Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: BethS on May 08, 2014, 11:19:16 pm
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We are new to purchasing a hot tub. Trying to be responsible consumers, we have read everything we can find, wet tested Caldera, Hot Springs and Vita Maax. Have checked into Sundance, but no wet test. All the sales folks have their spin of course on why theirs is the best. This is the most confusing item we have ever shopped for. Can anyone share their pros/con's on any or all of these distributors? Thanks!
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Out of all those I like the sundance the best. That's my opinion, others will say caldera or hot springs. Those 3 are at the top side from a quality standpoint with vita more of a step down from those brands. I bet the pricing reflects that. I would say the most important thing would be the dealer. Do any of the dealers stick out more then the others?
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Yea I wouldn't even put Maxx in the same league as those others but that's just my opinion. I bet it is also the least expensive. Or it gives you more flash for the same money.
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Welcome to the hot tub shopping process. Check out reviews. Do you have friends with a spa? What confusing stories have you been told. Most pros here will tell you Hot Spring, Caldera and Sundance are top tier brands.
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I own and sell Hot Spring, but with that said...I've also owned a Sundance OPTIMA and still own a Maax in one of my rentals (will eventually swap it out for a Hot Springs or a Juccuzzi that I also own at another home) and the Caldera is manufactured by Watkins (Hot Spring).
I've owned the Maax for a year before the problems came on such as 4 leaks, 1 heater replacement and one of the two pumps replaced. This was all over the 9 years of ownership. That's not all that bad for a tub that retails for $7-8K. Its not exactly the best tub but surely not the worst. I really have no complaints about it for what I paid VS the longevity and said repairs that were performed. My biggest gripe with (Maax) is it's water filtration was not very good and the leaks get to be a drag. Leaks are never any fun if the tub needs to be lifted or repositioned to access.
Sundance: The OPTIMA was supposed to be a solid unit and I paid a lot for it...but I personally had very bad luck with mine...I believe mine was just one of those destined to give me issues tubs and I don't discredit Sundance as a manufacture just for my Lemon. Sundance stood behind the tub for warranty every time I had an issue. That's the important part! The tub was eventually replaced under warranty after a few pumps and 2 topside controllers failed and eventually got a lot of cosmetic shell crazing. Everything was handled professionally and under warranty except when the tub was replaced I was responsible for the labor and shipping costs (Just under $1000 bucks total). I sold the home soon after the replacement was received and never heard of how the new tub faired out.
I've owned a Hot Springs VISTA model for seven years and I've never had an issue with that tub the entire 7 years. I replaced it with a new 2013 GRANDEE and I also had no issues but only owned it for half a year and had to buy the latest greatest 2104 GRANDEE as it was totally redesigned and had new whistles and bells. I just got it yesterday so nothing to report yet. I know I sell Hot Springs now and you might discredit this posting because of it but I owned the HS VISTA seven years before ever having anything to do with Hot Spring sales. I believe its one of the VERY best money can buy...along with a few others that I give credit (Sundance and Jacuzzi) and I've also owned 2 Jacuzzis and still have one of those 2.
The Hot Spring then Calderra then Sundance and lastly the Maax is the order I would put them in from a quality arrangement but cost is another whole issue.
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Thank you to everyone that has responded! All of your input is very helpful. One reason the Maax was attractive was the metal framing rather than wood on the others, but it sounds like the other issues offset this possible benefit.
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Thank you to everyone that has responded! All of your input is very helpful. One reason the Maax was attractive was the metal framing rather than wood on the others, but it sounds like the other issues offset this possible benefit.
Just to note...The steel frame on my maax is about rusted through at 9 years old...I would say that even though the steel seems "Tough" at first thought...think about it...The steel frame is constructed from basic Galvanized metal and will give and flex a bit more offering less structural support if ever placed on uneven surfaces VS the treated wood and full High Density foam construction of the Hot Spring High Life products. Some of the Hot Spring tubs can even be shimmed level with its super rigid construction...But I'm about to dump the Maax the next time it has a breakdown ... at the age it is now I will not repair it any longer. Besides I have access to better units now.
My Opinion is...The frame construction should not be your deciding factor as both constructions will most likely outlive the life of the spa as a whole unit....But then again my experience is in the greenbelt climate and we just don't have the water exposure that some climates do.
