Comparison Ravak Supernova 99x99 vs AquaStream Classic 128 HB 120x85

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Type determines design and functionality of shower enclosure.Found as simple varieties in the form of shower cabin, shower cabin, shower box with bathtube, and more advanced hydromassage cabins, hydromassage boxes (meet and double hydromassage boxes), hydromassage boxes with bathtub. More about each of them:

— Shower enclosures. This category includes the simplest models: «fences», which have no roof (in this main difference from the boxes, see below) and are not equipped with hydromassage racks. With rare exceptions, have 2, less frequently 3 walls (cf. «Walls»). The main advantage of this type is a low price: it is the optimal choice for not demanding users who do not want to overpay for an abundance of «in turn».

— Hydromassage cabin. Like classic shower cabins (see above), models of this type do not have a roof; however, their equipment includes a hydromassage rack (more about hydromassage, see «Functions»). They are a compromise between inexpensive cabins and advanced whirlpools (see below).

— Hydromassage box. The main feature of this type of shower cabin is closed on all sides structure: 4 walls, pallet and roof. This provides the possibility of installation (almost all the boxes are put in this way, see more. «Installation»), and also allows you to apply various additional features - Turkish bath, tropical shower, aromatherapy, etc. (more see «Functions»). An essential feature of any hydromassage box is the presence of a hydromassage rack. There are two-seater models, which are much larger in size, have two shower sets and are often equipped with two chairs.

— Hydromassage box with bathtub. ...Variety of boxes (see above), in which the tray is actually a bath. The bathroom means a deep container designed to be able to lie down with ease (or sit with legs extended), see more about it. The depth of the pallet. The presence of the bath correspondingly expands the possibilities of boxing - in particular, it would not have been possible to implement the function of horizontal hydro massage (see «Functions»). In particular, it would have been impossible to implement the function of horizontal hydromassage.

— Shower box. Type of enclosed shower cabin, no hydromassage (see «Functions»). Other additional features (see ibid. also), as a rule, too, but the distinctive feature of this type is precisely the lack of hydromassage.

— Double box. Double jetted box is designed for simultaneous use by two people. For this it is equipped with two headsets or two chairs (depends on the configuration). Read more about the type of whirlpool box in the appropriate selection point.

— Shower box with bathtub. Models similar in design to the above described hydromassage boxes with a bath and distinguished by an exceptional lack of hydromassage. They are somewhat cheaper, but in general they are still quite «expensive pleasure».

Geometrically, the following options differ:

— Square. Cubicles in the form of a square can refer to almost any type of installation. Their main advantage over semi-circular (when mounted) and quarter-rounded (at angle) is a large area of the pan; in addition, even sliding doors used in square models, are much more reliable and easier to curve. At the same time, and places for such a cabin need correspondingly more.

— Rectangular. This form is very similar to the square one described above, and in practice is mainly different in that it is more often done under a fixed installation than under an angle.

— Polygonal. In fact this form is most often a type of quarter circle (see above). Polygonal cockpits are usually installed in an angular symmetrical way (cf. «Installation»), but the front part, according to the name, is not in the form of a circle arc, but in the form of a polygonal line (with several angles). Usually this is no more than a design decision, and in terms of functionality, such cabins do not have key differences from «quarter», and the choice depends mainly on your aesthetic preferences.

— Semi-circular. Type of cabin, designed for a fixed installation. According to the name, the front surface of such models is in the form of a semicircle. This saves space in the bathroom compared to recta...ngular and square models. At the same time, the reduction of the internal space practically does not affect the comfort of the user - the rounded front wall leaves enough space for movement. Among the drawbacks can be noted the need to use curved doors, as a consequence - a little more cost and less reliability of these doors than those of «straight» forms.

— Quarter circle. Quite common shape of the cabin, designed for angle installation (in the absolute majority of cases used angle symmetrical, see «Installation»). The main advantages and disadvantages of such models are similar to semi-circular (see above). On the one hand, they save space in the bathroom, on the other - more difficult and somewhat more expensive than similar square/rectangular cabins.

— Round. The round shape provides the most optimal ratio of the perimeter length to the base area; simply put, more space is obtained inside the cabin with less material input. At the same time, this option is quite convenient from the point of view of the user. Its disadvantage is the high cost - the production of high-quality curved parts is not cheap. As a result, round showers are relatively infrequent. They are usually designed to fit closely, but there are also exceptions.

Profile colors available for this shower enclosure model.

Recall, the profile in this case is called plastic or metal base, which connects the walls (glass) of the cabin. Many models are available in multiple colors - all are listed here. With regard to specific colors, the most popular in our time are chromium, black, white and golden and bronze are much less common.

