Sun Home Saunas Nova Indoor 5-Person Traditional Sauna vs Sunlighten mPulse Empower (5-person flagship)
Specs, prices, editor verdict, and who should buy which - compared side-by-side.
Sun Home Saunas Nova Indoor 5-Person Traditional Sauna (ultra premium, $15,199) vs Sunlighten mPulse Empower (5-person flagship) (ultra premium, $13,995–$16,995) - Editor pick: Sunlighten mPulse Empower (5-person flagship) (Sun Home Saunas is $296 cheaper).
Compared on 6 shared specs · editor scores 8.7 vs 9.4 · same category (sauna).
Sunlighten mPulse Empower (5-person flagship) wins on editor score (9.4 vs 8.7). See the per-buyer recommendations below - winners on score don't always win on fit.
Side-by-side specs
| Spec | Sun Home Saunas Nova Indoor 5-Person Traditional Sauna | Sunlighten mPulse Empower (5-person flagship) |
|---|---|---|
| price | $15,199 | $13,995–$16,995 |
| heater type | HUUM Drop electric rock heater (7.5kW) | Solocarbon 3-in-1 (near + mid + far infrared) |
| max temp | up to ~230°F | ~157°F |
| capacity | 5-person | 5-person |
| construction | Canadian cedar | Eucalyptus or Basswood (sustainably sourced, low-VOC) |
| power | 240V dedicated 40A circuit (7.5kW heater, hardwired by an electrician) | 240V / 30A dedicated circuit |
| hsa fsa | eligible via TrueMed | eligible via Truemed |
Sun Home Saunas Nova Indoor 5-Person Traditional Sauna also publishes: saunaType, benches, backWall, glass, controls, lighting, ventilation, connectivity, dimensions, weight, availability, warranty, placement
Sunlighten mPulse Empower (5-person flagship) also publishes: EMF, preheat, heaterWarranty, structuralWarranty, smartFeatures, chromotherapy, footprint, certifications, financing
Who should buy which
Families or hosts who want authentic five-person traditional loyly at home, with Canadian cedar, a HUUM Drop 7.5kW heater, and Sun Home design, and can accommodate a permanent 240V install.
You are a solo or couple user (the Nova 3-Person or plug-in Equinox fits better), or you want infrared plus built-in red light therapy (the Sun Home Eclipse).
Couples, families, or buyers building a home wellness suite who want the 5-person mPulse Empower's research-backed Solocarbon 3-in-1 heaters, smart programming for shared sessions, and the largest service network in the premium sauna category.
You want outdoor installation (Sun Home Luminar 5-person is the better outdoor pick), you don't need 5-person capacity (mPulse Aspire 1-person is $4-6K less), or warranty depth across the cabin (not just the heaters) is your top priority - Clearlight's lifetime cabin warranty is unmatched.
Go deeper
Frequently asked
Which is better, the Sun Home Saunas Nova Indoor 5-Person Traditional Sauna or the Sunlighten mPulse Empower (5-person flagship)?
On our editor scoring the Sunlighten mPulse Empower (5-person flagship) edges it at 9.4/10. Both are strong; the right pick depends on your use case, which the verdict and spec table above break down.
How much do they cost?
Sun Home Saunas Nova Indoor 5-Person Traditional Sauna: $15,199. Sunlighten mPulse Empower (5-person flagship): $13,995 to $16,995. Prices are verified against the manufacturer; check the live links for current pricing.
Who should buy which one?
Sun Home Saunas Nova Indoor 5-Person Traditional Sauna: Families or hosts who want authentic five-person traditional loyly at home, with Canadian cedar, a HUUM Drop 7.5kW heater, and Sun Home design, and can accommodate a permanent 240V install. Sunlighten mPulse Empower (5-person flagship): Couples, families, or buyers building a home wellness suite who want the 5-person mPulse Empower's research-backed Solocarbon 3-in-1 heaters, smart programming for shared sessions, and the largest service network in the premium sauna category.