The Maax... IF....key word...IF is a lot less $$ isn't a bad product if a 10 year lifespan is in your sights. We all have to live within our budgets!
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Thank you to everyone that has responded! All of your input is very helpful. One reason the Maax was attractive was the metal framing rather than wood on the others, but it sounds like the other issues offset this possible benefit.
Did the MAXX salesman tell you metal framing was better?
I'm on my third metal BBQ grill on the same wooden deck.
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Thank you to everyone that has responded! All of your input is very helpful. One reason the Maax was attractive was the metal framing rather than wood on the others, but it sounds like the other issues offset this possible benefit.
Did the MAXX salesman tell you metal framing was better?
I'm on my third metal BBQ grill on the same wooden deck.
If I use this during a sales presentation do I have to follow it up with "copyright Tman122" ;D ;D
but seriously composite, maintanence free, plastic, and steel are not necessary in a hottub and should be the last thing your worried about when making a purchase (esp. if your buying a high end spa from a reputable manufacturer) is the frame...Hot Spring, Sundance, Jacuzzi, Marqius have built spas for 25+ years with wood frames...tons of them in the field are still 15+ years old and all of sudden because of the availability of composite materials now wood is the worst thing in the world? lol ya ok...I also have some oceanside property in South Dakota I want to sell you
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The frame on my previous tub was wood and it rotted out at the base and was termite infested. I can understand the concern over frame materials. Galvanized metal, however, will rust and "rot" out over time. I would look for frames made of rot/pest resistant wood (cedar for example), aluminum or composite type materials.
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If I use this during a sales presentation do I have to follow it up with "copyright Tman122" ;D ;D
Nahhhh it's all yours.
Truth of the matter is. Steel is NOT better than wood. As good maybe but not better. Protecting what ever material your frame and cabinet are made of is what's important.
Put a metal beam out in the swamp along side a treated wood stud of the same dimensions and see which lasts longer. You won't care after 20 years and they will both be there. But put a 2x4 in the swamp along side the 20 ga. galv. metal stud with holes punched in it and the cut marks exposed and the metal will disappear before the 2x4 is starting to rot.
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If I use this during a sales presentation do I have to follow it up with "copyright Tman122" ;D ;D
Nahhhh it's all yours.
Truth of the matter is. Steel is NOT better than wood. As good maybe but not better. Protecting what ever material your frame and cabinet are made of is what's important.
Put a metal beam out in the swamp along side a treated wood stud of the same dimensions and see which lasts longer. You won't care after 20 years and they will both be there. But put a 2x4 in the swamp along side the 20 ga. galv. metal stud with holes punched in it and the cut marks exposed and the metal will disappear before the 2x4 is starting to rot.
That's the best point Tman...most don't realize the punched holes and cut ends are not protected by Galv. coating and the rust starts there and spreads like wild fire. Most think that the wood used in a hot tub construction is just basic 2x4 studs vs treated 2x4's with chemical products to hinder bugs and rot...Just like every home here in AZ. built with wood construction actually has to have chemically treated wood as the base on the footings and then basic non treated wood from there up. I'm not sure if all manufactures use treated wood in the tubs construction but some do.
As a former contractor I've used a lot of different materials from wood, Composite (Trex), and steel. There is a place for them all and they all have their positive benefits for different purposes.
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Do the major manufacturers use pressure treated 2x4s for their frames?
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OK! Something new to add to the mix! We looked at a new dealer today and he carries Master Spas. We looked at the Twilight series. Thoughts on Master Spas vs the others we had been looking at (Hot Springs, Caldera and Sundance). You all have convinced me, it will not be a Maax.
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Hopefully we can convince you not to buy a Master spa now... ;)
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Care to share more detail on why?
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Care to share more detail on why?
Do a simple google search on them and you will figure it out
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Buying a hot tub was more difficult for me than buying a new car. Hang in there. You will find what you are looking for. I did.
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As the others said hang in there. I was a bit overwhelmed by it all too when I was shopping a few months back, then ended up taking a 3rd option when I found a quaulty older used tub in very good condition for about 1/6th of what I was planning on spending on a new tub. Looking back I think I made the right choice even if I replace this tub in a year or two, as it gives me time to decide what features are important to me and which I could care less about. For example this older Hot Spring Jetsetter tub just has the basic one blue only multi brightness tub light, no color changing or surround lighiting, etc. In the last 4 months of hot tub ownership I have yet to turn on the light for purposes other than trying it out. In addition to that there are probably half a dozen little things that I either like or dislike that would never have occured to me in shopping.
