly heats your body and doesn’t require the use of any stones or steam. A Finnish sauna may be more expensive; both in the original purchase with the cedar wood it uses and in the long term. The higher temperatures and steam can test the durability of a home sauna.

Think ahead of time about the size that you will need for your sauna. Should it be a small portable model that can be used in a particular part of your house or would you prefer a larger stationary unit that can fit more people. Perhaps even an outdoor model.

If you plan on having alot of people in your home sauna, it may be worth considering having a seperate sauna area built outside your home as opposed to inside it. You need to decide whether its for private use or for parties to know what kind ofr space you will need.

Do you like to construct your own things? If you do, you may want to try the Finnish home sauna. However, if you like your things to plug-n-play, try the simplistic infrared saunas. Infrared saunas come pre-built, and are easily installed.

When getting a sauna, you have to take into consideration whether you need additional plugs and pipes. Different saunas require different amounts of electricity and may require additional plumbing. Check out your current setup to see what is available without modification before deciding what to do.

In the end, do what feels right. There are plenty of saunas in all range of budgets that can be perfect for your needs and desires. Get something that will make you feel at home; after all a sauna is made for you to relax in.

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Product Review of the Montage Elite Massage Chair

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Filed under Furniture

Our goal is to present a potential massage chair buyer with an unbiased evalution and review of a given massage chair. We have developed a 5 category system to evaluate a massage chair. We give equal weight to each category and give 0 to 20 points rating and then add them up to present an overall score. Our categories include Warranty & Customer Service, Comfort/Ergonomics, Ease of Use, Features and Massage Therapy. This systematic approach forces us to a disciplined method of evaluating a massage chair to help guide anyone looking at massage chairs. The Omega Montage Elite shiatsu massage chair price is in the Luxury range of $4,000 to $5,000.

Warranty & Customer Service: Warranty and customer service come from the company that makes the massage chair. A warranty protects the customer and customer service must rectify issues one may have. With the Montage Elite, Omega Massage covers 5 years on the frame, 3 years on parts, 3 years labor and 90 days in-home service. Additionally, Omega has 1 year covering shipping. Omega provides a more comprehensive warranty well above the other manufacturers in this category. Omega only covers 90 days in-home versus others with 1 year. With this exception, Omega provides strong warranty coverage. On the customer service side, Omega overall is responsive and competent with minimal turnaround times. The Montage Elite is an 18 in Warranty & Customer.

Comfort & Ergonomics: Comfort and ergonomics are important design characteristic with a shiatsu massage chair. Omega designed the Montage Elite for comfort and relaxation. This shiatsu lounger is wheel chair accessible accommodating those that may have trouble getting in and out of the chair. Omega included the first wireless remote control with a lanyard allowing users to not have to get up to change the controls. The Montage Elite can accommodate taller users up to 6′ 6″ allowing most Americans to fit in the chair. The comfort and fit of this shiatsu lounger is very good. Omega has accommodated many important ergonomics into this massage recliner. The Montage Elite is a 19 in Comfort & Ergonomics.

East of Use: These days companies are always adding advanced electronics, which can many times just be overwhelming without a technical degree. Omega has designed a main remote and a wireless sub-remote. The sub-remote controls 80% of the functions and is palm-sized. The footrest adjustment knobs are within easy reach. Extensive manual functions are on a side panel on the main remote. The Omega main remote is stylish and very intuitive to use. Our rating in this category is 19.

Key Features: The most prominent features of the Omega Montage Elite are the Lower Body Traction and Footflex Reflexology foot massage. Omega built in a traction function to gently stretch out your lower back, hips, knees and ankles. The footrest is raised horizontally; the airside activates to hold your ankles and then lowers successively to 3 positions. As the footrest lowers your muscles and tendons are stretched throughout the lower body. The Footflex reflexology uses airbags to hold and gently squeeze your foot at the arch and the heel at your reflexology points. Omega has brought the lower body air massages up to par with the back massage technology. Omega has a thorough array of massage for the back, neck, shoulders and base of the skull. The Montage Elite is a 19 in Key Features.

