The Enagic Company History and Background
The Enagic Company grew from a Sony trade company branch and began making water ionizers in 1988. They used to use the name Ange water ionizers before changing it to Enagic.
I had one of the original Ange water machines, and it was an excellent tool for alkalizing my body. This was long ago, and since then, the Ange company has changed its name and branding to Enagic. They boosted the power to 235 watts and the plates to seven. They have always used platinum-coated plates, just like all the reputable water ionizer manufacturers, which accounts for some of the high prices.
All good water ionizer companies use platinum-coated titanium plates and charge less than Enagic. A significant portion of the Kangen water machine’s price is allocated to multi-level marketing.
Why We Don’t Sell Enagic (Kangen Water) Water Ionizers
The Enagic head of the US office states that no one may represent Kangen Water Machines if they sell other water ionizer brands. This is why Alkaline Water Plus does not sell Kangen Enagic machines. The Kangen alkaline water machine is a fine one, though, so we would sell them otherwise.
It has a swift flow rate and a carbon block filter. The Kangen machine can produce several extra gallons of ionized water daily [more than most countertop water ionizers].
However, we don’t think they are THE best water ionizers, so we could not comply with Enagic’s requirement.
Is there anything wrong with Enagic?
MLM’s (multi-level marketing) approach to sales is theoretically acceptable, but some aspects, such as the closed-door meetings, have raised concerns. These meetings can sometimes be seen as secretive and may lead to potential issues such as greed, hype, and false representation.
God-fearing people believe they have received the truth about why Enagic water machines are so expensive. However, in fact, most of the high cost is due to commission, and the machines could be improved. It’s more honest to call it what it is.
Then there are the greedy types who get into mudslinging, name-calling, and sometimes even lying about the competition. One must do homework, especially if looking for the best brands of water ionizers.
Are the Huge Enagic Plates Good or Bad?
The Enagic company claims its plates are great because they are the largest size. However, what good is plate size if the comparison with other water ionizers doesn’t show it to be a better machine, even when it’s new?
Another problem with the Enagic Kangen water machine’s plates is that the platinum can erode over time, especially when using the sodium solution in the machine. Sodium is known to be corrosive. If the platinum erodes, the ionization results diminish.
What’s the Good about Enagic?
These “good features” about Enagic describe all the water ionizers I sell.
- The drinking water they produce is far superior to tap water.
- They have many certificates and awards.
- Those who use their water ionizer claim to have good health benefits.
- The manufacturer is reputable and trustworthy.
Our Testing of Water Ionizers Exposed the Truth
Alkaline Water Plus has been doing Enagic Kangen Water Reviews for many years. Our Kangen water reviews are based on extensive testing of the Enagic SD501 and K8 Kangen Water machines. We Have Found that Kangen Water Machines are Good but Not the Best. We also found this about several other brands who falsely claimed to be best. See our reviews page.
Even the Jupiter Classic Athena beats the Kangen water filter in side-by-side testing. You may have seen this on our blog, where many articles and videos compare Kangen water.
ENAGIC & KANGEN WATER IONIZERS Pros and Cons
While Kangen water, like many other alkaline water ionizers, offers excellent health benefits, it’s essential to be aware of the hype and false claims often propagated by Enagic dealers. These benefits are not exclusive to Enagic water ionizers, and it’s crucial not to be swayed by deceptive marketing tactics.
Don’t be mesmerized by an Enagic dealer; instead, be assured that you can still enjoy the health benefits of ionized water, even if you choose a different brand. Kangen Water is a synonym for ionized water, and there is no other magic about it.
Finding Good Water Ionizers
We Have Found that Kangen Water Machines are Good but Not the Best. Both the Enagic K8 and the Kangen SD501 test about average among other good water ionizers. In fact, even the very modestly priced Melody II and Smart 9P water ionizers outperform Enagic’s Kangen ionizers in terms of filtration, hydrogen performance, and advanced engineering features.
