[mcgsxr]

I know that with the economy the way it is, the chair I would love to have, is unlikely (Ekornes).

Has anyone ever sat in one of these Eames style repro's?

I am only 5'8, and would not want my ears down at the level of the chair, not sure how big it is in person etc.

http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/fud/908252357.html

Has anyone ever been in one of these either - it is made by Stanley Chair?

http://www.gowfb.ca/Mario-Black-R-028-Series-Leather-Swivel-Recliner-and-Ottoman-Set-by-Stan-p-8901.php?products_id=8901

They ship from the other end of the country, but are having free shipping at the moment.

Pretty tough to buy a chair you have never sat in!

[Vinyl-Addict]

Here is a company that makes Ekornes "looking" chairs for a reasonable price. I've never sat in one but I've read comments from someone who owns one and states that they are quite nice. He also wanted to own and Ekornes chair, as would I.
http://www.discountleatherchair.com/index.html

The Stanley chair looks a lot like the chair in the link I provided.

[martyo]

Earlier in the year when I was shopping for our listening chairs I tried the Lane version of the Ekornes. I too am 5'8" and I was sitting too low for my speakers. (The Ekornes are a little pricey for us) We ended up getting reclining chairs from Lazyboy. It took some looking to find chairs that reclined but were only shoulder height for listening. We use some small pillows when reclining for movies etc.

[TheChairGuy]

Having sold a few chairs in my day ...I can tell you that you should sit in the one you think you want before shelling out biggie bucks for it.  Or, make sure the return policy is liberal and tilted strongly to the consumer.

Everyone's body is quite different and it isn't just total body length (I'm 5'9")

Meanwhile, TheChairGuy works standing up (I'm more efficient that way) at my computer....while doing the bulk of my listening that way during the day, too.   

TheChairGuy doesn't sit while listening to music!  Take my advice with a grain of salt based on that alone 

John

[funkmonkey]

I know that with the economy the way it is, the chair I would love to have, is unlikely (Ekornes).

Has anyone ever sat in one of these Eames style repro's?

I am only 5'8, and would not want my ears down at the level of the chair, not sure how big it is in person etc.

http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/fud/908252357.html

You and I have very similar tastes!  I love that Eames Lounge Chair & Ottoman.  That price is a steal!!!!!!!  The Herman Miller original spec/new production versions are going for $3000-$4000 in the States.  I have sat in one of those, and it is very comfortable.  One day I will own one. I am 5' 9" & average build and this chair was designed to fit a guy like me.  I can't speak for the knock off version (gotta be a knock off at that price) but the original is great.  Only thing that I was concerned about is the lack of head/neck support, not a chair to fall asleep in, but for reading / listening to music / TV watching it would be great.  The back of the chair is just about shoulder high on me and when I leaned my head back it was well padded and comfortable but at that point I was staring at the ceiling.  Visually, it exudes that timeless "playboy" man's chair vibe!  Awesome.  The leather that Herman miller uses is very supple and soft, definitely top shelf.  If you are thinking about the re-pro I am sure this would be one place that they would cut the cost by using a much cheaper grade of leather, or possibly even pleather, so be careful.

And as said before you should never by a chair that you have not sat in, if you ever plan on using it.

Cheers,
Funk

[Bob in St. Louis]

Let's say somebosy was walking up on you from behind while you're sitting in that chair, would they even be able to tell you where in the chair? If you look at the width of the top back of that chair, it's huge. For a listening chair, I don't think these wide backed chairs are a good idea. I LOVE my Berkline home theater seating chairs, but if I had it all to do all over again, I'd get something else, just due to the fact the top is so freakin' wide. It's GOTTA mess up your audio.

So, How about a Recaro?  aa
How about a KAB? 
http://www.ergonomicofficechairs.com/

[jimdgoulding]

May I suggest a chair that has some old fashioned comfort.  That does not have a high back.  That is covered with fabric, preferably organic.  That when seated you cannot see over the top of your speaker cabinets at all.  And one that does not have rollers on it so it will stay where you painstakingly put it (unless you never painstakingly put it in the first place) unless you have a specific need for them.  Ottoman optional.  Damn, Bobby, no, not those!

[ted_b]

Yes, don't ever buy a chair that you haven't first sat in.  Ekornes, for example, makes three sizes of most of their models...and it matters a lot.  I hated the smaller size...the first one I sat in.  And loved the correct sized one...I know this may get flamed, cuz you mentioned the economy et al, but.......it seems many of us spend huge $$ on lesser impact items than our personal listening chair.  I mean, other than maybe your room's acoustics, what is more important than the support, comfort, long lasting quality and acoustic freedom (no high backs, etc.) that a great chair gives you.  So...with that in mind, save up and then go for the Ekornes (if there's a dealer near you).  It's worth it.  Really.    

[Brown]

 Using the Recaros from my old Porsche 928. Mounted on display stands. Sweet. Visit your local junkyard and save some money.

