Sihoo M56C Ergonomic Office Chair Review

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In the field we work in, there are two issues that seem unavoidable: an occasional compulsion for gaming and persistent poor posture. This can be hazardous when you’re seated at your desk for long hours and your leisure time often consists of switching tabs or launching games from the same spot.

Even though I’m generally flexible about chairs, a chair that doesn’t cause discomfort in my back and rear end after prolonged use is essential; everything else is just an added bonus, isn’t it? My reliable IKEA Flintan with the fixed armrests has been serving me comfortably for over three years, and the idea of replacing it hadn’t crossed my mind until now.

As a gaming enthusiast, I couldn’t help but wonder what the ruckus was when Sihoo asked if I fancied giving their M56C office chair a spin. This is their no-frills, budget-friendly model, often praised for its robustness and affordability. It seems it’s designed for folks who aren’t too keen on the extra costs that come with the ‘gaming chair’ label.

On the American Sihoo webpage, the M56C typically sells for $219.99, but at the moment of this writing, it’s astonishingly discounted by $10. This reduction equates to approximately two heavily reduced video games. Remarkably, the price in the European store is significantly higher; it retails for €379.99, and even on sale, it costs €259.99.

My work station is composed of a desk purchased from a grocery store, a 21.5-inch ASUS monitor, an HP keyboard, a HyperX SoloCast that I’m not entirely pleased with, along with an unbranded mouse and headphones. The computer, though quite powerful for the year 2025, is housed within a slightly corroded case acquired in 2017. It’s all black, simple yet practical, which I thought would complement the M56C perfectly.

As a dedicated admirer, let me express my honest thoughts without any bias. Sihoo didn’t compensate me for this review; instead, they graciously provided me with this chair. After using it for a week, I must admit, it turned out to be quite comfortable and satisfying.

What’s In The Box?

To ensure impartiality, the chair, which was included in a review kit, was shipped via our regular delivery service. It took approximately six days for the order to be processed and the chair to arrive.

DPD transported the item from Sihoo’s warehouse in Germany to Portugal, which is one of the longer shipping routes within Europe. Despite this, Sihoo claims similar delivery times for their other regional stores, and our U.S. review of the Sihoo C300 Pro also experienced relatively swift delivery via FedEx.

The Sihoo M56C arrived in an unassuming mid-sized cardboard box, but its weight caught me off guard. Weighing approximately 37.15 pounds (or 16.85 kilograms), it’s a weight that you can manage to carry, yet still find yourself grumbling about it.

The problem is that this box doesn’t have any handles or places to grip, so carrying it isn’t an option. And, trying to balance it on your chest isn’t ideal because it obstructs your view. So, I had to give up and push it along the floor instead, all while my dog looked at me as if I were committing some great faux pas.

When I first opened it, I was pleased to see that the parts were neatly organized within the box. They were all stacked one on top of the other, making it easy for me to pull them out without any hassle. The box containing the nuts and bolts seemed like it had been added at the last minute, but this didn’t interfere with its contents or affect the rest of the items inside.

Of Nuts And Bolts

Typically, I find assembling new furniture quite enjoyable, that is, until the final 15 minutes when I become exhausted and may express my frustration. And the Sihoo M56C follows this consistent pattern.

The basic set includes two tools and a small, adorable pair of white gloves. Usually, I don’t find them necessary while fixing furniture or machinery (I was warned off by my boyfriend’s stories from machine workshops), but one time, I decided to give them a try.

The gloves feel snug, yet often I encountered incongruity with one of the enclosed tools – an Allen key featuring both an Allen and Phillips head. Normally, similar tools, even the compact Allen key supplied, adhere to a conventional L-shape design, where one end is shorter for fitting into tight spots. However, this tool sported equal length sides instead.

As a result, this situation created two issues: first, some parts became harder to assemble, and second, the Phillips head often got caught on the gloves while using the Allen. While these problems might seem minor, they certainly proved to be extremely annoying during an hour-long process.

One common complaint I often encounter regarding office chairs is the problem with the wheel adjustment. Regardless if you attribute it to a skill issue or not, none of the ones I’ve used over the past ten years have had properly fitting wheels right out of the box.

The Sihoo M56C continues the trend of needing persistent maintenance to insert some wheels, and one wheel in particular was quite obstinate, resisting slotting in until I switched its position. Quite puzzling, isn’t it?

Additionally, the majority of the assembly steps were quite simple: simply align one part with another, fasten them using an Allen or Phillips screwdriver, and you’re good to go. However, I encountered a minor hiccup while securing a single screw at the joint between the lumbar support and the backrest. Nothing overly challenging, though.

Approximately an hour later, the Sihoo M56C was prepared for evaluation, prompting me to embark on this challenging task by taking a seat on it and resuming my duties.

What It Can and Cannot Do

Glancing at the Sihoo M56C, it’s clear this is an ideal office chair, devoid of the flashy aesthetics often associated with gaming chairs – those are more suited for our stylish scribes. In essence, this chair has a quiet, practical charm that makes it a valued companion for diligent editors.

