 This Product Dowinx Retro Series LS-6689S | |||||
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| Awards |  Best Bang for the Buck | Best on A Tight Budget | |||
| Price | $300 List $187.90 at Amazon | $300 List $199.99 at Amazon | $230 List $129.99 at Amazon | $190 List $85.49 at Amazon | $160 List $82.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A versatile gaming chair with great value, function, and form for those who don't want to spend an arm and a leg to have their arms and legs decently supported | Large lumbar support that some will like and others will not in a gaming chair lacking in the adjustability department | This model ticks most of the boxes without breaking the bank | A great chair on a tight budget, but even a lumbar massager and footrest may leaving you wanting more | A low-priced chair with corresponding low performance |
| Rating Categories | Dowinx Retro Series... | AutoFull C3 | GTRacing Music Series | GTPlayer GT800A Foo... | BestOffice High-Bac... |
| Comfort (55%) | |||||
| Adjustability (35%) | |||||
| Setup (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Dowinx Retro Series... | AutoFull C3 | GTRacing Music Series | GTPlayer GT800A Foo... | BestOffice High-Bac... |
| Comfortable Hours | 6.0 hours | 6.0 hours | 5.0 hours | 5.0 hours | 3.5 hours |
| Manufacturer Weight Limit | 350 lbs | 350 lbs | 330 lbs | 250 lbs | 250 lbs |
| Measured Points of Adjustment | 8 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Adjustable Lumbar Support | Foam pillow Raise/Lower |
Large Memory foam pillow | Memory foam pillow Raise/Lower |
Foam pillow Raise/Lower |
Foam pillow Raise/Lower |
| Measured Recline Angle | 180º | 160º | 155º | 135º | 90º |
| Adjustable Armrest | 4D | 2D: Swivel, Up/Down | 2D: Swivel, Up/Down | None | None |
| Manufacturer Height Limit | 5'3"-6'1" | 5'4"-6'6" | 6'2" | 6'3" | Not Mentioned |
| Recline Lever | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Foot Rest | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Tension Knob | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Tilt Lock | No | No | No | No | No |
| Fabric Type | PU Leather | Faux Leather | PU Leather | PU Leather | PU Leather |
The reasonably priced Dowinx Retro Series LS-6689S comes with some unique features in its quiver that make for nice added perks. The plump padded footrest provides extra support when leaning back, and the vibrating lumbar insert might help alleviate some fatigue, but you'll need to procure a USB extender, depending on your setup, and the noise of the motor could conceivably annoy those who would prefer not to hear it. Its polyurethane faux leather tends to bear more resemblance in texture and appearance to genuine leather compared with other synthetic options, but they all lack the breathability of the real deal, which can affect comfort during long sessions and in warmer conditions. All this to say that we were delighted by these additional features for a fraction of the cost of higher-end products.
Heavily weighted in our review process, comfort plays a large role in determining the overall score, and our team thoroughly tests the seat, back, and limb support, along with how long you can expect to remain comfortably seated. The Dowinx Retro moderately positive feedback from our testers to earn above-average scores for comfort overall.
First evaluating and testing the seat comfort of the Dowinx Retro, we noted positive initial impressions for its pleasant squish, an ample width, and soft-feeling materials. After several hours of sitting, however, we started to notice some pressure spots. Due to the pad resting directly on the unforgiving metal mount and rails below, one tester noted the seat began to feel lumpy and uncomfortably warm after roughly four hours.
Tester feedback varied on the comfortability of the back, with one tester liking the lumbar support and the fact that he could move the pillow and have it stay, and others disliking the lumbar cushion's size, finding it overly prominent. One tester deducted some points because the lumbar pillow made his lower back feel tired and worn out rather quickly. He could also feel the bar behind his shoulders the longer he sat, though he scored the neck pillow more favorably, as it prevented his head from hitting the frame.
A small buzzing massager can be found in and removed from the lumbar pillow. It's a feature that we found to be a nice touch, being able to experience the vibrations without feeling the motor casing, but not a perk to rave about, as the massager felt a bit gimmicky and was a little noisy. The short four-foot-long USB charging cable was a glaring negative, but, in theory, one could substitute a cordless rechargeable massager of one's own choosing, improve reach with a USB extender, or simply remove the device altogether.
The sturdy padded footrest is a nice relief after standing all day. Not extending out far enough is a common issue with footrests, and this is the case here as well, but a little extra support while reclining is always good. Depending on individual height, it might be more accurately described as a calf rest.
The armrests are quite firm but not too hard and provide good support throughout the day, with the potential for pressure spots to become noticeable after about eight hours. They have some cushioning but not a whole lot.
Our second major test metric evaluates all-around adjustability. We determine whether the seat height, backrests, armrests, and reclining positions can be fine-tuned sufficiently to achieve a comfortable and ergonomic sitting experience. We also note the versatility of the lumbar support and other features like neck pillows.
The Downix Retro's seat does not go very high and only has about two-and-a-half inches of vertical movement. One tester had to lower his desk a couple of inches in order to feel like his arms rested just about right so he could use his mouse ergonomically. The lowness of the seat can present issues for taller gamers not being able to sit with their legs at right angles, and the seat depth feels a bit long without the lumbar pillow there. But we could sit cross-legged without interference, as the bolsters don't extend to the edge of the seat, and there's pretty much free reign to spread out.
As mentioned above, the large lumbar pillow pushes out a bit too much, but its strap system can be adjusted up and down. The pillow is so big that you don't really need to move it, but it's not problematic to move it, even while seated. We had to finagle it a bit if we brought the pad up too high, though.
The neck pillow is a little plump and slightly aggressive but does keep heads from hitting the frame bar. Though it can sag, our taller gamers found it necessary to readjust it any time they got up or leaned forward.
Being able to swivel the armrests and move them forward/back, in/out, and up/down is beneficial for a variety of bodies and gaming styles. There's about three inches of up/down range, roughly two inches of forward/back, and an inch of in/out with a lock slot about halfway that takes a little work to get in. The adjustment button is hidden below the armrest and is easy to miss. Overall, though, there are plenty of ways to dial in your own happy place.
With the tilt unlocked, the Dowinx Retro can recline all the way to a horizontal 180°, but in the upright position, the tension knob does not get loose enough to allow easy leaning back. We had to use our feet to push back and hold in place; otherwise, the chair pushed us forward, and we needed to recline past a certain point to get enough leverage to freely bounce around with the tension. Smaller, lighter gamers might find pushing back a bit problematic. There is average resistance, however, to turn.
In our final assessment of the Downix Retro, we evaluated what it took to put the chair together and how long it took to set it up after unboxing. We gave it a below average score, based on moderate difficulty and a rather involved and lengthy assembly process.
The assembly instructions recommend two installers, but the process will take the better part of an hour in any case. Our one-man wrecking crew got it done in just under 40 minutes, but there is a lot to do with many screws needing to be unscrewed before putting things together, though they do go in and out fine. The included tools (two Allen wrenches) were pretty cheap, would slip out easily, and looked worse for wear by the end. The armrests arrive in two parts, and it is a bit difficult to install the base plate on the armrest itself. Piecing together the backrest portion was also a little annoying, as fabric and/or plastic would block the hole and need to be cleaned out. In general, assembling it all is about average in terms of difficulty, but it is overly time-consuming.
If you are looking for a great value in a decently comfortable gaming chair that can accommodate a variety of gaming styles, then the Dowinx Retro fits the bill. However, if you frequently engage in long campaigns, are fussier with lumbar support, or don't want to spend up to an hour assembling your new chair, you may want to continue your quest for a more suitable option.
