Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: Flyonthewall on January 07, 2008, 07:55:05 pm
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I'm hoping owners of spas with televisions equipped would be willing to share their experience with the rest of us. I love my spa and my t.v. but am unsure if i would get enough value out of combining the two. Answers to the following questions would be appreciated as well as any other inside info.
Do they hold up well in the spa environment? Has anyone had service calls and if so how did they go?
Do you use the tv as much, or more, than you thought you would when you bought the spa?
Please include how long you've had your spa with any comments. Thanks
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FLY.....
I don't have a spa tv.....but would still like to offer my take.
As a new spa owner about a year or so ago....I seriously considered a tv.
Imagined myself soaking and taking in a football game......ect
After I purchased an non-tv equipped tub I gave serious thought to adding
an outdoor TV....(expensive)..I kept putting it off.....and now after soaking
for over a year I would not consider a TV while soaking.
http://www.backyardstuff.com/Games%20&%20Fun/outdoor_tv.htm
I would think after an intial novelty, the value of watching the tube while soaking is
greatly diminished.
Of course there are some that may want to watch the evening news while soaking...
but it's not my cup of tea.
Another thing to consider.....the bubbles and water churning in a hot tub around
your ears almost submerged in water makes quality listening to a television almost
a chore...."what did he say?".
I say....soak for a year....then decide.....I bet you'll decide against....not just
for money but because inherently the two dont mix......churning water and
watching a tv show.
but as always......2EachHisOwn
;)
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One thing to consider is the cost of future repairs.
I would guess that having a repair person come out to fix a spa TV won't be anywhere near cheap. Not to mention repair person competency- do they send the spa tech, or some generic TV fix it guy or both?
Not sure what the reliability is on these, but they are subject to harsher operating conditions than regular TV's that sit inside. So in my opinion, higer chaces of problems.
And I suspect the warranty on these is not the 5 to 7 years that you get on the spa itself.
Just food for thought.
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I agree! If you think about the shows that you are most likely to be watching in the tub and how long they are on, you may realize that you probably won't soak that long. For example if you soaked for an entire football game, you would probably be a bit overdone by the end of the game.
We enjoy music, but not always...sometimes the best part of a hot tub is the absence of the noise of the TV or even music..just listening to the bubbles or jets or even (my favorite) listening to the birds and wildlife. Bill likes to listen to the stars ;).
Hopefully someone who has a TV will speak up because, obviously, we only represent one perspective.
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I agree with everyone so far. But, if I remember correctly, there are at least a few TV/DVD watchers in this forum that have talked about watching a movie, soaking without the bubbles on a cool spring evening...if they don't come forward, you might try a search. I have only been a member since last summer so you shouldn't have to go too far back...unless I was searching for something else for myself when I fell on the posts :-? :)
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On this forum, there are more who have rigged up some sort of method to watch video while in their spas, than people who own spas with built in TV's.
In concept it's not unlike buying a TV set with the built in DVD/VCR. Great idea till the video player breaks. They you're stuck with either a repair costing more than a new stand alone DVD player (or VCR) or a TV with a broken DVD built in. And then you have to go out and buy the stand alone player anyway.
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I have a 19 inch TV mounted under the cover of my deck within 15 feet of my spa. (My spa is not on my deck but is located right at the end of my deck). Anyhow, I had grandiose plans of watching TV while in my spa and I think I have only done it 2-3 times, mainly because each time I found myself doing what Zep referred to--saying "what did he say?", etc.
I did watch the series finale of The Sopranos in while in my spa. That one was important enough that I turned the jets off and just soaked it all in. 8-)
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Gotta turn on the closed captions ;) :)
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"Gotta turn on the closed captions"
then my reading glasses fog up!
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OH NO, you'll be turning up the temp in your tub instead of turning off the waterfall light :o.. ;D ;D
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I don't have a TV in my spa. There is a company that makes a TV for the outdoors by Sunbrite.
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I would echo the other esteemed forum members in kiboshing the television/spa combo.
In my yesteryears, I was titillated by the notion of wooing Ol' Meanness (who in those days was Young Sweetness) with a subtle plan involving a HotSpring Landmark, a portable TV/VCR, a bottle of Austi Spunkmate, chocolate covered strawberries, and a foofoo movie starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Bruce Willis.
