Although final seating is still down the road for us, I've got some questions for those of you who have been living with theater seating for awhile. How often do you actually recline to watch a movie? Is it even realistic to think someone would completely recline unless they were so bored that they decided to go to sleep? My wife doesn't want "theater seating" since they are connected and she wants to be able to rearrange the seating occasionally for different guest configurations. Also she wants a love seat, so I've got my work cut out for me to find seating that will work. Any suggestions are welcome.

thanks,
Craigo

Almost everyone who watches a movie in the theater at least puts their legs up in the recliners. Majority of them fully recline to watch the movie. And the seats are comfortable enough to fall asleep in, even I've fallen asleep in there during a movie, but not due to boredom.

You can get loveseat recliners. They are exactly the same as the other recliners, just without the arm inbetween. Though, they are heavy and I wouldn't want to move any of them.

I think I'm thinking aloing the same lines.

I'm thinking of a love seat and two singles. The singles can be faced towards each other for parties and conversation, then faced forward for movies. Shouldn't have to really move them too fat, mostly just turning them.

Tom

My wife doesn't want "theater seating" since they are connected and she wants to be able to rearrange the seating occasionally for different guest configurations.

We ended up putting 6 berkline theater chairs in our space. We opted to go with each chair having both set of arm rests so there is no fighting for the use of the arm rest. Each chair therefore is independent and can be moved.

Every single person who has visited has reclined their seat but usually not all the way. the electric power reclines are a must so that you can "lock" it in any position.

FYI the stand alone two arm chair pricing is the same as the single arm which is intended to be placed next to another chair. Also the berkline models that I've seen do not lock together, they are simply placed together. Check the internet vendors that participate in our forum before buying from a brick and mortar store. You will be surprised at the difference in pricing.

Here is a shot of our seating, we could have done 4 across if we went with smaller shared arm chairs but we tend to entertain only a few at a time and don't have any kids parties. The shot also demonstrates why you need a universal remote. (on my list)

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b393/bigmouthindc/DSC00388.jpg

The following is based on which seating gets the most use in our house.
For the first row, my plan is to use six Irwin Ambassador HT's (these seats are for younger guest).
For the second row, if I can find a non-reclining chair that has a popup footrest and happens to be comfortable to boot, I'm there. I want more of a lounge feel for the rear seating area and will more than likely go with four velveteen upholstered club chairs with ottomans, plus two occasional tables.

Recline all the time. As do most guests.

Shot (http://caesare.homeip.net:32171/basement/slides/IMG_1968.htm) of seats:

http://caesare.homeip.net:32171/basement/slides/IMG_1968.jpg


Shot (http://caesare.homeip.net:32171/basement/slides/IMG_1980.htm) of one reclined:
http://caesare.homeip.net:32171/basement/slides/IMG_1980.jpg

Great feedback guys. Thanks for the picks as well. I like all of the seats pictured. Big, which Berk model are those? Steve, what kind of chairs do you have including model number? I like the continuous leather on the leg risers. All great stuff!

thank you,
Craigo

Mine are the biggest the 99's. FYI The height of the back does block rear sound.

Mine are the biggest the 99's. FYI The height of the back does block rear sound.

Do you find that when you're reclined to a comfortable movie watching position that the backs are blocking the rear surrounds? I like the taller backed chairs too. I sat in 94's and loved them but they are too expensive so now I'm considering the 187's which are supposed to be exactly the same as the 94's without the fancy tray table and maybe something else I didn't need.

Thanks,
Guy

Do you find that when you're reclined to a comfortable movie watching position that the backs are blocking the rear surrounds?

My rears are in the ceiling. I'm 5-10 1/2. The tops are soft and your head gets cradled by the pillow soft seat back of the 99s. It was a WAF thing.

It also diminishes the sides in the front row center (aka my seat).

I'm in the recline mode.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b393/bigmouthindc/DSC00393.jpg

We also recline all the time in my present, temporary theater. The new one under construction is designed with a 14 inch riser so both rows can recline or even the back row and not the front.

One thing to think about is to buy your seating so that you can rotate your recliners (like tires) so that the commonly used and seldom used have more or less equal wear. It will save you bucks in the long run.

You will be surprised at the difference in pricing.

Oh Yeah! In spades! I just bought 7 Berklines and saved almost $5K over what a local furniture store/rip-off artist wanted. I bought from one of the guys that does power buys here often.

the electric power reclines are a must so that you can "lock" it in any position

That depends on what you normally use. What you say is correct but we have had non-power Berklines for almost 5 years and I tried out a power one in Costco. I did not like it. Maybe I am impatient but I don't like waiting for the mechanism when I want to get up or recline and I am quite happy with the positions the non- power ones provide. I would go to a store that has both and try them.

