If you’re like me circa 2016, the idea of spending big bucks on a chair for your PC might feel out of reach. Even though it’s one of the easiest areas to cut corners on, cheaping out on your desk chair means paying in a sore back later. Today, we’re looking at the most premium, high-end, and expensive chair we’ve ever reviewed with the X-Chair X2 Executive Task Chair. Hot on the heels of a slew of racing chairs, we had to know: what does $750 actually buy you in an executive chair?
Specifications
- MSRP: $749.99 (optional $74.99 headrest, $39.99 footrest)
- Features: SciFloat Infinite Recline, 4-dimensional armrests, independently adjustable headrest, dynamic variable lumbar, adjustable backrest height, K-Sport Advanced Performance Material
- Seat Width: 19.5"
- Seat Depth (backrest to seat edge): 22.5"-25"
- Seat Height: 17.5"-21"
- Back Width: 21.5"
- Back Height: 37.5"-40" (fully lowered seat)
- Armrest Width: 25.5"-26.5"
- Armrest Depth: Each armrest 11.25" long
- Armrest Height: 26.5"-30" (fully lowered seat)
- Armrest Pivot: 1" each direction -
- Headrest Height: 45"-49" (fully lowered seat)
- Weight: 48.6 lbs (49.6 lbs with headrest)
- Warranty: 5-year
The cost really comes down to a handful of elements: adjustability, ergonomics/support, and the quality of its build and design. The X-Chair is made for people who sit long hours at a computer and need a seat that can be tailored just for them, offering support exactly where they need it without sacrificing comfort. It’s also exceptionally well-built with heavy duty materials made to last the test of time. This is an investment chair if ever there was one.
After spending the last year sampling gaming chairs, discovering X-Chair was exciting. While gaming chairs can often look downright identical in the “racing” style, here we find a chair of with a look all its own. X-Chairs are seats of graceful contours, clearly made to match the curvature of your upper body. This gives them a distinctive appearance, especially with the headrest. It also allows them to offer better, more consistent support no matter how you may be sitting.
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The unit we were sent features red K-Sport Mesh material. Before trying the X-Chair, I admit to being skeptical of mesh backings, especially in expensive chairs. Since there’s less material, the natural thought is that it should lower the cost of the chair, not raise it. Yet, after spending time with it, I’ve found that it’s not only more comfortable but also makes for a much better material over all.
Gaming chairs often sell themselves on using high-quality cold cure foam and “easy to clean” PU leather. At home and work, I’ve spent the last several months switching between Secret Lab Omega and a NobleChair Epic chairs. They’re comfortable, to be sure, but are also fairly dense. Without the lumbar cushions, they can be downright unsupportive and also have a tendency to trap heat. By contrast, the K-Sport material used on the X2 is immediately supportive. It strikes a perfect balance between feeling taught and also having enough flex to fill in the small areas of your back without the “warm up” period required of foam backs. It’s also much more breathable, so in the warm months won’t make your back sweat from trapped heat.
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One of the most defining features of the X2 is its Dynamic Variable Lumbar. The back is actually composed of two pieces, the larger contoured upper portion and a wide, arched lumbar support that spans the width of the back. This system allows the lumbar support to flex as you shift your weight and change position, providing much better support than the cheap pillows that come with most gaming chairs. It seems small, but combined with the wide array of adjustment options and K-Sport Mesh material makes for a much more comfortable seat even after hours spent sitting.
Tailoring the seating experience to your body is quick and easy. Both the back and armrests are easily lifted to snap to the correct height. Lift them up all the way and they’ll drop back down. The ease of moving the back is really quite surprising and is easy to do with one hand while working at your desk. Using a lever on the side, you can even adjust the depth of your seat to set the most comfortable angle for your body against the lumbar support. The armrests are equally easy but offer additional angle, depth, and width adjustments and are covered in a soft foam that leaning on your elbow is safe and pain free - a common problem with gaming chairs.
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If you opt for the headrest, it can - you guessed it - also be customized for height and angle. The adjustment here isn’t so easy, however, as the track on my unit was very tight. It took two hands and a good amount of elbow grease standing behind the chair to get it positioned, which isn’t ideal when everything else can be tweaked while sitting down. During assembly, I also managed to strip one of the screws due to the soft metal that was used, so use caution when making adjustments.
Moving down to the tilt base, we find out standard hydraulic height adjustment, as well as our seat lock, tilt tensioner, and recline lock. Unlike the recent run of PC chairs, the recline is controlled entirely by the tilt base, so you won’t be pulling a lever to drop the entire back. You can easily kick back and put your feet up on your desk (like a real executive, right guys?) and flip the switch to stay reclined. This is a bit different but understandable when you take a look at how the chair is constructed.
Build a few gaming chairs and you’ll find a trend. The back is attached by a set of bolts and a pair or metal arms mounted to the rear of the seat. Here, the foundation of the chair is thick, heavy aluminum. The back of the chair locks onto an aluminum arm from this base, as do the armrests and five-star base. The metal arms and back are thick and feels way, way more durable than your standard racing seat. If something is going to go on one of these chairs, it won’t be anything attached to the base. This chair is simply exceptionally built and should last years if treated right.
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Final Thoughts
All of this leads me to the conclusion that, more so than any other chair I’ve used, this is a chair that should be viewed as an investment. $750 is a lot of money, enough to buy a 1080 Ti or, heck, even a second mid-range system. That system won’t last ten years, though, while the X-Chair X2 Executive Task Chair certainly could. Broken over a decade and that price suddenly seems a lot more reasonable, especially when you factor in how much better you’ll feel after a full day at the PC.
Is it overpriced? For the average user, perhaps so, but consider two facts first: this chair is not competing with your average DXRacer. They’re vastly different and the X2 is objectively better in a number of ways. A better comparison would be to the Herman Miller Aeron, which is currently over $1300 outfitted with the similar options. Second, the X2 makes a true and meaningful difference to your health and comfort. It promotes better posture than any gaming chair I’ve ever used and has such good support that I’ve had less back pain and better nightly sleep. It’s a chair that improves your quality of life, especially if you’re a gamer spending long hours at your desk. It’s expensive but, then, how much is your back actually worth?
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Pros
- K-Sport Mesh is excellent
- Supreme adjustability
- Excellent lumbar support
- Promotes positive posture
- Excellent build quality
Cons
- Headrest height adjustment is tight
- Quite expensive
The product discussed in this article was provided by the manufacturer for the purposes of review.
