What would you buy for a listening chair, and why?

Hantra · « **on:** 25 Oct 2003, 11:08 pm »

All:

I have been looking for a nice chair to go in the listening room, and I have found a few that I am choosing between. One is a leather low-back chair with ottoman, another is the best recliner I have ever sat in, also leather. The last one is an Ekornes, also with a high back.

Which would you buy, and why? I mean, can a chair really make a sonic difference? I am leaning hard toward the recliner, but my only reservation is that it is big, and has a high back. How important is that for sound?

Thanks!

B

smargo · « **Reply #1 on:** 25 Oct 2003, 11:12 pm »

hantra:

I hear a new chair is coming out with tubes for the the recliner stage. Its solid state though when its not reclined I think or maybe its digital. Anyway Ill let you know more when I find out....

smargo

Hantra · « **Reply #2 on:** 25 Oct 2003, 11:32 pm »

Well as long as the S/N ratio is not bad. I don't want to interrupt the music when I recline. hehe

Haoleb · « **Reply #3 on:** 26 Oct 2003, 12:13 am »

A big ole la-z-boy recliner.

Them things are the best out!

Start out just sitting comfortably. at the end of the second disc or so, recline back a little furthur and then just stretch out and doze off with music goin full tilt. wake up at 1am in the chair.

I have done that more than a few times

michael w · « **Reply #4 on:** 26 Oct 2003, 12:58 am »

Go for comfort first.
Once you are comfortable yopu are more likey to enjoy the listening session.
But not TOO comfortable or you might doze off.

I would avoid really high back chairs unless you like listening with earmuffs.

A back higher than ear level is likely to induce a similar baffle effect akin to sitting against a wall.

Ugh !

cheerio

Mad DOg · « **Reply #5 on:** 26 Oct 2003, 01:25 am »

hantra,

i'd recommend a zero gravity chair...very comfy and good for the back...

http://www.relaxtheback.com/global/product/pg_product_detail.cfm?TID=928354181660530325105153&CFID=93541816&CFTOKEN=760325109&Site=main&treeID=1897&group_ID=6367973

singhal · « **Reply #6 on:** 26 Oct 2003, 04:44 am »

I like the zero gravity chair. It's great for music, nothing quite like it. In the horizontal postion it would be interesting to see if it makes an auditory difference vs in vertical position.

These are good:

http://www.ekornes.com/usa/stressless/index_stressless_stol.htm

My favorite is Reno. I bought them for the home theater room though.

Hantra · « **Reply #7 on:** 26 Oct 2003, 04:14 pm »

What about the high back on these?

That doesn't impact your listening ?

jqp · « **Reply #8 on:** 26 Oct 2003, 04:30 pm »

I have a highback leather recliner (it is huge), and it definitely impacts my listening. It is better than sitting against a wall of course. And if I lean back the angle changes, and so does the angle of my outer ear. So right there, probably not a critical listening solution.

Think of a high back chair as a room treatment - the leather reflects waves of a certain length, absorbes/diffuses waves of a certain length, the padding absorbes/diffuses waves of a certain length. It also blocks waves reflecting from behind. It is like cupping your hands behind your ears - except flatten your hands. You will see a difference of course. Not always bad, but not the "intended" reproduction.

I have seen pics on the net of a sound engineer (can't remember if he was recording - I think so) listening to monitors at the mixer, with tall sound absorbers about a foot behind his head, in the middle of the room. But they did not have a dense skin of leather or "pleather" on them.

Will I give up my $1000+ recliner? I think not! But I will be getting other seating for the "media center" including a comfortable critical listening chair where i can slide the recliner out of the way behind me. The commercial with the guy sitting in a chair and the sound waves blowing his hair and scarf back (Memorex, Bose?) looks like the best kind to me. And to really do it right you will need to take measurements with ballistic gelatin dummy in your chair

Hantra · « **Reply #9 on:** 26 Oct 2003, 04:41 pm »

Quote

And to really do it right you will need to take measurements with ballistic gelatin dummy in your chair

Hahaha!!!! To find out just how much damage the chair will take if my wife gets mad, and goes on a rampage with the AR-15?

beat · « **Reply #10 on:** 26 Oct 2003, 10:58 pm »

I picked up a few of these, they are surprisingly comfy, reclines, easy on the wallet, and not over padded which aids good lumbar support. It seems the leather and the minimalism of its mass (as well as the matching ottoman) doesnt interfere with the acoustics as much as say velvet or the like.. me likey

http://www.ikea-usa.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10101&storeId=12&productId=11051&langId=-1&parentCats=10114*10292

rkapadia@ROOP · « **Reply #11 on:** 29 Oct 2003, 07:41 am »

For my needs, I ended up with the Le Corbusier "Relaxing Machine"
chaise. I opted for the ponyhide finish

. Not only is this piece visually stunning, it is amazingly comfortable for long term listening. It takes up very little space, and also uniquely tilts the ears forward and raises the neck for minimal reflection by the ear. I think this does an excellent job for maintaining the intended voicing of the system. Just search Google, or go to design websites like www.dwr.com for photos.

bluesky · « **Reply #12 on:** 29 Oct 2003, 09:06 am »

Hantra

Believe it not this is a serious issue for me. I was taken out by a stolen car on the way to work some five years ago. The insurance is just about to settle (I hope).

