Your Listening chair


How elaborate is your chair? I use a beach chair and use two throw pillows to reach the tweeter height.Very transparent, acoustically. Only problem is the back support just ends up little below my neck level.And does not provide head rest-which is painful for longer sessions. My question: How important not to have a head rest on your chair? I have experimented with a head rest and sound becomes somewhat non-transparent loosing its ambience. Without the head rest sound is more open and natural.
nilthepill
Don't overlook the importance of getting your ears to the right height, especially in the nearfield. This will depend on your particular speakers, of course, but a general rule is to get your ear between the midrange and tweeter. I just raised my chair (by putting clay bricks under the feet) and was very happy with the improvement in sound. It's actually more comfortable, too. This is almost as significant as speaker placement.
I sit in a low-backed old turn of the century chair, because it's a Victorian living room. I had used a more comfortable, higher backed chair, but that screwed up the sound, as others are noting. This is a quandry, particularly if the music relaxes you into falling asleep as discussed in another thread (yeah, I sometimes fall asleep listening too). The most comfortable chair I ever sat in listening to music was one of those Backsaver zero-gravity recliners which my local dealer had for a while in his store, which had a wide headrest so it wasn't the greatest for serious listening but was heaven to sit back in and let the music wash over you.
I have used many chairs for listening over the past 25 years. My favorites are the J-16 Rocker by Hans J. Wegner, a 1944 design, and the classic lounge chair with ottoman by Charles Eames, and early 50's design.
I listen in nearfield in my small office. I use a Hon brand office chair that has hieght adjustment and a release to allow for leaning back. The chair's back height is perfect being just below ear level while cradling enough of your neck so you can sleep, I mean listen, comfortably.
I agree with david 99, lets not make this overly complicated, couch with extra throw pillows. Throw pillow behind the head for headrest.