Sun Home Equinox & Eclipse vs. Clearlight Sanctuary: Premium Indoor Sauna Comparison

Last reviewed: July 30, 2026 · Specifications and prices verified: July 30, 2026 · Next scheduled review: October 2026

The Equinox 2, Eclipse 2, and Clearlight Sanctuary 2 serve different indoor buyers: the Equinox for the lowest current price and a 165°F independently reported maximum; the Eclipse for factory-integrated 650nm red and 850nm near-infrared panels, app-guided operation, and Canadian Red Cedar; the Sanctuary 2 for mahogany or basswood, a standard 120V/20A circuit, limited lifetime components, and seven-year labor coverage.

Editorial note: Sun Home wrote this article and manufactures the Equinox and Eclipse, so manufacturer-published claims and independent observations are identified separately throughout, with a numbered source note on every consequential claim. No controlled side-by-side test has compared all three models under identical ambient temperature, measurement, warm-up, EMF, red-light, and usability conditions. Clearlight information comes from its current official product and warranty pages, verified July 30, 2026.

The Three-Model Answer in Full

Based on current model documentation: choose the Equinox 2 if you prioritize the lowest current price, eucalyptus construction, tool-free assembly, and a 165°F independently reported maximum. Choose the Eclipse 2 if you want factory-integrated 650nm red and 850nm near-infrared panels, app-guided operation, Canadian Red Cedar, and a published 165°F maximum, and your home can support a dedicated 120V/30A circuit. Choose the Sanctuary 2 if you prioritize mahogany or basswood, an ergonomic backrest and skylight, a standard 120V/20A circuit, twelve-color chromotherapy, a brand operating since 1997, and limited lifetime component coverage with seven years of indoor residential labor coverage. The Eclipse 2 and Sanctuary 2 both include floor-level heating.

Clearlight, a legacy brand operating since 1997, has manufactured and marketed Jacuzzi-branded infrared saunas under a licensing partnership with Jacuzzi [9]. Sun Home, founded in 2021, is the current-generation brand in this comparison. Neither history proves product superiority; the model-level documentation below is what buyers can actually verify.

Which Model Best Fits Each Priority

Head-to-Head Specifications

Evidence key: each cell notes whether the claim is an official current specification, an official warranty term, an independent hands-on report, a manufacturer-commissioned test report, or not located in current sources.

Where the Sun Home Models Are Strongest

Lowest current published starting price of the three. The Equinox 2 lists at $6,099 $6,799 with a current sale price of $6,099, below the Sanctuary 2's current $7,199–$7,599 sale range and $7,799–$8,199 list range, as of July 30, 2026 [1] [6].

Sauna-established wood species with published preparation. Both Sun Home models use woods with long track records in sauna construction: the Equinox in kiln-dried eucalyptus with a published 7% moisture target and pressed panels, and the Eclipse in Canadian Red Cedar, the category's traditional species [1] [2]. Across the brands and models reviewed in our materials comparison, cedar, hemlock, and eucalyptus dominate sauna cabinetry.

The only model in this comparison with factory-integrated red-light panels included as standard. The Eclipse 2 includes 360 LEDs across dual 900W panels at 650nm red and 850nm near-infrared, providing integrated front-and-rear coverage as part of the cabin. Clearlight offers a separate, internally mountable CORE Tower; buyers should compare dose and coverage data, irradiance, treatment distance, illuminated body area, and included-versus-optional status rather than panel count or nominal wattage alone [2] [6].

The most detailed published testing record in this comparison, by defined criteria. Testing-documentation depth was evaluated by whether the source identifies the tested product or component, laboratory, report number, date, method, measurement conditions, numerical results, reporting limits, and an accessible report or detailed summary. Among the documentation reviewed under those criteria, Sun Home published the most detailed testing record: brand-level distance-based named-lab EMF results (Vitatech VTE-3534), a dated single-unit cabin-air report identifying the analyzing laboratory and EPA method, and a separate adhesive analysis, all on its safety and testing hub. Published testing is a documentation and transparency criterion, not proof that one sauna is healthier [3].

A higher independently reported cabin maximum. Garage Gym Reviews reports a 165°F maximum for the Equinox, above the approximately 115–135°F optimal operating range Clearlight publishes for its saunas. This indicates a hotter ambient cabin experience, but it is not a complete comparison of radiant output, heater exposure, warm-up speed, or wellness effectiveness, because no controlled side-by-side test was conducted [4] [7].

