Listening chair...fixed or moveable ?

rockitman · Dec 18, 2014

I recently changed out my fixed chair for a Herman Miller Aeron chair on roller casters. While there is a specific distance I should sit from my speakers based on setup...I find that different recordings can be optimized by having the ability to easily move closer or farther away from the speakers. Anyone else feel the same way ? I think in large rooms where you sit a good ways back, it might not be a benefit, but for me being a littler over 10' back, having the ability to easily move a bit closer or farther away yields a better listening experience.

rbbert · Dec 18, 2014

Although it pains me a bit, I have to agree with you.

Steve Williams · Dec 18, 2014

My chair stays where it is based on what Christian says however for me the only thing that moves is my head

GaryProtein · Dec 18, 2014

The chair I sit in gets moved around a bit, and god help me, I even sit in different chairs in the room because it sounds great just about everywhere!

JackD201 · Dec 18, 2014

I scoot my chair a few inches back and forth every now and then depending on the listening posture I adopt. When in veg out mode (more reclined) I tend to scoot my chair forward a bit.

DEV · Dec 18, 2014

My seating position never stays in the exact location - lots of fun

still-one · Dec 18, 2014

I do move my seating position back and forth within about a 8" area. There are some recording that benefit from a slight bass boost that I get from letting my chair get a bit closer to the wall behind my head. I do try and start from a fixed location but since my chair slides a bit as I get in and out of it the starting position is variable.

Mike Lavigne · Dec 18, 2014

when i'm in the room by myself I use my tall 'perfect chair' and it stays in one place....my ears at the top of the equilateral triangle with the tweeters. my room is large enough so that no matter the type of music or SPL's it has room to breathe so I don't need to move the position. typically my head is a couple inches forward of the headrest.

when I have visitors I move the Cassina K10 Dodo into the same position (and move the 'perfect chair' off to the side) since then the listeners behind are not blocked.

as far as positioning either chair; there are depressions in the carpet for the legs of the perfect chair; and I sight a couple of duplex outlets on either side of my symmetric room next to my speakers which nail and confirm the spot.

in the past I did use to move my chair forward or back or encourage visitors to do that. but since Kevin the speaker designer did the final setup last May I've had not thought to move the position and no one has even brought it up.

it's interesting that with -4- massive 7 foot tall 700+ pound towers so close to the listener that it does intimidate listeners visually initially; but once they close their eyes or I dim the lights no problem.

Johnny Vinyl · Dec 18, 2014

These are concerns from audiophiles who care more about sound than they do the music. How sad that sound has become more important than the art you're presented with.
Who cares what chair you use. Be comfortable and enjoy.

Mike Lavigne · Dec 18, 2014

Johnny Vinyl said:
These are concerns from audiophiles who care more about sound than they do the music. How sad that sound has become more important than the art you're presented with.
Who cares what chair you use. Be comfortable and enjoy.

and you know that how exactly?

my listening position allows the music to be the most real in my room. and the sound is besides the point. in fact; the less correct listening position localizes the sound more into the speaker comparatively. it is then 'more' sound from a driver.....not music.....in degrees.

not to say that I don't get great driver coherence from any position; only that there is one best position.

if you are trying to infer that caring about optimizing performance by speaker set-up and careful listening positioning is somehow wrong then i'd say that is wrong thinking. should we feel guilt that the music sounds better?

this is not about how much you pay for gear or even your chair. it's about simply optimizing your particular setup for optimal music enjoyment.

Johnny Vinyl · Dec 18, 2014

Mike Lavigne said:
and you know that how exactly?

my listening position allows the music to be the most real in my room. and the sound is besides the point. in fact; the less correct listening position localizes the sound more into the speaker comparatively. it is then 'more' sound from a driver.....not music.....in degrees.

reread your reply Mike.... you're still talking about sound and not music.

rockitman · Dec 18, 2014

Johnny Vinyl said:
These are concerns from audiophiles who care more about sound than they do the music. How sad that sound has become more important than the art you're presented with.
Who cares what chair you use. Be comfortable and enjoy.