About 30 minutes into the movie, I turned to Young Sweetness and said "This is the stupidest idea I've ever had!" to which she replied "No, it's not." I danged near passed out from the bubbly, the heat, the escalating blood sugar, and the drudgery of the buttcheesecake excuse of a movie. Never again, I proclaimed!
Folks watch WAY too much TV. It's nice to do something different every once in awhile.
For what it's worth.
Term
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For the price of the option you would pay to have a TV in your tub you could go out to an electronics store and buy at least a 36"LCD and buy a cabinet you could house the tv in outside.
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Don't do it! ::)
In my research for running a business the SOLITARY decision I DID make was to NEVER, EVER sell a spa with a TV in it. Granted it was 5 years ago and the technology at that time was younger but EVERY dealership I spoke to that sold them ALL said the same thing. That they were a NIGHTMARE. WAY too many service calls related to the TV's. Some manufacturer's had entire lines recalled and or had MAJOR (unfixable) issues with the built in TV's. The cost is not warranted. If someone has the kind of money to buy a Hot Tub with a TV built in, they also (and more likely) will be building a separate bar/TV area where a TV fits in a LOT better and since it's a regular TV it is more easily serviced (by a REGULAR TV shop rather than a Spa shop). PS - One of the other businesses I "almost" got into 10 years back was Audio/Video and Home Theater (I program my own HT control software). A pretty decent 37" 720p TV (adequate for 95% of the viewing pubics needs) can now be acquired for around $600. The TV options were all over $1K Maybe they have come down but why pay $700 for a small 20-inch screen when you could get a MUCH larger, name brand one for less $'s)?
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"There is a company that makes a TV for the outdoors by Sunbrite"
Yeah here is the link again....the problem is they are quite
expensive since they are all weather.....close to $3000.
http://www.sunbritetv.com/
http://www.backyardstuff.com/Games%20&%20Fun/outdoor_tv.htm
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look at this.....wouldn't this turn over with all of Term's Shiner Bock?
FLOATING KOOL TRAY FOR BEVERAGE OR GAME HOT TUB SPA
(http://www.qwikauction.com/qwikauction/images/spageorgia-051.jpg)
http://cgi.ebay.com/FLOATING-KOOL-TRAY-FOR-BEVERAGE-OR-GAME-HOT-TUB-SPA_W0QQitemZ170121548003QQihZ007QQcategoryZ42240QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p1638.m118#ebayphotohosting
(http://ops.tamu.edu/x075bb/pics/bockbotl.jpg)
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Fwiw, I bought a spa to get away from all that stuff.
My TV is the stars in the sky and the sound of the night air.
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I agree Chad.....
I mean there might be one quarter of a football game I would watch
a year if it was there.....but after soaking for over a year I honestly
think even if there was a TV there at my tub I would not turn it on 95%
of the time.
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Do any of the dealers who are recommending against getting a TV actually sell spas that offer them as an option? I'm curious...because if you sell them and you're saying "Don't buy em!" that is a really big red flag.
I noticed that most of the companies I looked at did not offer built in TVs in their spas. Almost all of them offered a sound system of one kind or another, but only a few offered TVs.
The ones that did offer built ins had some really attractive models featuring TVs that looked totally integrated into the tub. I thought about it for a time, but realized that I wouldn't be out there long enough to watch shows and decided it against it.
Besides...they all cost at least 1500 more, which I didn't really think was much of a bargain price.
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Do any of the dealers who are recommending against getting a TV actually sell spas that offer them as an option? I'm curious...because if you sell them and you're saying "Don't buy em!" that is a really big red flag.
I noticed that most of the companies I looked at did not offer built in TVs in their spas. Almost all of them offered a sound system of one kind or another, but only a few offered TVs.
The ones that did offer built ins had some really attractive models featuring TVs that looked totally integrated into the tub. I thought about it for a time, but realized that I wouldn't be out there long enough to watch shows and decided it against it.
Besides...they all cost at least 1500 more, which I didn't really think was much of a bargain price.
I'm not a dealer. The ones that are integrated are the problem I was talkign about. Master and a number of others sell integrated ones. EVERY mfg that made tham (at that time) admitted that they were having problems with them and that (if I decided to carry their line) that I should only allow people to "special order" them or maybe place one on the floor to show the sizzle (with the knowledge that event he floor model would not be working 50% of the time).