Gosh, the commercial will be over by the time the chair is upright, and I gotta go! <g>

CCDAstro:

you know I had the same thought since 90% of the time it's always the same 2 chairs in my house that get used.

I'd like to propose that make Oscar Weekend as the official AVSforum Chair Rotation Weekend. That way the big movie event reminds us to give them a spin.

The backs of my seats do block the direct line of site of the rears. But I can still hear them just fine. And they still sound like they are behind me like they are supposed to. I'd rather have the head support of high backs than have low backs. Otherwise I would just end up slouching in the chairs eventually and then have neck pain.

Maybe I am impatient but I don't like waiting for the mechanism when I want to get up or recline...

Same here. I tried a power 90 and it took forever to get to the final position. I can be in my seat and go to full recline in under a second. And if I gotta get up, it takes another second to be seated upright. And the inbetween positions mean too many options.

I'd like to propose that make Oscar Weekend as the official AVSforum Chair Rotation Weekend. That way the big movie event reminds us to give them a spin.

That's a good idea and a great time to do it. We only use 2 or 3 of the 7 recliners on a regular basis. The rest hardly ever get used. I definitely need to do a little rotating of the seats. Though, I do like a well worn seat that is "personalized" to me.

The high back chairs brings up another issue that's important to me. I'm 6' 4" and although a lot of that is in my legs, I'm sure I'd still benefit from high backed models. What dimension range (in inches) constitutes a high back? I really hate sitting back in a chair only to find out that I can't totally relax because I'll snap my neck, or be staring at the ceiling. :(

thanks,
Craigo

Great feedback guys. Thanks for the picks as well. I like all of the seats pictured. Big, which Berk model are those? Steve, what kind of chairs do you have including model number? I like the continuous leather on the leg risers. All great stuff!

thank you,
Craigo

They are Berkline 090's in the Leather/Vinyl combo.

That depends on what you normally use. What you say is correct but we have had non-power Berklines for almost 5 years and I tried out a power one in Costco. I did not like it. Maybe I am impatient but I don't like waiting for the mechanism when I want to get up or recline and I am quite happy with the positions the non- power ones provide. I would go to a store that has both and try them.

Gosh, the commercial will be over by the time the chair is upright, and I gotta go! <g>

Yeah, I forewent the power option, and "holding" the seat in any position is not a problem for our family, or any guests...

What dimension range (in inches) constitutes a high back?

I think it's any chair which has a back that goes higher than your shoulders when you are seated.

I think it's any chair which has a back that goes higher than your shoulders when you are seated.

The 88's have a low back, at 38.5".

The 90's and 45004's have a medium back at 41.5".

The 94's, 99's and 187's have high backs, at 44.5"

I'm 6' 0" and I really like head support so I'm ordering the 187's.

Guy

Thanks guys, I finally figured out why it's taking me over 5 years to finish my basement. It's all that time I'm wasting going from upright to recline with the power feature.

I timed it and it's 7 seconds.

Now I also determined that I only like to sit in the 5 second recline position otherwise I'm staring at the ceiling.
So, If I'm in and out of the chair maybe 3 times a day and I've had the chair 2 years that's
365x 2years x3 times a day x 10 seconds round trip = 6.08 hours that I've wasted

Craigo

Have you considered reclining couches?

Eric

I recall reading an article from Russ H in Stereophile's Guide to home theatre. He said use ottomans because when you calibrate the sound you do it when the chair is upright and the chair should remain upright for the best acoustics. He also is an advocate of low backs for this reason. Although I use recliners, my front row has ottomans and my second row has a "bar top" for drinks and a foot rest below it. In the front row if the guests do recline and use the ottomans, their chair is about the length of a bed and by the opening credits all you hear is zzzzzzzzzzzz

Craigo

Have you considered reclining couches?

Eric

Oh yeah, I'm trying to keep all my options open. I'm just having trouble finding a good set of recliners that include chairs and a matching love seat that are somewhat mobile. I'd like to have all "seats" match (same style & apholstery). You guys have given me good ideas. My room although quite long, is only 14' wide, so I have room for about 3 seats per row without being right against the walls.

thank you,
Craigo

Although final seating is still down the road for us, I've got some questions for those of you who have been living with theater seating for awhile. How often do you actually recline to watch a movie?

