35 Jets Across Two Seats
The E5 Deluxe is the most jet-dense tub in the range and it is not close. 35 jets serving 2 seats works out to more than 17 per person. For comparison, the seven-seat E6 runs 21 jets in total. If you are buying a hot tub primarily for hydrotherapy rather than for socialising, this is the model that argument points at.
It sits on the same 77" by 60" shell as the E5, holds the same 240 gallons and weighs the same 475 lbs dry. The $2,000 step up buys jets, a variable-speed pump, exterior lighting and the Aurora Lighting System, which is fitted only to the Deluxe models.
Is the Deluxe Worth $2,000?
It depends entirely on why you are buying. Going from the E5's 21+ to 35 jets is a meaningful change to what a soak feels like, and a variable-speed pump means you can run it gently for a long evening or hard for twenty minutes rather than one fixed setting. Ecozone sanitation is included rather than an add-on, which takes some of the sting out of the price.
If you would use the tub mostly to sit in warm water and talk, the standard E5 does that identically for less. Nobody needs to buy the Deluxe to get the shell, the cover or the warranty, which are the same across the whole lineup.
Running It
240 gallons in a two-person body means generous thermal mass per bather, which holds temperature well overnight under the R-40 hard cover. Roughly $10 to $40 a month in BC. The variable-speed pump helps here too, since running low most of the time draws less than a single-speed pump that only knows one setting.
The tub is wired for both 110V and 220V. On a jet-heavy model like this, 220V is the more satisfying way to run it, because the heater and the pumps are not competing for the same power budget. That is a preference rather than a requirement, and 110V vs 220V explains the difference.
Deck Load
Filled and occupied by two adults, roughly 2,837 lbs across 32.1 square feet, about 88 lbs per square foot. On gravel, pavers or a patio, no pad and no contractor. On a raised deck, get a structural opinion first. Details here.
Or Go Bigger
If the jet count is what appeals but you need seats, the E6 Deluxe carries 34 jets across 6 to 7 places for $2,500 more, on a considerably larger 78" square footprint. The E5 Deluxe concentrates; the E6 Deluxe distributes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many jets does the E5 Deluxe have?
35, across 2 seats. That is more than 17 per person and the highest jet density in the range. For comparison, the seven-seat E6 runs 21 jets in total.
Is the E5 Deluxe worth $2,000 over the E5?
It buys jets, a variable-speed pump, exterior lighting, the Aurora Lighting System which is fitted only to the Deluxe models, and Ecozone sanitation included rather than added. Worth it if hydrotherapy is the point. If it is not, the standard E5 has the same shell, cover and warranty.
Does the E5 Deluxe need 220V?
It ships wired for both 110V and 220V, so this is a decision at install rather than at purchase. On a jet-heavy model 220V is the more satisfying setup because the heater and the pumps are not competing for the same power budget.