In any case, the choice for this indicator depends mainly on the design requirements. At the same time, it should also be borne in mind that different colors of profiles are sometimes combined with different types of glasses (cf. «Glass») - for example, the same model with «chrome» profile can have transparent glass, and with silver profile - matte. However, the individual colors of the profile have some practical features, here they are:

— Chrome. Profile with characteristic metal coating. Most often, the chrome surface is glossy (shiny): it is inexpensive and flashy, but quickly covered with stains when used regularly and may require careful cleaning. Matte coating is more expensive and not so bright, but it is less sensitive to dirt. However, chrome is used not only for aesthetic purposes, but also to protect profile elements from corrosion - it is very effective in this role, which, in part, led to the popularity of suc...h coatings. Another reason is that this material perfectly combines with the vast majority of faucets, shower systems and other plumbing, where chrome is also widely used.

— Silver. The silvery profile can be made of both unpainted metal (for example, aluminium alloy corrosion resistant) and coated with the appropriate color (for example, dyed plastic). Some manufacturers also refer to the shade described above matte type of chrome coating. Accordingly, the practical characteristics of such a profile may differ; here it is necessary to focus on the price category of the product.

— White. This option usually involves a metal profile covered with white paint - it protects the profile from corrosion and gives it an aesthetic appearance. However, the paint is not as resistant to damage as, for example, chrome coating. Therefore, this option is rarely found as the only one - most often it is one of the available options, in addition to other colors of the profile.

— Black. Color, quite often used both as an option and as the only option. One of the features of the black profile is that it contrasts strongly with glass (which is often made transparent or light), and is also noticeably stand out against the background of most walls in the bathrooms (except for walls that are also made black or very dark - and these options are quite rare). All this not only promotes stylish appearance, but also allows you to visually highlight the contours of the shower cabin, which is important in some situations (for example, in low light, or if the user has problems with vision).

— Bronze. Shade similar to the one described below is golden, but darker, sometimes close to brown. In general, it is quite rare and specific option: bronze is well suited for plumbing style «retro» and fits perfectly into the corresponding interiors, but in a more traditional design of the bathroom may be inappropriate, and it is not cheap.

— Golden. Strong golden shade (different from the darker bronze - see above). Despite the rich appearance, such profiles are mostly not particularly expensive. So their low prevalence is mainly due to aesthetic moments - interiors for which the golden color is optimal, are relatively rare.

This paragraph refers not only to the geometric shape of the models ( square, rectangular, polygonal, round, semicircular, quarter circle), but also the method of installing the shower cabin, which is directly related to the design of the doors. Accordingly, according to the installation method, we can distinguish:

- Corner. As the name suggests, these cabins are designed to be installed in a corner; usually referred to as double-walled. They are divided into symmetrical and versatile. The main advantage of the former can be called universality - because. the design is the same on the right and left, it will fit well in any corner of the bathroom. Versatile, in turn, are somewhat more spacious, but less versatile. More details below.

- Right hand corner. A kind of cabins with a corner installation and adjoining the wall on the right side. Accordingly, the door is located in the opposite part of the cabin.

— Left hand corner. A kind of corner cabins with the left side leaning against the wall. The choice between left-hand and right-hand installation is determined primarily by the bathroom environment, in particular from which side the cabin can be accessed....

- Near-wall(not corner). Shower cabins designed to be installed near the wall, regardless of the angles. As a rule, they have a three-wall or full- wall design. Given the characteristics of most bathrooms, this type of installation is not widely used - in particular, because it is designed mainly for large rooms.

Number of own walls provided in the design of shower enclosure.

- Double-walled. The most common option among enclosures, both classic and hydromassage (see "Type"). In the traditional version, double-walled enclosures fully correspond to their name: they have two of their own walls and are installed in a corner so that the walls of the room play the role of the remaining two walls. Also of this type are models in the form of a quarter circle(see "Form"): although they actually have one curved wall, they are closed on both sides and require only two additional walls.

- Three-walled. Enclosures with three walls are usually designed for non-corner wall installation (see "Installation"), in such a way that the bathroom wall closes the interior space on the fourth side. Technically, the possibility of installing such enclosure in corner is not excluded, but this is hardly justified.

- Full-wall. Enclosure that is closed on all sides and does not require installation close to the walls of the bathroom. Such a model can be placed at least in the middle, if the supply and drain are properly organized. On the other hand, complete closure increases the cost - at least because it requires the most materials. By definition, all boxes have a full-wall construction (see "Type"), but it can also be found among enclosures.

