Hello everyone, and welcome to another of my reviews. In this article, I’ll review the Prestige Pro Massage Chair from the local brand Empire.
I’ve been an avid fan of massage chairs forever. My previous workplace had one in the office, and in hindsight, I probably only stayed as long as I did because it was so shiok. When I moved into my own 1-bedroom apartment, I didn’t have enough space for a sofa, but I still wanted a corner where I can nua (relax) if I was feeling tired. Getting a massage chair seemed like a natural solution, and after shopping around for a relatively affordable one, I eventually chose the Empire Prestige Pro Massage Chair. Let’s see if it’s any good.
The Prestige Pro is fashioned out of what the brand calls “premium PU leather”, which actually feels luxurious and soft. It’s also supposed to be durable and easy to maintain. I was initially worried that the leather might peel over time but I was assured by the brand peeling shouldn’t occur as long as the chair is kept away from sunlight and harsh cleaning agents (e.g. bleach). So far, I haven’t encountered any peeling issues in the two months I’ve used the massage chair.
Unlike most affordable massage chairs, the Prestige Pro is considered a full-fledged model. Not only does it come with a leg massager, but it is also designed to fit people of varying body sizes. I saw a video of Sheikh Haikel using the Prestige Pro, so even if you’re a bigger person, the chair should fit you fine. Despite its capacity, the Prestige Pro is compact and space-saving, a key consideration for smaller apartments like mine. As you can tell in the above photo, the Prestige Pro was able to fit in a rather narrow corner of my living room with no issues. The Prestige Pro also has the ‘Zero Gravity’ feature, which allows for a full 180-degree recline for a deeper tissue massage experience.
While par for the course for full-fledged massage chairs, the Prestige Pro’s leg massager is arguably the most overengineered in its price segment. Firstly, the leg massager can deliver sole reflexology, where 3D acupuncture massagers knead the soles of your feet, providing relaxation, blood circulation, and muscle relief. Secondly, the leg massager is heated, applying a 45-degree temperature to the back of your calves. Empire states this is the optimum temperature for effective muscle relief and blood circulation.
The Prestige Pro also comes with what Empire calls the SE cushion rest. Essentially a seat cushion, users can choose to lay on it for cushioned, softer massagers or unzip and remove it for a stronger, more direct massage experience. In other words, the Prestige Pro offers its users customisation options akin to those found on an ergonomic chair or sofa.
The Prestige Pro comes with a variety of preset massage modes, such as sleep, soft, and guasha. My favourite is the Thai mode, which is programmed to stretch and lift your body muscles, particularly the back. I’ve been travelling to Bangkok frequently, and have since developed an appreciation for Thai massages. Through a series of compression, intrusion and stretching movements, the Empire Pro’s Thai mode delivers a satisfactory Thai-style massage that never fails to make me miss Bangkok. Users can manually tweak options such as the roller and airbag strength, but I mostly stuck to the default settings.
This is largely due to the Prestige Pro’s AI Body Detection Scan, which Empire states is meant to optimise the massage for each and every body shape. Before starting the massage, the machine takes roughly 15-30 seconds to scan your body. It will then pinpoint the necessary massage areas and automatically adjust the settings based on your body shape. I found this infusion of technology really cool, and it sets the Prestige Pro apart from the rest of its competition.
The Prestige Pro also boasts what the brand calls the “S/L track,” which allows the 3D massagers to access your entire body from the neck to the thighs. I found the 3D massagers to be lifelike, mimicking the kneading, tapping, rolling, and deep tissue actions of a real masseur. This is especially apparent during the Thai massage mode, where the kneading becomes stronger and noticeably more apparent – I sometimes found my body aching (in a good way), as if I had just visited a Thai masseur in Khao San Road.
Another premium feature is the Prestige Pro’s whole-body airbags. Empire states that they are “uniquely programmed to recreate a stronger compression-release feeling on your muscles,” which aids blood circulation and muscle relief.
The Prestige Pro also comes with bells and whistles, such as Bluetooth speakers and a mobile phone holder. Empire states that the speakers “create an immersive surround sound sphere,” which (when combined with the mobile phone holder) allows users to watch their favourite shows or listen to their favourite music while enjoying the massage. I’ll be honest and say that the speakers are nothing impressive—they’re serviceable and better than nothing, but they aren’t Harman Kardon. Nevertheless, they are still useful, and I mostly found myself using them to watch an anime episode (~20 minutes, which is also the default duration of preset massage modes) from time to time.
Unfortunately, after using the Prestige Pro for about a month, I noticed a creaking sound when I reclined the foot massager. I got in touch with the aftersales team, and they arranged for a technician to drop by and rectify the issue the very next day. That’s a commendable dedication to service—I know of a friend who bought a similarly priced massage chair from St**r*, who quoted him a 2-3 week wait time. Kudos to Empire for recognising customer service and satisfaction (not cringy marketing and pretty influencers) are key to a sustainable business.
Conclusion – so the Empire Prestige Pro Massage Chair “shiok” or not?
All in all, the Empire Prestige Pro Massage Chair is very impressive. Firstly, the design is compact and space-saving, an important consideration for smaller spaces like mine. Yet, Empire managed to pack tons of intelligent features into the svelte Empire Pro. My favourites are the heated leg massager and the AI body scanner system, both of which help enhance the overall massage experience. The Prestige Pro is genuinely one of the best massage chairs that I’ve tried, and I believe it smokes most alternatives in the same price range. It’s now a “visitor’s attraction” in my house – guests almost always make a beeline for the massage chair whenever they visit.
Interested readers can use the promo code “WAHSOSHIOK” to get an exclusive extra $50 off any Empire full-body massage chair.
This discount is stackable with existing promo codes, allowing you to get the best bang for your buck. After the discount, the Empire Prestige Pro Massage Chair is just $1849, making it great value for money. As the icing on the cake, there’s also a one-year warranty and free delivery.
View the Empire Prestige Pro Massage Chair here.
View the full range of Empire’s offerings here.
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P.P.P.P.S Shiok is a common word Singaporeans use to express admiration or approval. As of 2016, you can find the definition of the word in the Oxford English Dictionary.
