Home Theater seating, help and Questions

I tried the Lane MVP yesterday and thought they were comfortable. So much so that I put them on my short list of seats I liked. Pros for me were seat-back height and comfort (I like a somewhat plush feeling chair, but don't like it when cushions collapse too far). It looks like this seat is also available with lighting and tray tables but under the name 'All-Star'.

I saw the Alamo in the shop but didn't like the hidden cup holders. I thought the way the arm rests slid to hide and un-hide the cup holders and seat controls looked really janky, and they didn't really feel solid when hiding and un-hiding.

I don't recall if I tried the Malibu, and if I did, they didn't make enough of an impression on me to ask its name and find its way onto my short list.

FWIW, I'm 6'3". YMMV. :-)

The other seats that made it on my short list after siting on them the other day were the Palliser Current/ Coda, and Lane Matinee (also liked MVP, as mentioned above), and the Seatcraft Bellagio. I also sat in a Barcalounger that I really liked, but the sales person didn't know the model and thought is was a custom job (pic in link below ...)

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0it9GNvuS1zbF8xQVFDOFk1Wm8/edit?pli=1

Overall I thought the Palliser Current/ Coda was the most comfortable as it had a great height and nice, plush feeling that reminded me more of a euro chair than a recliner. According to Palliser's website is is not eligible for the tray table add-on, which I very much want (I sent them an email yesterday asking if a special mod to add tray tables was an option).

The lack of tray tables on the Current/ Coda has me intersted in the Palliser Media/ Mimi/ Mellow, which looks like it has a similar feel to the Current/ Coda but offers the optional tray tables as an add-on. I have not sat in the seats yet, but plan on doing so in the next few weeks (any insight into the Media/ Mimi/ Mellow is welcome).

From researching on Palliser's website I'm also interested in their Frequency and Tijuana seats, but have not sat in either yet. It looks like the Frequency is the same as the Bullet, which is sold on Theaterseastore.com, but might have some slight differences that I'm not aware of.

I've kind of soured on Seatcraft for a few reasons; they're made in china and are made exclusively for a specific website whereas Palliser and others are made in North America and are distributed through dealers across the country. Also, I've got a thread going about my thoughts and initial plans with some Seatcraft seats ... http://www.avsforum.com/t/1420913/theater-seating-w-flip-able-arms-seatcraft-rialto-vesta-etc#post_22261144

Hope this insight helps, and as I sit in the seats I mentioned above, I'll certainly give more feedback. Interested what others have to say about the chairs mentioned above, too.

Thanks!

I'm by no means an expert and am in fact a total n00b at this. Like you I'm doing a ton of research and am trying the seats out in person when I can, but I've never bought theater seats before and don't have any first-hand experience with any of the brands we're talking about.

I don't have experience with bonded leather seats, either, but I have some limited experience with leather seats via family members and they've lasted for well over a decade. The leather is still quite soft despite some color fading, but they still feel really good which is what I think counts most (and no rips or tears). Of course there are many grades of leather, so that needs to be accounted for. Palliser offers five grades of leather with the first two available as Leather Match (I'm considering the 2000 series in Leather Match). Personally, I prefer matte leather and am not into shiny leather seats at all, just personal taste.

I'm really not sure how bonded would hold up, but I'm not really into the idea of vinyl seats.

Leather Match is a potential compromise as it is real leather on the parts of the seat that you sit on and actually touch while the rest of the parts (back, sides, etc.) are matching bonded leather. I'm thinking of doing this, actually, but want to research a bit more as well.

Palliser has a basic leather guide here which is a good place to start ... http://www.palliser.com/furniture/CoverOptions/Leather/About/

One of Palliser's dealers, Discount Leather Chairs, has a section on each seat's page about the different fabrics that are offered which has good explanations of the different grades of leather (and pricing). Check this page out, for example, and scroll down a bit until you see the leather grade tabs... http://www.discountleatherchair.com/palliser-media-home-theater-seats.html

I feel ya on the price issue. These seats get crazy pricey with all the add-ons! Personally, I don't think I could do without power recline since its infinitely adjustable and just way easier to use. If I were to cut corners in any area I think for me it would be the lighting as that is the one add-on feature that is really luxury without a whole lot of practicality, or at least less practicality than motorized recline and real leather, IMHO.

Trapper,

You have a PM.