As we all know, sitting down all day long is pretty bad for your health.
Issues with blood flow, hip and back problems, varicose veins, the list goes on.
To compound the issue, the majority of generic chairs you’ll find in stores don’t really help address any of those issues.
This is why gaming chairs exist.
Ergonomically designed to seat you comfortably and help you mitigate at least some of those issues.
Not only that, but they tend to come with a bunch of fun stuff, like speakers, connectivity to your platform, and a host of other great features to make your life easier.
While it is true that there are very expensive gaming chairs out there, there are some really good ones which won’t break the bank.
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1. X Rocker 51259 Pro H3 4.1 Audio Gaming Chair – The Most Popular Floor Gaming Chair
The 51259 Pro H3 is probably one of the better chairs in its class.
Boasting an impressive audio system, great ergonomics, and great connectivity.
If you’re looking for a top-end chair, look no further!
To start with, it has 4.1 audio, and for those of you who don’t know audio standards, that means 4 speakers and 1 subwoofer.
Ace Bayou, the company that makes the chair, uses something they call Audio Force Modulation (AFM).
Basically, this means that they use all the empty space in the charge as a sort of echo chamber to increase the strength of the vibrations, and really make you ‘feel’ the games as you play them.
In addition to the fancy audio, it has a really great ergonomic design.
Supporting fixed, gun-stock armrests and padded back and headrest, there’s very little chance you won’t find a comfortable position.
One big thing is that the chair is made of leather, giving it that really nice premium feel.
Finally, it has great connectivity options and an easy to use control panel.
It’s also foldable, which makes it a breeze to store when you aren’t using.
All that being said, there are a few downsides.
Some people complain that the cushioning is a bit too thin and tends to take create a dent the shape of your body quite quickly, which isn’t really what a good chair should do.
There have also been some complaints about dealing with customer support.
Also, some think that the speakers and really as loud as they could be, although that’s very much up to personal preference.
Also, and these are only minor, some may find that it’s a bit too heavy to carry on their own and that the power cable is too short.
Of course, if it is too heavy you can get a friend to help, and if the power cable is too short, you can get a cheap extension cord.
Price Range: Under $200
Perfect For: Adults, Kids
Features:
- Chair type: Rocker
- Reclines: Yes
- Armrest: Yes
- Footrest: No
- Ergonomic: Yes
- High back: Yes
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Speakers: Yes, 4.1
- Vibration: Yes, sound-based rumble feature
- Sits on the floor: Yes
- Monitor mount: No
- Keyboard tray: No
- Suitable for gaming desk: No
- Suitable for racing games: No
- Suitable for flight simulator: No
- Suitable for eSports: No
- Suitable for living room: Yes
- Cup holder: No
- Massage: No
- Weight capacity: 275 lbs/124 kg
Conclusion:
While the chair has some issues, it’s generally a great all-rounder at a great price.
Great audio, coupled with ergonomics, wireless connectivity, and a handy control panel means that you’ll be left with very few desires when gaming.
Coming in at $179.99, this chair is definitely pricey.
That being said, it’s actually great value for money and jam-packed with features.
If you have $200 and want to buy a gaming chair, this is absolutely the one to get.
2. X Rocker 5143601 II Video Gaming Chair
One step down from the 5172801, this chair is actually really great value for money.
All the standard features you’d expect from an X Rocker chair are here.
Bluetooth connectivity, easy to access panel and great ergonomic design.
It also has a headrest like the Pro, which is super great.
In regards to audio, it has 2.1 surround, but instead of the two speakers being on the side, they’re side-facing.
Ironically, this might ultimately offer better audio quality and loudness compared to the higher end chairs where the speakers are facing outward.
Of course, depending on your height they might be blasting directly into your ears which isn’t great, so there is that.
The subwoofer is still there, offering their great sound-based rumble feature.
Also, the armrests swivel like the X Rocker 5172801, but instead of the swivel point being the back of the chair, they’re actually outset a little bit, which means you should find them easier to adjust to the perfect position.
Thankfully, the build quality also seems to be a bit better than the X Rocker 5172801, so that’s a relief.
It’s still foldable, although probably just as heavy as the other models, so might be hard to move around and adjust for kids and tweens.
Of course, downsides still persist with this model.
Audio converters might be required for the latest console models.
There’s also the issue with the short power cable and the fact that this doesn’t actually make it a true wireless device.
