Infinity Iyashi vs Inada Dreamwave Massage Chair Review 2024

At first glance, the Infinity Iyashi and Inada DreamWave appear to be quite similar. They’re both big, futuristic-looking full-body massage chairs. But under the surface, the technology and benefits each chair offers couldn’t be more different.

In this Infinity Iyashi vs Inada DreamWave review, we’re walking you through each feature these massage chairs share as well what sets them apart. And the good news is because these massage chairs are so different, recognizing the best one for you might be easier than you think.

Let’s get started!

About the Companies: Inada vs. Infinity

About Inada

Inada is perhaps the most famous massage chair company in the world. Founded in Japan in 1962, it’s also one of the oldest.

Today, Inada massage chairs are still engineered, designed, and most importantly, manufactured in Japan, which, according to Inada, is the most competitive massage chair market in the world with an estimated “15 percent of Japanese households owning a massage chair.”

Thanks to over 50 years of massage chair competition, Japanese companies have had to continuously innovate and evolve — evidenced by the craftsmanship, technology, and quality that’s beyond what most other markets produce. And as one of the oldest, Inada has led the pack in product development and innovation.

Inada has two headquarters: one in Osaka, Japan which is home to all of their research and development and one in Boulder, Colorado, which is the exclusive distributor of Inada Family brand massage chairs in the U.S.

Another key aspect of the Inada brand is their customer support. Each of their massage chairs come with a three-year parts and labor warranty and an optional extended warranty. Best of all: they offer in-home repairs and replacements and will travel to you anywhere you live.

According to Inada, the life expectancy of the Japanese-made DreamWave is at least 24 years.

About Infinity Therapeutics

Infinity Therapeutics is a division of a larger private company called Infinite Creative Enterprises.

They’re headquartered in New Hampshire, U.S.A, however, their massage chairs are manufactured in Taiwan or China depending on the model.

Infinity Therapeutics launched their Infinity massage chair product line in 2009 and have been growing in popularity ever since. Although relatively young, especially compared to the industry’s oldest like Inada, Fujiiryoki, and Panasonic, Infinity has gained a following for their affordable, yet feature-rich massage chairs. In general, Infinity Therapeutics incorporates high-quality aesthetics, advanced technology, and is considered a reputable brand. They also have a US-based customer service team, which is a plus for many users.

In general, the life expectancy of Chinese-made massage chairs is around 10 to 15 years, though we don’t have specific statistics on the Infinity brand itself. However, their massage chairs come with a three-year warranty that includes one year for parts and labor and two years for parts, with the option to purchase additional parts coverage.

Now that we’re covered the companies, let’s get into the features…

The Features: Infinity Iyashi vs Inada DreamWave Massage Chairs

Massage Track: S-Track vs. L-Track

Perhaps the most obvious and defining difference between the Inada DreamWave and the Infinity Iyashi is the massage track. The Infinity Iyashi has a 49-inch L-Track and the Inada DreamWave has a 28.4-inch S-Track.

You might be thinking… 49 inches compared to 28.4 inches? Clearly, the Iyashi is the winner.

Not so fast…

To really understand the winner, we first have to explain the differences between the tracks.

​Massage tracks are the mechanism the rollers move along as they massage. There are three main types: straight, S-Tracks, and L-Tracks.

Straight tracks are linear from top to bottom. But since your back isn’t linear, straight tracks are known to lose pressure in curved areas like the neck and lower back, which is why they’re usually only found on entry-level or ultra-affordable massage chairs.

​S-Tracks, on the other hand, are “S” shaped and designed to replicate the natural curve of your spine. These tracks are the standard track on any mid- to high-end massage chair because they’re able to keep consistent contact and pressure across the full back — including the curved areas.

​L-Tracks are a different style of track altogether. L-Tracks pick up where straight and S-Tracks end at the tailbone and extend into the seat of the chair, adding an additional 15 or more inches to the massage range.

L-Tracks have quickly gained popularity because they make a powerful glute and upper hamstring massage possible, which is great if you need that as part of your wellness regimen.

