Table of Contents
Osaki OS Monarch Massage Chair Review
Pros
- One Of The Most Cost Effective 3D Massage Chairs I've Come Across Yet!
- Only 1'' Clearance Required From Back Of Chair To Wall!
- 9 Auto Modes Keep Things New & Interesting!
Cons
- Might Be A Little Too Tight For Those Over 6 Ft
Yet Another Solid Massage Chair From The Osaki/Apex/Titan Crew!
I’m going on a massage chair review marathon, and i’m not about to stop any time soon. Last week I reviewed the Titan Prime 3D: a fantastic, reasonably priced 3D massage chair capable of delivering a solid full body massage.
In today’s review we’ll be looking at yet another 3D chair. This time it’s Osaki’s Monarch, an older chair released back in 2017. It might be 3 years old, but it’s still a popular massage chair. It’ll become pretty clear why this is later on in the post!
You might be wondering, all of these recently released Osaki/Titan/Apex chairs look so similar. How do you decide which one to get?
The honest truth is that most consumers won’t be able to tell the difference. That’s not because there aren’t any differences, it’s because the differences probably won’t impact the overall experience for most average body types. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t compare chairs!
Think of it like this: you’re in the market for a luxury product, say a car for example. Because you can’t spend a crazy exorbitant amount, you might consider options such as BMW, Mercedes, Lexus etc.
All of these cars are great to drive in their own ways. But something about one of them stands out to you….for example maybe you love how the BMW is able to handle in tight corners! That’s what you end up selecting as a result.
Massage chairs are really no different, especially when it comes to the intermediate/advanced selections!
It really boils down to what’s important to you specifically. Yes these reviews will provide recommendations at the end, because I do feel that’s important. However, that does not mean my recommendation is necessarily right for you. Use the information in these review posts to analyse for yourself. If it makes sense for you, go for it! If not, consider something else!
Okay enough of that! Let’s look at the Monarch in more detail!
5 Cool Features Of The Osaki OS Monarch Massage Chair!
#1 3D Massage w/ L-Track Rollers!
For those of you who’ve been following my blog, it might feel like i’m repeating myself, especially when it comes to rollers.
See the thing is….without rollers, there’s no massage chair!
Just like an engine is to a car, rollers are to a massage chair. The very brain of the massage chair! That’s why I always pay special attention to the rollers when reviewing a massage chair. It’s absolutely paramount.
Talking about the Monarch, it comes packed with 3D rollers mounted on an L-Track system. Let’s look at it in greater detail.
If you’ve been doing some research on massage chairs, you surely have heard the term 2D or 3D rollers. What are these? 2D rollers are a system where the rollers can move in 2 dimensions: up/down, and side to side. Think of it like movement in the x and y axes. 3D rollers are an extension in that they can also move in the z axis in addition to the x and y. This z axis is the protrusion in and out of the back.
When we say a chair has an L-Track, we are basically saying that its rollers are able to traverse for an extended distance below the lower back. This extended distance is basically all the way right down to the glutes and hamstrings. Is L-Track the most advanced tracking system you can find on a massage chair? Not at this time. L-Track is superior than S-Track, but a combined SL-Track is best!So the Monarch has an L-Track with 3D rollers. This is an intermediate system that will work really well to satisfy most user’s needs. 90% of individuals need nothing more advanced than this!
Note: The total distance the rollers are able to traverse is 48” from neck all the way to glutes/hamstrings.
#2 9 Auto Modes To Keep Things Fresh & Exciting!
Auto modes are built in massage routines that can be easily accessed from the remote control by the push of a few buttons. I love auto modes because there’s no setup involved. In other words, you don’t need to mess around with manual settings to get a massage going. Simply push a button and boom!
The Monarch comes with a total of 9 auto modes. There are 5 traditional modes and 4 special modes. These are:
- Pain Relief—Mid to high intensity routine designed to relieve pain in various parts of the body. Emphasis is on upper body such as the entire back, neck and shoulders.