Ike
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Thanks everyone! All the input is helpful. I declare buying our house was easier! ;)
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While Master Spa makes a just barely OK product. Their reputation for deceit alone would be enough to steer me away. How is the dealer? Have you found any dealers yet that have not filled you with BS?
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The dealer was local, not a show guy, which from everything I am reading is a major plus for Master Spas. He and his partner have owned the store for 7 years. Haven't been able to locate anything negative on the business. He was informative, but not pushy, which is good, because my husband and I do not do pushy. We tend to say See ya! The few reviews that we have been able to find, have been from one extreme to the other, but more relating to the dealers than the products. The one we liked, looks good, but you know the saying, Don't let looks fool you! Thought about a wet test, but now I am not sure.
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Twilight series is mid range spa from a mid range manufacuturer.
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Thank you to everyone that has responded! All of your input is very helpful. One reason the Maax was attractive was the metal framing rather than wood on the others, but it sounds like the other issues offset this possible benefit.
Did the MAXX salesman tell you metal framing was better?
I'm on my third metal BBQ grill on the same wooden deck.
Not defending steel here because I have seen them rust, but your BBQ grill is exposed to 500 degree grease splattering all over it. Also, are you regularly treating that wood deck? I have never seen anyone take off their panels and apply treatment to their wood frames. Most wood framed hot tubs do not use pressure treating by the way. I have seen plenty of wood framed tubs just fall apart when attempting to move them. I personally think injection molded plastic is the best material for a frame.
All of this aside, the frame shouldn't be a major deciding factor. There are some great tubs out there with wood frames.
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Agreed. I knew someone would bring up the heat thing..........But if you held a 4' chunk of 2x4 in your hands and a 4' chunk of that thin galvanized stud material, trust me you would rather have the wood in a club fight. But alas.....we are talking hot tub frame.
I've seen rotten wood tub frames also. But it was never the reason the tub was being disposed of.
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Go and try a Dimensions1 hot tub/spa (now owned by Jacuzzi) if you want more to consider...or retest the Sundance, Hot Springs and Caldera, carefully look over all these tubs and check and see if they have what you want in them and maybe check the energy efficiency as to what your month costs to run would be and ask each dealer about the warranties...Compare features, Hot Springs has a Status indicator light on most, Jacuzzi has it on the higher end ones, this is just one feature to consider...Hot Springs is probably the more expensive in your grouping...So you do have a lot to consider...Good luck and do not make and take time with your buy...Also, call some spa repairmen in your area and ask which spa has the higher repair rates (one website had that as a suggestion ). Just trying to help you out...
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Thank you to everyone that has responded! All of your input is very helpful. One reason the Maax was attractive was the metal framing rather than wood on the others, but it sounds like the other issues offset this possible benefit.
Did the MAXX salesman tell you metal framing was better?
I'm on my third metal BBQ grill on the same wooden deck.
Not defending steel here because I have seen them rust, but your BBQ grill is exposed to 500 degree grease splattering all over it. Also, are you regularly treating that wood deck? I have never seen anyone take off their panels and apply treatment to their wood frames. Most wood framed hot tubs do not use pressure treating by the way. I have seen plenty of wood framed tubs just fall apart when attempting to move them. I personally think injection molded plastic is the best material for a frame.
All of this aside, the frame shouldn't be a major deciding factor. There are some great tubs out there with wood frames.
A cold roll steel BBQ grill dipped in porcelain is not even remotely a close comparison...Besides the grease would never effect the porcelain as porcelain is dipped at 1500 deg. Also a bbq grill is suspended from the ground and away from sitting water such as a wet pan in a tub that would hold the moisture much longer. But in a way it is a good example because most bbq manufactures use mild steel drip trays under the bbq to catch the dripping grease and is galvanized....This drip tray is the first thing to rust out on every bbq grill.
Hot Springs also has a molded plastic frame on the NXT series High Life models. Not treated wood like the original High Life models.