On the downside though, since L-Tracks combine with an upper track to form a single piece from the neck to the seat, when the backrest reclines, the seat moves with it, which means you’re limited in how much you can control the angle of your position in the chair.

On the Infinity Iyashi, the 49-inch L-Track extends from the top of the neck to the glutes on most users. And on the Inada DreamWave, the 28.4-inch S-Track extends from the top of the neck to the tailbone on most users. Since both chairs provide ample coverage, from our point of view, there’s no clear winner.

But if you specifically want treatment for your glutes or perhaps suffer from sciatic nerve pain, the additional coverage of the L-Track will serve you well.

Roller Technology: 2D vs. 3D

On the Infinity Iyashi, the rollers are quad which means there are four total — two on each side of the spine. The rollers feel like two sets of fingers and thumbs. And they move in two ways: up and down and side to side, which means they’re 2D.

The Inada DreamWave also features quad rollers, but instead of moving two ways, they move in three: up and down, side to side, and outward, which means they’re 3D.

So what’s the real difference?

The difference is that 3D rollers allow you to control the intensity of your massage. Since you can tell the rollers to penetrate deeper or to “back off,” you have a lot more control over your massage experience. And is a great customization feature if you have multiple users — each with different intensity preferences — using the chair.

In general, even with its 2D rollers, the massage on the Infinity Iyashi is powerful and considered “deep tissue.” On the other hand, the default roller massage on the Inada DreamWave is fairly mild. But thanks to the DreamWave’s 3D technology you can amp up the intensity of the rollers at any time.

Body Scan Technology

You should expect body scan technology to be on any mid- to high-end massage chair. Without it, the massage rollers operate from a fixed range or have to be manually adjusted. And since each person’s body is different, there’s a good chance the fixed range won’t line up with your actual height.

During the body scan on the Iyashi and DreamWave, the rollers move up and down your back to determine your shoulder position (height), shape, and shiatsu points. Once the scan ends, the rollers automatically adjust their range to fit your height.

If the scan doesn’t quite find your correct shoulder position the first time, you can manually adjust the rollers using arrows on the remote. Or on the Inada DreamWave, you can bypass the scan altogether if you’d rather operate the chair solely in manual mode.

Another unique aspect of the Inada DreamWave’s body scan technology is that it not only maps your back, but it actually creates a profile of it which it then compares to 106 other stored profiles on the chair. The closest profile match is selected and the rollers adjust to fit it.

You may be thinking… I understand height and shape, but what are shiatsu points?

You’ll hear the term “Shiatsu,” which means “finger pressure” in Japanese, a lot when researching massage chairs. This is because many massage chairs (especially those produced in Asian countries) are specifically designed and developed to treat them. Here’s why:

According to traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine, shiatsu points are the points on the body through which life force (“Qi” and “Chi” in China; “Ki” in Japanese) moves. Together, these points form networks called meridians that correspond to specific organ systems. It’s believed when a meridian becomes weak or blocked an imbalance occurs that can result in illness. Traditional therapies like shiatsu massage and acupressure work to release the blocks and proactively restore balance to the body.

Air Massage: 100 vs. 38 airbags

In 1998, Inada introduced in first air cell massage. Since airbags can go and reach where rollers can’t, it wasn’t until air massage was introduced that a full-body massage from a chair became possible. Today, they’re one of the most widely-used massage components.

In general, airbags perform one type of massage: compression. Compression squeezes and releases, the benefit of which is increased circulation. However, new technology has taken air massage to the next level by programming airbags to work together to perform advanced techniques like stretching, rotations, and twists.

The airbags on both theIyashi and DreamWave offer a combination of compression massage and advanced techniques, which we’ll explain below. But when it comes to air massage itself, the Inada DreamWave is perhaps second to none. With 100 airbags (air cells as Inada refers to them), nearly every part of your body is treated. In fact, together with the roller massage, the Inada DreamWave provides over 1200 square inches of massage coverage — more than any other chair in the world.

