Need Modern Chair for Listening Room

[TonalTech]

I know this probably seems a little odd, but I believe the chair to be a part of the audio system.... Justification? Well if you have a chair who's back goes above your ears, its like having a wall for reflections. If your chair is too low, your ears are not at proper listening height, and if your chair is uncomfortable, you will not sit for as long of listening sessions or be distracted from the music.

That being said, I am looking for a chair that is extremely modern and comfortable (subjective, i know, but i need help), and as always, I don't want to spend too much on the chair (as it would rob money that could be allocated to the rest of the system).

I like the Earnes Lounge Chair, Barcelona Chair, and Stressless recliners, but they are all too expensive. Does anyone have any suggestions? I am nervous about buying a knockoff because I don't know how it will wear.

 

[JeffJacobs]

The IKEA Poang lounge chair and ottoman is an option.

The Stressless chairs are nice and you can grab them for 3-400 sometimes online. I'd keep trying to find one of those.

 

[shipdriver]

The Stressless chairs are nice and you can grab them for 3-400 sometimes online. I'd keep trying to find one of those.

Wow...I have Stressless chairs (from the lower part of the range) and 3-400 for one would be bargain of the century, unless you mean 3-400 Kuwaiti dinars or something. Do you have a site that would have a deal like that?

 

[noise gate]

I'd look at thrift stores, or on line classifieds. 2 days ago on the local kijiji were a pair of leather recliners with ottomans ( not poangs, way nicer ) for $50, and a Barcelona style, with ottoman for under $100. Nice chairs pop up regularly, but they don"t last long.

 

[winters860]

The Eames Lounge Chair has been widely knocked-off in a process that continues to this very day. These copies are both affordable and widely available.

 

[tomlinmgt]

+1 on the Poang. My best friend and fellow audio geek has one of the Ekorne Stressless chairs and though it is very nice I can't justify the expense after sitting in my leather Poang for almost a year. That chair has never left me anything but relaxed and comfortable. One caveat for critical listening.....you have to remove the padded headrest because it will indeed monkey up the sound. I fold a towel up several times so it is only as wide as my head and drape it over the top rail of the headrest and that works great.

 

[jhenry01]

I found an original Eames chair without the foot stool for $50 at a garage sale 2 years ago. Keep looking and be patient.

 

[trhee]

+1 Eames Lounge original or "Eames-style" replica. There's a reason why this classic and timeless design has been around for well over 50 years and has been copied and emulated endlessly.

Some of the better "knock offs" or replicas aren't exactly cheap either

Herman Miller (The Original): $4500

MCM Classics: $900

Rove Concepts: $1600

Manhattan Home Design: $1000

Barcelona Designs: $1100

Out of the replicas, the Rove is very, very nice:

 

[fiddlefye]

One thing that I've found is that wing chairs aren't the best idea. The "wings" can cause acoustic issues when listening that aren't good. I have on that is super comfortable, but when I lean right back in it some of the HF is absorbed and it makes for dull listening.

 

[winters860]

Some of the better "knock offs" or replicas aren't exactly cheap either

Herman Miller (The Original): $4500

MCM Classics: $900

Rove Concepts: $1600

Manhattan Home Design: $1000

Barcelona Designs: $1100

Out of the replicas, the Rove is very, very nice:

Have you had a chance to compare in person? I'd wager all the modern replicas are coming from one or two Chinese OEMs and are very similar.

 

[trhee]

I've been to the Herman Miller and Manhattan Home Design showrooms. While the Manhattan Home Design replica is not the same as the original in detail and quality, neither is it's price. However, replica or not, the quality of the chair is appropriate for the retail price. Whether it's made in China or elsewhere, it's a very nice quality chair for the price in the same sense that an IKEA Poang is a nice chair at $69/149.

I've also heard very good things about the Rove Concepts and Barcelona Designs replicas from people who own them, especially with the Rove which garners nothing but raves, even at the lofty price of $1600 for what is essentially a "knock off". Apparently, the Rove's leather quality and attention to detail is what sets it apart from the others.

Have you had a chance to compare in person? I'd wager all the modern replicas are coming from one or two Chinese OEMs and are very similar.

 

[Jack Lord]

+1 on the Poang. My best friend and fellow audio geek has one of the Ekorne Stressless chairs and though it is very nice I can't justify the expense after sitting in my leather Poang for almost a year. That chair has never left me anything but relaxed and comfortable. One caveat for critical listening.....you have to remove the padded headrest because it will indeed monkey up the sound. I fold a towel up several times so it is only as wide as my head and drape it over the top rail of the headrest and that works great.

+2

I am weary of any couch or chair at IKEA, but the Poang bucks the trend. Very confortable.

 

[prisoners]

The IKEA Poang lounge chair and ottoman is an option.

The Stressless chairs are nice and you can grab them for 3-400 sometimes online. I'd keep trying to find one of those.

Agreed. It's very comfortable, inexpensive, and has no audible impact. The various cusion colors/material will fit any decor.

 

[wgb113]

The Poang is a solid choice. I had an Ekornes Orion in there for a while but the headrest is too high. Now I'm rocking an Eames knock off I picked up at a warehouse club store for $200. The leather's nowhere near the quality on the Stressless but it's comfy and wearing rather well. This design just screams to be named the benchmark audio chair. Seat height, comfort, style, headrest height are all about as perfect as it gets.

Bill

 

[dibmem]

Don't forget Plycraft by George Mulhauser a.k.a. "Mr. Chair" lounges

This one is a Mulhauser design as well:

There are Plycraft and Selig lounges in our home... We are using a butterscotch colored one here in the living room as a gaming chair.
Looks like these:

We've never experienced a genuine Eames lounge, but we can say that the Plycraft and Selig lounges are very very comfy.

 

[winters860]

There are Plycraft and Selig lounges in our home... We are using a butterscotch colored one here in the living room as a gaming chair.
Looks like these:

We've never experienced a genuine Eames lounge, but we can say that the Plycraft and Selig lounges are very very comfy.

I've got a Selig chair identical to the larger one in the background, with the black plastic caps on the chair and ottoman bases. It's comfortable at first, but kind of makes my butt fall asleep after about an album's worth of sitting. I'd like to replace the foam, but the condition is so good, I really don't want to mess with it.

The large headrest does affect the sound. Whether this is positive or not will be a divisive issue.

 

[TrrR]

These chairs are a very comfortable fit for my 6'-1" height and just as comfy for my 5'-8" wifey. Your head sits just above the "wings" but they are high enough to provide good head and neck support. I find them just right for movie watching and listening in a dedicated media room.



I think they are from Ikea.

 

[Kev_rat]

+1 for the Stressless
Very comfortable
Long lasting
I have a Stressless office chair that I just love (the cat loves to come and sit on me in it as well)
But..... they do cost

 

[crwilli]

Nash Bonded-Leather-Match Reclining Chair and Ottoman at Raymour and Flanagan. Can sit up and get your ears above the back or fall into it - it is very comfortable.

Wish I have known about the Poang before hand though...

 

[Hyfi]

I just ordered a chair made by IMG Norway. It is a Swivel-Glider-Recliner. Comes with 10 year warranty and can be had with electric reclining. There is also a lever on the back that stops the glide motion leaving a Swivel Recliner.

http://www.imgcomfort.com/en-US/Productlist/RELAXER.aspx

I ordered the Crown in Graphite in the smaller Standard size as my wife has a hard time fitting larger man size chairs.