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The same reason you originally considered the Maax is the same reason to run from the Master Spa.
Bet they didn't try and talk up their construction, or try to show you around under the hood.
Here was my buying experience:
http://www.whatsthebest-hottub.com/forum/index.php?topic=16022.15
A year and a half later, no regrets.
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We are new to purchasing a hot tub. Trying to be responsible consumers, we have read everything we can find, wet tested Caldera, Hot Springs and Vita Maax. Have checked into Sundance, but no wet test. All the sales folks have their spin of course on why theirs is the best. This is the most confusing item we have ever shopped for. Can anyone share their pros/con's on any or all of these distributors? Thanks!
Isn't just the most strangest thing evur? I mean I'm still shell shocked as to how many outlets & resource is there for us on the net it's scary. You know the routine right?, it always starts with that innocent Google search that takes you to this review on amazon, then that might take you to another merchant site, then to a forum where you'll start reading the threads like it was your last day on earth.
Then next thing your know you've 30 tabs opened up, then next watching You tube reviews which of course to you commenting or replying back to other forums. It's like this vast big universe where you loosed all awareness of time.
And I was just like you, I had "thought" I've come to the conclusion that Hot springs & Caldera a week of researching but nope. I've discovered many other hot tubs mfg just as good as HS or Caldera like Artic, Clearwater, LA spa, Artesian, Coast, and it doesn't stop.
Like so today, I just discovered another great mfg in Beach comber. Can someone pls tell me why the hot tub mart is so prolific? Again if you scan at that list of mfg from PoolandSpa it will make you dizzy. I reckon there's a gazillion # of folks who buy these hot tubs or else they wouldn't be making them and in such astronomical #'s.
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petals20, it can be overwhelming, but you can find a good Hot tub/spa for you. This is a very good forum and others will comeby to help you out.
Maybe you need to start off with a list of things you want from a spa and then others on here can then point you in the correct direction...I want one for heat therapy and not overly large, just a 2- 3 person, ect and that's how you start to narrow it down...good luck with your search and keep open to Sundance brands as well....
my opinion...
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petals20, it can be overwhelming, but you can find a good Hot tub/spa for you. This is a very good forum and others will comeby to help you out.
Maybe you need to start off with a list of things you want from a spa and then others on here can then point you in the correct direction...I want one for heat therapy and not overly large, just a 2- 3 person, ect and that's how you start to narrow it down...good luck with your search and keep open to Sundance brands as well....
my opinion...
Yup..that's exactly the size I want as well. The bigger models that seas over 4+ I think you loose that sense of intimacy & coziness and what you have is more like a small pool. Oh don't worry, I'm home everyday so I've been scouring the net these past couple weeks and I've come a long way and have absorbed tons of info. I feel much more confident as to which mfg's are in the top echelon and you know there are lots & lots of them.
It is a big huge world of hot tubs mfg all vying for consumer dollar so that benefits us because they're striving to put out the best product and I have to say I am very impressive of their commitment to quality & customer satisfaction.
I disagree to that person who said there's a small handful of BMW brands & a bunch of Honda/Kia's. Most of that list from PoolandSpa.com, they're all very much in the hunt and have an amazing line of hot tubs with their own special innovations & features. The hot tub industry is big business I come to that realization so nobody is a lunch meat,, they have to bring their "A" game or else they would not be in business.
The only Honda/Kia's are IMO the ones that you buy directly online with no dealer support like the ones at Costco....Evolution, Divine, AquaTerra, etc and other club warehouses.
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Sorry Petals...I'm on the other side of the field from your post.. Bigger is better for me and I like my options of seats with a larger more options tub and also don't enjoy footsie games in a tub.
I also believe that there are certainly a handful of truly "best" tubs and lots of "Better" with a whole lot of "~~~" tubs. Own a few yourself and I think you will find this out for yourself in real life experience first hand vs reading about XYZ tubs and such on internet reviews and public forums...Everyone has opinions but those don't hold up if your not talking from your experience...That's why the independent service guys such as Tmann and Jacuzzi Jim for example are really some of the best reviews and posts to learn from...There's a lot of dealers and tho some are totally straight and legit in their posts(LIKE MINE!!! 8)) some are still somewhat biased to some degree...And you can't blame them. Its their lively hood and also their passion...hard to sell something if your not a believer and not passionate about it. I'll refrain from talking about Value internet tubs ;D
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Oh of course variety is the spice of life :-*, I never said or implied it's my way or the highway. I also forgot to add that I would hate to talk in a 9-11 ft tub over the noise plus talking a big tub is like talking across the room. But For things parties and fraternities it's great so se la vie. And what a pain in the butt maintaining & cleaning a tub that size so no thx for me but knock yourself out.
