Listening chair?

jqp · « **on:** 1 Jan 2003, 04:06 am »

What is your favorite listening chair? Post a picture if you can...

I want to get a new one so I am looking for ideas.

Currently the criteria are: leather, swivel, mid back height

hairofthedawg · « **Reply #1 on:** 1 Jan 2003, 04:24 am »

You can see mine in the gallery. The only drawback is the difference in sound when I recline, which is often. It's almost like a bed. It's the one in the side angle photo but there's another a few feet to the left of where the photo is taken from that's where I listen from.

cheers,

Dick

jqp · « **Reply #2 on:** 1 Jan 2003, 04:30 am »

I have a recliner but it really alters the reflections since it is right behind my head. Cool gallery!

djklmnop · « **Reply #3 on:** 1 Jan 2003, 04:45 am »

Ikea sells one for 99 bucks, called the POANG. It's really confortable.. and for the price, it's not too shabby. Well, locally it's 99 bucks, but in some cities, it's only 79 bucks.

http://www.ikea-usa.com/product_presentation/show.asp?productnumber=00010027&type=III&id=453,415

Anthony C · « **Reply #4 on:** 1 Jan 2003, 05:18 am »

Ekornes Stressless Recliner, Black leather /Teak with ottoman. Adjusts to move with your body, adjusts to your weight. The back is higher than most audio/HT experts prefer, especially for surround and it will induce sleep but it's the best chair (function/looks) I've ever seen. The have dozens of styles/sizes and are a bit $$$ at aprox $800-$2000+ but when you figure how important your sweet spot chair is it's worth every cent
There are also many copies avail at cheaper prices

hairofthedawg · « **Reply #5 on:** 1 Jan 2003, 06:22 am »

Any opinions on how much my recliner is affecting my inability to find what I hear a sweet spot is? I still like the sound a lot wherever I'm sitting but still wonder what could be...?

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #6 on:** 1 Jan 2003, 09:34 am »

Funnily enough, I spent most of the day at furniture stores looking for a nice listen chair for my second system. I didn't have a lot of luck finding anything at a reasonable price; for a second system I don't want to drop a mint and many places were closed d/t the holiday.

I too would like leather (but would settle for linen, etc), low back, no recliner or rocker. Just an ottoman. I could take a recliner but most of em rock, and I don't want that. The Poang chair looked pretty good, but I really doubt I'll find one in the grain belt...

I can tell ya a high back definately messes up the sound, and I just can't stand that. Any sofa/love seat/chair that makes it into my house has to have a back that doesn't extend upwards past the shoulders.

tmd · « **Reply #7 on:** 1 Jan 2003, 01:59 pm »

I had that very IKEA chair for a long time. I can tell you that for me, it was most uncomfortable as a listening chair. It may just have been me, but more than fifteen minutes in it was too much. It has a bar running along under the backs of your knees and even though I am 6'2", my knees seemed to rest on it. They quickly became clothes horses in bedrooms and the like.
Be warned. Try it out for a good few minutes before you buy one.
Neil.

Juan R · « **Reply #8 on:** 1 Jan 2003, 02:36 pm »

Try Leather-direct.com

EProvenzano · « **Reply #9 on:** 1 Jan 2003, 05:18 pm »

Good topic. I'd like to mention that I've also had terrible luck with mid to high backed chairs especially leather ones. The sound stage is completely messed up. I find that swiveling the chair even a half inch in either direction would swing the image by many feet.
I'd also like to second the suggestion for the Poang chair. I find it very cozy and the back height is bellow ear level so it doesn't affect the sound stage. The Poang can also be purchased in a thicker/plush leather cover. In this case I think the leather would be acceptable because the back is low enough. The leather version may be the ticket for those who want even more comfort. IMO, your listening chair should definitely be auditioned in your room

.
Happy New Year,
EP

roopaudio · « **Reply #10 on:** 2 Jan 2003, 04:04 am »

I'm not sure if leather is mandatory for you, but if it isn't you may want to consider cloth. Leather absorbs much less of the frequency spectrum versus cloth, and so having leather directly behind the ears can have an audibile effect similar to that of a room reflection. I think the ideal design would have a robust neck support without the headrest extending too far up, allowing the ear to suspend without any close reflective surfaces. Ekornes was suggested above, and I second the brand. The cloth chairs are exceedingly comfortable, and have minimalistic headrests that provide plenty of support. Like any other premium product, these chairs are expensive, and it's difficult to find a local dealer.

Rup

nathanm · « **Reply #11 on:** 2 Jan 2003, 06:44 pm »

Although it's not really a "listening chair" per se, I have to heartily recommend the Herman Miller Aeron chair. I never thought I'd spend $815 bucks on a damn office chair, but once I used this work of art it was worth every penny. You can sit in this thing for hours and hours and when you get up you feel fine - not like you've been sitting for hours! Plus it's got the revolutionary Fart-Thru suspension system! Okay, so they don't call it that, but it works all the same.

Add your own foot rest and it'd probably make a good listening chair. It just might seem a bit weird to have in your living room, but personally I think it looks wicked cool.

If I had a spare 2500 lying around I'd have an Eames Lounge chair and ottoman, but it sounds like high backs are not good for sonic reasons, eh?

http://www.herman-miller.com/CDA/product/0,1469,c201-pss1-p8,00.html

The suspension on it is very cool, you can lean back and it moves with you; kinda like a pseudo-rocker if you want. But it can be locked in any position too. Well, the "highly adjustable" version at least.

jqp · « **Reply #12 on:** 3 Jan 2003, 04:55 am »

A chair with a special neck support or occipital support, that does not get in the way of the sound around the ears, sounds great. I would love to see one or a link. If it swiveled that would be a real plus.

I had one of those Aeron chairs on a contract at a big bank. They were super comfortable and you could sit all day. That is a definite possibility. I have decided recliners are great for DVDs and Xbox ! Also nice for laptops...

lo mein · « **Reply #13 on:** 3 Jan 2003, 05:57 am »

The Recaro seats are super comfy. This is the non-automotive version
of their infamous sports-cars/race cars' seat.

info: http://www.recaro-seats.com/recaro%20ex_office_chair.htm

Alex

Arctos · « **Reply #14 on:** 4 Jan 2003, 06:27 am »

Greetings,
I have seen a listening chair by Salamander (the equipment rack company) that looks very nice, but have never sat in one. I think it goes for around $900US.

Regards,

RDS