I have found that the rate of reclining in my theater is about 99.5%, so far. To date, only one person has not reclined, and this was a case where he was in the front row and his daughter decided to sit on the floor in front of him, with her back up against his chair, in between his legs. It was last Sunday's Oscars. He allowed that for about two hours, and then asked her to move so he could "put his feet up." In every other case, 100% of the people reclined 100% of the time.

Most have ended up recling their seats to a position which is almost in a full recline, but not quite. I have seven recliners, all are motorized.

Is it even realistic to think someone would completely recline unless they were so bored that they decided to go to sleep?


Yes. Some of my guests recline 100% of the way. Most recline about 90% of way. I cannot recall anyone not reclining except for the exception mentioned above. I do recall a few reclining only about 50% of the way, and I have noticed that those rare cases were very short people, or kids, who then put their feet up "flat footed" on the foot-riser.

My wife doesn't want "theater seating" since they are connected and she wants to be able to rearrange the seating occasionally for different guest configurations.

As I mentioned, I have seven recliners. Three in the front, and four in the back. I also have four portable "gaming rockers" for cases where we entertain for more than seven. Some people use beanbag chairs for this, I decided to go with the video gaming chairs. In such cases, so far, at ourt larger parties, at least some attendees have been kids or teens, and they tend to like the gaming rockers a lot. When not in use, they are stored outside the theater. So, I seat seven in "adult heaven," and I seat 11 in a larger scenario.


Also she wants a love seat, so I've got my work cut out for me to find seating that will work. Any suggestions are welcome.

Love seats are easy to do, and this includes motorized recliners. I did not want these, personally, since everyone always seems to want a place to place their drink / soda / beer. My wife and I both prefer not to cuddle when viewing. We cuddle when we wish to cuddle. We view films when we wish to view films, and the picture and sound and comfort level is the top priority. However, the variety of love-seat style theater seating out there which can recline is quite large.

Important -- Other responses above have downplayed the importance of motorized reclines. One person even complained about the length of time it takes to recline, the first I have seen any mention of this as being an issue. Carefully consider this, though, and try recliners of both styles out in showrooms, and actually sit in some true theater seating which has the motorized reclines, and also some which does not. I am so glad that I did this. SO glad. After a simple A-B comparison, I KNEW I would go with the motorized reclines. And, it was so obviously the correct choice, at least for me and all of my family and all of my friends and all of my guests. Without, you are very limited to three positions, sometimes four. With the motorized, you have an almost unlimited number of positions. You can customize the position for YOR body, which is completely different from your wife's, and your kid's, and your neighbor's and that tall skinny guy who lives across the street, and that weight-lifter you work with, and that short pudgy guy who is your wife's friend's husband. EVERYONE can search out their optimal comfort zone for that seat, and you will find that different sized people truly do have a different position where this is, depending on their height, weight, and body type. And, it is different for each chair, for each body type.

As to the so-called "impatience issue" or the "long wait time" -- my Berkline's go from A to Z in about 8 seconds, and this seems perfect to allow one to "pick" the point at which to stop. Believe me, that 8 seconds is more than worth the wait.

I am picky about comfort. So is my wife. This is why I purchased one model chair for Row one (for taller people) and a different model for Row two (for more average sized people). No one can tell, though, until I point this out. In fact, most do not believe it until I tell them, and they look carefully. This is because I went with the same company for all, and I went with the same black leather for all, and I went with the same GRADE of black leather for all. There are only subtle differences in the seams, as far as anyone can see, and no one has picked up on this without some prodding.

Finally, yes, I can and have fallen asleep in my chairs. I do not consider that a bad thing, though... In fact, I would prefer my seating be that comfortable. The alternatives would rive me crazy (a crick in the neck, a backache the next day, the lower back pain which so many complain of, the shoulder aches, etc.)

If I miss part of a film that was good, I simply try again on another night when I am not so disposed to sleep.

Just my own opinions,

-Bruce

If you can, do both. Don't forget the butt shakers for the seats, an absolute must !!

http://picasaweb.google.com/mahler007/TheatreRoom

If always recline in my theater seats without exception... especially at the end of long nights of listening to music and modeling someone's theater:

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/4308/mypictureiu0.jpg

If you can, do both. Don't forget the butt shakers for the seats, an absolute must !!

http://picasaweb.google.com/mahler007/TheatreRoom

Can you elaborate more about why you like the buttkickers and what they really bring to the table? I am just about to buy a set of seats on Monday with them in there, but I am still on the fence a bit. I also decided on the motorized Berklines.

