The R500 is very similar to the R600. The biggest differences are that the R500 does not have the MP3 player or the heated back and feet. Other than that, though, the R500 is almost the same chair. So if you believe the R600 is a good value, as we do, then for $1,000 less, you have to consider the R500 nothing less than a steal.
Let’s talk about the features the R500 carries over from the R600. The R500 features Repose’s body scan technology, which allows the chair to scan your body type and adjust the massage to meet your needs. This is a high-tech capability, and incorporating it into such an affordable chair is really an exceptional accomplishment. The chair also offers the basic functions of knead, knock, roll, and vibration, and it combines those functions in four automatic programs (Gentle, Relax, Enliven, and Repose).
The R500 also has a classic look, with its wooden arm rests and curved base. This design will fit into all kinds of décor without detracting from the overall feel and comfort of a room.
One of the biggest draws of this chair is the foot massage it offers. No other chair in this class offers the foot massage. And the massage is a relatively high-quality one. This chair gives you a “wave” massage throughout the legs and feet, with five air bags in the seat, twelve in the legs, and six more in the feet. This “wave” action will relax your lower body quickly and completely.
The warranty for this chair is not spectacular, but it is solid. The chair offers a three-year warranty on parts and a one-year labor limited warranty for mechanical defects and workmanship. As always, you should see the actual manufacturer’s warranty for specifics.
Now for the affordability. You will not find a chair with more high-quality features for anywhere near this amount of money. We’re still trying to figure out how Repose packs in all these features for the low cost it charges for this chair, but we definitely recommend it for anyone looking in this price range.
For individuals with larger bodies (over 5’7”) who like the features offered by this chair, we recommend the larger R300. It is slightly more expensive, but it accommodates a larger body and offers the same types of features for a lower price than is available elsewhere.
Again, we highly recommend this chair. It would rank higher in this category if we had more experience with this manufacturer. But since our ratings system gives a great deal of weight to our experience with how these manufacturers treat our customers, we will have to revisit this ranking once we have some more experience with Repose and their commitment to customer service. In the meantime, this chair looks like a great buy.