Home Theater Seating - What features and brands?

[Mike_TX]

Mods:
If this should be at "Adult Swim" please feel free to move.
I just figured this involved the "room".

I'm looking for home theater seating and I was wondering what other people were using and what to look for in HT seating.

I haven't owned any HT furniture before, but came up with this list of features...

Features to look at:
- basic construction - full steel frame, wood, springs
- mechanism - motor (quality) vs. manual
- eg Cinematech - 24 volt, 2 amp motor
- Incliner or “zero wall” or “wallaway” mechanism
- adjustability
- warranty
- aesthetics
- cushion quality
- covering (leather vs others) - quality
- seat depth
- Bells ‘n’ whistles
- Buttkicker or other transducer
- D-BOX motion control
- lighting – under chair, drink holder


I also came up with this partial list of brands.

Brands
-American Leather
-Bello
-Berkline – www.berkline.com
-Brunswick – brunswickbilliards.com
-Cinematech - http://www.mycinematech.com/Seating/chairs.html
-Cineak – www.CINEAK.com
-Cineloungers – CineLoungers.com
-Coaster
-Elite – www.EliteHTS.com
-Hamburg by G.A.Brinkel -- http://www.hometheatershack.com/foru...-point-nc.html
-Jaymars
-Lane - http://www.lanefurniture.com/Product...rNo=22078&LHF=
-Palliser - www.palliser.com
-Private Collection - privatecollectionseating.com & www.rtheaters.com/PCS
-Salamander


I was going to jump on the power buy at AVS by Roman (rsh) for the Private Collection (link), but my wife wanted to look around more before purchasing a product blind and without any reviews or user experience.

Thanks for any comments.
I may add to list as I accumulate some more brands.
Hopefully this helps other people as well.


:scratchchin:

Mike

[Mike_TX]

My HT room

Some info for my room/HT seating needs:

Here is my system:
Link to pics on AVS: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1078118

Room: Dedicated HT room - designed by Rives Audio
– dimensions – 22ft 4in x 17ft 6in x 7’7” height (diffusers hang 2.5-3” down)
- Seating for 8 = 4 in front, 4 in back on a ~6” riser
Approximate screen-to-seat distance:
?? - Front row: 12 ft – need 65” for recliner to open
?? - Back row: 16 ft
Bass traps, ceiling diffusers, and acoustic treatments throughout room

Width: 17’ 6” = 210”
Length : 22’4”

210” – 60" (door swing out 30 then x2 for centering) = 150” max size seats
- 12 inch to walk (=12x2 for centered) -> 150-24 = 126” max size with 12” walk space
- 24 inch to walk (=24x2 for centered) -> 150-48 = 102” max size with 24” (more room) walk space


Much of the Berkline HT seating is too big (with 4 seats across).
The Berkline Style 088 is 108" which would work nicely.
Salamander would also work for me, but the MSRP (web) was around $13K, so pricey.

Thanks for any input.
Thinking about the ordering and wait as thoughts of Superbowl approach.

Mike

[Mike_TX]

Berkline

Berkline....

These are some notes from Roman (rsh) at AVS...

- 1 year on the leather and power recline
- 5 years on the cushions
- Lifetime on construction, springs and reclining mechanism

You can divide the Berkline Cinema Collection recliners in the following categories (see all style groups here: www.rtheaters.com/Berkline.html) :

Small recliners – 088, 086, 45004
Mid sized recliners – 073, 083, 090, 45003, 45008, 45009, 45010, 45013
Large recliners – 091, 094, 099, 187, 194, 45002, 45012, 45014

I would be looking at the small recliners.

My impression from looking at a local store and the sales person was that Berkline (for them) was a "higher end" product.
I think there are much higher end products available but out of reach for most peope.
I didn't like the Bello.
I liked the sytle and feel of the Salamander Matteo.
Waiting on a price check on that locally, but I'm not expecting much of a break off MSRP.


Mike

[Bucketfoot]

I got Berk 088s about a year and a half ago and love them. I went with the 088s because of the smaller size.

Make sure that you get quotes from both Roman and Serge (@ Home Theater Authority). They both come highly recommended. Both had very good prices, but I ended up going with Serge as he had a better price on my particular configuration.

[Bucketfoot]

I tried to go local on these as well, but they could not come close (almost $1K more).

