Faux leather gaming chairs are everywhere with different sizes, shapes, and designs. Harder to find is a good fabric chair that offers the same sense of style with the improved comfort woven materials provide. When I heard that a well-known company like Andaseat, who is known for making great racing chairs, was releasing a new one with a streamlined design and fabric upholstery, I had to check it out. Will this gaming chair replace my current throne or will it be left in the pits? Find out in our review of the Andaseat T-compact.
Specifications
- Current Price: $399.99 (andaseat.com)
- Model: AndaSeat T-Compact
- Material: Linen fabric
- Framework: S+ framework
- Base: Aluminium five star
- Caster: Universal casters PU covered
- Foam: AD Moulded Foam
- Mechanism: Heavy-duty multi-functional tilt
- Tilt Angle Lock: Yes
- Piston: Heavy-duty Class 4 hydraulic piston
- Chair/Seat Back: Full-length backrest
- Recline: High-grade spring 90°-160°
- Armrest: 4-Directional, soft PU covered
- Head Pillow: AD Memory M size
- Lumbar Pillow: AD Memory M size
- Assembly required: Yes
- Package size: 95(L)*72(W)*38(H)cm
- Weight: 29.5kg
- Warranty: 5-years AD Care* excl. wear and tear
- Maximum Load Static: 170kg
- Maximum Load Dynamic: 130kg
- Maximum Height: 200cm
- Backrest Shoulder Width(cm): 58.5cm
- Armrest to Armrest: 73-75.5cm
- Seatbase Width Inner: 54cm
- Seatbase Width Including Sides: 54cm
- Armrest Sideways Adjustability: 2.5cm
- Wheelbase Diameter: 73cm
- Length of Backrest: 89cm
- Armrest Height Adjustability: 8cm
- Armrest Lowest-Highest: 62-79cm
- Seat Depth: 50cm
- Floor to Seatbase: 43cm-54cm
- Height Adjustment: 11cm
About AndaSeat and the T-Compact Gaming Chair
Gaming chairs are a hot commodity on the market today, but it’s important to choose one that performs well in both the short and long term. Underperforming chairs can leave you sore, tired, and even more stressed than if you lost that last match. Last year, I purchased what I thought was a good gaming chair. Like many gamers, I picked up a generic but affordable racing seat from Sam’s Club that felt as if it would fit the bill. I was wrong. Not only was this chair uncomfortable to sit on, but it also became the main source of attention for the razor-sharp talons of my cat, Ty. I figured it was time to look for something that was more comfortable and, well, didn’t look like a scratching post.
As luck would have it, the folks over at Andaseat recently released a new model called the T-compact. What caught my eye was the fact that this model was made with linen fabric. This is a welcome feature as this type of fabric is known for being durable and easy to maintain. It’s also usually more breathable than a high-end PU leather gaming chair, which is important in the hot months.
Admittedly, I had never used an Andaseat gaming chair before the T-Compact. In my research, I discovered that they are one of the few brands that is in charge of every step of the manufacturing process. You’ve probably heard stories about multiple brands of gaming chair each being made in the same factory and rebranded, but that isn’t the case here. AndaSeat owns its own line, which gives it complete control over every element of its construction. Looking at material lists and descriptions of each chair’s different elements, it’s easy to tell that they emphasize quality just as much as the racing seat style.
AndaSeat T-Compact Gaming Chair - Assembly
I was sold at this point. I received the chair in a pretty plain brown box. This is something I prefer since it helps deter the nasty porch pirates. Once I opened the box, I was impressed by how well packaged and protected each part was inside. After a quick inspection, everything was accounted for and I was ready to build.
The overall construction was straightforward with only a handful of steps. No additional tools were required due to the included Allen wrench with 2 different heads. The instructions did a perfect job of showing and describing how to assemble the chair. Since this was not my first build, I was able to complete the assembly in around 20 mins. The majority of the time was messing with the plastic trim that covers the holes and screws that join the seat and backrest. The screws themselves were threaded easily and everything lined up perfectly. If this is your first time building a chair, the instructions will guide you through the process step-by-step.
