Product reviews need to be informative. Usually a structured approach to evaluation provides better consistency. We employ a 5 category equal weight system to evaluate a massage chair. A category can earn between 0 to 20 points. The points earned in each category are added together giving a total score. The massage chair is evaluated in the following categories: Warranty & Customer Service, Comfort/Ergonomics, Ease of Use, Features and Massage Therapy. The discipline of systematic approach balances the review and provides for more facts. We take a close look at the M-2 Orion Massage Chair by Omega that comes in the price range of $1,500 and under.

Warranty & Customer Service: How well does the manufacturer protect the customer? This is what we cover with warranty and customer service. The warranty covers the massage chair and customer service is how well the product is supported once purchased. The M-2 Orion has 1 year on the frame, 6 months on parts, and 6 months labor and shipping for 6 months. This is one of the best warranty coverage for an entry level chair. Customer service from Omega is solid. They have quick turnaround and great technical competence. We give the M-2 Orion an 18 in Warranty & Customer.

Comfort & Ergonomics: A massage chair needs to be designed to fit the body and provide comfort. The chair is a place of relaxation. One does not want to be pre-occupied with non-intuitive functions. Let us take a look at the Orion. The Orion has a remote control holder under the armrest which is very convenient. You can recline the chair from 115 degrees to 170 degrees. There is the calf massage built into the footrest. The leg rest can be extended 4 extra inches. This allows the calf massager to be adjusted to where you like. The Orion is pretty comfortable with fully padded side armrests, extra seat cushion. You also get a plush back pad with a detachable shoulder pillow. The M-2 earns a 17 in this category.

Ease of Use: With so much technology being built into massage chairs today, ease of use is a critical concern. If a device is overly complicated, those features just will not get used. This is just a design challenge. The M-2 is well designed and the remote control is simple and easy to use. The remote allows you to choose either automatic or manual massages. Select a manual massage and focus it on a particular part of the back. The manual adjustment levers for the backrest and leg rest are easy to find and use. There is a convenient remote holder underneath the armrest to store the remote when not needed. We give the Omega Orion a 19 for ease of use.

Key Features: The features that differentiate one massage chair from another are reviewed in the key features category. The Orion massage chair features a Hawaiian massage which provides a flowing, swaying motion. The swaying massage motion is performed by the back rollers and provides good back coverage. The M-2 comes with an eight massage head system built into the seat for the buttocks and thighs. The massage heads are on a rotary mount. They provide thorough therapeutic relief. Select from 3 levels of massage intensities. Additionally, vibration is also available for the seat. The vibration helps to stimulate the capillary vessels to increase blood flow. This is a well thought out massage chair for its price range. Overall Rating for the Omega M-2 Orion for features is 18.

Massage Therapy: The massage therapy is what a massage chair is all about. How does the M-2 Orion rate? Let us find out. There are both automatic and manual massages to choose from. Select from 3 timed automatic massages of 5, 10 or 15 minutes in duration. There are 3 back course and 3 manual massages for your back. Manual massages performed by the Orion are Kneading, Swaying and Finger Press. The seat with its eight rotary massage heads really delivers thorough massage to the thighs and buttocks. If you do a lot of sitting, this chair relieves those aches and pains. The adjustable leg rest allows great targeting of the legs with the mechanical rollers. Adjust them to exactly where you need relief. We rate the M-2 an 18 for its massage therapy.

How does the Omega M-2 Orion stack up? Overall, our rating of the Omega M-2 Orion is a 90/100. Omega puts some high value features into this entry level massage chair. The swaying massage and the thorough seat massage is a great therapeutic package. The M-2 provides very good strength for effective relief. Omega provides strong warranty protection for the investment in the M-2. This massage recliner comes in a The Orion is a hidden gem. If you are looking for an entry level whole body massage chair, the M-2 Orion is it.