The type of glass that enclosure is equipped with.

In this case, glass means the material of the walls as a whole (it can also be plastic - see above). And the type is indicated by the external features of the surface. There are four main types of glass in our time: transparent, tinted (tinted), frosted and with a pattern(on a transparent or matte background). At the same time, several options can be indicated in the characteristics at once, through a slash - for example, “transparent / darkened”; this means that this model is available in several design options (in our example, respectively, there are two such options - transparent and darkened). Moreover, such options may also differ in the color of the profile (see above).

Here is a more detailed description of each of the types of glass described above:

- Transparent. A classic, extremely popular option: clear glass with a smooth surface. Widely used both by itself and as one of the available design options. Transparent walls are inexpensive and at the same time quite practical and functional. True, they practically do not hide the person in the booth - but this moment is not so often fundamental. The unequivocal disadvantages of this option include, first of all, the fact that limescale and other contaminants (inevitably arising during operation) are very...noticeable on transparent glasses. This puts forward increased demands on the quality of cleaning. However, this point is more aesthetic than practical. In addition, glasses of this type can be supplemented with a special coating that prevents the appearance of limescale; such a coating somewhat affects the cost, but significantly simplifies maintenance and allows the glass to remain clean for a long time.

- Matte (satin). Glasses of this type are themselves transparent, but have a characteristic uneven surface. The specific "relief" of frosted glass can be different - from fine roughness to large, pronounced protrusions and depressions; and some models are available with several glass options. Accordingly, the optical properties of the walls of this type may differ: some only distort the objects behind them, others almost completely hide them, creating a “fog effect”. However, in any case, one of the main advantages of frosted glass is the ability to "mask" the person inside. This property can be very useful in some cases - for example, if the shower is installed in a shared bathroom that another person may need while someone is taking a shower. Another advantage of this material is that it does not show as much dirt as a transparent one. On the other hand, a matte surface inevitably adds to the cost of the glass—sometimes quite significantly. Therefore, such glasses are much less common than ordinary transparent ones.

— Darkened (toned). Glass that has a darkening in one shade or another. In some models, several options are available at once, in different colors, and the specific method of dimming may be different - for example, painting the glass itself or applying a special film. In any case, this material can be attributed to design solutions. It gives the shower enclosure a stylish and interesting appearance, and may also be the best choice for some interiors. In addition, many tinted glasses hide the person inside well (similar to the frosted ones described above). The main disadvantage of this option is a slightly higher cost than conventional transparent ones.

- Patterned (transparent or matte). Glass with an additional pattern applied to a transparent or matte surface; if the characteristics do not specify the type of surface, then it means a pattern on a transparent background. The image itself most often looks like an abstract pattern, but there are other options - for example, floral motifs. Be that as it may, the pattern plays primarily a decorative role, although in some models it also has a more practical meaning: a pattern on a transparent surface can “mask” a person inside (similar to how the frosted glasses described above do). However, in all cases, additional decor significantly affects the cost, despite the fact that its advantage is mainly aesthetic; on the practical side, the same results ("masking" the interior space of enclosure) can be achieved, for example, using cheaper frosted or tinted glass. Therefore, this design option is not particularly popular.

Thickness of glass or plastic (cf. «Walls material») from which the cabin walls are made.

The thicker the glass - the stronger it is, the less likely it is to damage the wall as a result of an accident like a collision with a solid object. On the other hand, large wall thicknesses increase the weight and cost of the device. The minimum glass thickness for modern showers is 3 mm, and the maximum can reach 8 mm.

— Vertical hydromassage. Hydromassage is a massage performed with water jets; it is provided by special injectors shower cabin. The word «vertical» is connected with the position of the body during the massage; simply put, it is necessary to stand, in extreme case - to sit. It is not as comfortable as lying down, but does not require a bath, and the rack with injectors for vertical massage can be installed even in a small shower cabin. Massage itself can play a different role: both toning, promoting awakening, and relaxing. This depends on the force of the impact and the temperature of the water, both of which are usually regulated. It should be borne in mind that in most cases for the normal operation of the hydromassage requires a fairly high water pressure at the input - about 4-5 atm. Not all plumbing provides such pressure; therefore, if you want to buy a cabin with this function, it is necessary to make sure in advance of its correct operation.

— Horizontal hydromassage. Presence of horizontal hydromassage function. It is in many ways similar to vertical (see above), except that in this case, during the massage you need to be located horizontally, lying in the bathroom. In the bathroom. Accordingly, this possibility occurs only in the variety of cabins that have a built-in bath (cf. «Type»).