On the other hand, the Infinity Iyashi has 38 airbags. The airbags are strategically placed so the majority of the keys areas (shoulders, arms, calves, etc.) are covered. However, not to the extent of the Inada DreamWave.

Here’s what you need to know about the air massage:

Infinity Iyashi Air Massage

On the Infinity Iyashi, airbags treat the following areas:

*A common question users have about the hips airbags on the Iyashi is… do the airbags massage the Iliotibial (IT) bands?

The answer is no. On the Iyashi massage chair, there are no airbags that treat the IT bands.

While most of the airbags on the Infinity Iyashi perform compression massage, there are a few programmed to perform advanced techniques, which includes:

Waist twist and posture correction are integrated aspects of the technology, not standalone features. So you can’t select “posture correction” on the remote. But you can enjoy the benefits of it during the automatic programs.

Inada DreamWave Air Massage

On the Inada DreamWave, airbags treat the following areas:

DreamWave Technology

DreamWave technology is what gives the DreamWave its name. This proprietary technology is only found on Inada massage chairs and works like this:

Airbags in the seat inflate to lift the body upward. Then, the seat shifts side to side 1.6 inches. This gentle movement rotates and mobilizes the lower back. While a few Infinity massage chairs feature what they call “seat swivel,” it’s nowhere near as refined as the DreamWave technology from Inada.

Foot Roller Massage: Mechanical vs. Static

Another feature where the Inada DreamWave and Infinity Iyashi differ is foot massage. While both chairs offer a version of it, the Infinity Iyashi is the only one with true mechanical foot rollers.

On the Infinity Iyashi, there are three rollers under each foot that spin and knead to perform a reflexology-style massage. The rollers have three levels of speed, but there’s no way to adjust the intensity, which is strong. So a pair of socks or slippers come in handy to decrease the strength of the rollers.

On the other hand, on the Inada DreamWave, the foot massagers are protruding nodes. They don’t move, they simply press into the bottoms of your feet.

Heat Therapy: One vs. Two Areas

Heat has a long therapeutic history. Under heat, blood vessels dilate which increases circulation and the flow of oxygen and nutrients. In turn, the increased oxygen and nutrients help repair damaged tissues, making heat an ideal treatment for sore and achy muscles.

Heat also has a distinct massage benefit: it relaxes muscles. As the muscles relax, the massage rollers are able to penetrate deeper into the tissues for a more effective massage.

Both the DreamWave and the Iyashi offer heat therapy, but the DreamWave has heating pads in two areas: the back and seat. On the Infinity Iyashi, however, there’s only one heating area: the lower back.

The heating pads radiate gentle warmth to the areas. There’s no way to adjust the level of heat, so expect it to be fairly mild. Heat therapy can be added to any automatic or manual massage program or turned off altogether.

Handheld Remote: LCD Screen vs. Strip Screen

While both the Infinity Iyashi and the Inada DreamWave feature handheld remotes, they’re very different.

The Infinity Iyashi has a sleek, slim remote with a bright LCD screen. The screen displays a body image that lets you know what massage functions are active as well as the time remaining during any automatic program. The remote has few buttons and most of your selections are made through an on-screen menu (like on an iPhone.)

On the other hand, the remote on the Inada DreamWave has a slim handle and a square-shaped top. At the top of the remote is a ticker screen (or strip screen) that displays commands like “Loading Shiatsu Points.” But there’s no true display screen. All of the chair’s functions are accessed by pressing buttons on the remote. The manual mode options are located under a flip-down cover on the handle.

Overall, both remotes are very simple to use. However, the Inada DreamWave remote may feel a little outdated, especially compared to the rest of the chair. Then again, some will appreciate the simplicity of the design.

Massage Operations on the Inada DreamWave vs Infinity Iyashi Massage Chairs

We’ve covered the massage components these two chairs have in common, now let’s look at how they each use them in their techniques and automatic programs.