I def plan to own a few from here on and continue to be a student learning & evolving with the industry. For instance with home theater which is one of our passion. Since 97 when the dvd player 1st came out we've upgraded a hdtv about every 2 yrs until 2012 when finally I was content with our current LG LED where I don't feel compelled to go out and buy another model. We've owned Panny, Toshiba, itachi, Sony, Samsung, LG,Sharp, plasma, LCD, LED, front projectors total of 11 over 17 yrs.
And if hot tubs is as fun at home theater then we'll go down that same road of live & learn.
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There is a balance to finding the right size. Intimacy and coziness are overrated after you have been in 104F water for 20 minutes. People don't snuggle in the sauna. On the other hand some people buy the gargantuan tubs thinking every weekend is going to be a party with all their friends. Out 2nd tub was a bit smaller than our first, but its still considered a 5 person tub and I think its just perfect for the two of us which it is 95% of the time, but still big enough if our daughter and husband come over.
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I couldn't agree more. This is our 1st hot tub so I want to start small with a 2-3 tub then work upwards to what I believe is the right balance which is a 5 person tub. And perhaps from there my mind will crave for a bigger size then we'll go to 6-7. But I'm pretty sure 7 will be the max no matter what. We're not college kids or planning on keg parties. This will be an intimate affair with no more than 5 ppl max.
I don't want to start out at 4-5 then go backwards you know?
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Petals, you said you were into Home Theater. When we were first looking, many years ago at home theater and wondering what size of TV to get, there was a saying I heard many, many times. It was that no one ever complains about buying a TV that's too big. In other words, for TV at least, buy the biggest TV your room can handle. Personally, I would think the same for hot tubs.
We just purchased a new tub and it is 7' x 7'. I would have liked to have gone with a bigger size, but we put our tub on a roof deck and this was the maximum size we could have. We have only had our tub a very short time, and so far it is a good size for the two of us. We haven't had any more than the two of us in it so far. And while it's rated as I believe a 5 person tub, I personally think it would be pretty crowded with 5.
Just my 2ยข, but if it was me, and I could go bigger, I would.
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Petals...Owning a larger 100" X 91" requires the same maint that a basic 84" X 84" (7' X 7'). you test the water the same and you and you clean the same filter's ...whats the difference??? Its not a pool that you sweep or are cleaning the leaves out of the basket like a pool.??? So you simply add 3 teaspoons of sanitizer versus when owning a smaller tub you add only 2 teaspoons. You don't add chems more often...you don't have to check the water more often..That's the only difference in my opinion after personally owning the different sizes. The coziness thought is something some new hot tub owners might think they would like but it goes out the window very quickly when trying to relax and get a good therapy jet massage. Our highest volume selling tub is a 84" X 84" average. Some will buy a second tub and upsize and some will downsize after the kids have grown and gone. I've never had someone say they were downsizing because they didn't want to maintain or enjoy having a larger more option tub yet rather their new house will not fit the larger tub is the most common reply I hear. I personally have a larger tub for me and me only...I don't invite people over to "GO HOT TUBBIN" with me...It's just me , my wife and 3 year old son and guess what? I've got options and many different seats and water therapy to choose from with a different therapy option in every open seat. To be totally honest ..I don't want guests in my tub with me...Maybee it was my intention years ago before my family but no longer. They make smaller tubs (2-3) for a reason and bigger for the same... But lets keep it real...A bigger tub requires no more maintenance than a smaller one...just more chemicals due to more water. You should own a tub and take in advise from veteran owners rather than post about "whats what" before you really know what it is your giving advise on. Your posts should point the way of a question vs a fact. The things I see you posting all over will certainly change once you gain your personal experience...Especially when I see you looking and posting about an internet photo of a certain tub and telling everyone "its great" "Just look at this beauty" and its actually a pig with lipstick...Don't be so fooled by smoke and mirrors. Its not about big claimed BHP pump #'s yet its about the pump's real factual continuous HP#'s that properly match the jet size and count to offer a great soaking experience...The best MFG's can certainly throw stupid big pumps in that will happily consume many more amps of expensive power and drill another 50 holes in your tubs shell...to do what? have 50 more possible leaks and have an electric bill that will have you getting a second job to pay to operate it. But hey....If you want to sit in front of 4 fire hoses at once and stick your head in a jet engine while running....be my guest and trust me...your opinion will soon change...