- Recovery—Similar to the “Athlete” mode, but slightly more intense. Full body routine which employs the rollers and airbags to deliver various massage strokes.
- Stretch—Your typical stretch routine. Expect a high intensity session! Both rollers and airbags will work to pin the body down and hold you in various postures.
- Shopaholic—What’s the one thing shopaholics complain about? Achy feet and legs! This is a massage routine that has special emphasis on the lower half of the body.
- Neck & Shoulder—A program designed to target the neck and shoulder areas. Since most of us carry lots of stress in our neck & shoulders, I expect this mode to be a favourite!
- Back & Waist—A program designed to target the back & waist area specifically. If you have lower back pain, this is the mode you’re gonna want to try!
- Athlete—A mode that has been specifically designed to work the body post strenuous workout or exercise. You can expect mild intensity massage strokes.
- Sleeping—If you’re just about to hit la-la land, this is the routine you wanna go for. Low to mild intensity massage strokes to get you primed for a good night’s rest!
- Experience Program—I’m not quite sure what this mode is. I think it’s where a demo of all the other modes are done so users can experience a bit of everything. If you know what this is, leave a comment and let me know!
Impressive to see a chair at this price point with these many auto modes! Kudos to Osaki!
Important: The chair itself is programmed to deliver 4 different massage strokes. These are kneading, knocking, tapping, and shiatsu. Knocking and tapping are percussion type strokes. Kneading is a circular type stroke done specifically to break fascia and improve circulation. Shiatsu is focus on specific pressure points.
#3 A 13.5” Extendable Foot Rest!
Out of all the massage chairs I’ve reviewed, I can’t recall ever seeing a 13.5” extendable foot rest. That’s more than a foot of extension!
What’s the significance of an extendable foot rest? Other than looking cool of course!
Manufacturers employ extendable foot rests to improve user flexibility. They are in place to allow for greater height flexibility, particularly for taller users. If you’re a shorter individual much like me, you won’t care too much about this feature. However, if you’re 6 foot and over this becomes important.
Important: The Monarch is able to accommodate a height range of 5’0-6’2 ft, and a maximum weight load of 285 lbs. Pretty decent on the weight flexibility, but the height could be a tad better. It has me a little surprised because with a 13.5” extendable foot rest, I was expecting a lot more than 6’2 ft!
#4 Heat Therapy & Foot Rollers!
Important: Should you always massage with heat therapy turned on? This is more of a preference, but I recommend to leave the heat on. Heat loosens up tight muscles thereby making it easier for the rollers to massage. It makes for a much more effective massage.
#5 Bluetooth Speakers To Listen To Your Favourite Tunes!
I’m all about chairs that pack the latest technology. The other day I reviewed a massage chair that can be operated by voice by using Alexa as the interface!
While i’m all in for these kinds of cool technological advancements, I also don’t give too many brownie points when the technology doesn’t impact the actual massage.
Sure it’s nice to have Bluetooth speakers, but they don’t impact the effectiveness of massage. They may improve the overall experience, but that’s about it. I know I sound boring and lame, but this is the way I’ve come to look at massage chairs. It’s not about all the bells and whistles for me. It’s about how well a chair can massage, and that’s that!
All that being said, I think it’s still important for you to know that the Monarch comes with Bluetooth speakers that are located on the headrest area. It’s definitely nice to kick back and listen to some beats!
Osaki OS Monarch Massage Chair Specifications
- Osaki OS Monarch Massage Chair Specs
- Roller Type: L-Track
- Roller Length: 48 Inches
- Total Airbags: 36
- Upright Dimensions: 60"L x 32"W x 50.5"H
- Recline Dimensions: 73"L x 32"W x 34"H
- Chair Material: Synthetic Leather
- Maximum Height: 6’2 ft
- Maximum Recommended Weight: 285 lbs
Osaki OS Monarch Massage Chair Pros & Cons!