Infinity Iyashi Massage Techniques, Auto Programs, and Manual Mode Options

The Infinity Iyashi offers six techniques: shiatsu, tapping, knocking, kneading, music sync, and rhythm. Music sync synchronizes the rhythm of your massage to the rhythm of your music. More on music later. These techniques cover the fundamental movements of shiatsu-style massage, with perhaps the shiatsu technique being the most powerful of the bunch.

Using a combination of roller massage and air massage the Infinity Iyashi features six automatic massage programs. These are pre-programmed massages that require little to no effort on your part. Simply press the automatic program you want to enjoy and the Iyashi takes care of the rest. The programs have three time options: 10, 20, or 30 minutes. And each program has its own intended benefit, for example, “Relax.”

The automatic programs are Recovery, Relax, Refresh, Extend, Upper Auto, and Lower Auto. Relax, Recovery and Refresh are all full-body massage programs that focus on revitalizing and restoring the body, with Recovery being specially designed to help post-workout muscle recovery.

Extend is perhaps the most well-known and popular program. It’s a full-body Thai-style stretch program that enlists the entire chair to stretch your body. During Extend, airbags in the ottoman and around the shoulders inflate to grab and hold the body while the chair reclines and inclines to pull and stretch you. At the same time, rollers move up and down your back to further increase the intensity of the stretch.

Upper Auto and Lower Auto are both location-specific massages. Upper Auto focuses primarily on the upper body (neck and shoulders) and Lower Auto focuses on the lower back.

When you want a specific area treated or when you want to customize your session, that’s when you’ll need to elicit the help of the manual mode options. These options give you control over settings like roller speed, air massage area, roller width among others. Here’s what’s available on the Infinity Iyashi…

Inada DreamWave Massage Techniques, Auto Programs, and Manual Mode Options

The Inada DreamWave features seven massage techniques, including kneading, human hands, double kneading, tapping, kneading and tapping combination, shiatsu and rolling. Tapping features two different versions: Tapping 1 and Tapping 2. And shiatsu features two different versions: Shiatsu 1 and Shiatsu 2.

Perhaps the most interesting techniques are Human Hands and Double Kneading. Human Hands performs a complex set of movements designed to mimic the feeling of, you guessed it, human hands! Double Kneading performs circular grasping movements at alternating speeds and directions to simulate the dynamic movements of a real massage.

Using a combination of the massage techniques and air massage, the Inada DreamWave features 16 automatic programs. But when you first look at the remote you only see eight. So where are the other programs hiding? Good question. The Inada DreamWave technically only has eight programs, but each program has a “Deep Relaxation” version. So the eight programs with their secondary versions equal 16 programs.

The eight programs are divided into two categories: Healthcare and Wellbeing.

The Healthcare programs are Full Body, Full Body Air, Youth, and Quick. Youth is perhaps the most unique program on the DreamWave. So what is it? The Youth program is specifically designed for users 14 years old and up. During the program, the massage range is shortened to fit the lower height of young users and the intensity is decreased.

The Wellbeing auto programs are Morning, Night, Stretch, and DreamWave. Stretch is a notable full-body stretch program that, like the Infinity Iyashi, uses airbags to hold the body in place while the chair reclines pull the body. At the same time, airbags in the seat and next to the hips rotate the lower body and rollers move up and down the back.

To activate the “deep relaxation” version of a program, you press and hold the program button for two seconds.

When you’re ready to customize your massage, flip down the cover on the handle of the remote to reveal the manual mode options. They include:

Now that we’ve covered all of the features these chairs share as well as their automatic and manual massage options, it’s time to get into our final sections… the unique features of each chair. First up, the Infinity Iyashi.

Unique Features on the Infinity Iyashi Massage Chair

Zero Gravity

The Infinity Iyashi features Zero Gravity recline with not one, but two stages to choose from. In Zero Gravity, the body’s weight is shifted to the backrest and the legs are elevated at or above the heart. Vertical pressure is removed from your spine allowing your back muscles to completely relax. At the same time, your body’s weight helps to hold you on top of the rollers for a deeper massage.

The two stages feature a different angle of recline, with the second stage being a more significant angle. On the remote, a “Zero” button makes getting into Zero Gravity as simple as possible.