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Watching tv in the spa is dum dum dum! Read a book, play with your pets and family, talk to your neighbor or do crosssword puzzles. Do isometric water training to build muscle or practice yoga to reconnect your brain sinapses...don't let tv control your life. You have to much you have been given to let your mind go to terrible waist.
Breathe the free air my freind. Don't be sheep, be a sheepherdering do somethinger.
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Hi scar, I find it interesting that you tell us what we should and should not be doing, and then tell us not to be sheep. I don't think the original poster needed your approval for their tv watching habits. Their question was directed towards the quality of the product. Not only will I not let tv control my life, I won't let you control it either. :)
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It maeks me very happy to here you take my advice as you should. You will become a better person than you are if you listen wiht an open mind and heart. When in dout, gut it out and many happy times will come your way especially when you do not let t.v. control you're life. :)
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As a salesman I don't push them, Jacuzzi and Sundance do offer them, but they are dang expensive!
For myself the only time I might watch tv while in a spa would be after a hard day's work, and I wanted to relax with a cold one, watch the news for a half hour, or maybe a quarter/inning of football/baseball/basketball.
I would not pay major bucks to do this, I would hit a pawn shop and pick up a 25 dollar set and watch that, if it breaks who cares, I will go buy another.
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Our spa is located on our deck (actually sunk into the deck) and near a set of french doors off our great room. We can see the big screen tv from there. The TV/stereo is hooked into a bluetooth stereo gateway and we can sit in the tub wearing wireless stereo headphones and hear the tv fine. Not exactly romantic but it works great and it was fun to figure out this would work.
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My TV is the stars in the sky and the sound of the night air.
Wow, you are a romantic, Chad!!
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Wow, you are a romantic, Chad!!
I try. 8-) :-*
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I have to agree with many of the comments regarding the need (or lack there of) a spa TV. As one who has a TV on my deck that was installed with viewing from the spa in mind, I like having the TV to watch as an option, but as I mentioned before, I find I have not watched it but 2-3 times during the last year. There is no way I would spend the kind of money it appears it would take to get a spa with a built in TV ($1,000+). The $50 ($50 for a TV wall mounting bracket and a free TV from a relative) I have invested was almost more than I was willing to spend or better yet, almost more than it was worth.
Just last night, I found myself with the TV off, and as Chad mentioned, watching the stars (rather cold last night here in Idaho with a very clear night and wonderful view of the dippers and North Star) as well as the dogs frolic in the snow. Something about when I get in the spa, even in the late evening (say 10-11pm), the dogs come out with me and play continually the entire time I am in the spa. That is usually much better watching than most TV.
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For the price of the option you would pay to have a TV in your tub you could go out to an electronics store and buy at least a 36"LCD and buy a cabinet you could house the tv in outside.
I Just saw the Cal Spa's monstrous 42" plasma tub... imagine if that breaks!
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I will admit, I am a TV-a-holic. I have 4 DVRs and every satellite channel. Sad, but true. My spa is located outside a window with a clear view of my 50" plasma. I mounted wireless speakers outside just so I can watch.
I have yet to have any desire to watch in the tub.
I have an Apple TV hooked up to the TV, which runs a slide show of my entire photo library continuously, so I often have that on the TV, but I have yet to want to really get into a show while I soak. I think that has actually been the biggest surprise of having a hot tub. I enjoy the peace of no TV, computer or phone. I really don't even want music.
When I am in alone, I love the peace and quiet, and when I am with another (kids or husband), it is probably the only time we get to be together without anything else gong on.
When I looked into the stereo and TV options, I saw how the warrantees were never more than a year. That would really stink to have a $10,000 tub with a broken TV when everything else works great after a year. And who would you call to fix it? A TV shop or the spa dealer? Neither is really qualified. Sounds risky to me.
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I Just saw the Cal Spa's monstrous 42" plasma tub... imagine if that breaks!
If you've got 30k to spend on a tub it wont really matter.
The VP at Cal told me they shipped about 30 Galaxy's to Dubai in 06
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The VP at Cal told me they shipped about 30 Galaxy's to Dubai in 06
That explains why they're screwing us on oil. They're trying to get even with us for those spas!!! ;D
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The warranty on just about all spa media components is just one year.
Audio or video.
8-)