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Listening chair recommendations

PristineSound said:
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?



View attachment 461144
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That set in the pic I have an older version I found at an Estate sale. It's very comfortable, many nights I have fallen asleep listening to music.
 
PristineSound said:
Matthew Poes, of Poes Acoustics (custom home theater integrator and contributing reviewer at Audioholics) has fabric seats without headrests in his home theater and I'm looking at it and thinking to myself, really?
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My friend is an English teacher, and she is trying to stamp out the phrase "thinking to myself". Who else are you going to think to? ;)

PristineSound said:
How the hell am I supposed to relax in comfort while watching a movie?
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That's what neck muscles are for! In any case, Poes is right. A headrest results in a lot of early reflections from front speakers, and masks sound from the rear speakers. But then you could argue that your ears will adapt to the sound. It's your home, your system. It's for your enjoyment, and if you would rather have a headrest - go for it!
 
Keith_W said:
My friend is an English teacher, and she is trying to stamp out the phrase "thinking to myself". Who else are you going to think to? ;)
Click to expand...
To go around the internet correcting grammar, spelling, or otherwise is akin to going around cleaning public toilets. Public toilets aren't meant to be clean, it never was and never will be. And why would anyone want such a job? Why would you want such a job? :)

Keith_W said:
That's what neck muscles are for! In any case, Poes is right. A headrest results in a lot of early reflections from front speakers, and masks sound from the rear speakers. But then you could argue that your ears will adapt to the sound. It's your home, your system. It's for your enjoyment, and if you would rather have a headrest - go for it!
Click to expand...
No one said Poe was wrong about the early reflections. You have leg muscles no, do you stand while you eat?
 
I like Ikea, but here in the USA, I got a bit sticker-shocked by 2025 prices!

Although not sub-$1K, the CH07 shell chair from Carl Hansen & Sons would be one of my dream picks.
https://www.carlhansen.com/en/en/co...7-oak-oil-hr-fscmix-70-thor-307/variant/10742
Wenger CH07 Chair.jpg
 
Oh wow, it appears that fuzzy chairs are a thing, and as I have a Design Within Reach within reach, I'm awfully curious to know what it's like to sit in one. Worth the lofty price? Guess there's one way to find out.
Tired man lounge chair.jpg
 
JeffS7444 said:
Oh wow, it appears that fuzzy chairs are a thing, and as I have a Design Within Reach within reach, I'm awfully curious to know what it's like to sit in one. Worth the lofty price? Guess there's one way to find out.
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I'd be curious how the fuzzy would stand up to extended use too.
 
I have a pair of Scandinavian lounge chairs from IMG Comfort, the model is "Jade." They were absorbed by Ekornes about ten years ago. A lot of US furniture stores dropped them at that time, but they seem to have made a bit of a comeback. I find them to be well made and comfortable.

IMG_Jade.JPG
 
paddycrow said:
I have a pair of Scandinavian lounge chairs from IMG Comfort, the model is "Jade." They were absorbed by Ekornes about ten years ago. A lot of US furniture stores dropped them at that time, but they seem to have made a bit of a comeback. I find them to be well made and comfortable.

View attachment 521949
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Tall and reflective, perfect for listening
 
beeface said:
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.
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With good reason, at least if the reviews were from an online purchased replica . A combination of them often being low density foam (buttons popping off), and the rubber mounts being a stiff polyurethane instead of a softer neoprene ( gives absolutely no flex for the comfort of the chair which was its magic ). It will leave you with a sore bum and a lighter wallet (>$1000). Find an original used or find something else is my advice. Not worth it unless you are staging a room for style or for very brief use in a guest room. Talking from 1st hand experience.
 
Keith_W said:
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.
Click to expand...

Pretty much same here

Keith_W said:
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.
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Any recommedations for a 2 or 2.5 seater?
 
krabapple said:
Any recommedations for a 2 or 2.5 seater?
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Not my role to choose the aesthetics of your living room :) But for me, I quite like:

1775437760875.png


Le Corbusier LC3. A lot of replicas are available. Be careful with those, you don't want the foam cushions to be too soft otherwise you will sink into them. I have sat in a real one (or at least the owner claimed that it was). The problem with this sofa is that the person in the middle sinks between the cushions, so you make sure you choose carefully.

1775438007336.png


The other one I liked before I sat in one is the Barcelona sofa. The foam was a bit too hard, and there is a disconcerting springiness from the metal legs.
 
Ok, down the rabbit hole again ;)

How about one of these two seaters:
1775485605528.png

(I have the 3 seater, and it's great for guest movie watchers, who sit a bit behind me.
Reasonably comfortable, esp for smaller folks. Pretty good napping sofa, too.
They ARE stunning - solid walnut - from the back.)

or one of these:
1775485660397.png

(It folds flat, too, sort of :)
I had one of these as well, but it will ruin your back if you try to sit anything BUT straight upright.
Pretty, though.
 
Keith_W said:
View attachment 522661

The other one I liked before I sat in one is the Barcelona sofa. The foam was a bit too hard, and there is a disconcerting springiness from the metal legs.
Click to expand...
A pair of Barcelona lounge chairs placed side by side also works nicely in this capacity - that's what my dad used to do. But I'd look for one which rounds down the sharp corners, as I scraped myself on those many times.
 
Keith_W said:
Not my role to choose the aesthetics of your living room :) But for me, I quite like:

View attachment 522658

Le Corbusier LC3. A lot of replicas are available. Be careful with those, you don't want the foam cushions to be too soft otherwise you will sink into them. I have sat in a real one (or at least the owner claimed that it was). The problem with this sofa is that the person in the middle sinks between the cushions, so you make sure you choose carefully.

View attachment 522661

The other one I liked before I sat in one is the Barcelona sofa. The foam was a bit too hard, and there is a disconcerting springiness from the metal legs.
Click to expand...
Regarding the LC3, the real ones are made in Italy by Cassina (owner of world wide rights to LC collection). Expensive, but very high quality. They are available with two cushion padding options, out of which the softer one is too soft to most tastes in my experience. I prefer the LC2 design myself, but that's just up to personal taste...
 
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Keith_W said:
Not my role to choose the aesthetics of your living room :) But for me, I quite like:
Click to expand...
Those are gorgeous and fancy and....expensive! But this is for a modest mancave listening room, not a living room.
I suspect IKEA will do in the end. ;>
 
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