Chromotherapy

The Infinity Iyashi also features LED chromotherapy lights on the sides of the chair. These lights cast hues onto the walls surrounding the chair in a dark room. The lights cycle between blue, indigo, violet, green and red. While the lights don’t affect your actual massage, they can enhance the experience. The lights can’t be controlled, so there’s no way to select just one color or turn the lights off altogether.

Space Saving Technology

Another popular feature you’ll find on the Infinity Iyashi and not the DreamWave is space saving technology.

Rather than having a recline track that goes straight back, the Infinity Iyashi has a sliding track that moves forward as it goes back. This technology reduces the amount of space needed behind the Iyashi down to a single inch. That’s right, one inch of space is all that’s need to fully recline the Iyashi. The Inada DreamWave, on the other hand, needs about a foot of space or more to fully recline.

Bluetooth Connectivity with Intersound Technology

Remember how we mentioned that the Iyashi has a music sync auto program? The Iyashi’s music system is what makes it possible.

Outfitted with built-in speakers (called Intersound Technology) and Bluetooth Connectivity, on the Infinity Iyashi, it’s easy to link your compatible device with the chair’s speakers and enjoy crisp sounds during your massage. The speakers are located next to the ears on either side of the chair to create a surround-sound experience. But if you’d rather listen to your music without making much noise, a headphone jack lets you plug in your earbuds.

iOS and Android Remote Control Apps

Another high-tech feature you’ll find on the Infinity Iyashi and not the DreamWave (or very many other massage chairs for that matter) is an app.

The Infinity Iyashi has both an iOS and Android app that lets you turn any compatible device into a remote. You can download the Infinity Iyashi app from the App store. However, getting a hold of the Android app isn’t as easy. The Android app isn’t available on the Google Play store, so you have to contact Infinity support directly and ask them to email you the downloadable file.

The apps are identical to what you find on the remote, so you won’t “unlock” any additional features if you use the apps. They simply give you another way to control your chair, which is great if want a big screen tablet remote.

Unique Features on the Inada DreamWave Massage Chair

Last but not least, let’s take a look at the technology only found on the Inada DreamWave.

Cervical Traction Device

Before we go any farther, you should know that when comparing the Infinity Iyashi vs Inada DreamWave in terms of neck and shoulder massage, the Inada DreamWave far exceeds the capabilities of the Iyashi. In fact, if your main must-have for your massage chair is a powerful neck massage, you can stop reading right here and go with the Inada DreamWave.

It’s not that the neck massage on the Iyashi is bad, it’s just that it only performs a powerful manual neck massage. In other words, the automatic programs on the Infinity Iyashi can leave neck massage enthusiasts wanting. If that sounds like you, you’re in luck because the Inada DreamWave has one of the best neck massages on the market. Here’s why:

As we mentioned above, the airbags on the Inada DreamWave are more advanced than what you can find on pretty much any other massage chair. That’s especially true when it comes to their Cervical Traction Device.

This patented horseshoe-shaped neck and shoulder massager is located at the top of backrest. It wraps around your head and pressed on top of your shoulders. Inside the device are airbags that inflate to massage the tops of shoulders and parts of the trapezius muscle (an area very few other massage chairs reach). On the ends of the airbags are nodes that push into the tops of the shoulders to perform trigger point massage. At the same time, the airbags push the shoulders away from the head to perform a gentle neck traction that helps create space between vertebrae, release pinched nerves, and relieve constrictions.

So if you want a great neck massage or specifically suffer from nerve pain in your neck, the Inada DreamWave may be a good fit for your treatment needs.

Vibration Massage

Another feature you’ll find on the Inada DreamWave but not the Iyashi is vibration massage. During vibration massage, high frequency plates vibrate to stimulate the microcirculation, or the movement of blood through the smallest vessels, as well as help to remove stagnant fluids from the area. On the DreamWave, there’s vibration massage for the seat and lower back. It can be added to any automatic or manual program or turned off altogether.