In a Nutshell:
The UltraComfort UC546 is an expertly designed, extremely capable sleeper recliner with a powerful lift function. A great, American-made product. It is recommended for users 5’2” and under, weighing 300 pounds or less.
Value for the Money
Comfort
Brand Reliability*
Aesthetic Flexibility**
Overall Rating
4.3/5
Benefits
Drawbacks
Recommended For: Users 5’2” and under, weighing 300 pounds or less.
Do you suffer from some mobility issues? Have you recently had surgery? Do you have some medical condition that makes sleeping in a bed difficult, if not impossible?
Suppose you answered yes to any of those questions. In that case, you’ve probably been hunting for some sleeper recliner, possibly one with lift functionality, so it’s easier to get up and move around again.
You’ll love our UltraComfort UC546 zero-gravity recliner review if that describes your situation. It’s an expertly designed, comfortable, and capable recliner that’s as good for lounging as it is for sleeping. Even better, if you’re interested in buying American, this is the recliner you want—the chair is made in the great state of Pennsylvania!
It has a lot to offer, but it’s not perfect. In the following sections, we’ll tell you what it does well and where it falls short so you’ll have all the information you need to decide if this is the recliner you’ve been searching for. If that sounds good, read on and see what this model offers.
Key Features of the UltraComfort UC546 Power Lift Chair
Before we get into the details, note that the JPT is the Junior/Petite version of the UltraComfort UC546 power lift chair. The company also offers the UC546 model in Medium (M) and Large (L) variants.
Chair Specifications
Let’s start by reviewing the basic statistics:
UC546 Variants | UC546-JPT | UC546-M | UC546-L |
---|---|---|---|
Chair Width | 33” | 33” | 33.5” |
Chair Height | 40” | 43.5” | 47” |
Reclined (Seat Back to Footrest) | 42” | 43” | 44.5” |
Seat Depth | 18.5” | 19.5” | 21” |
Seat Width | 21” | 21” | 23” |
Floor to Top of Seat | 19.5” | 21” | 21.5” |
Wall Clearance | 17” | 19” | 20” |
Recommended User | 5’2” below | 5’3” to 5’10” | 5’11” to 6’2” |
Weight Capacity | 300 lb. | 375 lb. | 375 lb. |
Size
As you can see just by looking at these numbers, even the petite version is already a big piece of furniture. Since it’s not built with space-saving technology incorporated into its design, it will require a lot of space. You’ll need at least 17” of clearance between the back of the seat and whatever wall you place it nearest.
That will make it a nonstarter for people with smaller homes and limited space. Even if you have a larger room, the Ultra Comfort UC546 chair will likely dominate it.
Aesthetics and Design
The good news is that the Montage UC546 by Ultra Comfort is designed along purely conventional lines and is reasonably attractive. We’re not huge fans of the waterfall-style seat, but we’re sure others will find it more appealing than we do. In any case, it’s not unattractive, and even better, if you decide to order one, you can get yours in your choice of the following colors:
If that’s not enough options, you can visit the company’s website and select from nearly two dozen custom color and fabric options. However, doing so will turn your chair into a custom order, delaying delivery. The “core four” color options mentioned above are guaranteed in stock and won’t impact delivery times.
Variants
One final thing to note before moving on to the next section is that UltraComfort recommends the Petite model for users 5’2” and under with a 300-lb capacity. But if you’re outside that height-weight band, the Medium and Large versions, with 375-lb. weight capacity, may fit you better. The odds are that the company has something that will fit you like a glove.
Eclipse & Zero Gravity Seating
One of the critical features UltraComfort highlights in the marketing of this chair is its “Eclipse Technology,” which they describe as a seating position designed to give you a feeling of weightlessness.
In our minds, this is a bit oversold. It’s functionally similar to a technology that already exists (Zero-G seating), except that the Eclipse Technology provides it by keeping the chair in a constant, gentle motion. Technically, then, this chair offers both (Eclipse and Zero-G seating).
It’s unlikely that many people will be impressed enough with this tech to make it the sole reason for buying this model over some others, but it’s interesting enough to warrant a mention.
