The Chair

Acred posted:

Can anyone give there thoughts on their experiences of choosing a chair especially if there's anything to be avoided. 

My only concern would be to avoid a high-back or winged-back chair that might interfere with reflections to your ears.

Also avoid Amazing Kreskin Spherical 1970s chairs that rotate.

I just have a nice arm chair in the centre of the speakers about 15 feet away, arm chair is agaist the far wall- works for me

joerand posted:

Acred posted:

Can anyone give there thoughts on their experiences of choosing a chair especially if there's anything to be avoided. 

My only concern would be to avoid a high-back or winged-back chair that might interfere with reflections to your ears.

Very true.

Im also currently looking to replace my high backed recliner chair because of the way the sound changes when your head is near the headrest.  It makes the sound heavier and destroys the imaging.

That's  with a fabric chair , just wondered if a high back leather chair would do the same , as I cant seem to find any low back swivel recliners .

I recall there being a (joke) proposal for something called, I think, Odins Sittock, in a 'flat earth' hifi magazine, year's ago. There may well have been a cartoon of this...

Think Metal construction, with Spikes, upwards and downward, a Head Restraint - you probably get the idea........ 

I use a Celebrity Westbury dual motor recliner very comfortable no need for a Power Line upgrade

+1 re avoiding a high backed chair. Shoulder height maximum to avoid the effects that Folkman describes above.

I believe I recall advice to choose a chair that positions your ears at a similar height to the tops of your speakers or at the very least to ensure that your ears are not below the level of the tweeters when you are seated.

Also ensure that any arms on the chair allow free and easy access to the small side table that holds the remote control and your glass of wine 

As others have indicated, a chair that at head level or higher extends to the sides of your head or beyond (unimportant if just a headrest directly behind your head) could be undesirable due to close sound reflections and/or unnatural absorption, depending on construction. However, it does depend on what is behind you: a wall right behind the listening position is highly undesirable unless fitted with suitable acoustic treatment - otherwise with a close wall a chair with a wide padded headrest might prove to be less detrimental to perceived sound quality than the wall.

Hi there -

We splurged on an Eames chair and ottoman by Herman Miller and I find it very, very comfortable. It has a head rest, swivels and slightly rocks but is already "reclined". Ours is black leather and walnut, the original classic design; you can choose from many couloir and veneer combos. There are also a few clones (cheaper, in grades) but I found the original geometry and comfort to be magic, so try first. In our place, it is the bedroom listening / reading / "me time" chair so comfort and body position were key, as well as "iconic" look. Can't say I have finished optimizing the system, but I don't think the headrest is an issue. I am seriously considering swapping main system up from the living / great room (open concept main floor) as the dedicated chair and generally more calm environment just lends itself to drifting away... Good luck with your shopping and congratulations on your new home.

Regards alan

Try 'old sparky' aka 'The Green Mile!!!!) :-)))

Richieroo posted:

Try 'old sparky' aka 'The Green Mile!!!!) :-)))

That's the future - feeding the music direct to the brain, with no need for amps and speakers and their limitations. Of course, the emotional power could end up frying the brain...

In the excellent Yes Minister the hapless Bernard Woolley explained that there are 2 types of chairs appropriate for government ministers, one that forever goes round in circles and the other that immediately collapses on first impact.

A sofa (or chair) can make a big difference to acoustics, depending on how much damping the room requires. I was going to dump an unused armchair positioned at the first reflection point on the right as I sit listening. I moved it out of the room to discover that it was working superbly as a bass-trap; so back it came.

I have joked about going into a DFS store and saying "I'd like to listen to some sofas please".

John.

J.N. posted:

A sofa (or chair) can make a big difference to acoustics, depending on how much damping the room requires. I was going to dump an unused armchair positioned at the first reflection point on the right as I sit listening. I moved it out of the room to discover that it was working superbly as a bass-trap; so back it came.

I have joked about going into a DFS store and saying "I'd like to listen to some sofas please".

John.

 

Nice one!  Home trials of course.

...just buy a chair that you like; I would be surprised if your equipment really gave a toss !

kevin J Carden posted:

+1 re avoiding a high backed chair. Shoulder height maximum to avoid the effects that Folkman describes above.

I believe I recall advice to choose a chair that positions your ears at a similar height to the tops of your speakers or at the very least to ensure that your ears are not below the level of the tweeters when you are seated.

Also ensure that any arms on the chair allow free and easy access to the small side table that holds the remote control and your glass of wine 

Gosh!

I remember enjoying some Dynaudio Contour speakers (60s I think) at the Acoustica show this year and thinking that the tweeters were rather high.  A little research showed that they are around 1200mm above floor level.  Sitting on my sofa my ears are at about 900mm, so in a spirit of scientific investigation I created a stack of cushions in an attempt to reach the minimum dizzy height.  As I wobbled about on my unsatisfactory tower with my feet 20cm above the floor I began to wonder whether there was a business opportunity here.  Perhaps we should take some bar stools, you know, the ones with gas lifts and spray them black with a few logos in fetching green.  If we made the price sufficiently high, we could market them as the latest essential audio accessory, far more effective than several box or cable upgrades.  The route to a quick fortune?

Roger

Roger, that sounds like a barbers chair???

Ha! but think of the liability insurance for all those injuries as people fall off! 

You have me thinking where I saw that advice. Don't think it was this, but the advice seems similar https://www.qacoustics.co.uk/b...your-hi-fi-speakers/

Perhaps more appropriate for the OP' s stand mounts?

Rules are there to be broken I guess. Certainly would be tough with the CAT MBX

notnaim man posted:

Roger, that sounds like a barbers chair???

Ideal for listening to barber's shop quartets?

Roger

I think the height issue is exaggerated.  Especially if you have tweeters designed for off axis listening.

I use Hans J. Wegner's Wing Chair from Carl Hansen & Søn, which is the most comfortable chair I've ever sat in. It's upholstered in fabric and pretty hard stuffed so initially it feels ...hard, but if you're sitting down for a while that it is much better for you than soft stuffing. It also supports your head and there are absolutely no trade off regarding the sound quality.

Mr Fjeld posted:

I use Hans J. Wegner's Wing Chair from Carl Hansen & Søn, which is the most comfortable chair I've ever sat in. 

This is next on our "splurge" list! Amazingly comfy and practical for us as the idea is to add something moveable and replace a gargantuan armchair. I agree with the poster who said pick yer favourite: spoil yourself with the chair and enjoy your space. 

Regards alan

The somewhat cheaper Ikea Poang does it for me.

alan33 posted:

Mr Fjeld posted:

I use Hans J. Wegner's Wing Chair from Carl Hansen & Søn, which is the most comfortable chair I've ever sat in. 

This is next on our "splurge" list! Amazingly comfy and practical for us as the idea is to add something moveable and replace a gargantuan armchair. I agree with the poster who said pick yer favourite: spoil yourself with the chair and enjoy your space. 

Regards alan

Splurge away  

The Eames Lounge Chair is simply wonderful in all respects! We thought long and hard about it but came to the conclusion that it needs to be seen as much from the side and behind. That unique profile of leather and pressed wood is something to behold. Unfortunately, we couldn't accommodate the  space but I still long for it.

I sometimes wonder though about all the possible parameters which leads to enjoyment of music? If you don't sit comfortably - how can you enjoy music?

As to position of the chair may depend on the speakers.  Speakers often have a tight focus spot, so if two persons want to have the full benefit of the 'sound' one must sit on the lap of the other person.  However some speakers have a wide dispersal of focus spot so maybe you can get a settee instead of a chair.