How to Know Good Water Ionizers
At Alkaline Water Plus, we’ve been conducting extensive testing of the Enagic SD501 and K8 Kangen Water machines, comparing them to others, for approximately 15 years. Our commitment to independent testing is aimed at providing you with the most accurate and reliable information about Enagic Kangen and all major brands of water ionizers, empowering you to make an Informed decision.
The MLM model used by Enagic creates a conflict of interest: Sellers are not trained water experts or medical professionals — they’re often commission-driven individuals using aggressive tactics and anecdotal evidence to close a sale. Enagic’s Kangen water ionizers are widely promoted not just through traditional marketing channels, but primarily via the multi-level marketing (MLM) model. While MLM isn’t inherently bad, this structure leads to some problematic patterns in how the product is sold and represented.
In contrast, at Alkaline Water Plus, we’ve tried and tested all of the water ionizers. And we offer the best ones, such as AlkaViva and other direct-to-consumer brands, which:
- Use independent testing and verified data,
- Focus on scientific performance (like hydrogen output and real contaminant removal),
- Offer transparent pricing without inflated margins.
With honest comparisons and due diligence, it’s not hard to find that the AlkaViva H2 Series (e.g., Vesta H₂, Athena H₂, and Delphi H₂ water ionizers) far outshine the Kangen.
Filtration Performance
AlkaViva H₂ Series (UltraWater Filtration):
- Uses proprietary UltraWater filtration, independently tested in EPA‑certified/NELAP labs, removing up to 99.9% of up to 249 contaminants—including heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, VOCs, and more.
- Vesta H₂ and other H₂ models utilize dual or 13-stage filtration systems, delivering exceptionally pure, yet mineral-retaining, water.
- Comparative testing shows AlkaViva’s filters reduce virtually all tested contaminants to 99.9%, while Enagic’s Kangen filters are only tested for and certified to remove chlorine taste and odor (WQA Gold Seal / NSF).
Enagic Kangen Series:
- Includes basic carbon-based filters, typically certified only for removing chlorine and its odor/taste—not broader contaminant removal.
→ Verdict:
AlkaViva H₂ clearly offers far more comprehensive, independently verified filtration than Enagic’s Kangen units.
Hydrogen (H₂), pH & ORP Performance
AlkaViva H₂ Series:
- Incorporates H₂ Infusion Technology, which combines custom ultrasonic-welded membranes and Smart Electrodes (platinum‑coated titanium) to boost hydrogen generation, especially at drinkable, moderate pH levels.
- Performance benchmarks show Vesta H₂ achieving:
- High-alkaline pH (10+) and ORP
- H₂ levels are high too. (see videos below)
Enagic Kangen Models (e.g., K8, SD501):
- The reported hydrogen output is lower than for all price ranges of AlkaViva H2 Series water ionizers, even the Melody II, and the ORP is also less intense.
- The comparison indicates that Vesta H₂ significantly outperforms K8/SD501 in both hydrogen production and antioxidant potential.
Engineering Advancements & Maintenance
AlkaViva H₂ Series Highlights:
- SmartElectrodes with advanced design for efficient, longer-lasting performance.
- The DARC II (Double Automatic Reverse Cleaning) system automatically cleans the electrodes with each use—helping to sustain performance and longevity.
- The AutoAdjust Power Supply (SMPS) dynamically adjusts power delivery for optimal and efficient performance.
- Flow Control Systems and RISC circuitry—for precise flow rate selection and self-diagnosis protection.
- Robust warranties are available, including lifetime parts coverage and a 10-year labor warranty (Athena H₂, Vesta H₂, and Delphi H₂); the Melody II also includes lifetime parts coverage and a 5-year labor warranty.
Enagic Kangen Ionizers:
- Use large, straightforward electrode plates, but lack advanced cleaning systems and innovative power technologies.
- Many models feature simple filters and product engineering, requiring occasional maintenance or external filtration for added safety and peace of mind.
Bottom Line
- If filtration quality and independent validation are your top priorities, AlkaViva H₂ ionizers significantly outperform Enagic Kangen models.