It also has one less control knob than the previous chairs, so less ease of access.
Also, while not necessarily a downside, this chair is made of vinyl, rather than leather.
Price Range: Under $200
Perfect For: Adults, Kids
Features:
- Chair type: Rocker
- Reclines: Yes
- Armrest: Yes
- Footrest: No
- Ergonomic: Yes
- High back: Yes
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Speakers: Yes, 2.1
- Vibration: Yes, sound-based rumble feature
- Sits on the floor: Yes
- Monitor mount: No
- Keyboard tray: No
- Suitable for gaming desk: No
- Suitable for racing games: No
- Suitable for flight simulator: No
- Suitable for eSports: No
- Suitable for living room: Yes
- Cup holder: No
- Massage: No
- Weight capacity: 250 lbs/113 kg
Conclusion:
Ironically enough, this model might actually be a better choice than its more expensive sibling.
If your budget is already straining, this chair would provide essentially the same features, better build quality, and an excellent experience.
You might miss out on one or two minor features, but it’s doubtful you’d even notice them.
It’s also a great multi-purpose chair, just like the others, so even if you don’t necessarily want to use the speakers, you can still just relax and enjoy a book or some music.
This chair comes in at a strong $127.99 so while it’s not on the cheap end, it’s $50 cheaper than the Pro.
3. X Rocker 2.1 Sound V Rocker Foldable Video Gaming Floor Chair
The V Rocker is probably one of the best entry to mid-level chairs you’ll find that sit directly on the floor.
Closely related to the 5143601 II it also has front-facing speakers, which means you might actually end up getting better audio quality than the outward facing one.
They’re also not immediately obvious, which is a nice plus if you like a more subdued look to your gadgets.
One big downside though is that this chair is relatively small compared to the others.
This means that if you’re above average in height, you’ll have issues fitting in this chair comfortably.
There’s also no armrests, which will ultimately cause you issues if you’re planning to have very long gaming sessions.
Price Range: Under $100
Perfect For: Kids
Features:
- Chair type: Rocker
- Reclines: Yes
- Armrest: No
- Footrest: No
- Ergonomic: Yes
- High back: No
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Speakers: Yes, 2.1
- Vibration: Yes, sound-based rumble feature
- Sits on the floor: Yes
- Monitor mount: No
- Keyboard tray: No
- Suitable for gaming desk: No
- Suitable for racing games: No
- Suitable for flight simulator: No
- Suitable for eSports: No
- Suitable for living room: Yes
- Cup holder: No
- Massage: No
- Weight capacity: 250 lbs/113 kg
Conclusion:
This is a great chair for entry level, but it’s very likely you’ll be looking for a new chair after a year or so.
It’s also not really big enough for adults to fit in comfortably, so if you’re looking for a chair you can share, this isn’t one of them.
Also, don’t expect to sit and relax on this chairs for hours at a time.
Costing you $91.99 this isn’t a cheap chair and not super great for the value.
Again, we’d suggest trying to find another $40 and buying one of the better chairs. Your body will thank you!
4. X Rocker 5172601 Surge Bluetooth 2.1 Sound Gaming Chair
Going into the mid-level hardware, we get this X Rocker chair.
All the associated features you’d expect are here:
2.1, outward facing speakers with AFM, easy to access control panel, foldable design for easy storage and Bluetooth connectivity.
It also has a vent in the neck/back area, which is great for keeping you cool during those long sessions.
The one main thing that you’ll notice missing is the armrests from the previous models.
Not super ideal granted, but it does bring down the price by an extra $20 – $30, so it’s great for those who are budget minded.
Also, if you aren’t going to be gaming for long periods, then the lack of armrests shouldn’t affect you.
Unfortunately, it seems the build quality issue has returned on this model, meaning that you might experience some failure or another in around 6-12 months.
Again, this is hit and miss and it’s very possible that you won’t experience any issues.
You’re also likely going to have to get an audio converter and an extension cord.
Price Range: Under $200
Perfect For: Adults, Kids
Features:
- Chair type: Rocker
- Reclines: Yes
- Armrest: No
- Footrest: No
- Ergonomic: Yes
- High back: Yes
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Speakers: Yes, 2.1
- Vibration: Yes, sound-based rumble feature
- Sits on the floor: Yes
- Monitor mount: No
- Keyboard tray: No
- Suitable for gaming desk: No
- Suitable for racing games: No
- Suitable for flight simulator: No
- Suitable for eSports: No
- Suitable for living room: Yes
- Cup holder: No
- Massage: No
- Weight capacity: 250 lbs/113 kg
Conclusion:
While maybe not the best chair in the X Rocker line-up, it’s still a solid entry for those who want to go from entry-level to mid-level.
