IL Parrothead

Chanster, I agree with the stallion. I, like your wife, have neck problems, so when I tested spas, that was my first priority. I have never tested Vita, and I've read the same things you have about them, so I won't comment further on that. If it helps you, I'll give you my opinion (based on my testing) of the others you mentioned. In case you haven't read enough posts here, though, I will stress that you and your wife REALLY need to wet test the models you think you like. Looking at empty tubs and sticking my hand in full ones did nothing compared to actually getting in some and feeling the therapy. Marquis -- I've wet tested the Epic. It's bigger than the space you're looking for, but felt awesome on my neck. CalSpa -- Wet tested I think the SQ92. It was "okay". The neck jets weren't nearly as strong or effective as other makes. HS -- Wet tested the Envoy. Nice tub. Neck jets felt pretty decent. MotoMassage was cool. Appeared very well made. We liked it. Tiger Riger is a lower level brother company of HS. I didn't test one, but everything I've heard is that they're well mde with fewer features than comparable HS models. Hope that helps.

Ivie, that looks real nice! Same exact color combination we're looking at. And the view while you soak -- awesome!

Slash, I don't know if I have a dealer nearby, but I subconsciously drew a line through any of the brands that i heard more than a few negatives on.......Besides, I am definitely done wet testing. Assuming I can get my buddies to do the prep work (although, it's snowing like crazy today), I want to buy within the next week.

Let me know how you like the Epic. I'm thinking about getting one.

DITTO!

Okay.....wet test update! I tested 4 tubs tonight, and boy do I feel great! I will sleep like a baby tonight! Here are my personal observations: Jacuzzi J480 -- Beautiful tub. Very classy. Extremely relaxing. Gentle massage. Stayed in the tub the longest of the 4. The salesman owns a Sundance Optima at his house. Loves it for therapy, but says he actually relaxes more sitting in the Jacuzzi -- less punishing, but still effective massage. Has to be (for me and my wife) the most comfortable lounger we've been in. Fit my body like a glove (I'm 5'11") and my wife liked it too (5'8"). She didn't float. The corner therapy seat felt great. Sundance Maxxus -- Also very nice. Started out with the air pump bubbling, for the soft tissue therapy for a few minutes before kicking on the jets. Jacuzzi and Sundance both keep their neck jets under water, unlike some other manufacturers. I just scooted down a bit in the seat and still got a decent neck massage. Much quieter than the tubs with jets above the waterline. The Sundance was definitely a much stronger, somewhat harsh jet compared to the Jacuzzi. I didn't mind it, but my wife didn't like it at all (similar to Ivie's husband). I did like the variety of seating positions in both the J480 and the Maxxus. I thought the lounger in the Maxxus was okay. My wife floated in it. Sundance Optima -- Similar to my experience in the Maxxus, but I liked the room to roam in the Maxxus. Wife didn't really care for it. CalSpas -- I believe it was the SQ92. Neck jets were just okay. Didn't do anything enough for me to be real impressed after the Jacuzzi and Sundance. Again, subjectively speaking -- I really enjoyed the J480. I'd put it up there with the Epic for the tub that worked the best for me. My wife and I had a long talk on the way home and after putting the kids to bed. I agree that I didn't like it enough to justify the $2,000 premium over the Marquis Epic. My wife loved the Epic best, hands down. So, tomorrow I start working the Marquis dealer hard, and my tradesmen harder. I'd love to soak before Christmas!!!

At least you are testing everything! No surprises!!!! I ended up with the Sundance Maxxus after testing HS Vista and Marquis Epic. In hindsiight still no regrets. I love this spa. I only wish I had it wired for 60 amp versus 50. I can run the heat with 1 of the three pumps on rather than all three. But in sitting in it for an hour with 2 kids it only lost 2 degrees. Make sure the dealer explains the jets to you! They are awesome! Mike, is there anything in particular about the jets I want to learn about? I got the basic run-through while I was at the one store yesterday. I know that's pretty important to my wife -- which is why she liked the Epic better than the Envoy. She felt she could control the seat she was in with diverter valves that were close to the seat, whereas in the HS she felt like she had to get up and cross the tub more often.

While waiting for the prep work to be done to my deck (carpentry & electric), I went back and read some more posts. I've decided to (against my wife's wishes) go wet test Jacuzzi and Sundance tomorrow night. Talked to a dealer about a half hour drive away who has a Maxxus and Optima, a J365 & 480 wet. I promsie -- these will be my FINAL WET TESTS!!!

