by Mary Lou |
Last Updated: November 14, 2016 When you buy something using the links on our posts, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Learn more.
The Kahuna LM-7000 is as great a purchase as the bestselling LM6800, with a number of feature upgrades thrown in. In this review, we’ll tell you all about those improvements, just as we’ll dive into the strengths and weaknesses of this new model.
Executive Summary
The Kahuna LM-7000 is a premium version of the popular Kahuna LM6800 (read our review here). The core features are the same except for some improvements like the adjustable massage time, longer warranty, and easy-to-use remote.
Some important issues with the 6800 have been fixed – now the motors are quieter, the manuals are much improved, but the rough roller problem still persists.
With these new features the price has jumped, but the Kahuna LM-7000 is still a feature-rich massage chair at only a fraction of the price of real premium chairs. As we see it, the only real competition for the LM-7000 is its predecessor, the 6800, which boasts of practically the same features and design for a lower price.
Last update on 2025-04-29 at 09:35 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / More info
Product Details
AJX.LLC is the company responsible for the Kahuna massage chairs. They’re also a leading name in the massage chair industry and have a strong presence in the US market. Their chairs are often in bestseller lists and they are often lauded for their excellent after-sales support.
Specs
- Colors: Black, Brown
- Overall: 51L x 31W x 43H
- Maximum Recline Angle: full recline; zero-g position
- Seat Width (shoulder to shoulder): 20-21 inches
- Calf Width: 5 inches
- Weight: 254 lbs
User Specs
- User Height Range: 6’3″ (not official; based on our analysis)
- User Max Weight: 250 lbs
Warranty
The Kahuna LM-7000 has an amazing 5 year warranty. This is one of the major upgrades from the LM6800.
For those who can’t read from the image below, here is what the fine print says:
First 2 years – It covers all parts and labor cost. Customers do not pay anything within the two years. We offer on site repair services.
For the 3rd year – Warranty covers parts. However, customers need to repair own or ship their products to our company. Customers must pay 1 way shipping cost.
From the 4th to 5th years – Warranty covers structural framework.
Main Features
The Kahuna LM-7000 has the following main features:
- Body scan technology
- Two levels of Zero Gravity Positioning
- Shiatsu massage
- Adjustable massage timing from a quick 5 minutes to as long as 30 minutes
- L-Track Massage system with buttock roller massage
- 4 Different portions of body massage programs (neck-waist, waist-lower back, lower back-buttock, neck-buttock, buttock-mid back)
- All-in-one whole body massage with 36 Air Bag Massagers
- 4 automatic massage programs
- 3 Levels of speed and pressure adjustments
- Heat therapy for the lower back and calves
- Stretchable & Flexible Footrest for any height (20 inches)
- Special yoga program
- Twist program for shoulder, lumbar and hip stretch massage
- Calf and foot massage
- Built in castor for easy movement
Premium Features of the Kahuna LM-7000
People often ask what the differences of the 6800 and the 7000 are. And do the improvements justify the extra cost? Here are the key differences and upgrades since the premium version.
- The warranty is up from 3 to 5 years.
- The 30 minute fixed massage timer is now adjustable.
- It’s quieter.
- The new model has built-in premium speakers.
- The remote control has been upgraded.
Pros
Good Value
The Kahuna LM-7000 might be a few hundreds more expensive than its 6800 counterpart but it is still a great buy for the value it can give. The 7000 checks almost all the most important boxes you’d want in a premium chair and at such a much cheaper cost compared to the $5000 or $8000 massage chairs that populate the high-end of the market.
Excellent After-Sales Support
The Kahuna massage chairs have such well-respected after-sales support, it deserves many mentions. If you ever experience trouble with your chair, you can count on getting help from both the manufacturer AND Good Price World which is the Amazon distributor.
Not only are they very responsive with direct inquiries, they’re quick to reply to questions and even contact people who share problems with their chairs online. In our book, this is service over and beyond and thus highly commendable.
One buyer described his experience with a customer support rep: “He called me many times to make sure I was completely satisfied with my purchase and that the parts needed were received in a timely manner and even set up a scheduled in home repair from a local outside service provider!”
L-Track Massage System
The Kahuna LM-7000 features an L-track system. It’s a much longer track system than S-track systems and goes further into massaging your buttocks and hamstrings area (hence the “L” name). In our book, L-track is always good especially if you have disorders that benefit from a good hamstring massage. (More on L-track vs S-track here.)
