Listening chair acoustics?

Aaron

Have you ever compared the sound of your system using a low back listening chair vs. a high back chair? While I haven't experimented too much with this, my general observation is that the low back chair provides better sound, because you heard more reflected sound. For someone that sits close to a back wall, perhaps a high back chair would serve to improve things.

Aaron

F1nut

I can tell you first hand that a high back wing chair is no good.

steveinaz

I can definitely see where that would have an impact. My favorite listening position is actually standing behind my couch. Our house has a "Great Room" so the couch actually divides the family room from the dining room. There's about 14 feet behind the couch.

Airplay355

man you guys got it bad....

Loud & Clear

There's no question in my mind, be it home theater or two-channel, but especially in home theater application, that a low back chair is the only way to go. I've sawed off more than a couple of the upper back portions of my chairs in my home, and with fantastic results. The key is not to get so frustrated with a high backed chair that you get up in the middle of movie and whip it across the room (I've done it), but to come up with a reasonable solution (again, with the help of my saw I've done it).

In fact arm rests can be a problem, too, as they'll tend to force my shoulders to bunch up towards my ears. Needless to say, I've used the saw to remedy that problem with some of my chairs also.

Airplay355

maybe you should saw off your arms to prevent reflections from your shoulders....

George Grand

I have a high back chair, and years ago I determined it sounded a lot better if I leaned forward rather than sit with my back right up against it. Then again, leaning forward is also putting one more into the near-field.

To me, it sounds better and that's how I listen.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

TroyD

Agreed, low back chair is the only way to go........

BDT

dorokusai

I prefer to sit on a 3-leg camping chair, in the 'Lotus' position....and of course naked.

George Grand

Personally, I like the way clothes dampen the reflections off my hard body.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

mantis

All my furniture is lowback due to I have found this out years ago.

Watching movies with the surrounds muffled due to a highback chair or couch just sucks.

Dan

Danny Tse

While lowback chair is preferred, the fabric covering the chair should be carefully considered. For my particular room, no leather....too much reflection. And of course, eyeglasses must be off during listening sessions. Otherwise, the benefits of the cloth-covered lowback chair would be defeated.

Emlyn

Originally posted by Danny Tse
And of course, eyeglasses must be off during listening sessions.

Glasses off, and lights down for me too.

I have also found that high-backed heavily upholstered furniture works well for seating locations right up against the back wall in my house. It seems to lift the soundstage up a couple of feet for some reason.

scottnbnj

for me, first it has to have wheels. things get old fast for me if i can't roll with the sweetspot. next it's gotta recline, and there isn't much to reclining without a headrest.

i'll admit though, i ~have~ given some thought to a chair with with a narrower headrest and remote controlled sweetspot surfing...

)

Danny Tse

Originally posted by scottnbnj
for me, first it has to have wheels. things get old fast for me if i can't roll with the sweetspot.

Yes, wheels. My previous listening "chair" was an ottoman with wheels/casters.