Massage Therapy: The massage functions are included in the Montage Elite includes 5 full body automatic courses, 4 manual massage courses, and 4 massage speed settings for a total combination of 64 manual massage courses. The automatic massage functions include the following: ShiatsuKneading, Tapping, Finger Press, and Kneading & Tapping (Shiatsu). The Montage Elite comes loaded with great massage therapy tools. Choose from the lower body traction, full body heat, lower body compression massage and 64 combinations of back massage. Music is probably the most overlooked feature in most massage chairs. The reality is music takes you away from your environment. The Montage Elite has music-massage synchronization function. Not only do you drift off to your favority music, but the massage will actually be to the tempo of the music. Simply outstanding! Overall Rating for the Omega Montage Elite massage recliner for massage therapy is 20.

How does the Omega Massage Montage Elite stack up? Overall, our rating of the Panasonic is an 95/100. Omega just packs the features, conveniences and the luxuries into this shiatsu massage chair. Omega gives one of the strongest warranties protecting the customer without selling an extended warranty. The Montage Elite has solid technology, a striking design, ergonomic features galore and full massage therapy capabililties. With the extendable footrest, taller people up to 6′ 6″ can finally fit in a massage chair. This is the luxury massage chair to beat!

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How Does Argireline Work in Anti Aging Creams?

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Filed under Cosmetics

Wrinkles that occur in facial skin have a lot of causes. They are just a part of aging in most cases. Skin that loses fat, elastin and collagen can also be a result of over exposure to the sun or repetitive facial gestures. Also, the skin will lose its ability to seal in moisture and the result of this is dry, shriveled looking skin because of dead skin cells. Underlying facial muscles can be forced to lay in a position they have been trained to over time and cause smile lines, frown lines, eyebrow lines and forehead lines. Crow’s feet lines may also start to appear.

The aim of anti aging creams is to prevent lines and crinkle from appearing. The aim of anti wrinkle creams is to retrain skin to seal in moisture and the skin muscles to relax all of the positions they have formed over many years. There are strategies to ‘rebuild skin structure’ or ‘remodel skin cells’ that many people know about. To do this, it usually means the use of peptides. Peptides heal wounds very much like the way a burn victim will have their skin remodeled to encourage the skin to grow again.

Peptides is often used with facial and skin muscle regrowth or retraining a sort of muscle relaxer. Peptides work on a deeper level than topical cream solutions. Argireline is the trade name for Acetyl Hexapeptide-3, which is a peptide. It is also a synthetic anti-aging chemical created from natural proteins, that can be used to stimulate muscle relaxation as well as reflex reactions. It’s a way to treat the underlying cause of a wrinkles that show up in a certain position over time.

Argireline has been found successful to reduce the muscle reactions over a period of time, with slight improvement over a 4 week period, and twice the results in a 27 week usage. As with any anti aging cream or anti wrinkle cream treatment, once it is stopped, it is usual that the wrinkles will reappear to an extent and the natural muscle reactions will cause the newer skin cells to become retrained to appear to wrinkle with the fold of the underlying skin muscles.

The nature of argireline’s treatment process (treating the underlying muscles rather than the skin cells on the surface) makes it like a topical form of Botox. It may relax facial muscle contractions but this is only temporary (as it is with Botox). The makers of Argireline use slightly less than 10% ingredient composure to avoid side effects on consumers (the side effects include over relaxation of facial muscles causing sagging). Argireline has been on the market for some time now, but not long enough to accurately measure long-term effects, for now, Argireline appears safe an very effective as a topical anti aging or anti wrinkle cream. There are many formulations available today.

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Trilogy Diamond Engagement Ring

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Filed under Jewellery

Do you want to seal your promise of forever with your loved one with an engagement ring that will signify your love for her in the past, the present and the future? Then let the trilogy diamond engagement ring tell your story.

Love stories are worth telling and recollecting and they are made to be remembered for the sake of recollection. They are bond to strengthen further relationships and therefore are signified usually not only with priceless gifts but also with band such as an engagement ring. What makes a trilogy diamond engagement ring very popular is that it carries the purpose like that of the anniversary rings. It is perfect especially for those who are sentimental with memories that are worth keeping.