A great hot tub is dependable, quiet to operate, efficient to operate, and looks good to the eye along with providing the most comfortable soaking experience and built by a long lasting reputable financially strong backed manufacture offering a real NO BS warranty and actually does what they say they will do in that warranty. By the way...I'll warranty your tub for life and sell you my ocean front property here in Arizona real cheap.
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You're absolutely right Quickbeam with that comparison and 99% of the time can be applied to other hobbies. When we got our 1st PJ an Epson with a 100" screen in the beg it was massive & I thought that was it- final. But only 6 mos later your eyes gets used to the size and was ready to bump up to 125".
But there's also always an exception to the rule & this case with hot tubs I feel it is..nice try though :) Like I sd we're not college kids anymore so we don't have a growing family with "more" on the way or acquiring more friends. This is it for us, just 3 ppl in our household and we rarely entertain that much anymore just thanksgiving & Xmas and that's only sometimes not all the time.
You were on the right track though had you compare HT to the size and #of jets which I feel the more the merrier yes? ;)
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Sorry Petals, we will agree to disagree. My wife and I are many, many years past being college kids and like I said our tub is 7' x 7'. I wouldn't want anything smaller than that, even for just the two of us. We do like to entertain, but our tub is at a summer cabin, so I don't think we will be using it to entertain a great deal. That said, we still have the option to have another couple join us if we do happen to have guests. And again, the 7' x 7' size is comfortable for just the two of us. And like I earlier said, I would have gone at least a little bit bigger if I could have.
As for the number of jets, something you will hear on this forum is that it is not the number of jets that's important, it is what those jets do. I think that is wise advice.
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Mr Jake,..the model that was looking like the one we're going with is the LA Spa Allure 3 signature series. But a dealer near us who has that line, interestingly also happens to have a Bull frog A5L(a model that was in our top 3 but chose LA spa) floor model that she is talking highly of it and said would give me a great deal on it.
So Jake, if you don't mind me putting you on the spot & making you work for your money tell me some strong points that you feel features/jets/benefits the A5L has that the Allure 3 lacks or doesn't do as well as the A5L.
FYI - the reason why we ended up going with the LA spa Allure 3 is because they have many standard features that our other finalists like Clearwater XS76R would be an optional feature that we have to pay extra for. The standard features the Allure 3 has are: F/X LED fountain lights, 4 Ultimate FX fountains, Air injector therapy, Quadrant Therapy System.
Give me your best shot & persuade me to sway from the Allure 3 to the A5L. :) You've got a tough opponent, the Allure 3 has 2 pumps & 37 jets. Btw how is it possible for the A5L to have up to 137 jets? none of the 3 jets packs to be placed won't equate to 137 jets. Lastly, the Allure 3 is the only mfg that has option for a stone cabinet which neither Clearwater or Bullfrog can offer. We like that different stone look on the cabinet.
(http://www.bullfrogspas.com/uploads/images/big/1364590379_1.png)(http://www.laspas.com/LA_Spas_Colors/Allure_III/Tops/default.jpg)
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Hi Jake,
After we designed our A5L, selected the jet packs & accessories the result came out and was saved to our nearest local dealer in Utah which is 2 states away and that our chosen design will be handled by that dealer. But I spoke with a Dagmar at Hydro spa in Woodland Hills which is only about a 2 hr drive away yesterday when she gave me a quote on the Allure 3. IDK why, could be Hydro Spa is a new dealer and not yer updated on Bullfrog's website.
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If you're looking for 137 jets in something a little bigger than a bathtub you're not going to find from a legitimate top-tier manufacturer. Only the flash-over-substance guys do that.
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If you're looking for 137 jets in something a little bigger than a bathtub you're not going to find from a legitimate top-tier manufacturer. Only the flash-over-substance guys do that.
