Hi heatherp,
All the layers and components in a mattress will affect the feel and performance of every other layer and component both above and below it.
While I can’t speak to what anyone else will feel on a mattress or how two mattresses will compare for any specific person because some people don’t seem to notice much difference between mattresses that most people would consider to be very different and others that are much more sensitive may feel a difference that most people wouldn’t notice at all … for most people there would be certainly be a noticeable difference between two mattresses if one included two 3" top layers that are 14 ILD and 19 ILD and the other one included two 3" top layers that are 19 ILD and 32 ILD if the type and blend of latex were the same in both mattresses.
I would also keep in mind that different types and blends of latex aren’t always directly comparable to each other in terms of ILD (see post #6 here) so using the ILD of a particular layer or combination of layers as a reliable indication of how any mattress will “feel” or how firm will feel to you compared to another mattress that uses different types and blends of latex or a different combination of layers can sometimes be more misleading than helpful.
When you can’t test a mattress in person then the most reliable source of guidance is always a more detailed conversation with a knowledgeable and experienced retailer or manufacturer that has your best interests at heart and who can help “talk you through” the specifics of their mattresses and the properties and “feel” of the materials they are using (fast or slow response, resilience, firmness etc) and the options they have available that may be the best “match” for you based on the information you provide them, any local testing you have done or mattresses you have slept on and liked or other mattresses you are considering that they are familiar with, and the “averages” of other customers that are similar to you. They will know more about “matching” their specific mattress designs and firmness levels to different body types, sleeping positions, and preferences (or to other mattresses that they are familiar with) than anyone else. Brooklyn Bedding and Dreamfoam are sister companies so they would both be very familiar with how their mattresses compared to each other.
Phoenix