ISO50

Jesus! For that price I hope it’s a good chair. 1400€ down here.
But it looks pretty good I wish I had one.

Thanks for the review Scott, it’s really helpful to hear what a chair is like after 4 month’s use, it’s a pretty safe bet if you are happy with it still you made the right choice.. I’ve added a link to your review from my Embody review http://www.officechairadvice.com/aeron-chair/aeron/embody-chair.html

Very nice chair. Very nice review: thanks for sharing your information with us. Did you use a designer discount when you bought the chair? I don’t know how much Graphic Designers get, but I know Architects get 45% off. Just letting people know, encase they were unaware that designers get discounts.

chair? what chair? all i see is a tower of awesome synths….

Be honest Scotty – how badly does the seat cushion smell like farts after 4 months? I’ve found that the true measure of a quality chair is in how well it dissipates fart odor out and away from the cushion. It’s that reason alone that the Aeron chair will always be the best chair ever invented, because it doesn’t have a cushion. Herman Miller knew what they were up to when they developed the Aeron. In fact, I’ve read that designer Bill Stumpf decided on the Aeron’s non-cushion approach to tackle this very problem. I’m really into product design, and I’ve read about an interview in a German publication where Stumpf was quoted as saying “the gas [farts] has to go somewhere if their chair is to remain enjoyable for the user. We just removed the cushion, problem solved.”

It’s been rumored that Herman Miller explored using some type of replaceable carbon filter in the cushion of the Embody and other chairs, but the approach was scrapped after their marketing department didn’t feel they could appropriately and tastefully promote that feature. They’re crazy as far as I’m concerned; it was a forward thinking idea that would have solved a big problem.

We met in Seattle once, love reading the blog and checking out the music. Keep it up.

Hey Scott, great review.
When you were looking at chairs, did you consider the Niels Diffrient Freedom Chair? If so, what swayed you away from it?

http://www.humanscale.com/products/freedom_index.cfm

Scott,

I’d love to pick up a new chair but there’s a major issue that I wondered if you would comment on: do you ever sit down to play guitar in yours? I’ve found it’s somewhat difficult to find even inexpensive desk chairs without arm wrests.

99% of the time at home I’m sitting in front of my desk with my guitar while recording.

I know from your studio photos that your guitar isn’t too far away, so just wondered where you typically play guitar when recording – standing up? Another chair?

A while ago, I had the chance to try out the Embody for a week and even though I loved it when I first sat in it, in the end it wasn’t for me unfortunately. You mentioned that the seat back is so comfortable, but I have to say, to me, after a couple of days I noticed myself avoiding the chair in a way. I was always shifting around, trying to find a comfortable position. So I guess, like you said, chairs are a very subjective thing. The chair has this support for the lower back area and that started to dig into my back. I would’ve been glad to spend a large sum of money on a great chair, but to me the Embody didn’t deliver.

I never really think about chairs when I’m in my office. Now I wonder how much of an impact a chair like this would have on me. I would definitely love to invest in this. Maybe after I graduate I’ll treat myself.

So is this like the Freedom chair where there is a limited amount of adjustments and you just lean back to recline?

That chair looks pretty cool, I love the bright punch of yellow it gives.

but the main point here is get whatever chair you need to bust out the new Tycho album and pronto!!!

It’s kind of freaking me out because I’m really lax about my monitor calibration and color management but on my monitor it looks exactly the color of a ripe banana. Then again, for a long time I also thought your site had a solid black background!

That chair is amazing and after this college thing is over and I am done paying debts I am going to look into that chair or whatever comes after it at that point. And I agree with Brendan above about the studio gear. Every time you show us a picture of your studio I want to know everything about it! Maybe a “rack by rack” series? I’m a gear nut and love that sort of stuff.

FWIW, I contacted Herman Miller to see about ordering direct and getting any sort of discount- here’s what they said:

“Thank you for your interest in Herman Miller products, and in particular our Embody Chair. Sometimes a retail store may have a discount based on a quanity they may have ordered. Our dealerships might offera special discount as well, but they are all privately owned and operated and that is up to them if they would choose to offer a discount to designers. We sell our furniture solely through our authorized dealerships and retailers.”

Apparently you got special treatment. :)

Great review!

It’s also worth noting that the Embody chair adheres to the Cradle to Cradle environmental protocol. Made of 42% recycled content, the Embody chair contains no PVCs; at the end of its lifecycle, 95% of Embody can be recycled.

Plus, as you mentioned… “buy it nice or buy it twice”… probably the most sustainable thing you can do.

How did you afford this?

@Scott have you noticed any issues with sonic reflections when working on music? i’ve had problems on executive leather chairs, seems like this wouldn’t be a problem but just wondering . . also, how easily does the base come off? (for transport) ?

thanks!

I’m ready to take the plunge and get a hold of one of these, but i could use some more information about the discount you mentioned.

1) Who offers a discount.
2) Do they discount ‘graphic designers’, or only architects and interior designers?

thanks!

I am also trying to find where to get a graphic designers discount on one of these bad boys. Please please point us in the right direction. I have been searching everywhere and the local authorized dealers I have talked to only offered a discount in bulk

Thank you for the review Scott.

It is always helpful to read a review after a product has been tested for a few months.

After having used my Embody chair now for six months I have to say I’m a bit disappointed. I’ve spent countless hours trying to adjust it to perfection but I constantly have neck strain and a tired / aching feeling in my right shoulder. I realize the shoulder issue is probably more tied to the use of the mouse but the neck strain I believe has everything to do with the chair. I’ve changed the monitor height at least a 100 times and nothing helps. I constantly have pressure and strain in the back of my neck that I never used to have prior to owning this chair.

I’m also unhappy with the fact that the arm rests do not swivel and that they tend to move inward and outward too easily.

All in all, I would definitely not say this chair is worth the money. I had a $50 chair from staples that I think was a bit more comfortable. I have an ergonomic specialist coming to my home office to try and help me make this chair more comfortable but after six months, I’m very unhappy.

Thanks for the review. I think I’m gonna’ pick one up… only choice to make is color… reading this, though, is scaring me straight towards the black on black… was going to go with the pumpkin on white… anyone have an opinion on this?

I would pounce on this thing so fast if I could find it for $800. Unfortunately, with adjustable arms I can’t find it for under $1200.

Wishing i had a chair right now…

How in the heck did you get it for $800? I even called them about promos or sales and they told me to go forth a multiply. Spoke to multiple people and was told again and again there was no such thing and to just buy the chair. Like dropping $1200-$1400 on some plastic and a little bit of metal is no big deal. I’ve been watching for 6 months and the only sales are at sites that list the crazy $1800+ MSRP. :(