Berkline Cinema Collection Seating (revised)

[RSH]

I would like to give some overview of the Berkline Cinema Seating.

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

The smaller recliners are usually well suited when you have room constraints and you need to put more chairs into smaller spaces. These chairs have only 38.5” tall back, and for many average size folks would not provide head support. Good thing is that the Berkline came up with the new style group – 45004, which has similar small footprint (just a couple of inches wider), but with the taller back – 41.5”. It is a great alternative for people who face smaller space problems.

The mid sized recliners will fit most of the folks. They are within 41”-42” height and will provide great head support without blocking surround sound. Most of them also wider and fell more comfortable (although this is very subjective factor).

The larger recliners are taller (some of them also wider than mid sized ones). These are for 6’4” and taller folks. If you are not that tall, and you putting several rows of seating you should stay away from these, because the backs can block your surround sound. You can get away with the taller chairs if you only have one row of seating and you are putting the chairs against a back wall, and your surround speakers are up high.

Most of the medium and large chairs are based on the 090 style group. For example 073, 45003, 091, 094, 187 and 194 all have the same base as 090s. The major difference is in shape, type or height of the back cushion. The 187 is the same chair as the 094. The 094 has additional compartments in the armrest of the chairs and retractable trays which can be mounted on top of the armrests. The 094 is quite more expensive because of that. The 194 is the 094 with added heat and massage features.

All chairs come in various covers – fabric, leather/vinyl combo or all leather. You can find picture of all swatches here: fabric and leather

There are 4 fabric and 4 leather price groups. The most popular fabrics are microfibers which can be found in group 1 and group 2 fabrics. Group 2 fabric is a slightly better - thicker and richer looking fabric. Leather choices start with an entry level chemically unprocessed group 1 leather and go all the way to the buttery soft almost like lamb skin group 4 leather.

You have several options you can choose:

1. Power recline. This is a very important option. The manual recliners have 3 fixed positions where you can stop the chair. You will probably spend most of your time in the first reclining position which is extremely comfortable one. But when you watching a movie for several hours you will definitely want to change your position once or twice. You will find yourself trying to balance your chair because you cannot really hold it in between the fixed positions, and going to the next stop position may not be what you want. The motorized recline will give you indefinite control over your chair, and will let you stop it at any point you want. You also have to remember that if you have kids or older people seating in the chairs, they may not have enough strength to bring the manual recliners into the upright position (you have to press with your legs on the footrest to do so). This means that every time they want to get up, you will have to help them bring the chair up.
2. Factory installed buttkickers. Well it is a separate subject by itself, and may take a separate thread for it, but I will share my personal opinion on that anyway. Many people have a misconception that if they have a powerful enough subwoofer or two, they do not really need the buttkickers. That may be definitely the case. But the point is, that the buttkicker do not replace the subwoofers, nor the subwoofers can replace the buttkickers. The buttkickers will supplement the subwoofers, and in a properly tuned system will create a very realistic “I am right there in the movie” effect. If there is a bullet hitting the wall, you would feel like it just went through you, if there is an explosion in the movie, you feel like your house is coming down. Again the key is a properly tuned system. It does not matter if you have one or 4 subwoofers, nor it matters if these are DIY or very expensive ones. If the system is tuned, it is a real fun, and will give you something extra, which you will be missing if you turn them off…

The Berkline also provides one of the best warranties in the industry:

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

Please feel free to ask questions – I will be more than glad to answer them

[Tommy]

I ordered seating thru Roman and most still remains boxed up at the moment till my room is completed but here is a few pictures of one of the seats I did open so far. I'm happy to recommend people like Roman when I have had a pleasure dealing with them.

http://www.hometheatershack.com/foru...ogress-10.html

[RSH]

Thanks Tommy,

I hope you will finish your theater soon and start enjoying it.

[majorloser]

I have five of the Berkline 099's in grey with electric recline. Two rows with three in the back and two in the front. Had them for about three years and with daily use have had no problems. I would recommend them to anybody who wants a dedicated theater room.