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Listening chair recommendations

PristineSound

PristineSound

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2025
Messages
477
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586
Location
Northeastern part of USA
Hi All,

Any recommendations for a listening chair. My preferred requirements:
  • Single to 3 seats.
  • With foot rest or ottoman.
  • Have pitch, so that I don't slide off when I lean back (and not to mention I have a senior citizen butt, so I will slide off without a steep angled pitch).
  • Arm rest.
Other's nice to have would be:
  • Adjustable lumber support.
  • Adjustable headrest.
I am considering an Eames replica, like the one below from Amazon (Please no lecturing on buying "knock off's" because the Eames design patent long expired. And I couldn't care less about spending $5k on a chair.). Does anyone own an Eames replica? How do you like it?

What is everyone sitting on for a long, comfortable session of listening that is not just your couch or sofa?



1751588038111.png
 
boxerfan88 said:
Ikea Poang
Click to expand...
I have the fabric version, after a prolong period, the bar on the back digs into my back. If it wasn't for that, I would be perfectly happy with it.
 
I love my Stressless chair. It's held up really well for the last decade.

I like Poang chairs, but I've had two where the bolt through the armrest into the seat back snapped in half, rendering the chair useless. OK for guests, though. ;)
 
I've heard mixed reviews on the comfort levels of the Eames lounge chair. I haven't sat on one for a long prolonged period so I can't personally comment. YMMV. No arguing that it's a classic design though.
 
I have the HM Eames chair as my main listening spot - it's nearly ideal as it puts my head at just the right level (it sits lower than most lounge chairs), above the back rest.

Other than it being worth gobs more than when I bought it, I'd encourage the Eames clone research.

The one you linked looks interesting and appears to be a 'big' version, probably a good thing.
The one thing I'd look for in a clone (not sure anyone does it though) is a tiltable seat, which I'd sure like.

The newer HM chairs have really puffy leather, and aren't as comfortable IMO, and I think some of the clones may be more adjustable (especially the back angle).

Hm. Also, the original is best suited for folks of smaller stature - at over 6', I find it hard to get perfectly comfortable (bad back esp.)
I speculate it was designed for Ray, not Charles. (HM does make an "XL" version now, but I haven't tested one yet.)

Repairs (the back structure is likely to fail after 20 years or so) are not too terribly expensive, but shipping back to Michigan can be a problem unless you have a commercial HM dealer nearby (I do, they were great).

I also have the matching sofa, and can easily recommend it for movie night company.
(Stunning in walnut, a good napping sofa, and a good 'sitter'.)

1751590161555.jpeg


I also had one of these:
1751590569189.jpeg

In Royal Blue. Screechingly Beautiful, but would try to cripple me if I tried to sit anything but rigidly upright on it, so sold it off.
The folding design was cute...and made it easier to move (but still weighed a ton, all steel frame.)
(At a decent profit...all of them have nearly investment potential.)

If I were to buy again, I think I'd give some serious thought to a Lazy Boy recliner (which I also have, but not in the movie room, but is disgustingly comfy), or one of the 'stressless' varieties, though those have started to compete with herman miller on pricing.

If you might be interested in one of the molded plywood lounge chairs, drop me a PM. :)
 
Daverz said:
I love my Stressless chair. It's held up really well for the last decade.
Click to expand...
+1 for Ekornes Stressless. They are the best.

Stressless® furniture | Ekornes

For more than 50 years, Stressless® has developed comfortable designs and features based on insights into human anatomy and people’s everyday lives.
www.stressless.com www.stressless.com
 
JeffS7444 said:
I have one. It's a comfy tv-watching chair, and for headphone listening. But I don't like high-backed chairs when listening via speakers.
Click to expand...

Yes, the high back does change the sonics (unless you are very tall?). But without head support I can't listen for very long before my neck aches. A chair with a narrow head or neck support might be more ideal.
 
I got a sweet deal on an actual eames (tall version) and it's comfortable as heck, that's my vote, knock off or no.
 
Maybe you should write down a list of requirements for your listening chair. For me I have a few requirements:

- I want to sit bolt upright when listening. I don't want my head at an angle because that interferes with stereo imaging.
- I don't want anything behind my head, so no headrest. Headrest creates early reflections which interfere with stereo imaging.
- There needs to be room for 2 or more people because I often listen with my wife or with friends.