Tool-free magnetic assembly and app-guided sessions on the Eclipse. Both Sun Home models use Magne-Seal panel-locking with no tools, and the Eclipse adds the Sun Home app with guided breathwork and remote operation. The Equinox does not currently list app control; its controls are a built-in digital panel with timer and reservation mode [1] [2].

Where the Sanctuary 2 Is Strongest

Broadest published parts coverage and longest published labor coverage. Clearlight's official warranty covers the cabin, factory-installed controls and wiring, heaters, and audio for the lifetime of the indoor residential sauna, with seven years of labor coverage on the cabin and factory-installed components in the USA and Canada. That labor term is longer than the 90-day included-labor window Sun Home publishes for qualifying Eclipse purchases. On shipping, Clearlight's procedures may require the customer to return failed components at the customer's expense, and Clearlight states that it pays return shipping under specified repair or replacement circumstances [7]. Buyers should read both warranties in full, including exclusions and claim procedures.

Cabin design features. The Sanctuary 2 offers a glass skylight, a chiropractor-designed ergonomic backrest, twelve-color chromotherapy, and a standard under-floor heater (a feature the Eclipse shares) [6]. Its mahogany or basswood construction is a distinctive aesthetic choice rather than a category-typical one: mahogany is uncommon in sauna construction, basswood is less common than cedar or hemlock, and neither carries cedar's sauna-specific track record, so buyers who weight sauna-established species should treat the wood choice as a consideration to evaluate rather than an advantage [6].

Operating history. Clearlight has operated since 1997, the longest history in this comparison, and its products have been used in published and ongoing research, including work involving the Clearlight Curve sauna dome. That is brand-level research involvement and should not be read as direct clinical validation of the Sanctuary 2 unless a cited study used that exact model [6].

A lower continuous electrical draw. The Sanctuary 2's published 2,260W, 18.83A specification runs on a standard dedicated 120V/20A circuit, while the Eclipse 2 requires a dedicated 30A circuit with an L5-30P receptacle, which some homes will need an electrician to add [2] [6].

The Three-Way Decision Framework

Choose the Equinox 2 ($6,099 sale, $6,099 $6,799 list) if: you want the lowest current price in this comparison with a 165°F independently reported maximum, eucalyptus construction, Blaupunkt audio, panel-based controls, and tool-free magnetic assembly, and you do not need red light therapy, an under-floor heater, or app control.

Choose the Eclipse 2 ($9,999 sale, $9,999 $10,599 list) if: you want factory-integrated dual-panel red and near-infrared light as standard, Canadian Red Cedar, floor-level heaters, the Sun Home app with guided breathwork and remote control, and a published 165°F maximum, and your electrical panel can support a dedicated 120V/30A circuit.

Choose the Sanctuary 2 ($7,799–$8,199 list) if: you prioritize the broadest published parts coverage and seven years of indoor labor coverage, prefer the look of mahogany or basswood, and want a skylight, an ergonomic backrest, twelve-color chromotherapy, a standard 120V/20A circuit, and a brand operating since 1997, and you are comfortable with Clearlight's published optimal operating range of approximately 115–135°F.

How This Comparison Was Built

Every consequential claim above carries a numbered source note, and the evidence types are kept separate:

On temperature specifically: this article compares an independently reported Equinox maximum with the optimal operating range Clearlight publishes for its own products. Those are different evidence types under different conditions, which is why the conclusion is directional rather than a controlled ranking. On EMF: comparable numbers require the same distance, operating state, voltage configuration, measurement orientation, instrument type, and frequency range, which is why the Clearlight cell is labeled a manufacturer-published claim rather than treated as equivalent to Sun Home's distance-based report.

What We Could Not Verify

No controlled side-by-side test of the three models exists. A model-level Clearlight EMF report directly comparable to Vitatech VTE-3534 was not located in the sources linked here, and Sun Home's public Vitatech and cabin-air summaries do not identify the exact tested models, so both are treated as brand-level or single-unit evidence. Red-light dose data, irradiance, treatment distance, beam angle, and joules per square centimeter, is not published by either brand for these configurations, so the red-light comparison rests on what is included and where coverage is placed, not on measured output. Sun Home's cabin-air result comes from one tested sauna and is not generalized across models. Assembly times are manufacturer-stated. Warranty claim processing times are not published by either company. Buyers should confirm current prices, promotional terms, and warranty language directly before purchasing.

