By Andy Jones, Lead Engineer at A6 Hot Tubs
I fit and service these tubs on a weekly basis, so I see them years after the sale, not just on delivery day. If you have £7,000 to £9,000 to spend, the 9 series is where A6 puts its best build hot tubs. Here is how I would choose.
What makes the 9 series different?
Three things I care about as the person who services them. They all use R10 Plus insulation on all four sides and the base, the version I see hold heat best through winter. They run a Balboa Spa Touch 4 control, the one I can still get parts for years later. And they use a USA Aristech acrylic shell, which stops the surface crazing early. At this price you pay for the parts that last, not just the ones you see.
| Model | Seats | Size (mm) | Jets | Pumps | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 942-DL | 4 (double lounger) | 2100 x 2100 x 880 | 52 | 2 x 3hp | £7,599 |
| 951-L | 5 (single lounger) | 2100 x 2100 x 880 | 49 | 2 x 3hp | £7,599 |
| 952-DL | 4 (double lounger) | 2200 x 2200 x 930 | 54 | 2 x 3hp | £7,999 |
| 961-L | 5 (single lounger) | 2200 x 2200 x 930 | 57 | 2 x 3hp | £8,999 |
| 970-S | 7 | Large | (confirm) | Multi | £7,599 |
All five are 32amp, USA Aristech acrylic shells, R10 Plus insulation on all four sides and the base, Balboa Spa Touch 4 control and a 3kw heater. The differences that matter are size, seats and jet count.
The 942-DL: for couples who want two loungers
Best for two to four who like to recline. The 942-DL is 2100 by 2100mm, holds 1300L, and seats four as a double lounger: two reclining, two upright. It runs 52 jets off two 3hp pumps, with waterline lights, a chrome LED waterfall and Bluetooth hydro sound. At £7,599 it is joint-cheapest in the range, and the one I point couples at first.
Skip it if you want a fifth seat. The 951-L is the same money.
The 951-L: the best all-rounder, and where I would put my money
Best for a family of five who want one lounger. The 951-L shares the 942-DL’s 2100 by 2100mm footprint and £7,599 price, but seats five: one full lounger and four deep seats. It runs 49 jets, 24 rotary and 25 directional, off two 3hp pumps. For most families this is the sweet spot: five seats, a lounger and the lowest price, in a footprint that still fits a normal garden. Asked which to buy with nothing else to go on, this is my answer.
Skip it if you are only ever two. The double-lounger 942-DL suits you better for the same money.
The 952-DL: four seats with a bit more of everything
Best for four who want a larger, deeper shell. The 952-DL steps up to 2200 by 2200mm and a deeper 930mm shell, 54 jets, two 3hp pumps. Same four-seat double lounger as the 942-DL, but more water and jets. At £7,999 it suits a couple who want the roomier tub and do not need a fifth seat.
Skip it if you want five seats: the 951-L gives one more for £400 less.
The 961-L: the top of the range
Best for five who want the biggest, most loaded tub here. The 961-L is the 951-L’s bigger brother: the larger 2200 by 2200mm, 930mm-deep shell, five seats with a lounger, and the most jets in the range at 57. At £8,999 it is the priciest here, for the buyer who wants the fullest five-seat spec and has the budget.
Skip it if the 951-L’s 49 jets already do the job. You pay £1,400 for the bigger shell and eight more jets.
The 970-S: the one for entertaining
Best for big households and hosts. The 970-S steps up to seven seats. At £7,599, the same price as the 942-DL and 951-L, the trade is different: you get seats and social space rather than the deepest spec. If you are buying to have people round, this is the one.
Skip it if you are a couple. Seven seats you never fill costs more to heat than a tub sized to your use.
A word on running cost and power
All five are 32amp tubs, so they need an electrician to wire in, not a plug in the wall. Budget for that up front. The upside is the R10 Plus insulation. It is the biggest thing that decides your winter bill, and the reason I would take one of these over a thinner-walled tub at the same price. The insulation you cannot see is what you pay for, or save on, months later.
How I would choose?
Match the tub to how many people actually get in it. Two who recline, the 942-DL. Best value for five, the 951-L, where I would put my own money. Four wanting a roomier shell, the 952-DL. The fullest five-seat spec, the 961-L. Hosting or a full house, the 970-S. Get it wrong and you run out of seats, or pay to heat water nobody sits in.
FAQ
What is the A6 9 series? A6’s premium line of Sunbeach hot tubs in roughly the £7,000 to £9,000 range, built with R10 Plus insulation, a Balboa Spa Touch 4 control system and a USA Aristech acrylic shell. The 942-DL, 952-DL and 970-S are part of it.
Which 9 series hot tub is the best value? For most families, the 951-L. It is the joint-cheapest at £7,599 but seats five with a lounger, where the similarly priced 942-DL seats four. You get an extra seat for the same money.
Are these hot tubs expensive to run? Running cost comes down mostly to insulation. All three use R10 Plus on every side and the base, which holds heat well through winter, so they run more efficiently than a thinner-walled tub at the same price.
Come and see them for yourself!
The best way to choose is to sit in them. Come to the Sharnbrook showroom, tell me your garden and how many people will use it, and I will point you at the right one. Browse the full hot tub range first if you like.
Andy Jones is the lead engineer at A6 Hot Tubs. He installs and services the tubs on this page across Bedfordshire and the surrounding counties. 25+ years pool & spa experience, A6 is a top Bishta approved retailer which is of the highest quality of hot tub retailer.