There are some typical issues that you find with these chairs, but if you can get over them, you’ll find a pretty good chair for the value.
That being said, just like the X Rocker 5143601 II, it might better to look at the chair that’s one peg down in price, especially if you’re quickly reaching the limit of your budget.
Of course, while the manufacturer slaps the ‘multi-purpose’ tag on this chair as well, we aren’t sure how much it can serve that purpose of it isn’t for gaming, as you’ll probably prefer a different chair for non-entertainment activities.
Funnily enough, this chair comes in at around $128.99, being roughly the same price as the X Rocker 5143601 II.
Honestly, if you can afford the 5172601, you might as well go for the 5143601, it’s arguably the better chair.
5. X Rocker 5172801 Ace Bayou Vibe Sound Chair with Arms
The younger sibling of 51259 Pro H3, this chair isn’t as fancy, but definitely still worth a look.
Instead of the 4 speakers + subwoofer setup, the X Rocker 5172801 only has two speakers and a subwoofer.
Also, the armrests aren’t gun-stock and instead swivel around a fixed point, which means it might be hard to get the best position.
There is a possibility you will need to purchase an audio converter.
Other than that, this chair is pretty much the same.
It has a great ergonomic design, with the now standard vents in the headrest to make help keep your neck and head cool.
It also comes in this sleek red and black layout which is reminiscent of the Dodge Viper’s famous black streak.
Of course, it is missing a padded headrest, as well as the padded back, but a small pillow will easily fix that.
Also, just like the previous chair, it’s foldable and easy to store.
Having fewer features also means it’s slightly lighter, making it easier to move on your own.
Of course, the power cord issue still remains, so extension cords might be required.
Bluetooth functionality is still there as is the easy to access control panel, so even if you’re not gaming, you can just connect your phone, lie back and relax to your favorite tunes.
Finally, it’s upholstered with leather, so it’s very comfy.
Price Range: Under $200
Perfect For: Adults, Kids
Features:
- Chair type: Rocker
- Reclines: Yes
- Armrest: Yes
- Footrest: No
- Ergonomic: Yes
- High back: Yes
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Speakers: Yes, 2.1
- Vibration: Yes, sound-based rumble feature
- Sits on the floor: Yes
- Monitor mount: No
- Keyboard tray: No
- Suitable for gaming desk: No
- Suitable for racing games: No
- Suitable for flight simulator: No
- Suitable for eSports: No
- Suitable for living room: Yes
- Cup holder: No
- Massage: No
- Weight capacity: 250 lbs/113 kg
Conclusion:
While no competition for its older sibling, this is still a great chair for the budget-minded gamer.
Even if you don’t game a lot, this is a multi-purpose chair, meaning you can enjoy films, music and even just sitting and reading a book.
This chair comes in at $151.22, so about what you’d expect for a higher end gaming chair.
There are some issues, however, and the build quality does seem to be hit and miss sometimes.
If you can scrounge up an extra $25-$30, you’ll be able to get the 51259 Pro H3, which has a generally better build quality and better features.
If you’re already at the limit of your budget, you might want to go down the line to the 5143601 II, which ultimately might be the better chair.
As you can see, you’re pretty much spoiled for choice when it comes to variety and picks.
The biggest thing to remember though, is to do your research before spending your hard earned money.
You won’t believe the number of complaints we saw in the course of writing this article, which could have simply been avoided with some basic research.
But for those who would like some quick suggestions, here’s a couple of our picks:
Entry Level: If you’re not worried about specific features, the X Rocker 2.1 Sound V Rocker might be your best bet.
Mid Level: The extra money you’re paying for in this category is mostly going to providing better materials, one or two extra features, and an armrest.
The best one in this category is probably the X Rocker 5143601 II Video Gaming Chair. The price is reasonable, the build quality is good, and it has some great features.
High-End Level: You’re certainly going to get all the bells and whistles here, but it’s going to come at a price.
Without a doubt, the X Rocker 51259 Pro H3 4.1 Audio Gaming Chair is the one you want to go for.
And that’s it, folks! Good luck with your purchasing, and we hope your bums will enjoy!