- For A 3D Chair, Pricing Is On Point!—Even after considering that it’s a slightly older model in terms of when it was released, the price is absolutely bang on! For a 3D chair, i’m actually a little surprised truth be told!
- Lots Of Auto Modes!—9 auto modes are plenty to keep you busy for a while. It’ll keep things fresh and exciting. Much better than the measly 4 or 5 modes I have on my massage chair……sigh.
- Foot Rollers—Another added bonus in my mind! I’ve always seen foot rollers included on the more expensive units. This chair has 3 rows of foot rollers for each foot!
- Only 1” Clearance Required!—Osaki have implemented something known as space saving recline. As the chair reclines back, the base slides forward thereby reducing clearance requirements from back of headrest to wall. Only an inch required for the Monarch!
- User Flexibility—Just so you know, I’m being very harsh here. When I talk about user flexibility being a con, i’m saying that the height range the chair is able to accommodate could be slightly better. The Monarch can accommodate users ranging anywhere from 5’0-6’2 ft. It might be a little too tight for folks at 6 feet and slightly taller!
Comparing The Osaki OS Monarch To Other Massage Chairs!
Other than actually trying it, what is the best way for us to determine how good a chair really is?
That’s right! Comparing it to other chairs on the market is a great way to see how a massage chair stacks up!
In this case we will compare the Monarch to 2 similar 3D L-Track chairs. Specifically, we will be comparing it to Osaki’s Pro Admiral and Titan’s Prime 3D. Both are fantastic chairs that are relatively new in terms of when they were released. They’re both newer than the Monarch.
A fan favourite since release in 2019, and no reason to be surprised about that! It’s a phenomenal unit packed with the latest technology. Osaki have done a tremendous job!
Reviewed this bad boy last week and all I can say is 3 words “bang for buck!“. Another awesome chair that’s very reasonably priced for what it offers. Definitely a great buy for anyone on a budget looking for a 3D chair!
- Osaki OS Monarch
- $
Price - 5’0 – 6’2 ft & 285 lbs.
User Height/Weight - 48″ L-Track
Roller Track - 9
Auto Modes - 36
Airbags - 3
Foot Roller Rows - No
Calf Rollers - Lower Back
Heating Pads
- Titan Prime 3D
- $$
Price - 5’0 – 6’2 ft & 260 lbs.
User Height/Weight - 48″ L-Track
Roller Track - 6
Auto Modes - 12
Airbags - 2
Foot Roller Rows - Yes
Calf Rollers - Lower Back
Heating Pads
- Osaki OS Pro Admiral
- $$$$
Price - 5’0 – 6’4 ft & 240 lbs.
User Height/Weight - 49″ L-Track
Roller Track - 16
Auto Modes - 24
Airbags - 3
Foot Roller Rows - No
Calf Rollers - Lower Back & Calves
Heating Pads
“So What Chair Should I Buy?”
It’s so so difficult to decide isn’t it!? Especially when all the competing chairs are just as awesome. At this point it really comes down to preference, truth be told.
If user flexibility and auto modes (user experience) are most important to you, Osaki’s Pro Admiral is worth considering. With 16 auto modes and a 5’0-6’4 ft height range, rest assured you will be getting a phenomenal unit! However, the Pro Admiral doesn’t come cheap. It’s gonna cost you a little!
If your budget is limited and you don’t wanna spend as much, then your best bet is to consider either the Monarch or Prime 3D. Both are fantastic chairs in their own right.
The Prime 3D is a newer chair with fewer massage modes than the Monarch, so the Monarch is better in that sense. However to compensate the Prime 3D has calf rollers, something the Monarch doesn’t!
Good luck in whatever you decide. I hope the chair you get lives up to your expectation and serves you well!
If you enjoyed reading this post, please consider sharing on the social platforms. It goes a long way to supporting the growth of this site. Enjoy the rest of your week, and we’ll see you in the next one!
Osaki OS Monarch massage chair images were used with permission from Osaki Massage Chair
