The Listening Chair - What type do you use?


What type of chair do you use for critical listening? I've always believed that one with a low back is best because a high back would alter the sound back to your ears. But I've also realized that comfort also will make ones listening experience more enjoyable. I’m thinking of going more in the direction of chairs replacing my couch and I’m having a difficult time finding ones with low backs that would allow one to seat in for hours at a time. Is low back seating really that important? How many of you in search of the absolute sound have sacrificed a bit of sonic performance for more comfortable seating?
islandflyfisher
is the Le Corbusier LC2 that is built by CASSINA a good chair for listening? I sat in one today and it was pretty good. I like the lower back area so as not to interfere with the sound.

Are there any alternatives to the Le Corbusier? Thanks.

No, that would not be a good listening chair... not in my opinion. We have the small version in our living room - it looks great, but it is definitely not a comfortable couch to sit long-term. It is rather rigid and doesn't offer much support where you need it - not exactly a relaxed listening experience.

A good alternative? I'm not sure what you mean by "alternative" since virtually anything could be an alternative. A good alternative might be virtually any other more cushy couch - one that is comfortable to sit in for a long period of time. Beware that leather couches will alter the acoustic response of the room. I changed from a fabric couch to a leather couch in my listening room and the difference was profound. The leather couch made the room a whole lot more lively, while the fabric couch had created a more pleasing deadening effect, having apparently more of an absorptive quality.

One of the most comfortable listening chairs I've been in was the one I mentioned earlier in this thread, which now has a dead link. Here's a live version - The Ox Chair by Hans Wegner. Unfortunately it also only comes in leather and is now quite expensive.

Man, this is an old thread you've revived!
I tried Ekornes, Corbusier, end Zero Gravity. Corbusier was a little bit uncomfortable, Ekornes was nice but Zero Gravity Perfect Chair was the most comfortable from the all I tried.
My perspective of an alternative is something with a low ear level back side. Yes, the LC2 is probably not very comfortable for long listening sesssion, but it is low enough for me not to worry about spurious reflections next to my ears. I know there are alnernatives. I am not concerned about leather causing or having an affect on baa. I figure one area of compromise is okay, but the ear level height of a chair is not one I want to accept. I do have a large 3 seater Italian Natuzzi leather couch that is just below ear height, but I would like to upgrade to something more of a chair. I also have a stressless relax chair, way to high, but I can fall a sleep in that chair. It does all of the fancy bells and whistles, spins, swivels, and reclines.

Ciao,
Audioquest4life
You may want to consider the Wassily Chair, which is what I use.

Looks like its current price is $3108, available at Knoll Studio. I believe there are replicas available at lower prices, under other names.

As with the Ox Chair that Marco referred to, the back and the bottom are both angled toward the rear, which results in excellent back support. Obviously, though, there is no head or neck support, which may not be ideal for long listening sessions.

The seating height the chair provides is significantly lower than in an average chair. You would want to consider that carefully in relation to the height of your speaker's drivers. I'm 5'9" and my ear level is about 39" above the floor when I am seated in the chair.

The chair, of course, is considered to be a design classic, and is in the Museum of Modern Art.

Regards,
-- Al