Infinity 8500 vs 8800 Massage Chair Review 2024

About Infinity Therapeutic

Since its introduction in 2009, Infinity Therapeutic massage chairs have been quickly gaining popularity for two main reasons. First, Infinity massage chairs combine features not often found together (but you wish were) while still managing to stay affordable. Second, they are a reputable company with US-customer support — a big draw for those who want to some peace of mind after spending a few thousand dollars.

Their headquarters are located in Seabrook, New Hampshire, although their massage chairs are manufactured in Taiwan or China.

Now that we’ve introduced you to the company, let’s learn more about the Infinity 8000 series.

About the Infinity 8000 Series

The IT 8200, IT 8800, IT 8500 and IT 8500X3 are all from the Infinity 8000 series. The 8200 was the first model in the series followed by the 8500 and then the 8500X3.

With each new model, Infinity built upon the previous one by adding new features and upgrades, so the 8500 has more features than the 8200 and the 8500X3 has more features than the 8500.

You may, be wondering… where does the Infinity IT 8800 massage chair fit into the equation? Good question.

The Infinity IT 8200 and the Infinity IT 8800 are the same chairs with different model numbers.

This is because the Infinity IT 8800 is primarily sold through tradeshows, not online retailers, while the Infinity IT 8200 is only sold through massage chair retailers. So each feature on the Infinity IT 8800 is also on the Infinity IT 8200 massage chair.

In 2012, Infinity introduced the Infinity IT 8500, and today it’s the best selling Infinity model. Although the IT 8500 is similar to the IT 8800, it incorporates new technology, which we’ll explain below.

Shortly after the introduction of the IT 8500, Infinity introduced the IT 8500X3. It offers all of the same popular features as the IT 8500 but has new roller technology (hint: the 3 in the name stands for the number of roller dimensions) as well as other new additions, which we’ll walk you through below.

Now that we have some context for the models, let’s get into the features.

Common Features on the Infinity 8500 and 8800 Massage Chairs

Body Scan Technology

Before your massage begins on the Infinity IT 8800 and 8500, the chairs perform a body scan. The scan uses optical sensors to detect your height, shape and shiatsu points. After the scan is complete, the chairs automatically adjust the rollers to fit your body.

Why is this important?

Let’s say you’re 5’5” and your friend is 5’11”, and you both want to use the same massage chair. If it doesn’t have a body scan, you’d both be getting the same massage, but it would be treating you very differently. The massage rollers might be treating your friend’s upper back perfectly, but when you get the same massage, the rollers might be above your shoulders or touching your neck. Case in point: body scan ensures the rollers are treating the right areas for an effective (and enjoyable) massage.

Additionally, the scan aligns the rollers to your shiatsu points. These points, according to ancient Japanese and Chinese medicine, are the areas on the body through which energy (life force) flows. Together, these points form meridians, which are networks of shiatsu points that correspond to organs, for example, the liver.

It’s believed that when one of these meridians gets blocked, illness occurs. Traditional therapies like shiatsu-style massage, acupressure and acupuncture work to clear these blocks and bring balance to the body.

Although a massage chair is a “machine,” it isn’t perfect. So if you find the body scan doesn’t find the exact position of your shoulders or you want to refine the position a little more, you can manually adjust the location using the remote.

Quad Rollers With 30-inch S-track

Once your scan is complete, your massage begins. The Infinity IT 8500 and IT 8800 both have four rollers, two on each side of your spine (often called dual or quad). These rollers move along a 30-inch S-Track that extends from the neck to the tailbone on most users. For reference, S-tracks generally range from 25 inches to 33 inches. So a 30-inch track is on the longer side — great news for taller users.

So what is an S-Track and how is it different from other tracks?

There are three main track types: straight tracks, S-Tracks, and L-Tracks. Straight tracks are straight from top to bottom. S-Tracks are curved to replicate to the natural shape of your spine. And L-Tracks extend from the bottom of a straight track or S-track into the seat of the chair, allowing the rollers to move under the buttocks and thighs.

A quality massage chair will, at the very least, have an S-Track. Since S-Tracks are shaped like your back, they keep the rollers in close contact with it. Straight tracks, on the other hand, are known the lose pressure in curvy areas like the lower back and neck.

Mechanical Foot Rollers

In the calf and foot massager ottoman on both the IT 8800 and IT 8500 are mechanical foot rollers. These rollers aren’t your average spinning rollers (like on many Osaki models) or protruding nodes (like on the Inada DreamWave or Panasonic EP30007), they are similar to back rollers and perform multiple massaging actions.

There are three rollers for each foot (six total): one in the front, one in the middle and one on the soles. The rollers spin and knead to treat the shiatsu points on the bottom of your feet. There are three levels of speed for the foot rollers, but no intensity adjustments. So if the foot massage feels a little too intense, a pair of thick socks or a small towel over the rollers will lessen the impact.

Air Massage

Most mid to high-end massage chairs have air massage. Why? Because airbags can treat the area rollers can’t — the arms, hands, sides of the shoulders, calves, etc. Airbags have also opened up a new world of massage techniques: stretching.