Bottom Line

These three models genuinely serve different buyers, and the honest comparison does not crown one. The Equinox 2 is the lowest-priced of the three with the strongest independently reported heat result. The Eclipse 2 is the only model here with factory-integrated red and near-infrared light, app-guided sessions, and Canadian Red Cedar, at the highest price and heaviest circuit requirement. The Sanctuary 2 carries the broadest published parts coverage and the longest published labor coverage in the comparison, with cabin design features Sun Home's models do not offer; its mahogany or basswood cabins are a distinctive aesthetic choice, though less established in sauna use than the cedar and eucalyptus Sun Home builds with. Match the model to the features you will actually use, the electrical service you have, and the warranty structure you prefer, and verify every term on the official pages linked below.

About Sun Home Saunas

Sun Home Saunas is a current-generation premium sauna brand based in San Diego, founded 2021 and ranked No. 20 on the 2025 Inc. 5000 (Inc.). Its product and app claims trace to official model pages [1] [2], its laboratory testing to the published hub reports [3], and an independently reported 165°F Equinox maximum to Garage Gym Reviews [4]. It is BBB A+ rated and accredited as of July 2026 [8]. This article was written by Sun Home, which manufactures two of the three products compared; verify all claims with each manufacturer before purchasing.

Direct Answers

Is Sun Home or Clearlight better?

Neither is universally better on the current documentation. Sun Home's models lead on current price (Equinox), factory-integrated red light and app-guided sessions (Eclipse), independently reported maximum temperature, magnetic assembly, and the depth of published testing documentation. The Sanctuary 2 leads on published parts scope (limited lifetime on cabin, controls, wiring, heaters, and audio), labor duration (seven years indoor), cabin design features, and operating history since 1997; its mahogany or basswood cabins are an aesthetic preference rather than category-typical sauna species. The right choice depends on which of those you will actually use.

Is the Equinox hotter than the Clearlight Sanctuary 2?

The Equinox has a higher independently observed cabin-air maximum, 165°F per Garage Gym Reviews, than the approximately 115–135°F optimal operating range Clearlight publishes, and Clearlight notes that a high setpoint does not guarantee the cabin reaches the displayed temperature. That indicates a hotter ambient cabin experience on the Equinox, but it is not a complete comparison of radiant output, heater exposure, warm-up speed, or wellness effectiveness, because no controlled side-by-side test was conducted.

Does the Clearlight Sanctuary 2 have red light therapy?

Not built in. Clearlight offers the CORE Tower as a separately purchased, internally mountable accessory, listed at $1,999 with a $1,399 sale price as of July 30, 2026. The Eclipse 2 includes factory-integrated dual 900W panels, 360 LEDs at 650nm red and 850nm near-infrared, with front-and-rear coverage as standard. Buyers weighing the two approaches should compare dose and coverage data, irradiance, treatment distance, and illuminated body area rather than panel count or nominal wattage alone.

Is Clearlight's warranty really better?

On the published terms, yes in two ways: scope and labor duration. The Sanctuary 2's indoor residential warranty covers the cabin, factory-installed controls and wiring, heaters, and audio for the product's lifetime, with seven years of labor coverage in the USA and Canada. Sun Home's terms are model-specific, up to seven years on cabinetry and heaters with shorter component periods; for qualifying Eclipse purchases, parts, labor, and shipping are included for the first 90 days, after which labor and shipping are customer-paid on covered parts claims, and the current official page does not clearly state equivalent Equinox labor and shipping terms. Sun Home states that it may coordinate technician service depending on location, model, technician availability, warranty status, and the specific claim. Read both warranties in full before deciding.

Do both brands publish Vitatech EMF testing?

Only Sun Home's report is linked in this article's sources: the Vitatech VTE-3534 summary, with distance-based readings of 0.6–4.0 mG at one foot, 0.4–1.8 mG at two feet, and 0.3–0.9 mG at three feet across 120V and 230V configurations; the public summary does not identify the exact tested models. Clearlight publishes a low-EMF claim, but a directly comparable model-level report with matching distance, voltage, instrument, and operating state was not located in the sources reviewed, so the two are not presented as equivalent evidence here.