So I don't like those Eames chairs. They take up a lot of space and they aren't great for listening. I prefer 2.5 seat sofas because they are versatile, you can lie down on them and take a nap.
 
PristineSound said:
I have the fabric version, after a prolong period, the bar on the back digs into my back. If it wasn't for that, I would be perfectly happy with it.
Click to expand...
It needs something between the lower back bar and the foam to spread the load, otherwise the foam takes a permanent deformation at the top corner of the bar. I bent a couple of aluminium strips to match the curve of the back, then put them inside the fabric cover with about 2" gap between them. It's not quite as good as before the foam compressed, but good enough that I've not fiddled with it again since.
 
kemmler3D said:
I got a sweet deal on an actual eames (tall version) and it's comfortable as heck, that's my vote, knock off or no.
Click to expand...
Neddy said:
I have the HM Eames chair as my main listening spot - it's nearly ideal as it puts my head at just the right level (it sits lower than most lounge chairs), above the back rest.
Click to expand...
JeffS7444 said:
I have one. It's a comfy tv-watching chair, and for headphone listening. But I don't like high-backed chairs when listening via speakers.
Click to expand...
The back rest is consists of two parts, where there is a gap between the two parts and are folded with an angle.

Your take on it, is it uncomfortable? Is the gap noticeable? Is that angle fold comfortable?
 
For a number of reasons, I ended up with below. Must admit that it does make me really comfortable and relaxed, which I think is very important to transcendent into the content. Obviously not a common solution, as we are all individual - I might just be the oddball.

Oddball setup 1.jpeg
 
For me, that back gap is not noticeable, nor uncomfortable. The angle does somewhat encourage reclined seating position which I prefer, but also does bolt upright well...though with the ottoman, heavy temptation to slide down 'into' it.
No idea what any clone versions are like - but if the amazon ones are returnable (?) or low priced enough might be worth a shot....just don't expect too much.
 
Oddball said:
For a number of reasons, I ended up with below. Must admit that it does make me really comfortable and relaxed, which I think is very important to transcendent into the content. Obviously not a common solution, as we are all individual - I might just be the oddball.
Click to expand...
I love it!!
Someday I'll probably end up with something like that, End Of Days enjoyment, and all....:>
 
Some towns have a Design Within Reach store where you can try out expensive chairs with and without ottomans. They specialize in modern design classics and everything is expensive. Makers Herman Miller and Knoll make office furniture which can take a beating, and many can be repaired. Design Within Reach reps Herman Miller and Knoll.

There are some better quality copy houses selling by mail order.

I'm partial to the Herman Miller Eames Soft Pad chair. I also use a copies of the Knoll Barcelona chair with an ottoman. The classic Eames Lounge Chair is a great product, but 2 of them take up a lot of space, just like 2 captain's chairs on the bridge of the starship Enterprise.

I would say, if you are ordering a pair or a set of listening room/living room chairs, order them at the same time. Even with Herman Miller, it is going to be hard to match the upholstery between pieces ordered at different times, if only because of sun-fading.

With so many working from home, business office furniture comes up used, often in good condition.
 
I have a 30+ years old Stokke Gravity which I used for listening until we bought a Brühl sofa. It's very comfy and I can sleep in it for hours.

This is not mine, but it shows the position I usually used for listening - and right now typing on my tablet:

IMG_9280_master.jpg

It's still available as Varier Gravity.
 
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PristineSound said:
The back rest is consists of two parts, where there is a gap between the two parts and are folded with an angle.

Your take on it, is it uncomfortable? Is the gap noticeable? Is that angle fold comfortable?
Click to expand...
I find it very comfortable. Mine's an older USA-made clone, but I've also tried the Herman Miller. H-M has nicer detailing (mine has exposed screw heads), and perhaps the leather they use is softer, but the things are otherwise similar. The back does not recline by itself, but there's an adjustable spring tensioner for the entire shell unit.

DWR: I miss having a store in my area, because there's nothing like actually trying out furniture. I found the Wenger shell chair very much to my liking. DWR has annual sales on many items.
 
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