+1 Totally agree with this!
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To get to 137 jets in the Bullfrog, you would need a rainshower pack in each position, assuming you are counting these as "jets". Don't get me wrong, I love the feel of these packs, but seems like a stretch to advertise a high jet count using these. Not sure why anyone even cares about the absolute number of jets anyway. Petals, you really need to get into these tubs and see how they feel. I think the answer will become much more obvious to you then!
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If you're looking for 137 jets in something a little bigger than a bathtub you're not going to find from a legitimate top-tier manufacturer. Only the flash-over-substance guys do that.
+1 Totally agree with this!
+ 2 Here
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Mr Jake,..the model that was looking like the one we're going with is the LA Spa Allure 3 signature series. But a dealer near us who has that line, interestingly also happens to have a Bull frog A5L(a model that was in our top 3 but chose LA spa) floor model that she is talking highly of it and said would give me a great deal on it.
So Jake, if you don't mind me putting you on the spot & making you work for your money tell me some strong points that you feel features/jets/benefits the A5L has that the Allure 3 lacks or doesn't do as well as the A5L.
FYI - the reason why we ended up going with the LA spa Allure 3 is because they have many standard features that our other finalists like Clearwater XS76R would be an optional feature that we have to pay extra for. The standard features the Allure 3 has are: F/X LED fountain lights, 4 Ultimate FX fountains, Air injector therapy, Quadrant Therapy System.
Give me your best shot & persuade me to sway from the Allure 3 to the A5L. :) You've got a tough opponent, the Allure 3 has 2 pumps & 37 jets. Btw how is it possible for the A5L to have up to 137 jets? none of the 3 jets packs to be placed won't equate to 137 jets. Lastly, the Allure 3 is the only mfg that has option for a stone cabinet which neither Clearwater or Bullfrog can offer. We like that different stone look on the cabinet.
(http://www.bullfrogspas.com/uploads/images/big/1364590379_1.png)(http://www.laspas.com/LA_Spas_Colors/Allure_III/Tops/default.jpg)
Petals,
Wow, you're making me earn it today :) First, I'm going to say I don't honestly know much about the other spa you're asking about so I'll just state my opinion on Bullfrog Spa Model A5L. Also, I'm going to stay true to forum rules here and just try to be helpful with information you're asking for.
Best answer: The JetPak Therapy System. This patented way to build a spa makes Bullfrog Spas inherently different from every other conventional spa you can compare it to. You choose your massages (not a big deal for some but it is never a bad thing). The JetPak Therapy System plumbing is ultra-efficient (if you took the cabinet and insulation off each of these spas and just looked at the plumbing you would understand at first glance). This impacts performance, energy efficiency and reliability. Bullfrog Spas are also built on a very durable wood-free structure and are engineered to impeccably tight tolerances.
I realize this answer doesn't really fit the criteria by which you seem to be making your decision, but this in my opinion. I would highly suggest a wet test if you haven't already.
On the max jet count: If you selected 3 RainShower JetPaks (42 jets ea.) you would have 126 jets. Add these to the foot, leg, and additional jets and you get that figure. This is, of course, the max jet count and not many people would decide to outfit their spa that way. However, let's say you select a very reasonable JetPak selection of an Alleviate, a RainShower, and a Reliever. This gives you 67 jets, still impressive if jet count matters to you. What would matter more than a count is how these 3 JetPaks would feel (I'm missing being in my spa already just thinking about it).
Feel free to discuss this with a private message if you'd like more information.
All the best. You're going to love your new hot tub.
Jake
Bullfrog Spas
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Hi Jake,
After we designed our A5L, selected the jet packs & accessories the result came out and was saved to our nearest local dealer in Utah which is 2 states away and that our chosen design will be handled by that dealer. But I spoke with a Dagmar at Hydro spa in Woodland Hills which is only about a 2 hr drive away yesterday when she gave me a quote on the Allure 3. IDK why, could be Hydro Spa is a new dealer and not yer updated on Bullfrog's website.
Petals,
Yes, the dealer locator has a max distance which differs according to the area. If you're outside that max it will refer you to a factory rep who will refer you to the dealer that can most reasonably serve you.
Best,
Jake
Bullfrog Spas