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I sell both.To start. With ACE you can go up to 12 months between water changes. It doesn't mean you will get that long, just that you can. I tell my customers to expect 8 month intervals but if the circumstances are ideal, 12 months is possible. I tell my customers that are not using ACE, whether they are Hot Spring or Caldera, that they need to change every 4 months. The ACE cell will last between 2-3 years with the life span being determined by how much it needs to run. ACE has a 1 year warranty. There are other dealers on here who have more experience with ACE than I do, but overall, I have had success with it. Know the cost of the replacement ACE cell upfront so you know what to expect when you need to replace it. If you do not like the initial cost and then the replacement cost, then don't do the ACE system to begin with. You can use the tried and true method of ozone, freshwater silver ion and a little chlorine, which Hot Spring has offered for years with great success.The Martinique would technically be a step down from the Aria and Envoy. Its more inline with the Limelight Collection. Your Hot Spring prices are on the high side (unless ACE is included) and your Martinique price is good. If you want a more apples to apples comparison, the Aria lines up more with the Tahitian or Geneva (it is sized between those two) and the Utopia series, while not identical to the Highlife, is a much much closer product. No real Hot Spring comparison to the Martinique. I would figure out what fits you best first. It doesn't matter if the Aria with ACE is the next best thing since sliced bread if the hot tub doesn't fit you. Caldera has more contoured seating than Hot Spring and the Martinique is a great value for what you get. Hot Spring in my opinion has better filtration, slightly more energy efficient, more open seating, and the Moto-Massage. Both are great spas, you just need to find what fits you best.
Quote from: castletonia on February 20, 2018, 05:54:32 pmI sell both.To start. With ACE you can go up to 12 months between water changes. It doesn't mean you will get that long, just that you can. I tell my customers to expect 8 month intervals but if the circumstances are ideal, 12 months is possible. I tell my customers that are not using ACE, whether they are Hot Spring or Caldera, that they need to change every 4 months. The ACE cell will last between 2-3 years with the life span being determined by how much it needs to run. ACE has a 1 year warranty. There are other dealers on here who have more experience with ACE than I do, but overall, I have had success with it. Know the cost of the replacement ACE cell upfront so you know what to expect when you need to replace it. If you do not like the initial cost and then the replacement cost, then don't do the ACE system to begin with. You can use the tried and true method of ozone, freshwater silver ion and a little chlorine, which Hot Spring has offered for years with great success.The Martinique would technically be a step down from the Aria and Envoy. Its more inline with the Limelight Collection. Your Hot Spring prices are on the high side (unless ACE is included) and your Martinique price is good. If you want a more apples to apples comparison, the Aria lines up more with the Tahitian or Geneva (it is sized between those two) and the Utopia series, while not identical to the Highlife, is a much much closer product. No real Hot Spring comparison to the Martinique. I would figure out what fits you best first. It doesn't matter if the Aria with ACE is the next best thing since sliced bread if the hot tub doesn't fit you. Caldera has more contoured seating than Hot Spring and the Martinique is a great value for what you get. Hot Spring in my opinion has better filtration, slightly more energy efficient, more open seating, and the Moto-Massage. Both are great spas, you just need to find what fits you best. Go and wet test both tubs and you will know easily what is right for you...I would also try out a bullfrog tub!