Time to order seating, and wanted to get some input. I'm almost equally torn between leather and Microfiber and need a little 'nudge' to help push me one way or the other...where better than here to get some insight.

Here's what I've determined to be the pros and cons of each:

Leather Pros:

-Visually superior
-Longer Wear
-Better for spills

Leather Cons:

-More expensive
-Not as comfortable
-acoustically inferior

----------

Microfiber Pros:

-Power recline
-Price is right
-Greater comfort
-acoustically superior

Microfiber Cons:

-Durability
-'ok' visually

To make things more interesting, a local furniture store has a 'one only' power recline love that they're blowing out for $600.00:

http://www.canadianhometheater.com/images/media1.jpeg


It would be easy to match this up with another couple of love seats to get this layout happening:

http://www.canadianhometheater.com/images/browncouchview2.jpg

I'd appreciate any input, as well as any factors i haven't considered.

Thanks!

wow $600, and power recline too! i paid $900 for my microfiber couch with no recline.

If you and your significant other like to watch in shorts/mini skirts etc. you will find the leather (which I have) very uncomfortable.

I personally don't find leather uncomfortable in shorts. Obviously, YMMV. I also don't think that the acoustics of each chair would be significantly different when taken in comparison to the entire room/people.

The price is definitely a factor in favor of the microfiber. If you like the comfort better, I'd say go with it. The reduced price will probably more than cancel out the better wear for leather. Most of the time, you are looking forward with the lights off, so the better look of leather isn't important.

For me, the overriding factor was microfiber's uncanny ability to attract and hold cat/dog hair. So leather won out.

I bought my berklines in black micro-fiber (see my link, chair pictures near the end). Leather would have been much nicer for dog hair control, but potentially less comfortable.

I say potentially because it depends on the leather. I've got two (expensive) leather recliners in my living room that have very soft leather. Very comfortable even in shorts. However, I've got another leather couch that is harder, shinier leather that is less comfortable on skin.

For me, 8 identical black micro-fiber berks were going to have enough 'wow' factor. The leather look would have been not that big a gain. Because of that, comfort won hands down. The price savings was just gravy.

I say microfiber!

I have 2 couches in my family room with it and now my Theater Seats are microfiber. I am looking for microfiber office chairs now!

I find it to be more comfortable.

It is also better with cats. Their claws can puncture the leather by just walking on it and after a while it looks ratty. They walk on the microfiber with no problems and it is not a fabric they like to scratch.

While leather may be easier to clean I find that the microfiber is not bad at all. Soak up spills and use a damp towel to clean. When it dries it is not noticable. I have a 2 yr old boy and 3 cats - believe me I have had to clean them all. (Now we haven't spilled red punch on it yet... Knock on wood)

As I read the responses so far I think it's clear that you can get varying qualities of microfiber/leather that will make a huge difference.

Personally I vote for leather because I don't like the look of microfiber.

is leather really better for spills? i've spilled stuff on my microfiber couch, and the liquid beads right off. i've even dropped a glob of paint on it, and it came off with no problems. microfiber should be relatively stain resistant.

Another vote for microfiber. I sweat too much for leather to be comfortable, and if I turn the air down enough to not sweat I freeze everyone else out of the room.

At the end of the day, comfort should drive the decision. You're going to be sitting in those chairs for hours at a time. Bottom line, if you think microfiber is more comfortable, then go with microfiber. I personally just went with microfiber and love it.

DO NOT GET MICROFIBER!

Especially if you are worried about sweating. Get something that breaths like cotton or a blend. Microfiber does not breath and (I think) can actually be worse than leather.

BTW: Track down Roman out of NJ on these forums. I got the highest grade leather + power recline & butt kickers for way less (ridiculously less) than retail. I did have a problem with one of the chairs 11 months later and Roman was great about getting me set up with a repair guy.

Yeah, yeah...... microfiber over leather.

But seriously, you guys let dogs and cats into your theater???

I have six microfiber covered Berkline recliners in my theater and they are very comfortable.

I found there was a big difference between the group 1 and group 2 microfibers. The group 2 fabric was thicker, more plush and well worth the extra money.

Good luck.

Dave

Yeah, yeah...... microfiber over leather.

But seriously, you guys let dogs and cats into your theater???

my dog read this just now and she just gave the computer screen a long dead sarcastic stare.

=) everytime i watch movie she will crawl next to me and watch it with me

http://a615.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/21/l_688f89b1ab96f7a0861401176055c76e.jpg

on to topic, i would say go with comfort, leather seat are uncomfortable to sit in more than an hour

Leather all the way.

Not sure what makes them uncomfortable to some. Even with shorts on, I've never found our leather furniture uncomfortable, either in the HT or the living room. We had micro-fiber furniture in our living room for 3 years. It got trashed to the point that we had it replaced under warranty (many stains you might get from toddlers). Once replaced, we sold the new set on craigslist and bought a new leather sectional for the living room. I'll never get microfiber again. Not only is it more prone to staining, but IMO is not as comfortable either. Just seems a bit "scratchy" on the skin to me, where leather looks better and is more comfortable. The only advantage to microfiber is that it costs less. To me, the comfort, looks and durability of leather outweigh the price difference.

The overall best long term strategy is Leather for durability and a bunch of blankets/throws for comfort. Just toss them in the wash or replace when stained.

just get what feels and looks best to you. I personally don't like the look or feel of leather. The microfiber looks better and feels more comfortable to me. And if it was scothguard protected, stains and cleanup aren't a problem.

The overall best long term strategy is Leather for durability and a bunch of blankets/throws for comfort. Just toss them in the wash or replace when stained.

I agree and was thinking the same. Microfiber is probably more comfortable though.

What I have found is that while the leather seating may not be as acoustically superior to start out with, once you sit a person in it the acoustics improve allot. The "null" only appears to be a problem and once I sit down, it's gone. :D They are also good for a tactile response but you may need an equalizer. Microfiber is more environmental friendly and maybe more cozy but is also more difficult to care for obviously.

How about both? Seriously though, I was having the same dilemma until I came across some of the Berkline fabrics that look so much like suede/leather its almost impossible to tell they're not. It gives you the best of both worlds IMHO. Our seats are pictured below:

The fabric we used is called, "Stampede" IIRC

We've had lots of spills - including red wine - and no problems with cleanup.

http://www.reedzone.com/final7.jpg

EDIT: Here's another pic that may show them better:

http://www.reedzone.com/finished2.jpg

Wow, thanks for all the input!

I discovered today the the store actually has 4 of the above posted couches and 4 matching club chairs is stock, all with power recline.

A Couch/Chair combo is $800, so 2 chairs/ 2 couches for $1600....I don't think I can pass that up. :)

I had originally wanted to go with dedicated palliser home theater seats very similar to what Strange_Brew posted above. Unfortunately, I could be waiting up to 3 months to get them, and my experience with ordering furniture thus far has been dismal - I've waited up to 7 months for custom pieces for the rest of the house. (Also, $1600 versus $3900 for palliser)

My thinking is that even if I get a years use out of this set for $1600, I can dump them into kijiji or craigslist and recoup most of the investment. (plus I have a few younger siblings in need of furniture upgrades).

I'll bump up my theater build thread soon; First coat of paint is already on!

Dave.