Lift and Recline Functions
In addition to the two specialized seating positions, it’s also a standard three-point recliner. You can select from Sitting, TV, or Sleeping positions from the wired remote, which is pretty standard fare.
Even better, though, the remote also allows you to veer from the beaten path defined by the presets and adjust your recline angle precisely, giving you an unlimited number of seating positions. The remote also allows you to control the chair’s lift function. In short, it’s about as adjustable as a recliner can get. This chair does it all.
The motors driving the recline and lift functions are powerful and quiet, providing smooth action on both counts. Many companies get this wrong by using motors that are too noisy or underpowered, providing jerky, uneven motion. Kudos to Ultra Comfort for finding the sweet spot here!
Comfort
Where comfort is concerned, the UltraComfort Montage UC546 JPT Power Lift Chair won’t leave you disappointed. It’s not the hands-down most comfortable chair we’ve ever seen, but it’s a cut above. It utilizes a combination of block foam and comfort coils, precisely like you find in most good-quality mattresses today.
It doesn’t utilize memory foam or other advanced materials, so it’s not next-level comfort but provides a delightful seating experience. Given the infinite number of recline positions, you can customize your sleep experience in the chair to your taste. It’s a great chair for lounging, napping, and even sleeping through the night.
Storage & Extras
The Ultra Comfort UC546 chair only offers a modestly sized storage pocket on one side. It’s undersized for our tastes but certainly big enough to hold a collection of magazines, whatever book you’re reading, and a few assorted supplies you might need when spending long periods in the chair.
It also has a simple but effective battery backup system. We hope you’ll never need that, but if you’re in the chair and the power fails, you’ll be glad the backup system is there. It enables you to activate the lift function without electricity and get back on your feet.
That’s a much better alternative than staying put until someone finds you. It gives you greater independence and tremendous peace of mind.
Interestingly enough, you can add heat and massage functionality to this chair for an additional fee. The heat is confined to the lumbar region of the chair, and the massage is simple vibration-style, which isn’t spectacular but has some therapeutic benefits.
Not many people will want it, but it’s cool that the option is available. Note, however, that, like making a custom fabric selection, adding this option will require some hand-customization of your order, slowing delivery.
Minimal Assembly Required
There’s not much to do to prepare this chair for first use, but as we said at the start, it’s a hefty piece of furniture. If you already have a mobility issue, getting the chair into position and setting it up may be beyond your capabilities.
You don’t have to be, even if it isn’t, and you’d rather not be bothered with all that. The company offers White Glove service for an additional charge, which makes the entire process hands-free.
Pros & Cons of the Ultra Comfort UC546 Lift Chair
We only really have two issues with this chair. First, we’d love to see a USB port for device charging. It’s a small thing, but precious and convenient. Two, it would have been nice if the chair offered more storage, either in the form of a more expansive pocket or perhaps a hidden compartment in the chair’s arms.
Granted, the chair arm storage might be impractical in this design since they’re a bit on the small side, but it certainly wouldn’t be impossible.
Those are both relatively minor points and few, if anyone, would find their absence to be deal-breakers. We love everything else about the design and think you will, too!
UltraComfort Lift Chair UC546 Review Conclusion
The UltraComfort UC546 is an excellent chair offered by a great, somewhat less well-known company. If you factor out the Brand Reliability metric, this model clocks in at 4.53 stars out of 5. The only thing keeping the chair from ranking higher than it does overall is that Ultra Comfort doesn’t have the same heft as the more prominent, more established brands.
That said, if you’re not brand-conscious and looking for an excellent piece of furniture made right here in America, you’ll love the UltraComfort UC546 Montage. We recommend it.
Recommended Reading
Catnapper Burns 4847 Review
Check out our thorough review of the Catnapper Burns 4847 Power Lift Recliner, an excellent option for practical users.
Med-Lift 5555 Full Sleeper Lift Chair Review
We examined the Med-Lift 5555 Lift Recliner, thoughtfully designed for users seeking durability and functionality.
REFERENCES & RESOURCES
- UltraComfort, Official Brand Website.
- The Art of Sleeping Upright, National Sleep Foundation.
- You’ll Never Guess the New Big Thing in Housing (Think: Not Big), Time.