I'll let other, more experienced people talk about price, but it seems a little high to me. It is, however, a great tub.

Yeah, I've read all the stuff about 100% non-bypass filtration. I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about when water gets to the filter, HS uses 325 sq. ft. versus the other tubs all using about 100 sq. ft. What are the arguments pro/con there? Just curious.

Having trouble falling asleep and just noticed something. Hot Springs Tri-X filters have 325 sq. ft. of filtration area. I know Marquis (and others -- Caldera's larger spas come to mind) only have 100 sq. ft. Any noticeable difference in filtration -- from those of you who might have sold both?

Ivie, congrats again! Your journey just goes to show -- wet testing is the most crucial. As an example, Steve loved the Calera and didn't care for the Marquis. My wife and I felt exactly the opposite. We all know they're both very well made tubs, but everyone's physiques and tastes are different. I'm jealous you pulled the trigger before me. I'm still trying to get my carpenter "buddies" to get out there in the cold and shore up my deck before I make the purchase.

Ivie, congrats!!!! You beat me to the punch! Make sure you post some pics once you're up and running!

My wife and I have wet tested many tubs and LOVE the Marquis Epic. Not sure on the price difference, but it's a great tub.

HS vs Caldera points out better than any other comparison the two different routes to filtration manufacturers choose. Both are manfacturered by Watkins. Some people claim that non-bypass filtration causes pumps to either be weaker or overworked. Others claim that it's the only way to have clear water. Suffice it to say there have been arguments for a long time. Pump manufacturers in both camps have been able to produce clean water, so who knows? I got tired of trying to figure it out and began looking at square footage of filtration and how the jets feel. Once you get past this argument, try wrapping your brain around circulation pumps versus none. It'll drive you crazy!

Hey Rob W, what part of the country are you in? That price you were offered on the Epic sound great, and that's the tub I'm negotiating on. I'll hopefully use your offer as ammo during my next conversation!

Wow! My pseudo-wife has neck issues too! A match made in orthopedic heaven! lol

Money, you get what you pay for. In other areas, I'm a huge eBay fan. But I've looked at their hot tubs, and most of the time they're no-name brands. You almost never see the top 10 manufacturers on there.

I admit I'm not an owner yet, but doesn't it come down to this? ---> Ozone is one of the methods used to filter/clean the water. One school of thought is to have a small circ pump circulating the water (in small quantities) through the filter(s) and adding ozone. The other school of thought is to move larger quantities of water through the filters and introduce larger quantities of water to ozone for certain shorter periods of the day. Right? In theory, it sounds like two different ways to get to the exact same point. The industry can argue until their blue in the face on which is better, but I'm guessing much smarter men than I have thought it through extensively. I'm also guessing that they're pretty darn similar results. Or am I missing something?

Looking at the responses ivie is getting has me thinking. I'm not going to settle on a color my wife doesn't like, just to save $400 or $500 on a $9000 purchase. I think I'm going to work the best deal I can and order the exact color/features she likes.

Marquis has that. I believe they call in Soundsations. It's not a stereo, just transducer speakers that hook up to your home stereo.

I was offered a 1 1/2-2 year old D1 Chairman II, been a wet floor model outdoors the entire time, for $6000. I wish my wife liked it better!

Talked to Marquis man. He has a wet floor model Epic (no stereo) that he said he'd sell for $9000, but then wanted $249 for steps and lifter. Wanted mid 9's for one with the transducer speakers in the shell that you wire to your house. Said full stereo version (Adagio, I think they call it) would be mid 10's, but he has a dry floor model he'd deal on. Seems to me he's still a tad high. He did call back and offer to come down a little more on the wet floor model. The shell color is not exactly what we were looking for, and it has the plastic or rubber jet housings, as opposed to the chrome accent rings. Dunno.....Gotta give it some thought.

The Marquis Epic neck jets felt pretty good -- probably my favorite. My wife didn't float in that lounger, although she liked the other trizone seat more comfortable. And there was a very upright seat that also had great neck jets. My 2nd favorite neck jets were on the D1. Tested the Amore' Bay and the Chairman II. My wife did float in the Chairman, but not in the Amore' Bay.

Yes, the Marquis Epic does have a higher, cool-down seat.