Sound system not fit for purpose
I purchased a Hot Spring grande in 2019 and paid an additional sum for the fitment of a sound system.
Within the first twelve months of ownership the ‘Subwoofer’ failed and was replaced under warranty, shortly after the expiry of the 1yr warranty one of the pop-up Polyplanar speakers failed, I was quoted over £320 for the replacement of this speaker so decided to source one and fit it myself, I managed to purchase one for approx. £120 from a company in America. Within a couple of weeks the second speaker failed which I replaced again myself, this speaker was at the rear of the tub and the cable had been extended and connected with a different connector which I had to do again, I used a box connector.
After approximately 10-12 mths both speakers had failed again, I contacted Hot Spring to discuss my issue and was told it was out of warranty and they were unable to do anything about it and the cause of the failure is likely to be either chlorinating the tub with the lid down (which I have done occasionally) or running the speakers at too high a volume. Their recommendation was to only chlorinate with the lid open and run the speakers at a maximum of half volume and control the volume from the device running the music. As a gesture of goodwill, they offered to sell me two more speakers at the cost price of £180 each. I declined the offer as was able to purchase on the internet again for around £130 each.
Over the next three years I replaced another ten Polyplannar pop-up speakers and one subwoofer, the period of time the pop-ups were lasting was reducing significantly and the cost to purchase them was increasing.
At desperation point and having spent over £1,800 in replacement speakers I contacted Polyplannar themselves who are based in America. They kindly sent me two new speakers at no cost, these lasted less than one month. They assured me that the speakers themselves were not faulty and referred me to Watkins leisure in Nederland’s. I was contacted by Watkins and explained my position, they were very sympathetic to my issues and sent me another two speakers at no cost, these lasted about two weeks, and both failed. In a genuine effort to resolve the problem Watkins sent me a complete system, speakers, subwoofer, wiring loom and power box which is a complete replacement system and one of there technical engineers got onto a video call with me and talked me through the whole installation process. When the engineer saw the box connector I was using, he was unhappy with this and said I should not have cut the original connector off but as it was too late, I should wrap it with electrical tape to prevent moisture getting into the wires. Installation was now complete and working but within two months one of the speakers had failed again. I contacted Watkins and was told it was due to the connector I had used.
I took advice from an auto electrician who looked at the connectors I had used and his view was that they were unlikely to be the problem as there were completely dry with no evidence of moisture or green in the connectors but to be absolutely sure he supplied me with some waterproof heated shrink connectors. I purchased another speaker directly from Polyplanar which again came with spade connectors which are incompatible with the nylon block connector on the tub so I replaced them with the waterproof heat shrink connectors.
Alas, within two months another speaker has failed. My experience of the sound system on the Hot Spring Grande has stressful and expensive, having spent over £3000 on the system and replacement components it still does not work. I’m my opinion the system is not fit for purpose and anyone considering purchasing this system should re-consider.