[plenum]

Some info for my room/HT seating needs:

Here is my system:
Link to pics on AVS: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1078118

Room: Dedicated HT room - designed by Rives Audio
– dimensions – 22ft 4in x 17ft 6in x 7’7” height (diffusers hang 2.5-3” down)
- Seating for 8 = 4 in front, 4 in back on a ~6” riser
Approximate screen-to-seat distance:
?? - Front row: 12 ft – need 65” for recliner to open
?? - Back row: 16 ft
Bass traps, ceiling diffusers, and acoustic treatments throughout room

Width: 17’ 6” = 210”
Length : 22’4”

210” – 60" (door swing out 30 then x2 for centering) = 150” max size seats
- 12 inch to walk (=12x2 for centered) -> 150-24 = 126” max size with 12” walk space
- 24 inch to walk (=24x2 for centered) -> 150-48 = 102” max size with 24” (more room) walk space


Much of the Berkline HT seating is too big (with 4 seats across).
The Berkline Style 088 is 108" which would work nicely.
Salamander would also work for me, but the MSRP (web) was around $13K, so pricey.

Thanks for any input.
Thinking about the ordering and wait as thoughts of Superbowl approach.

Mike

Mike

I've got 5 45004 in my room. 1 row of 3@ ~ 9', 2nd of 2 @ ~ 16'. My chairs are also curved which take up a little more room. Room is 11.5 X 17 X 7.5 with doors that swing out. In this configuration, I have room to walk on each side of the front row to get to the back.

With that being said, the 45004 are very comfortable chairs for the most part. Took a little getting used to the seam where the top "pillow" meets the back support. Fell right on the shoulder blade area. After a couple of weeks, didn't notice it any longer.

The arms could use more padding. Getting nit-picky I know, but just saying. I have no problem sitting through a movie and then flipping to a ball game or something afterwards.

If you deal with Roman, you're in good hands. I bought my chairs almost a year before finishing my room (never claimed to be speedy ) and took one out of the box that was damaged. Called Roman and he fixed ASAP. He's a good stand-up guy and backs his product.

If you''d like I can send along some pix so you can get an idea.

[plenum]

Should have also noted I'm 6' and 260lbs for a size reference.

[rumonkey2]

Well, I can only add...

...I'm going on 2 years on my Berklines, which I found on "closeout" at a local store. I think they are the 090 series (too lazy to check right now) They are mid size for sure....
Not a dedicated HT, really out "media den" - but this means they get used everyday. And all day on most Sundays. Yeah, that's our lazy day...:rolleyes:
We opted for microfiber as we have pets. They have withstood our dog claiming one a good bit, cats in our laps/on the seats and spill here and there. The mechanisms are still perfect & seating just as comfy as day one. Now, I have sat in some seats that were maybe a tad more comfortable...but they cost more (MSRP - not talking about our closeout $$) :snaggletooth:

[Mike_TX]

Just called a local store - Steinhafels.
No 088 Berkline's to try out in person.


Thanks for all the comments.

Mike

[Mike_TX]

Mike

I've got 5 45004 in my room. 1 row of 3@ ~ 9', 2nd of 2 @ ~ 16'. My chairs are also curved which take up a little more room. Room is 11.5 X 17 X 7.5 with doors that swing out. In this configuration, I have room to walk on each side of the front row to get to the back.

With that being said, the 45004 are very comfortable chairs for the most part. Took a little getting used to the seam where the top "pillow" meets the back support. Fell right on the shoulder blade area. After a couple of weeks, didn't notice it any longer.

The arms could use more padding. Getting nit-picky I know, but just saying. I have no problem sitting through a movie and then flipping to a ball game or something afterwards.

If you deal with Roman, you're in good hands. I bought my chairs almost a year before finishing my room (never claimed to be speedy ) and took one out of the box that was damaged. Called Roman and he fixed ASAP. He's a good stand-up guy and backs his product.

If you''d like I can send along some pix so you can get an idea.

Thank you for the info.

:thumbsup:

Let's see some pics.
I'm sure others would like to see as well.

Thanks again.

Mike

[plenum]

Thank you for the info.

:thumbsup:

Let's see some pics.
I'm sure others would like to see as well.

Thanks again.

Mike

Here is a link. I'm no photographer by any means, but you'll get an idea.

http://s274.photobucket.com/albums/j...heater%20Room/

[Mike_TX]

Here is a link. I'm no photographer by any means, but you'll get an idea.

http://s274.photobucket.com/albums/j...heater%20Room/

Nice!
They look comfy.
:huge:

Mike

[Mike_TX]

Now Roman and others have me thinking about:

- Berkline 12006 (similar to 45088 but made in china and only in brown or black)
- Private Collection 3033 Ovations - similar to 45088 size but with individual controls for each buttkicker

Mike

[Mike_TX]

Private Collection Ovation 3033

I just noticed I hadn't updated this.
I ordered the:

Private Collection Ovation 3033
w/ individual chair buttkickers

From Roman at AVS.



left chair (from an AVS poster)...



They don't ship until April, so I can't comment on them yet.

Mike

[chessman]

Congrats! I found Roman very enjoyable to work with and very reliable.