The three diamonds are specifically designed and they are bounded to be different with other traditional rings. And the three stones are bound to be in the band with no other additional stones for accentuation. The three diamonds are enough to give the elegant factor of the engagement ring. The diamonds in this engagement ring have similar sizes and would carry a higher carat, adding to the expensive nature of the ring. The diamonds should be relatively big to give emphasis and identity of the trilogy diamond engagement ring. The suggested shapes usually would be round and princess shaped diamonds.

The arrangement of the three stones in the trilogy diamond engagement ring is also given emphasis. The diamond at the center is higher or elevated than the other stones to signify the present. Also the words past, present and future can be engraved in the band as well.

Then you may also consider having a plain wedding band right after to match the trilogy diamond engagement to give emphasis to the significance of the ring. It is like allowing the two rings to work hand in hand in the spirit of elegance and love.

Although the trilogy diamond engagement ring is said to be quite expensive compared to other engagement rings, the expense should not be the center of the reason why a woman should say yes to the proposal of marriage, but the effort of the man which gives high regard to the sentimental reasons behind the love story.

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Product Review of Omega M 5000DLX Massage Chair

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Filed under Furniture

The M-5000DLX massage chair is a high end massage chair from Omega Massage. We will present an evaluation of the M5000 DLX recliner in this review. We will review the major features and the warranty coverage provided with this chair. The DLX is in the $3,000 to $4,000 price range.

When buying a big ticket item, you want to make sure that you are getting adequate warranty coverage for the item. You are putting out your hard earned cash for a multi year investment. You want to make sure you have protection to cover you investment for many years of enjoyment ahead.

The warranty is from the manufacturer of the product. Let us take a look at the warranty coverage provided by Omega for the M 5000DLX. The DLX warranty covers the frame for 5 years. You are also covered for 3 years on the parts and 3 years on the labor. You also get 1 year of parts shipping covered. The M5000 comes with a 90 day in home technician service as well. This is certainly one of the best manufacturer warranties on the market today.

There are some fantastic massage therapies with the M5000. Select one of the 5 automatic programs. Choose the neck and shoulders for a wonderful massage to loosen those tight areas and invigorate your senses. There are 4 manual massage techniques to choose from with finger press, kneading, tapping and combination kneading/tapping. You can also change the strength or intensity of the massage to 3 increasing levels.

One of the great features of Omega Massage Chairs over the years is they have strong, soothing massages. We have tried plenty of weak machines that cannot get that deeper penetration that is sometimes needed. The DLX comes with an extra back pad to soften the massage. This is great when starting out, but you may want to remove it as you become more accustomed to the massage therapies. The DLX has the best neck and shoulders massage, with innovative software controlling the subtle yet relieving motions of the massage techniques.

Your lower body is indeed in for a treat with the air massage system of the DLX. This advanced air system boasts a 12 valve manifold to synchronize and tantalize your lower body massages. The specially designed air bags gentle apply a compression massage to your buttocks, thighs, calves and feet. Got tired feet? Let the foot reflexology massage bring you back to life. The compression and stretching of the feet after a long day is rejuvenating to say the least.

Only the finest materials available are used on the M-5000. The DLX comes with highly varnished wood armrests. The upholstery is very fine top grain ox hide leather. The remote control comes with a side panel for your manual controls. It is a simple and easy to understand remote. There is a built in LCD screen that is also back lit for use in darker environments. There are wood grain side panels to add an extra designer touch.

One feature you do not see in the top brands is music. Afterall, a massage chair is there to help you relax. Music is one of the best methods to take your mind off the day and to relax. Omega understands this and incorporates an MP3 player for your enjoyment. Simply install the included USB stick into the USB port and put on the included headphones and drift off into higher levels of relaxation than you thought you could achieve.