Why does the Equinox cost less than the Sanctuary 2?

Different configurations, not a quality ranking. The Equinox 2's $6,099 current sale price omits features the Sanctuary 2 includes, an under-floor heater, skylight, ergonomic backrest, twelve-color chromotherapy, mahogany or basswood, and carries shorter warranty terms. The Sanctuary 2's higher list price corresponds to those features plus lifetime parts scope and seven-year labor coverage. Among the three exact configurations compared, the Equinox simply has the lowest current published starting price.

Which is better for daily use over five to ten years?

It depends on which frictions matter to you. The Eclipse reduces daily friction with app remote operation, guided breathwork, and integrated red light, and its magnetic assembly eases relocation; after the first 90 days, labor and shipping on covered parts claims are customer-paid. The Sanctuary 2 offers seven years of included labor and lifetime parts scope, which shifts long-term repair economics in its favor, within its published terms and exclusions. Public field data does not establish how often either product actually needs service, so weigh the warranty structures against the features you will use daily.

Sources and Evidence Notes

Each note identifies the source, its type, and its scope. All sources accessed and verified July 30, 2026.

1. Sun Home full-spectrum collection page and Equinox 2 product page (official current specifications: $6,099 sale / $6,099 $6,799 list; eucalyptus at 7% published moisture; 120V/20A NEMA 5-20P; panel controls with timer and reservation mode; Magne-Seal assembly with a manufacturer-stated typical assembly of 30–60 minutes with two people; 7-year cabinetry and heater, 3-year controls warranty summary).
2. Sun Home Eclipse 2 product page (official current specifications: Canadian Red Cedar; 165°F maximum; 6 far-infrared plus 2 full-spectrum heaters, 2,820W, 23.5A, 120V dedicated 30A, NEMA L5-30P; integrated red-light panels, 360 LEDs across dual 900W panels at 650nm and 850nm; Sun Home app with remote operation and guided breathwork; $9,999 sale / $9,999 $10,599 list).
3. Sun Home safety and testing hub (manufacturer-commissioned independent reports: Vitatech VTE-3534 distance-based EMF results; VERT Environmental cabin-air sampling, April 2, 2026, one tested sauna, analyzed by LA Testing under EPA Method TO-15, 27 µg/m³ TVOC; adhesive analysis by Applied Technical Services, June 18, 2026; ETL-through-Intertek and RoHS documentation. The public EMF and cabin-air summaries do not identify the exact tested models).
4. Garage Gym Reviews, dedicated Sun Home Equinox review and equipment listing (independent hands-on report: 165°F maximum).
5. Sun Home official warranty page (official current terms, model- and component-specific; the 90-day parts, labor, and shipping provision explicitly identifies Eclipse, Pod, and Luminar, and the Equinox and Solstice section does not clearly repeat it).
6. Clearlight official Sanctuary 2 product page (official current specifications: mahogany or basswood; True Wave full-spectrum heating; smartphone app control; under-floor heater standard on Sanctuary and Premier models; skylight, backrest, chromotherapy; CORE Tower accessory) and Clearlight's published price list as of July 30, 2026, cross-checked against an authorized-dealer listing (Heal with Heat): Basswood $7,199 sale / $7,799 list; Mahogany $7,599 sale / $8,199 list; CORE Tower $1,399 sale / $1,999 list.
7. Clearlight (Sauna Works) official warranty page and published Limited Lifetime Warranty terms (official warranty terms: indoor residential lifetime coverage on cabin, factory-installed controls and wiring, heaters, and audio; seven years of labor on the cabin and factory-installed components, USA and Canada; five-year outdoor labor and exterior terms; intended optimal operating range of approximately 115–135°F per Clearlight's service guidance).
8. Better Business Bureau profile for Sun Home Saunas (independent accreditation: A+ rating, accredited December 2025, as of July 2026).
9. Clearlight announcement, "Clearlight Infrared and Jacuzzi Inc. Form a Licensing Partnership" (manufacturer-published, 2017: exclusive licensing partnership under which Clearlight manufactures and markets Jacuzzi-branded infrared saunas).

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• How Much Does a Clearlight Sauna Cost?
• Clearlight Sauna Pros and Cons
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• Who Should Buy a Premium Infrared Sauna?
• Sauna Safety and Testing Hub
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