I have found posts on this forum relating to the Stressless and Eames lounge chair as good listening chairs, but not so much on the Gamut Lobster Chair. Has anyone here tried the Gamut Lobster Chair or better still own one? If so, would appreciate your sharing your thoughts / experience with regard to the Gamut Lobster Chair. Many thanks.
It's very modern and beautiful, and I'm sure very well made, but I wouldn't want to be without the adjustability of my recliner, especially the adjustable power headrest. Before my current recliner, I had one like this (not nearly as high quality) with the separate footrest and it was nice, but once I got used to the adjustability of a good power recliner I was hooked.
In addition to that, the round wooden base of the old one was always moving and had to be moved back into position every day. It's also nice to be rid of the large footrest. Now when I'm not using it it's not in the way.
I am happy to report that I have had the Gamut Lobster chair for a month now. Siting in it the first time was a surprise / shock as it was so incredibly different from the plush IMG recliner that I had previously. The chair has much less padding and I got used to it over the next few days. I find the chair to be very comfortable now and any fears of back pains have receded away.
Does it make a difference sound wise? Yes it does, at least to the ears of those that have come to try it out. Quoting my system page " The sound (in particular the sound stage and clarity of instruments) seems to have improved, as far as my ears are concerned that is :-) What an absolute relief! "
I took the plunge! Gamut Lobster chair has finally arrived and is with my dealer. Will be trying it out next week. Is it going to be good or will it turn out to be an expensive mistake? Honestly don't know. But will certainly report my experience soon. Fingers crossed!
I wonder whether I can seek your input on another point, i.e. I currently use a highback chair and while the sound is good (to my heairng), it seems to be even better (i.e. better separation and clarity of instrumentation) when I cup my ears. Why is that?
Yes, if you are concerned about hearing precise fidelity at the listening position from most normal sized Speakers with typical low, midrange, and tweeter configuration. It has been recommended, suggested, and tested with results to come to this conclusion (don't ask me, Google is your friend). Not to say that you can't sit higher or lower, your just not hearing the best spatial qualities. I think giant array speakers, those with 6 foot bass columns and the same size for mids and tweeters, listening height would not make a difference, and I would also say the same for magnepan speakers as those types of speakers in most cases have the same drivers literally floor to speaker height.
I tried the Eames chair a few days ago. While it is reasonably comfortable, when seated, my ears are 4 inches lower than the tweeters of my speakers. Would it be better if the tweeters and my ears are at the same height?
Just replaced my Ekornes Stressless chair with another one. After 15 years the leather started to finally get worn looking. They still make the exact same chair (higher price of course)! I had been through 3 other brands, some pretty expensive before it and the biggest difference is my back doesn't hurt after getting out of it after long periods, can even sleep there. I think it is recommended by some chorpractic association. It is very comfortable, but not like a recliner where the footrest comes up, vibrates or holds a refrigerator like Costanza's on Seinfeld. Not really cushy of pillowy at all if that's what you are looking for.
Bad news - very expensive and made in Sweden, so if you don't get a standard color that is in stock in the US, it has to be custom ordered. Mine took 23 weeks to get here because my wife couldn't live with a stock color. This one may outlive me....BTW the old one is still perfectly good and my son will take it when he moves back in driving distance. He loves it more than me.
A soft, black leather, high back, office chair, with rollers and height adjustment lever works best for me. I can roll it to find the sweet spot, and adjust the height when switching between my floor standers, and my stand mount, mini sattelite/subwoofer system.
When not listening to music, it doubles as my computer chair in the opposite end of my room.
It does not look very comfortable though it is quite beautiful. I imagine if your head was within the confines of the chair it would get rid of many room reflections. It is equivalent to cupping one ear in a single direction. If you want to judge good room correction bring in a Ferengi (star trek guy with giant ears that can only hear forward )
Many thanks @tim_pfor the helpful input. I find the same thing happening to me in my current chair, i.e. for passing out in LOL. However, your input about the chair being a nice listening chair keeps it in contention in my mind.
Interesting input @bslon . It never occurred to me that swiveling a chair can assist one to balance the sound being directed to your ears. Thanks!
@roxy54...Happy to read your 5 were all adopted, as have the 9 spouse and self have, along with the 4 dogs along the way. Only one cat had gotten declawed, and we regretted it...for our oho....
They seem drawn mostly to leather, which we like more for 'outerwear' over furniture. The Poangs' cushion is replacable, and not for big$....comfort on a budget at the time, and still holding up well so 'keepers'. *S*
Current listening sit/stay is a low-back chaise lounge, so able to keep 'ears in the clear' re diffustion. Leaves reflection to the back wall and the mind.... ;)
I get a better listening experience in a low back chair because of the added reflected sound off the side and rear walls. If the chair swivels it's possible to adjust the balance by swiveling, too.