Simply put, for Star wars,as an example. The openining anthem blares and the surround sound is great, but when the battle cruiser comes across the screen you feel the engines rumble in the seats. They pick up key bass moments to really draw you into the movie. I really thought it was awesome when Vader uses the force to choke the officer, the bass kickers give a mild rumble and then stop when Tarkin tells him to release him. A few awesome movies for the shakers are Pirates of the Caribbean, Top Gun for the dog fights, and a personal favorite is Predator w/ the spinner cannon.

Almost forgot, Any movie w/ a stampede scene is awesome. I really liked King Kongs dino stampede, and Jurrasic park.

Here is a shot of my seating. Front row 3 Berkline 99 and back row is 2 love seats Berkline 88. I always recline to the max. I have power recline on my seats. I would definately recommend the power recline. I have fallen asleep playing xbox 360 and watching TV/Movies. Usually wake up at 3 or 4 am, shut off the projector and go to bed. Good luck on picking out seats.

Bill

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/wrspata4/100_2673.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/wrspata4/100_2676.jpg

You know, I was watching a movie and suddenly I thought of this thread. Yeah I know, admitting the problem is the first step.

Anyway, I noticed that when I am reclined in my high back seats, I have direct line of sight of my rear speakers. The high backs support the head and no longer block the speakers. New arguement point for those who recline during movies.

Almost everyone who watches a movie in the theater at least puts their legs up in the recliners. Majority of them fully recline to watch the movie. And the seats are comfortable enough to fall asleep in, even I've fallen asleep in there during a movie, but not due to boredom.

You can get loveseat recliners. They are exactly the same as the other recliners, just without the arm inbetween. Though, they are heavy and I wouldn't want to move any of them.

Agree with this. Everyone always reclines. We do have 1 section setup as a love seat as well, and is nice.

Anyway, I noticed that when I am reclined in my high back seats, I have direct line of sight of my rear speakers. The high backs support the head and no longer block the speakers. New arguement point for those who recline during movies.


Ok we need a new sticky. Someone needs to volunteer to develop a spread sheet. You put in your height, the chair model (look up table of seatback heights required), How far down on your head your ears are mounted, Your preferred recline position, distance to rear of room from chair and the ceiling height.

The spreadsheet will then give you some guidance on the possible locations of the rear speakers.

Front row most recline completely after a few minutes, second row just the foot rest ,third row almost never reclined but sometimes foot rest.

Art

Wife and I, plus 14 yo son - fully recline - always.
18 yo daughter - feet up, no recline.
17 yo daughter - foot down, no recline.

IOW - it varies. ;)

Not sure how many seats in a row you are looking at, but if you'll have 4, you could get two left arm chairs and 2 right arm chairs. That will let your wife modify the seating between 2 chairs and a loveseat - or two loveseats. Roman pointed that out to me when I was considering two double-armed chairs and an armless loveseat. Very glad he did.

My rears are in the ceiling. I'm 5-10 1/2. The tops are soft and your head gets cradled by the pillow soft seat back of the 99s. It was a WAF thing.

It also diminishes the sides in the front row center (aka my seat).

I'm in the recline mode.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b393/bigmouthindc/DSC00393.jpg


Ummm....Big. Did you know you look a LOT like somebody I saw last year in Hawaii?

http://www.ocregister.com/newsimages/show/2006/04/22jimmy.jpg

Do you think I could get some tix to a show and backstage pass??? The wife and I would love that. :D :D :D

That's a first, From other angles I look like Dick Cheney.

I've even had a drunk at Atlanta airport yell "Hey Dick" from his seat on the bar as I walked by.

On another occasion I was on the road for business and had dinner in a really small town. Two waitresses came over and asked me If I was Garth Brooks. apparently he was playing in the region and they thought I slipped away from my entourage for a quiet moment.

Well the secret is out, next time I post a pic I will include the Margarita.

Winkleman mentioned Irwin's Ambassador seat. Others have mentioned the importance of high backs to support the head while reclining.
Still others have mentioned the importance of not blocking the sound from the rears and surround speakers with the high back. Obviously, these two concepts are at odds with each other.

Irwin has a seat called the Performance VIP recliner. It has all the goodies and looks very cool. Moreover, it has a low back version with an optional headrest like you see in cars, that would seem to solve all of the above problems. Problem is, I'm not sure anyone has ever seen this chair in person.

Has anyone seen, sat in, or know anyone that owns the Irwin Performance VIP recliner chairs? Does anyone know of any other low back HT seats with the headrest?