[Bob in St. Louis]

Damn, Bobby, no, not those!

Aw, come on man....Just look at how COOL those are.
You could take the casters off and just have the 'spokes' on the floor! 
I like Mr. Browns idea of a pedestal mounted automotive seat.  aa

Bob

[woodsyi]

I let my wife decide.  All I insisted was that the back be no higher than my neck sitting down.  You have to build wife points you know.   

[jimdgoulding]

Damn, Bobby, no, not those!

Aw, come on man....Just look at how COOL those are.
You could take the casters off and just have the 'spokes' on the floor! 
I like Mr. Browns idea of a pedestal mounted automotive seat.  aa

Bob

I like "Mr. Brown's Pub" myself.

[richidoo]

You gotta keep the headrest from messing up the sound. Not too big, not too soft, not to hard. Leather reflects but is comfy. I use a big leather couch with comforter over the back, but it falls down. But the seating position is ideal. No headrest on it. A big lazyboy is too much absorbtion for me.

Good idea about the Recaro, with cloth covering.

[lonewolfny42]

Damn, Bobby, no, not those!

Aw, come on man....Just look at how COOL those are.
You could take the casters off and just have the 'spokes' on the floor! 
I like Mr. Browns idea of a pedestal mounted automotive seat.  aa

Bob

Right up Bob's "alley".....



http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/going-nowhere-fast-porsche-917-in-your-living-room-209503.php

[cloudbaseracer]

All I insisted was that the back be no higher than my neck sitting down. 

I am not disagreeing with what you say I am just disappointed if this is the criteria for excellent sound.  I have been searching for a recliner for 9 months and have pretty much settled on the Ekornes.  There are several reasons for this; style, comfort, and quality.  One of the main things is that I can recline in this chair and it will support me fully for a long snooze.  I don't understand how a chair that stops at the shoulders can be comfortable for anything other than erect listening posture? Do we all want/require a chair that will let the sound wiz freely by our heads for the best possible hi-fi?

Wow, you guys always manage to throw a wrench in my plans in some way or another! 

James

[mcgsxr]

No flames for suggesting the Ekornes is worth the wait Tedb, I KNOW they are (a friend of the family that my wife and I used to house sit for had pair by their kitchen fireplace, and believe me I spent long hours in that chair, it is awesome.  I am lucky enough that there is a dealer right here in my town too...) it is just a matter of continuing to wait!

I had not thought of the used car seat DIY'd into a listening chair.  It certain does fit my style, my unfinished basement requires next to no WAF, and if I could find the right funky car seat on the cheap, I would be willing to invest the time to cobble togeher some kind of support system to get it right in the room.  A can of flat black paint to neutralize the whole substructure, and I would be done.

Corvette leather?  Cloth seats would likely cost less, but leather would be more fun.  I am sure the passenger seat of any sports car would likely be in better condition too, and less attractive to racers etc.

I will consider having a look around the local 'yards, but with the weather currently hovering around -5C, it may have to wait.

I currently use an IKEA Poang chair, cloth covered.  ALWAYS regret not buying a leather one, with darker wood, but at the time of purchase the lighter one with cloth matched what we had, and it was in a room with other items that did require WAF.

I don't nap at all, let alone in my listening chair, but I can see why it might be a req for others.  I tend to listen sitting upright (use of the word erect there just seemed so wrong!  ) and the other use for the chair (perhaps 10%) is when folks come over to play pool, and there are more than just 2, there is a couch and a small sitting area.  The whole space is raw basement, so it is used by me to listen and play pool (combined often) and also my little girls (now 3 and 5) love to horse around down there.

Thanks for all the ideas, and for sharing your personal perspective, I will continue to mull it over, and will absolutely share what i come up with!

[Bemopti123]

Realistic chairs at down to earth prices.  You will only find these sort of things down in Ikea.  I browsed around Ikea last weekend and also yesterday and two of the most comfy chairs have this, retro look to them...

One is this...

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70117761

which is this...




and the most comfortable one there is this...

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90106158

For the Luna, the website shows a grey color, in actuality it is more like a mixed between off white and brown, very retro looking and at $199, it is hard to beat. 

check it out..

To follow aesthetics principles especially with American manufactured products is an expensive proposition, but if one must have the original, well, it will cost dearly. 

[sabes]

i've got a terra zero gravity chair from relax the back, and it is supremely comfortable while having a headrest that is slim enough that it doesn't do much to interfere...of course, even if it did, i couldn't part with it - too damn comfortable!

http://www.relaxtheback.com/zero-gravity-recliners-subcategory-6389767

[CatchMeIfYouCan]

Pretty tough to buy a chair you have never sat in!

Word!
At the end of the day it all comes down to this, I will NEVER buy an 'audiophile chair' without trying it out first.

[jtwrace]

I find this very comfy.

take a look:  http://www.dwr.com/product/furniture/living/chairs-recliners/womb-chair-classic-boucle.do