Pretty shortsighted there Johnny...

Johnny Vinyl · Dec 18, 2014

rockitman said:
Pretty shortsighted there Johnny...

How is my view short-sighted? I merely pointed out that sound is more important than the music for you (and for others as well). I did so because I feel that many of you obsess about something that should only be a secondary consideration of this hobby. I get the sense that the only time you can appreciate music is when the sound coming from your system meets with your approval. Can you enjoy it when it doesn't? From what I've read in the years I've been here is that many can't.

JackD201 · Dec 18, 2014

Hi Johnny,

Have you considered the other side of he coin? How about a person liking the music so much he simply wants to hear the performances that make it up as best he can in as comfortable a way as he can?

The way you make it sound is like there are a whole bunch of guys with rigid backs and necks sitting in a hyper alert state of obsession.

Johnny Vinyl · Dec 18, 2014

JackD201 said:
Hi Johnny,

Have you considered the other side of he coin? How about a person liking the music so much he simply wants to hear the performances that make it up as best he can in as comfortable a way as he can?

The way you make it sound is like there are a whole bunch of guys with rigid backs and necks sitting in a hyper alert state of obsession.

Hi Jack!

Of course I have. I have a wonderful leather chair that I've positioned in the best possible place after listening to my system with various recordings. I'm not invalidating the importance of a good listening position, but to worry about it from recording to recording is foreign to me. I find that to be an obsessive exercise and that's why I said it's more about sound than it is the music.

DEV · Dec 18, 2014

Johnny Vinyl said:
These are concerns from audiophiles who care more about sound than they do the music.

I don't agree with your statements, it's not true for me anyways - I can't answer for others - it's all about the music.

Johnny Vinyl said:
How sad that sound has become more important than the art you're presented with.
Who cares what chair you use. Be comfortable and enjoy.

I sit in multiple seating positions and enjoy my music including while being in other areas while it's still playing.

rockitman · Dec 18, 2014

Johnny Vinyl said:
How is my view short-sighted? I merely pointed out that sound is more important than the music for you (and for others as well). I did so because I feel that many of you obsess about something that should only be a secondary consideration of this hobby. I get the sense that the only time you can appreciate music is when the sound coming from your system meets with your approval. Can you enjoy it when it doesn't? From what I've read in the years I've been here is that many can't.

For you to presume we're only interested in sound quality and not the music is beyond presumptuous. It wreaks of envy Johnny. Grow up...this is a big boy forum. Talk about foot in mouth disease....

Steve Williams · Dec 18, 2014

I'm with Mike on this. My chair is optimized for that same spot Mike describes. Especially with Wilson speakers Christian. You bring yourself out of focus Christian when you move your chair that much. I just move my head and or position on the chair.

Johnny Vinyl · Dec 18, 2014

rockitman said:
For you to presume we're only interested in sound quality and not the music is beyond presumptuous. It wreaks of envy Johnny. Grow up...this is a big boy forum.

LOLOLOL! Your post is beyond laughable to be quite honest. Get off your high horse and start listening to some music...not your system.

rockitman · Dec 18, 2014

Johnny Vinyl said:
LOLOLOL! Your post is beyond laughable to be quite honest. Get off your high horse and start listening to some music...not your system.

Wow...you really are an azz clown. Please leave the thread as you have nothing to contribute of value regarding the subject.

Listening chair...fixed or moveable ?

Member Sponsor

Well-Known Member

Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator

VIP/Donor

WBF Founding Member

New Member

VIP/Donor

Member Sponsor & WBF Founding Member

Member Sponsor & WBF Founding Member

Member Sponsor & WBF Founding Member

Member Sponsor & WBF Founding Member

Member Sponsor

Member Sponsor & WBF Founding Member

WBF Founding Member

Member Sponsor & WBF Founding Member

New Member

Member Sponsor

Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator

Member Sponsor & WBF Founding Member

Member Sponsor

Similar threads