FDA-registered medical device
If you’re looking for a massage chair for your health, the Kahuna LM700 is a great choice. It’s actually registered and recognized by the government as a medical device. You can see why with the three next features we’re discussing
Alleviates pain
Yes, the Kahuna LM-7000 alleviates pain. Many Americans who used to have regular appointments with massage therapists and chiropractors have simply stopped going after buying their Kahuna chair. The chair does such a good job of relieving pain that they were able to save thousands of dollars after buying it.
But more than just being a great investment, the awesome thing about the Kahuna is how it can alleviate pain including acute pain, chronic pain, pain of the lower back or shoulders, or pain from herniated disks, ruptured discs and so on. If you’ve ever had to live with pain from these disorders, pain relief is a blessing straight from the heavens.
Zero Gravity technology
You’ve always heard the advice to “put up your feet”. Because we are on our feet the whole day with gravity literally weighing us down, it’s easy to see why we have pain in our feet and back.
Zero gravity technology in massage chairs help with this by taking the weight off our feet and distributing it all across our body. This relieves pressure in the spine and takes stress off the body. Blood and circulation to the heart is also improved in this position hence the therapeutic effects can be felt immediately.
Heating to the back and legs
Another blessing for those struggling with pain. The quick heat to the back and legs can help anybody with back or feet pain.
Blood vessels dilate and increase the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles healing damaged tissue. It’s also an excellent way to get warmed up during the cold months.
Lumbar and hip massage
While the Inada’s Dreamwave technology is heads and shoulders above the competition, the Kahuna massage chairs actually have something similar. The airbags can inflate and twist the body left and right. A deep stretch is applied to the shoulders, hips, and thighs.
Space-Saving
Most massage chairs need around 15 inches from the wall to assume Zero-G position. The Kahuna massage chairs only need a small recline area of 5 to 6 inches.
Things they fixed and improved:
Guess what! The Kahuna team listen to what people have to say about their products – they’ve fixed two things we complained about before:
- Noise Level. The LM-7000 is a quieter and smoother experience now.
- Manual and instructions. NO more indecipherable and unintelligible assembly instructions. As of July 2016, they’ve updated their manuals so that they are now easier to understand.
And a plus is the improved Easy remote.
Now if only ALL manufacturers were as responsive… 😉
Cons
More expensive than the LM-6800
There is a rather big price leap from the 6800 to the 7000 and at current prices we’re not 100% convinced that the premium features are entirely worth it. If you’re cash-strapped in the first place and looking for a budget chair, it might be best to just stick with the LM-6800 (which is the crowd favorite anyways).
Rough foot rollers
The massage features on Kahuna chairs are pretty dreamy. Having said that, the foot massage is too strong for a lot of people. That’s because the padding is on the thin side and results in a painful jolting experience. The manufacturers seem to know this problem because the chair comes with two large foam pads in the box. (These can be easily mistaken for packing material!)
So, just unzip the foot roller cover, and put the foam in to serve as buffer for your feet. You can also do the same for the back rollers if you experience any difficulty in that area.
You might need help with assembly
If you don’t rate yourself too high in handy-ness, do yourself a favor and get the White Glove delivery. Not only will they lug your massage chair to whichever part of the house you want it in, they’ll also assemble it for you. Self assembly is simple (if you know what you’re doing) and takes less than an hour.
Conclusion
It’s a bit of a puzzle but we expected the all-new Kahuna LM-7000 to be more of an upgrade and not just some tweaks to the LM-6800. The upgrades are very welcome and it’s great to see manufacturers taking on feedback and addressing problems. However, unless there is an upgraded feature that you REALLY need, it’s hard not to think you should save some bucks and buy the LM-6800 instead.
For example, if you’re an audiophile and want to plug in your smartphone so you can jam to your playlist, then the LM-7000 makes sense. Or if you’re very bothered by noise and will appreciate the quieter motors. The 5-year warranty is also very tempting.
On the other hand, if you’re budget-strapped and don’t care too much for the new features, then we recommend springing for the LM-6800.
In the end, it’s all up to you and what you need out of your massage chair. If you do end up choosing this model, you are very likely to be very, very happy with it.
Last update on 2025-04-29 at 09:35 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / More info
Author: Mary Lou
In the Before Times, Maru spent vacations traveling and making stops at showrooms to test the latest massage chair models. Nowadays, she’s hunkered down in her small sunlit home dotted with her ever-growing collection of fiddle fig trees, indoor plants, and Himalayan salt lamps. Find her at LinkedIn.