- For those interested in robust hydrogen-rich water, long-lasting electrodes, and automated maintenance, the H₂ series is also clearly superior.
- While Kangen devices are popular and well-marketed, their filtration capabilities are limited, and their performance is often surpassed by much more advanced H₂ series technology.
Commission-Driven Exaggeration
Because Enagic distributors earn income by:
- Selling Kangen machines (which are priced upwards of $4,000–$5,000),
- Recruiting other sellers under them (earning a portion of their sales),
...there is a strong financial incentive to exaggerate the benefits of the machines. This often leads to:
- Overstated health claims (e.g., “Kangen water cures disease” or “drinking alkaline water will detox your body”),
- Pseudoscientific language that lacks peer-reviewed backing, such as “you get what you pay for.”
- Downplaying legitimate limitations of the product (like basic filtration or lack of hydrogen output).
This can make Kangen machines seem like a miracle device — even though their actual filtration and hydrogen performance is often mid-tier compared to newer, non-MLM alternatives like AlkaViva.
“Kangen dealers are trained to sell emotion, not engineering.
Finally, many of the salespeople are friends and neighbors, and they make you feel like you’re not living right unless you buy their overpriced machine.”
Enagic Kangen Water Machine Compared With Other Water Ionizers
Many inexpensive machines perform as well as the SD501 and K8 for drinking ionized water, but Enagic does not want you to know this.
For instance, see some testing I did in mid-2024 comparing the Enagic SD501 and the Smart 9P water ionizers. The Smart 9P outperformed the SD501 in every way. (See video below for each of these results.)
- ORP: Enagic was -787, and the Smart was -816, using 9.5 pH water from each machine.
- H2 (Hydrogen Levels): Enagic tested at 15.71 ppm, and the Smart 9P tested at 16.27 ppm, using 9.5 pH water from each machine.
- Methylene Blue Drops Test: Enagic K8 at 1.0 ppm and the Smart 9P at 1.8 ppm, using 9.5 pH water from each machine.
- PH Range: The Kangen Water did not perform as well for the low-acid byproduct at a drinkable pH of 10.
- Price: The Enagic machine costs $4,000, and the Smart 9P is $1,795.00, which is less than half the price.
- Warranty: The two water ionizers are similar in terms of warranty, but the Smart 9P has a slightly better warranty.
- Enagic’s good, though, so don’t get me wrong; I would sell it if they didn’t force exclusivity.
Enagic Kangen Water SD501 Testing of Molecular Hydrogen Levels
In the following video by a Kangen dealer, the tester demonstrates that the SD501 can produce approximately 0.2 ppm (2/10ths) parts per million of hydrogen.
These are just mundane results compared to the hundreds of water ionizers I have tested over the years.
Enagic K8 Kangen Water Machine Testing
I often demonstrate that you don’t need to spend $4,000 or $5,000 to achieve suitable pH, ORP, and Molecular Hydrogen results.
Even the inexpensive Smart Water Ionizer is better than the K8 Kangen water filter ionizer in producing molecular hydrogen (H2). They both produce the same results for pH and ORP. In other words, you don’t need to spend a fortune on high-quality, healthy Kangen ionized water. This affordability ensures that you can enjoy the health benefits of ionized water without incurring significant costs.
Thanks to its sodium port, the Super-S12 stands out among other water ionizers. It’s comparable to the K8 Kangen and significantly better in every aspect, including the production of strong, acidic water.
The Melody II water ionizer is also better than the K8 machine. Not only does the testing show it’s better, but it features better filtration, UltraWater filters, continuous cleaning, a better warranty, and a significantly lower price than the Kangen machine.
Read more about my water ionizer comparisons, designed to empower you with knowledge and help you make an informed decision.
The Best for Less
All the alkaline water machines I sell perform well and produce hydrogen-rich water. They are sorted on my Water Ionizers and Filters page in order of best first. We guarantee that we always have the best deals and 60-day trials, empowering you to make an informed choice and try one of our superior water ionizers.