I’m considering the DLX Premier Hybrid and trying to figure out the following:
What is the difference in feel between the 12" vs 14" ?
What base do I need for this mattress - box spring that is all metal, or metal with wood slats, or solid base?
I’m considering getting two levels of firmness with medium being one of them and am undecided on the second firmness level. I’m a 200 pound hybrid side/stomach sleeper. I will sleep on the medium side and my two large dogs will sleep on the other side. I’d like the option to rotate and try either the firm or the soft depending on what firmness fits my profile.
A previous mattress I had for many years (bought nearly 10 years ago) was the Serta iDirections hybrid model and the softness was great. The Serta mattresses have changed so much and are not the same.
Any input would be apprecieated.
While you wait for @DLX to respond as they are the best to respond to your inquiry, you can in the meantime read about the differences, of which, one primary reason was due to shipping logistics. This is something recently posted by DLX.
Best of luck and happy new year!
Maverick
Thank you for asking about support! It plays a significant role in the overall comfort and durability of any mattress you purchase.
We have some guidelines: if your current setup uses a box spring, we recommend our foundation (which looks and functions like a box spring but doesn’t contain springs) or one with the same specifications. You don’t need to buy ours, but it’s important to choose something with comparable specs.
Also, for a bed frame that supports a foundation or box spring, make sure that for full-size beds or larger, it includes cross braces and center support with sturdy legs touching the floor.
If you’re starting from scratch, our mattress is compatible with adjustable bases, platform beds, and more. Just ensure it is properly supported to maintain its comfort and durability.
The only difference between the 12" and 14" mattress models lies in the height of the coil unit. The 12" model features a 6" pocket coil, while the 14" model includes an 8" pocket coil.
The shorter 6" coil offers slightly better motion isolation due to reduced sway. However, both coil heights are equally durable. While the overall feel of the two models is similar depending on height, weight, sleep position, and personal preferences, some individuals find the 6" coil provides a slightly firmer and more supportive feel. If you’re looking for a softer, deeper cushioning experience, the 14" model is a better choice.
Deciding between these two models often comes down to personal preference regarding mattress height or specific bed requirements. The 12" mattress may feel a little more supportive. Additionally, the 12" model offers slightly reduced motion transfer, thanks to its shorter coil unit.
The 12" model also comes with practical benefits. Sheets are often easier to find, as many are designed for this mattress height. It tends to fit bed frames better, avoiding interference with headboards, and works well with adjustable bases, as its shorter profile bends more easily. That said, the 14" model is still compatible with adjustable bases.
If mattress height isn’t a key consideration, I’d recommend the 12" model for its practicality and cost savings. However, if you prefer a mattress with a softer, plush feel, the 14" model is the way to go.
Thank you … I ordered the premier hybrid with the 14" height and soft/medium firmness. I was torn on the height but after calling them they said there was no difference in feel of the two different size coils. I’ll update once received and slept on.
Thank you for choosing DLX Mattress! The Premier Hybrid is a solid choice, and we’re excited for you to experience it. While there’s little difference between the 12" and 14" options, some people do find the 14" feels softer in the support, while others don’t notice a difference—it really depends on the individual.
We’d love to hear your thoughts after you’ve had a chance to sleep on it for 30 days or so! If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out. Enjoy your new mattress! 
I’ll be interested to hear what you think once you’ve had it a while. I like that the Premier Hybrid appears (I think) to use coils all the way to the edge of the mattress.
I’ve identified 2 problems with most hybrids (IMO):
- They tend to place the coil pockets in a surrounding wall of foam around the edge. This is cheap & easy, works fine for a few years. Then the foam degrades the side wall collapses & you roll out of bed, sit on the edge & slide off. Appalling! The diagram DLX offers isn’t definitive but it appears they use coils right to the edge. I think that’s smart so long as they’re stronger, tempered steel coils: the sidewall shouldn’t collapse.
