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Sun Home Saunas Nova Indoor 6-Person Traditional Sauna vs Sunlighten mPulse Empower (5-person flagship)

Specs, prices, editor verdict, and who should buy which, compared side by side.

By Ryan · Founder
Updated Sep 30, 2026

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Quick verdict

Sun Home Saunas Nova Indoor 6-Person Traditional Sauna (ultra premium, $16,399) vs Sunlighten mPulse Empower (5-person flagship) (ultra premium, $13,995 to $16,995). Editor pick: Sunlighten mPulse Empower (5-person flagship) (Sunlighten is $904 cheaper).

Compared on 6 shared specs · editor scores 8.7 vs 9.4 · same category (sauna).

Sun Home Nova 6-person indoor traditional sauna with HUUM Drop rock heater and Canadian cedar
Sun Home Saunas

Nova Indoor 6-Person Traditional Sauna

The group-sized version of Sun Home's first traditional sauna: a HUUM Drop 7.5kW rock heater, real loyly up to 230°F, dual-stack cedar benches, and the same carbonized Estonian tile and black-glass design as the 3-person, scaled for six.

PRICE
$16,399
SCORE
8.7 / 10
View at Sun Home Saunas →
EDITOR'S PICK
Sunlighten mPulse Empower 5-person flagship infrared sauna with Solocarbon 3-in-1 heaters and smart touchscreen
Sunlighten

mPulse Empower (5-person flagship)

The 5-person flagship of Sunlighten's mPulse line - Solocarbon 3-in-1 (near + mid + far IR) and the smart-control layer Sunlighten's Signature line lacks.

PRICE
$13,995 to $16,995
SCORE
9.4 / 10
View at Sunlighten →
The verdict

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

SpecSun Home Saunas Nova Indoor 6-Person Traditional SaunaSunlighten mPulse Empower (5-person flagship)
price$16,399$13,995 to $16,995
heater typeHUUM Drop electric rock heater (7.5kW)Solocarbon 3-in-1 (near + mid + far infrared)
max tempup to ~230°F~157°F
capacity6-person5-person
constructionCanadian cedarEucalyptus (sustainably sourced, low-VOC)
power240V dedicated 40A circuit (7.5kW heater, hardwired by a licensed electrician)240V / 30A dedicated circuit
HSA/FSAeligible via TrueMedeligible via Truemed

Sun Home Saunas Nova Indoor 6-Person Traditional Sauna also publishes: sauna type, benches, back wall, glass, controls, lighting, ventilation, connectivity, dimensions, weight, availability, warranty, placement

Sunlighten mPulse Empower (5-person flagship) also publishes: EMF, preheat, heater warranty, structural warranty, smart features, chromotherapy, footprint, certifications, financing

Who should buy which

Pick the Sun Home Saunas Nova Indoor 6-Person Traditional Sauna if

Families or hosts who want authentic six-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.

Skip if

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).

Pick the Sunlighten mPulse Empower (5-person flagship) if

Couples, families, or buyers building a home wellness suite who want the 5-person mPulse Empower's research-backed Solocarbon 3-in-1 heaters and smart programming for shared sessions.

Skip if

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 is your top priority: Clearlight's Sanctuary line carries a lifetime cabin warranty.

Go deeper

FULL REVIEW
Read the Sun Home Saunas Nova Indoor 6-Person Traditional Sauna review →
FULL REVIEW
Read the Sunlighten mPulse Empower (5-person flagship) review →

Frequently asked

Which is better, the Sun Home Saunas Nova Indoor 6-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 6-Person Traditional Sauna: $16,399. 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 6-Person Traditional Sauna: Families or hosts who want authentic six-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 and smart programming for shared sessions.

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