One of the things I am going to do (before investing the payout) is get a really good audio system (this worth a whole post I reckon) and set up my small study as a listening room.

Given that I have several crushed vertabrae, a reconstructed shoulder and, well........ etc. I want to get a really good recliner to enjoy my music.

I figure that good music will greatly enhance my ability to deal with pain. "The pain cycle" is greatly influenced by your attitude to it. I used to work, believe it not, as a disablity and carer consultant before my car accident. It is incredibly important to have intellectual pursuits, like music, to divert your concentration away from high levels of pain.

So, I need a damn good recliner and I have a fantastic excuse for spending some of the insurance money on a really good audio system! For medical reasons only mind you

Here's what I am thinking of:

Aksa amp and preamp, which I have just finished building with a LOT of help from Hugh Dean.

Turntable: Michell Gyro SE;

CD player: Shanling CD-T100 with PartsConnexion mods;

Speakers: Hammer Dynamics Super 12's, Aksonics MKII kit or Osborn Titans;

Anyone have other suggestions for um.....pain management.

Cheers, Bluesky

Hantra · « **Reply #13 on:** 29 Oct 2003, 12:57 pm »

Quote from: rkapadia@ROOP

For my needs, I ended up with the Le Corbusier "Relaxing Machine"
chaise. I opted for the ponyhide finish . Not only is this piece visually stunning, it is amazingly comfortable for long term listening.

Roop:

How high are your ears when lounging in this? With ribbons, I don't want to be too far off the vertical axis.

Thanks!

B

MaxCast · « **Reply #14 on:** 29 Oct 2003, 01:25 pm »

I asked this question a while ago on HD. Not much of a concencus.

My "perfect" chair would be a recliner/rocker with a back at shoulder height. There would also be a narrow support that would come up to cradle you head either in the upright or reclined position. The cradle would be fully adjustable and super comfy.

I would think that leather would first relfect sound before absorbtion. The surface is very close to the ear so I would think you would want full absorbtion properties first.

A low back chair would be a must for 5.1. But what do I know, I have a high back recliner in green no less. But I must say, I don't have any problem dozzing off after the fourth cd and a few drinks.

rosconey · « **Reply #15 on:** 29 Oct 2003, 01:55 pm »

my mom got hit by a train years ago ,they took out a piece of hip bone to make a new tail bone, really i am serious no joke intended.
she find stiff chairs work best for long sittings.my step father just bought a benz- she never went for a test drive-it kills her back so now he's selling it.she ended up with a recliner from stickley furnature after looking for quite awhile.
i bought a 3/4 height leather recliner a year or so ago-its the perfect height for music and relaxation

jqp · « **Reply #16 on:** 29 Oct 2003, 03:43 pm »

Quote from: MaxCast

My "perfect" chair would be a recliner/rocker with a back at shoulder height. There would also be a narrow support that would come up to cradle you head either in the upright or reclined position. The cradle would be fully adjustable and super comfy.

...

Exactly! Some dentist chairs have this characteristic. Hopefully your system won't make you clench your teeth...

MaxCast · « **Reply #17 on:** 29 Oct 2003, 04:11 pm »

[quote="jqp
Exactly! Some dentist chairs have this characteristic. Hopefully your system won't make you clench your teeth...[/quote]

Great analagy. Hmmmm, my wife works in the dental field.....

Bolt it down and wire it up and it could be dual purpose

cjr888 · « **Reply #18 on:** 29 Oct 2003, 04:47 pm »

Everyone - thanks for the links -- some great stuff and some good buys. Definitely curious on ear height with Rup's chair. Not in the same finish, but definitely want one of those...

I luckily have rather high couches, so lounging/laying actually puts my ear at relatively proper level. I can't do speakers with extremely small sweet spots -- I'll take comfort first...

8thnerve · « **Reply #19 on:** 29 Oct 2003, 08:38 pm »

This one looks nice: http://www.dwr.com/productdetail.cfm?id=3553&fp=subc

I would never listen in a chair with a high back, well, not critically anyway. With a properly treated room, you need sound from the rear, so a high backed chair would not be an option for me.

This is the chair I have always wanted for listening, but at that price it will be a while: http://www.highbrowfurniture.com/seating/products/5569/

It may not look comfortable, but it is suprisingly luxurious!! And gets completely out of the way of the sound.

Good luck!