The M-5000 DLX delivers all that a massage chair is about. It has full body capabilities including head to toe reach. Enjoy an excellent neck and shoulder rub down while your feet unwind to a soothing reflexology massage and your mind drifts off into more creative endeavors. You get peace of mind with the best warranty coverage from Omega. This is certainly one of the top massage chairs on the market today.

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Delicious And Unique Chocolate Gifts

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Filed under Gifts

If you are looking for something special to give to a dear friend, a special designed chocolate gift will definitely make the person happy. To give a personalized chocolate gift is something that is becoming more and more popular all over the world and especially in the UK.

Chocolate gifts are by far the most common and popular gift there is for most events, and no wonder about that since it is so well received by whoever it is that’s receiving it.

UK is a country with a great consumption of chocolate and todays chocoholics are choosier than ever. Now there are so many options for chocolate and the quality has become really refined. We now want chocolate that are of high quality, both for ourselves and as gift to family and friends. No longer are we totally satisfied with just a plain box of chocolate found in any store.

Luckily, it is now possible to have both chocolate of the highest quality and have it combined with a wrapper that’s designed in your own unique way. In this way you have a chocolate gift that truly will impress the person receiving it.

It truly is a wonderful feeling to get a chocolate gift and see your own name on the wrapper. Another option is to have it made with a picture of your choice and then add to it a phrase that gives the message of your appreciation and love to the other person.

Another great thing about giving away personalized chocolate gifts is that it is perhaps the easiest ways to get a UK chocolate gift of high quality. All you have to do is to fill in a few details online and then the chocolate will be created and shipped to you.

Make sure that the people you care about are getting gifts this coming event that will impress them. When you choose a customized UK chocolate gift you know that the receiver will be truly pleased. You can also be sure that your gift will remain in their memory for many different reasons.

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Myth Buster Challenge: More Massage Chair Motors are Better

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Filed under Furniture

There is a massage chair myth that has been permeated through time about the number of motors. This myth claims that the more motors contained in the massage chair, the better the massage chair. At the height of this myth, companies were claiming to have more and more motors in their massage chairs. The thought being that with more motors, the massage is greatly enhanced. Claims were made to have a massage chair with 6, 8 and even 18 motors. Of course, having more motors could enable more varied movements in the shiatsu massage chairs, but is this actually true?

This myth is going to be challenged in this article to reveal the real truth about the more motors the better the chair myth. First, one should examine the tradeoff of quantity versus quality. If a massage chair has 3 motors versus 18 motors, what is the quality level of the motors in the massage chair? Obviously, motors, not being cheap, mean that as the number of motors is increased, the cost of the chair must increase assuming the quality level is equal. However, as more motors are added, the lower priced motors (i.e. lower quality motors) will be used.

The motors used in a massage chair must be allocated space within the chair. If more motors are used, then more mechanism must be installed around each motor to drive whatever massage function. More and more real estate in the massage chair is used to accommodate additional motors. Motors are fairly heavy, weighing 2 lbs to 5 lbs each. If the massage chair has 18 motors at 5 lbs each, that is 90 lbs just in motors. Adding additional motors increases the weight of the chair and takes up valuable real estate within the chair.

How is the quality of massage with more or less motors? High end luxury massage chairs generally have 3 high quality motors to power the back massage rollers. There are individual motors to run the kneading massage and to run the tapping massage. The third motor drives the roller unit up and down the chair back. The tapping and kneading motors can be run simultaneously for the shiatsu massage.

There is a 5 motor design where the kneading and tapping use two motors each. This is done by having a motor on both the left and right side rollers for both the kneading and tapping. Having 2 motors for kneading splits the duty and should lead to longer motor life. Did it make any difference in the massage capabilities? There was no noticeable difference. Is more better?

If the motor does not create a new and unique massage, then what value does it add? Why have more motors and potentially more problems? The simpler the design, the higher the quality and the less problems down the road. Remember, each motor needs to have controls, software, wiring, etc. to integrate it into the overall massage chair. This drives complexity, increases the testing required to ensure quality and if cheaper motors are substituted, then reduces reliability. Do not buy into the myth that more motors the better for a shiatsu massage chair. Simple is always better!

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