@dcpillal he has it in a dedicated listening room (the only chair) and right in the sweet spot. In my opinion a great "headphone" chair, but as a listening chair within 10 minutes and a soon to be Senior, I could see my head slowly tilting to the right and lowering, as my eyes closed to listen, I would easily find this chair very comfortable for passing out in. You sit nicely In a pocket, but you don’t sink in it. It is a very nice listening chair, don’t get me wrong, just wrong for me at 7K. How many record albums could I buy for 7K....hmm....
I looked for a small recliner to fit my room because it is rather small. I bought the Tyler leather recliner from Pottery Barn. Very comfortable for me. FWIW
How many more times do you Amatures need to be told, Get your Eames , Lobster ,Inflatable , 3rd grade school chair , potty , up on them there Townsend Pods , everything will sound betterer and it will firm up your bottom end .
I sat in a Lobster chair about 2 weeks ago while listening to my first high-end system, which included a pair of Gamut Zodiac speakers. It was an incredible experience, and the chair was comfortable too. I've also owned Ekornes chairs and they're even more comfortable than the Lobster chair. If you're in the Santa Fe, NM area, check out Lucky Dog Hifi and you can have the same experience I did.
@tablejockeythanks for the tube rolling suggestions. It has gone on my list of things to try out. Current have tried out only the EL34 and the KT150.
As for aural embellishment, yes I do notice that when I put my hands behind my head, the clarity of the sound increases and the instruments become more distinct. Cupping your ears has an even greater impact. Being a relative newbie, is this to be avoided from an audiophile perspective, or is it "whatever works for you" ? I have also read that the best seating for listening to music should be without a head rest as headrests reflect sound. Not sure whether this is true as the majority of the feedback has been from those that have chairs with headrests!
On that score I understand that the Lobster Chair claims that it negates the feedback by absorbing the sound. Thus the question to the forum.
I prefer my replica of the Iron Throne. Looks interesting but not very comfortable (needs a cushion). But the swords in the back produce resonances unless you treat the room. #GOT
A friend of mine has one, super comfortable, but the cost just doesn’t justify it to me. A local audio Dealer here sells them at 7K(cdn)a pop, plus sales tax.
The average person Jerry goes through a lot more pain in their lives than a cat does from being declawed. I have adopted 5 cats over the years, and had them all declawed, because while I love them, I also love my furniture. It's a small price for them to pay for a life of love and luxury. I have never had one that seemed to suffer much from the experience.
Spouse & self have a pair of IkyYah Poangs’....she can drop off and sleep through warfare on it. *L*
Our cats like them as well, so their price is very attractive in that regard....one reason ’floor standing speakers don’t live with us in the residence....
We had an earlier feline declawed, but won’t put any or another through that. it’s not ’fair’ nor pleasant to have your fingernails pulled out either.
We can replace a chair, or reupholster it. And for 5~6K$. I’d rather eat lobster than sit in one....;)
In relation to the headrest, this is the relevant extract from the review:
"Nor was the headrest neglected. Indeed, in many ways its design was key to getting audiophile-level performance out of the chair. As GamuT notes in its Lobster Chair product literature, "Normally you can't have a neck rest while listening to music, because you get a reflection from the material behind your ears, distorting the sound. But GamuT has created a unique acoustical damping material, resulting in an extremely effective sound treatment, while maintaining the Lobster Chair's breathtaking beautiful design and comfort. Furthermore the shape of the wide headrest also prevents reflections from [the] wall behind the listener [from] affect[ing] the soundstage, which eliminates the need for sound treatment behind the listener." In other words, there is no leather in the neck and head zone, but rather a fabric that acts to properly dampen the potential acoustical reflections in that area.
I can tell you quite categorically that it works extremely well."
It looks like it forces you into a neckhurting slump. It looks like it'll give you the type of sound you get when you cup your ears, and the eq is thrown off-kilter by keeping your ears from getting sufficient reflecting sound from a wall behind you.
I too use the Ikea poang with ottoman, fold the head piece underneath cross brace at top, otherwise too high. Chairs with backs higher than my ears cut off the subtle sound cues coming from behind listening postion.
The lobster chair, like I could just fabricate some huge mouse or cat shaped horns and glue them to my head.
I’ve always been partial to a recliner that facilitates having a tray right in front of me so that when suitably ensconsed in a comfortable position I don’t have to reach either side for a variety of lifestyle necessities such as the ashtray or a bottle of vodka.
edit - I do have a stock image but I can’t figure out how to post it, unlike people here who are skilled at technologically advanced endeavours.
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