At the rear part of the M56C model, you’ll find a flexible, breathable mesh material has been used for construction. On its debut day, it was subjected to an intense endurance test due to the oppressively humid 37ºC (98.6ºF) weather conditions here.

Despite the sun’s relentless attempt to provide relief, the sturdy chair stood its ground, enabling me to endure the workday without undue discomfort or excessive warmth.

Instead of a single large backrest, the M56C chair features three separate sections: a lumbar support for lower back, an upper backrest for mid-back, and a headrest for the top part of the back.

The base of this totem rests on a pliable U-shaped stand that allows it to self-adjust to your spine, which I find incredibly convenient. It turns even lengthy days into a breeze instead of an ordeal. This feature is particularly useful when you have events like the State of Play, Summer Game Fest, and Xbox Games Showcase all in one week.

As a devoted admirer, I must say that the primary support for my seating comfort is indeed a backrest, performing its duties flawlessly. It manages the task at hand with minimal commotion, and what sets it apart is its generously wide expanse, ensuring no structural elements intrude upon my back when I lean to either side.

I found it quite delightful that the headrest could be customized in terms of length and angle. What’s more, the elastic mesh feels nice against the skin, especially considering the amount of hair I have, similar to Rude from Final Fantasy VII.

The angle and height of the headrest can be effortlessly adjusted with a deliberate push, ensuring that I don’t inadvertently change it unintentionally.

Regarding the cushion, it’s quite pleasant, yet not groundbreaking. I didn’t experience any discomfort during extended gaming or writing periods, which is definitely an advantage. Moreover, it offers sufficient width, allowing me to assume various uncomfortable leg-crossing poses without reaping the consequences of my overconfidence.

The chair’s height adjustment is satisfactory, though a bit jerky according to my preference, but this drawback is compensated by its excellent reclining mechanism. Upon unlocking, one needs to apply a fair amount of pressure to recline the backrest. I usually keep it in that position because it’s simple to adjust based on my mood or comfort level.

When the backrest locks in place, there’s a slight movement allowed, which I appreciate but occasionally yearn for complete immobility. Conversely, the Sihoo chair can be securely locked at its fully reclined position, offering an ideal angle for propping your feet on a table or maintaining a firm hold for a HOTAS setup.

In addition, although the Sihoo M56C is advertised as an office chair, I discovered that its armrests are fantastic for simulators. Unfortunately, I no longer have my Thrustmaster wheel to test this fully, but it was a pleasure to use with my Virpil WarBRD base and flight stick setup, along with the Thrustmaster TWCS throttle.

The armrests’ peaks are constructed from plush rubber, ensuring they won’t cause the discomfort of harsh plastic-on-skin sensation after prolonged use. Plus, each side can be individually adjusted in height, a feature that I found conspicuously absent during flight simulator sessions.

Almost perfect for precision, the WarBRD joystick has a tall stature compared to others, leading to a tricky choice between an uncomfortable grip angle or raising the entire chair to protect my wrist, which in turn affects the rudder pedals’ operation. However, with the M56C armrests, I can now find a comfortable position that aligns well with the joystick, throttle, and monitor, resolving this issue.

Final Thoughts

After a full workweek, I’ve bonded with my trusty Sihoo M56C ergonomic office chair – it’s like we’ve shared our deepest gaming sessions together!

Hey there,

Let me clarify something about this new office chair I’ve got my eye on. It’s not because I’m trying to game more efficiently or anything like that. The armrests are crucial for maintaining good posture during long hours at work, you see? I promise it has nothing to do with my virtual adventures in Microsoft Flight Simulator!

For a week, I thoroughly examined the Sihoo M56C chair. While a week’s test isn’t enough to discuss durability concerns, my initial thoughts on its construction are favorable. However, there’s one aspect that left me slightly disappointed – the mesh backrest can’t be removed for cleaning. This was a feature I appreciated in the IKEA Flintan, and over time, not having this option might prove inconvenient.

The Sihoo M56C offers premium comfort at an economical price point, given the quality it delivers. However, its value lies significantly in your location and current market conditions. In other words, whether it’s a smart investment for you depends largely on where you live and when you’re making the purchase.

If you reside in the U.S. or can acquire it during a sale in other locations, then I assure you, it will be difficult to find a chair of such quality within the price range of $200 to $250.

Meanwhile, European customers lacking this fortune may struggle to rationalize spending over $400 on the M56C, given that such an amount could easily purchase reasonable alternatives from local retailers instead.

Closing Comments: Score 8.5/10

The Sihoo M56C ergonomic office chair offers a good value for its features, particularly when you can find it at the best available prices. The seat is comfy, the lumbar support is a significant improvement, and the adjustable armrests and reclining lock make it a strong option compared to costly specialized racing and aviation seats. However, there are some practical issues, such as its weight making transport difficult, and the assembly isn’t easy to clean. Nevertheless, these matters aren’t usually relevant for daily use, so I won’t worry about them much. The M56C has replaced my trusty old IKEA Flintant chair, and I would suggest it to anyone looking for an affordable chair for extended desk work.

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2025-06-06 20:40