X Rocker 51396 Pro Series Pedestal 2.1 Gaming Chair Review

We purchased the X Rocker 51396 Pro Series Pedestal 2.1 Gaming Chair so our expert reviewer could thoroughly test and assess it. Keep reading for our full product review.

Imagine being able to enjoy all of the benefits of a movie theatre while crushing video game villains in the comfort of your own home. Now you can, with the X Rocker 51396 Pro Series Pedestal. We tested a unit to see how it stacks up to the competition, and evaluated setup, build time, gameplay, Bluetooth features, and overall comfort. Here’s what we discovered.

Design and Comfort: An immersive experience

Fully assembled, the X Rocker 51396 is a sleek and luxurious modern take on the classic rocker. It’s an evolution from previous designs and adds a pedestal below the unit, elevating the chair and adding the option to tilt and swivel as you slide comfortably across the faux leather exterior. 

If space is a concern, you can fold the chair comfortably in half for easy storage. Sitting in the X Rocker 51396 is like sitting in a state-of-the-art movie theatre chair with all the included bells and whistles. When paired with a Bluetooth device this chair not only lets you hear, but actually feel, the impact of gameplay. Alternately, turn on the vibration for a gentle massage. The only downside to this model is the way it’s powered. Since there is no internal battery pack the chair must remain plugged in for optimal performance. Grab an extension cable with this purchase, or be prepared to place the chair near an outlet if you want to hear and feel the sound.

Setup Process: Cumbersome to build

Setup of the X Rocker 51396 Pro Series Pedestal 2.1 is intuitive but not necessarily easy. Inside the box you’ll find an instruction manual, RCA Bluetooth transmitter, and power cable. Although the chair arrives folded over in the box, setup is rather cumbersome and may require two people, one to hold the base of the rocker and the other to push the heavier pieces of the chair together. You’ll make use of the included tools, wrenches, and bolts that come with this chair and the requisite screws and pins are neatly packaged in individual plastic bags. We found setup required two sets of hands, and the overall process took about 30 minutes.

Performance: Powerful and convenient, with one caveat 

Once you do get the X Rocker 51396 Pro Series fully assembled, all the included tech performs well. Connecting this chair to your music or gaming system is relatively simple but contingent on the RCA connectivity on your home television system. RCA is a pretty outdated standard, and it would be nice to see more updated connectivity options. When it is all wired up it delivers remarkable sound quality for speakers built into a chair, on par with an introductory-level home theater setup. 

When seated in the X Rocker, changing volume, vibration, and other settings is easy. Simply reach down to the panel of controls on the right hand side and tweak to your heart’s content. All of the controls are within easy reach while seated, and don’t require you to stand up to adjust them.

Price: A lot of gear for less

The X Rocker 51396 Pro Series retails for about $180 and combines the best qualities of a comfortable rocker, massage chair, and high-quality speaker system. Given how comfortable this chair is and the breadth of roles it fills, the X Rocker is a fantastic value. 

X Rocker 51396 Pro Series vs Ficmax Ergonomic Gaming Chair

The X Rocker 51396 stacks up favorably to the competition. For $180 this chair packs a ton of desirable features, including speak-and-subwoofer-level audio and comfortable back massage and vibration. The one potential downside to this chair is its compact design, which may make less sense for large body frames. 

If a more spacious gaming chair is what you’re in the market for than you might take a look at the Ficmax Ergonomic gaming chair, which boasts a different chair silhouette that is both larger and more spacious. For $179 the Ficmax Ergonomic gaming chair offers extendable leg room, comfortable PU Leather, lower lumbar back vibration, and slightly more elevation. On the downside, though, the Ficmax lacks the audio hardware built into the X Rocker. Both chairs are comfy, but for a dollar more the X Rocker 51396 is the superior option, purely on the strength of the technology that’s packed inside.