Full-body stretch programs depend on airbags because they are what grip the body and hold it in place as the chair reclines and inclines perform stretching. Airbags are also responsible for advanced massage techniques like rotation — both of which you get to experience on the Infinity IT 8800 and 8500. We’ll cover the stretch program later in the review, but now let’s take a closer look at the advanced air massage options…

Generally, airbags perform compression massage which presses and releases to increase circulation and move stagnant fluids from the muscles. And that’s the type of massage you can expect on your arms, hands, calves, and feet. But in other areas like the neck and seat on the Infinity IT 8800 and 8500, the airbags have a few tricks.

Neck Rotation Pillow

At the top of the headrest on both the Infinity IT 8500 and 8800 is a neck rotation pillow. Inside the pillow are airbags that inflate in alternating intervals to rotate the neck from side to side.

Imagine this: Your head is on a pillow. Two airbags on either side of the pillow inflate to grab your neck. Now, the pillow transforms from a flat square to a “V” shape, and your neck is sitting comfortably in the middle. Then, the left side of the pillow deflates. When it does, your neck gently rolls to the opposite side.

Then, the right side deflates and left side inflates. When it does, your neck gently turns to the right side and so on. This back and forth motion performs a soothing rotation that gently stretches the neck muscles.

Seat Swivel

Inside of the seat on the Infinity IT 8500 and 8800 massage chairs are airbags. These airbags do two things: first, they inflate to lift the body and then they shift from side to side to gently swing the lower body. This movement performs gentle lower back stretching and mobilization.

The seat swivel was made famous by Inada with the introduction of the DreamWave massage chair. In fact, the DreamWave gets its name from its DreamWave seat rocking technology. However, it’s important to mention the technology on the Inada DreamWave is a bit more refined and targeted (the DreamWave also costs a few thousand dollars more, so!)

In total, the air massage on the Infinity IT 8500 and 8800 treats the neck, shoulders, arms, hands, hips, buttock, calves, and feet.

2 Levels of Zero Gravity

A very popular feature and buzzword in the massage chair world is Zero Gravity. There’s a lot of confusion out there about Zero Gravity. So what is it?

What it’s not is a make-you-weightless machine. Massage chair companies haven’t outsmarted gravity yet! However, Zero Gravity can give you the sense of weightlessness.

In Zero Gravity, you’re reclined into a neutral position, and your legs are elevated above or are leveled with your heart. Your weight is shifted to and held by the backrest, removing pressure off of your spine and lower body which helps your muscles to decompress and relax.

The Zero Gravity position also uses gravity to its advantage by reclining your body such that its weight (and gravity) holds you on top of the roller heads for a more effective and deeper massage. On the Infinity IT 8500 and 8200 there are two levels of Zero Gravity, with the second level being more reclined. You can quickly and easily enter the position by pressing the “Zero Gravity” button on the remote.

Heat Therapy

On the Infinity IT 8800 and IT 8500, you can add soothing warmth to your massage thanks to heating pads in the lower back. As the heating pads radiate warmth to the lumbar area, it has two benefits.

First, it dilates the blood vessels to increase circulation (and the flow of damage-repairing nutrients). Second, it relaxes the muscles so the rollers can penetrate deeper into the tissues. You can add heat therapy to any automatic or manual massage program.

Music System and Speakers

On the Infinity IT 8800 and IT 8500, there’s a USB port that lets you connect music to the chairs. The only problem is you first have to put your music on a USB drive and then stick the drive into the port which is on the back and bottom of the chair — not an ideal location if you ask us. Once the music is connected to the chair, you can control all of the settings — volume, pause, play — using the remote control.

The Infinity IT 8800 has speakers located on the outside of the chair, above the shoulders. Since they’re not on the inside, the speakers point away from the chair and deliver sound away from you instead of toward you. The benefit of which — it seems — is that it fills the room with music.

But if you want to make the music more personal (and silent in the room), there’s a headphone jack you can plug your earbuds into. The IT 8500 has a different speaker system altogether — more on that later.

Pedestal LCD Remote

Both massage chairs come with a large pedestal remote. The remote is stationed next to the chair. It has a large LCD screen that displays the active functions as well as the remaining massage time. All of the chair’s functions are controlled using the buttons on the remote — there is no screen interface (like on an iPhone or similar device). The buttons are clearly labeled.

Overall, the remote is very easy to use. The only complaint may be that it’s difficult to tweak your massage settings while in a deeply reclined position.

Massage Techniques and Auto Programs on the Infinity IT 8500 and 8800

The IT 8800 and the IT 8500 offer the same number and style of massage techniques and programs, however, some of the technology that powers them is different. We’ll go into more detail about the differences later in the article. So keep that in mind as we go through the techniques and programs. Both massage chairs perform six techniques, including:

Massage Techniques	Functions
Kneading	Uses small circular motions to grab and stretch the muscles
Tapping	Uses light, quick tapping strokes
Kneading and Tapping	Combines circular movements with light tapping
Shiatsu	Means “finger pressure,” applies pointed pressure down into the muscles
Knocking	Performs tapping but alternates sides of the spine
Music Sync	Synchronizes massage movements to the rhythm of your music