Seating choices and reflections

There was an amazing thread on WBF I believe on high-end listening chairs. They were gorgeous!

Ken

We have custom seating so the back heights are below ear level in order to prevent the reflections you're asking about. But it does mean holding your head up using your neck, instead of have support from the seat back.

NekoAudio said:

We have custom seating so the back heights are below ear level in order to prevent the reflections you're asking about. But it does mean holding your head up using your neck, instead of have support from the seat back.

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Thanks, this is what I am purposely trying to avoid...seat-backs that are tall and wider than my head faced with reflective materials, or even too absorptive materials. So many "audiophile chairs" seem anti-ear friendly with their height and material types.

Perhaps the best choice for my needs of comfort, style and low-back is something like, or an array of Cassina (or equal) Le Corbusier LC2 lounge chairs. I'd like to have a comfy and functional sweet spot when solo listening but also allow other listeners a spot to enjoy the music together. I do love the design and comfort that the Le Corbusier LC2 affords.

Maybe I just answered my own question. LOL.

I really like the Ekornes Stressless Classic Recliners. I may eventually purchase one of these. They make some lower back versions for those concerned about acoustic interference.

https://shop.stressless.com/en/c/recliners?q=:relevance:C_C_BASE:C_C_BASE_CLA&text=

Ken

here is the big question;

do you want a 1 hour chair?
a 2 hour chair?
a 4 hour chair?
or a 12 hour chair? which is a chair prescribed by doctors for patients that cannot lay down flat.

i listen for 30 hours a week and many long sessions. so i need a 12 hour chair. not everyone listens so much, or maybe the WAF is a dominant issue.

a zero gravity chair of some sort (there are lots of different makers) keeps the angle constant between the leg and back and fully supports the lower leg. it was designed by NASA in the 50's for rocket launch since it distributes the weight of the body over the whole length. it takes the weight off your butt/spine. it does have a high back and so for listening it needs particular characteristics to minimize chair ear reflections.

my 'Relax the Back' store zero gravity 'Perfect Chair' had it's 20 year anniversary in my room last May, this month it will be 21 years old. i'll be buried with it. it's a 'long' 'narrow' version with a visco-elastic memory foam and is rounded at the top with a half round pillow that reflects the sound away from my ears so it does not change tonality. i have not adjusted the angle of this chair since it was new. i can essentially sit in this chair continually. if i hurt myself or have body aches sitting in this chair literally heals me. somehow it's a therapy of some sort. at 68 years old i do fall asleep listening frequently, but it never causes any pain anywhere.....which is an important issue.

i do own a Ekones Stressless chair for my football watching area which i view as a 2 hour chair. i have to get up and stretch after 2 hours or move the chair position around. and i can lay it back farther. i'm always moving it around to prevent back ache. i do have an Ekones Stressless sofa in my listening room sitting behind my zero-grav chair. i'd call that a 2-3 hour sofa, which is high praise for a sofa.

also in my listening room i have a Cassina K10 DoDo chair that pivots, that i move into place when i have company which i view as a 1 hour chair. it has a low back and works great in the sweet spot for communal listening. and it's very elegant looking. you see it in my room pictures (my zero gravity chair is not in any recent pictures).

i'm long waisted so i sit high. my zero gravity chair angle/position puts my ears at tweeter height. my K10 DoDo sits higher so works better for visitors. plus at this point i'm protective of my zero gravity chair as it has a hardwood frame and it's getting a bit fragile so i mostly keep it to myself. you have to be careful how you enter and exit.

Mike, that chair looks comfortable, but aren’t you laying a bit too flat?

Mike said:

Mike, that chair looks comfortable, but aren’t you laying a bit too flat?

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depending on the listener it puts ears at tweeter height. i adjust the back rest for each listener. the seat itself is not as low as some other chairs. my visitors seem to like it. since it pivots it works great for conversation too. it has a heavy metal frame. it's not cheap.

I wanted a low back leather chair for my listening room and went with this one when it went on sale. It is amazingly comfortable for hours on end and I can keep my remote on one arm and my phone on the other.

https://www.crateandbarrel.com/briarwood-leather-chair/s337722?oc=2,859_4,86_9,35

Mike Lavigne said:

here is the big question;

do you want a 1 hour chair?
a 2 hour chair?
a 4 hour chair?
or a 12 hour chair? which is a chair prescribed by doctors for patients that cannot lay down flat.

i listen for 30 hours a week and many long sessions. so i need a 12 hour chair. not everyone listens so much, or maybe the WAF is a dominant issue.

Click to expand...

Mike, thank you for this post. During quarantine I've been spending more and more time on the couch and this idea of a 12 hour chair sounds very appealing.
As an aside, I have been following your posts here and on other message boards (particularly about the taiko extreme as I bit the bullet and have one on the way). Your advice on all things audio is always invaluable.

Alpinist said:

I really like the Ekornes Stressless Classic Recliners. I may eventually purchase one of these. They make some lower back versions for those concerned about acoustic interference.

Ken

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they also offer adj backs (which I have) for even greater flexibility ......

You can also order chairs with a motorized headrest, letting you have it down when you want no reflections and up when you want some head/neck support.

Tubes said:

I wanted a low back leather chair for my listening room and went with this one when it went on sale. It is amazingly comfortable for hours on end and I can keep my remote on one arm and my phone on the other.

https://www.crateandbarrel.com/briarwood-leather-chair/s337722?oc=2,859_4,86_9,35

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Great looking chair suggestions guys, thank you.

Steve...the chair you posted here looks to be more my style, shape, fit and height. My parents have a couple of similar chairs in their living room that I forgot about, and they are very comfortable. Will look further into a low back, upright sitting position design such as your Crate and Barrel suggestion.

Not sure when I'll move forward with the purchase(s) (I will need at least two if not three for my room since it serves television viewing too) as I'm feeling pretty $$-tight right now given the state of things, but now I have something to research during this time.

Thanks again guys.

I had the same issue as others with a head rest to large.

Started with this chair.





I took it the back apart and created a narrow head rest and built a foot stool to match the chair.

Nice work on the chair, footstool and headrest. I admire the talent. Being Covid 19 semi confined except for food pickups and dog walks has taken its toll on my back as I’m listening for more hours than normal. I have a leather surfaced power recliner that was an impulse purchase at Costco. Cheap and cheerful. The height allows my head to clear the backrest at tweeter height. It’s fairly comfortable. The Ekornes Stressless show up on Kijiji regularly if cost is an issue.

Nice work on the chair, footstool and headrest. I admire the talent. Being Covid 19 semi confined except for food pickups and dog walks has taken its toll on my back as I’m listening for more hours than normal. I have a leather surfaced power recliner that was an impulse purchase at Costco. Cheap and cheerful. The height allows my head to clear the backrest at tweeter height. It’s fairly comfortable. The Ekornes Stressless show up on Kijiji regularly if cost is an issue.

all it takes is a towel folded twice on top of the back rest, problem solved. buy what you like..

I’m into mid-century and have been. Using the Saarinen womb chair and ottoman for the last few years. Perfect ear height and it envelops your body keeping things very cozy for hours. Great for napping also.

I’m into mid-century and have been using the Saarinen womb chair and ottoman for the last few years. Perfect ear height and it envelops your body keeping things very cozy for hours. Great for napping also.