— Foot hydromassage. The possibility of operating the cabin in...foot massage mode, usually at the level of feet and calves. For this purpose, special nozzles are provided in the design. For more information about the hydromassage in general, see. «Vertical Hydromassage» above; here we note that this function will be especially useful for those who have to move a lot on foot, and on the legs a significant load.

— Air massage. This type of massage is carried out with the help of a large number of small air bubbles, which are generated by nozzles and rise through the water, while contacting the skin. Accordingly, it is possible to realize such a function only in the showers, where there is a full bath (cf. «Type»). Air massage itself is very useful for relaxation - it causes pleasant sensations in the body; in addition, it contributes to the absorption of useful substances dissolved in water (for example, curative salts). In the latter case, it is recommended to combine this function with hydromassage (see above). It is recommended to combine this function.

— Cascade shower. A kind of shower, in which water is poured on the cockpit man not with jets, but a continuous stream - similar to how it happens when you are under a waterfall. This, among other things, helps to improve the mood and normalize health: in a depressed state helps to cheer up, in a tense - to relax. The effectiveness of the cascade shower can be assessed at least in the fact that in many sanatoriums it is used as a health procedure.

— Overhead shower (tropical). It is a specific type of shower, to some extent imitating rain: water does not come from a separate nozzle, but from a special lattice that occupies a large area on the roof of the cabin. At the same time, instead of a concentrated jet at the output produced small trickles or even drops, which promotes relaxation and allows you to effectively use aromatic oils together with water (see «Aromatherapy» below). Tropical showers are usually equipped with boxes (see «Type») premium class, and in some models with this option may not have a traditional shower head at all.

— Aromatherapy. This function allows you to create a pleasant smell inside the shower cabin with special aromatic oils or balms. Special containers are provided for such substances in the design. Aromatherapy is most often realized when working in a tropical shower mode (see above) or a Turkish bath (see below). Aromatic substances enter together with steam or small drops of water. The range of application of aromas is quite wide: some oils contribute to cheerfulness and tone, others - relax and soothe, the third is considered useful for the prevention of colds, etc.

— Ozonation. The presence of ozone in the shower room - ozone saturation. Ozone is a substance whose molecule consists of three oxygen atoms (in «ordinary» oxygen required for breathing, diatomic molecules). It is a powerful disinfectant - it destroys all known microorganisms, including viruses, which ensures cleanliness and no unpleasant odors in the shower cabinet. In this case, ozone acts very quickly and with a minimum of side effects, because it quickly turns into normal oxygen. It can be used in the process. In addition, the slight smell of ozone creates a feeling of freshness. However, it must be taken into account that the substance is safe for humans only at very low concentrations. And therefore, before using the shower cabin with ozonator should carefully read the safety measures written in the documentation of the manufacturer. Ozone is usually fitted to the boxes (cf. «Type»)

— Turkish bath. Possibility of working shower cabin in the mode of Turkish bath («hamam»). In such a bath, a large number of heated steam is fed inside; thanks to this, the humidity is maintained at 100%, but the temperature is relatively low (40 - 60 C). It is believed that the hammam has a beneficial effect on health, in particular, provides a very good cleansing of the skin; it is suitable even for those who do not tolerate the characteristic of other types of baths (for example, saunas) high temperatures. For technical reasons, this function can only be in boxes (cf. «Type»).

— Backlight. The shower cabin has its own lighting system. It provides more «targeted» lighting than the external light source in the bathroom, and allows you not to worry about the placement of the cabin and enough light inside. And the most advanced models can have a backlight with the possibility of automatic color change - it is believed that this promotes relaxation.

— Ventilation. This function is used in closed boxes (cf. «Type») and is realized by the built-in fan. Its main purpose is to air the cabin after water treatments, so that because of the increased humidity inside did not appear stains and unpleasant odors. And in models with Turkish sauna or sauna regimes (see above), the fan can also ensure even steam distribution.

— Timer. This feature provides automatic shutdown of the shower cabin after a certain time. Thanks to the timer you can not worry that you overheat in the sauna, get involved in air massage (and late somewhere) etc.: just set the right time on the timer, and the cabin itself will turn off on time.

The number of vertical hydromassage nozzles (excluding the nozzle in the bathroom). This determines the type and intensity of the hydromassage. In showers the number of hydromassage nozzles can reach 15 and even 20 pieces, but the average shower box has within 6-8 injectors. Models with a large number of hydromassage nozzles can use different nozzles, and the total number of nozzles will affect the features of the massage. When calculating the number of injectors, it should be borne in mind that nozzles can be heterogeneous. In the shower enclosures, a number of rotary nozzles can be used in parallel with standard nozzles.