AndaSeat T-Compact Gaming Chair - Ergonomics and Comfort
With this chair, Andaset has embraced its ergonomic design called AD+. This is a culmination of over a decade of research that is directly targeted at supporting improved posture. While we were all told to “sit up straight” in school, the design of the T-Compact encourages it through the contouring of the backrest and support pillows. This takes the burden from your back and helps reduce fatigue and soreness over long gaming sessions.
Many chairs claim to have good ergonomics, and for many, I took this as a mere gimmick. This was, of course, until I tried a chair from a company that does some real homework on the subject. I found this chair was comfortable for long periods of gaming play and even day-to-day work. The backrest contoured to my back providing support exactly where I needed it.
Just as importantly, the seat was actually comfortable. The padding is plush, hiding the steel frame underneath, and the fabric was breathable and felt nice against my skin. Andaseat’s Re-Dense AD+ molded foam is the star of the show in the comfort and durability departments. It’s finely tuned to be firm but has enough give to be comfortable right out of the box. It’s designed to improve longevity and stave off sagging seat issues that often crop up over time. It’s also molded in such a way that it should hold its shape well, even after years of use.
The T-Compact is also capable of reclining from 90 to 160 degrees with the multifunctional SyncTilt AD+ backrest. While in practice I was not able to find a truly comfortable way to lay in this chair reclined at 160 degrees, it was impressive how well balanced it was. When I recline in most gaming chairs, I often get the sense that I could fall backward at any moment. Not so here. The large aluminum wheelbase is rock solid.
As a bonus, AndaSeat has also included plush lumbar and neck support pillows. These two pillows attach to the form via a quick connect clip and straps. Being attached in this fashion gives the user the ability to adjust, add, subtract what they require to meet the desired position. Though no information was provided of their contents I would imagine this also carries over the same Re-Dense AD+ molded foam mentioned previously.
This chair is also equipped with 4-dimensional armrests. These have become commonplace nowadays with premium chairs and would have expected nothing less. However, I was a bit disappointed in their material as they had a very rigid and firm cushion that is more like soft plastic. Aside from that, they function by giving users the ability to adjust the position forward & backward, up & down, left & right, and even angle inward & outward. Initially, I thought I did not care for this design having used fixed armrests for so long, but it turned out to be one of my favorite features. Being able to adjust them to what I was doing at the time (leaning in, sitting back with a controller, etc) was very nice.
All of these assets are nothing if the core of the chair is not solid. Cheaper gaming chairs often use particle board in their construction or multiple cut pieces of steel that have been welded together. Each of these can be fine for the price (especially welded if it’s done well) but they’re more prone to snapping over years of repeated stress. The T-Compact, on the other hand, uses a steel framework that has been bent instead of cut. This provides a stronger, more sturdy frame that will last a lifetime. There will be no warping or deformation of the chair that would degrade the ergonomics. Though we can’t test the chair for years ahead of the review, the fundamentals here are sound and inspire a lot of confidence in its overall construction.
Final Thoughts
During my testing period, the T-Compact exceeded my expectations. The Linen fabric is soft and breathable, and at least so far, has put my cat off from using it as a scratching post. The foam and upholstery have shown no signs of early wear and they’re much more comfortable than your average PU chair. If you are in the market for a solid racing seat that will be sure to endure whatever you have to throw at it, the AndaSeat T-Compact is a great option to consider.
Before leaving you today, AndaSeat recently contacted us to let us know about its back-to-school sale, which will run from 8/15 - 9/2. While this review focused on the T-Compact, there are some massive savings to be had on a wide array of other models. The biggest discounts will be found on AndaSeat's website but many will also be on Amazon. The high-end T-Pro 2, which is currently $499 will be dropping to $424.99. The Dark Demon gaming chair will drop from $399 to $339. If you’re looking for something more budget-centric, the entry-level Jungle Series will be dropping from $299 to $254.99. This sale also applies to AndaSeat’s line of gaming desks, too. If you’re in the market, it’s definitely worth taking the time to check out the sale and save.
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes.