- They tend to use a lot of foam layers above the pocket coils. This is cheap & easy too, tends towards memory foam. They make a fuss about breathability of the pocket coils, but no air’s moving through all those layers of foam. A layer of latex (ideally punched full of holes) would provide some comfort, minimize impact on specific weight points, resist degrading for decades. But latex is expensive. Memory foam is cheap & easy to market but it breaks down & soon you have a hammock for a mattress with a quite obvious divot. I find memory foam hot too, and I don’t like sleeping IN the foam rather than floating on top.
I chose a DIY solution from The Pocket Coil Store (pocketcoils.com). They offer a comfort layer of softer 3" coils you layer over the main pocket coils. They use much sturdier coils around the edge so it doesn’t collapse. The mini coils may suffice, but I’ve ordered a 2" layer of real Talalay latex (punched full of holes) to go on top. We’ll see if that’s comfortable for my spouse, who sleeps on her side. I sleep on my back so firmer would be fine. If you sleep on your stomach be certain the foam won’t degrade. What you do NOT want is the hammock effect on your stomach: your back will suffer fast.
I wanted a lot less foam than DLX offers & saved a chunk by ordering parts for a DIY, but I like a lot of things about DLX’s design & most people don’t want to be bothered with assembling a mattress with layers from different suppliers. I’m interested to hear how DLX’s mattress works for you.
I haven’t yet received our mattress; will comment on the experience once it’s arrived and we’ve tested it out for a while. Meanwhile Matan, the owner at PocketCoilStore, could give a master class in superb customer service, so I’m looking forward to reporting on whether his product is as good as his service.
Keep us posted, Christine!
One thing you’ll notice, especially in my posts, is to avoid most foam perimeter-encased edge support designs—unless the edge foam is incorporated deep within the mattress, surrounding only the support springs as part of the support layer’s function, and not used for edge support of the entire mattress. Generally, steer clear of perimeter edge foam support. It’s best to keep the foam comfort layer above the support spring layer to less than 6 inches, following the “less is more” approach.
Excessive foam can compromise the effectiveness of the support layer. Most mattress designs from every Trusted Member here at the Mattress Underground follow this principle and avoid excessive foam over the support layer. A couple of TMs do offer mattresses with perimeter edge support, but these are from a brand they carry, not one they manufacture themselves. Additionally, if a perimeter edge support is used, it is preferred as a stabilizer for the spring layer, rather than for edge support of the entire height of the mattress.
The DLX premier hybrid, in fact, is an edge to edge coil design.
Keep un mind, there is a difference in foams, even synthetic foams. Not all are viscoelastic memoryfoam, which in fact, independently is hot and retains heat. Whereas HD polyfoam does not retain that same level of heat. And based on some who have patented designs and the air channels created in the mattress and foam design, along with certain cover materials, have developed a method for heat to escape the mattress keeping the sleeper from heating up.
When doing a DIY, i always recommend collaborating with an experienced mattress professional. Quality mattresses are most often, well planneded, thought out, logically designed, and engineered to certain specifications where each layer is designed to complement the next. Many folks think to just throw a layer of this and a layer of that, place a cover on it and they have created a mattress on a budget. Sometimes they do wonderful and get it right. Unfortunately, the majority do not and end up here at TMU trying to get their “design” fixed.
Like many things and professions, it seems easy and may be simple for someone who is experienced and knows and understands what they are doing, but can turn into a costly nightmare for those who dont, when it comes to DIY.
I am not gaining anything from this review. I read countless reviews for the last 18 months and it is those reviews that led me to the DLX mattress brand. I felt it only right to provide my feedback for others who are struggling with the nightmare process of choosing a mattress.
I am a side sleeper who always wakes up in the shape of a lower case “h” with my bottom leg straight and the top leg with my knee at a 90 degree angle. Sometimes I sleep on my stomach. My husband is a side and back sleeper. We are heavier people in the 200 pound range.
I bought the DLX brand King size Premier Hybrid 14" height with soft on one side and medium on the other side. I also bought the king One Piece mattress foundation with a height of 5".
Firmness:
The soft feels like you are laying on a cloud and being hugged by a big teddy bear. I would say it is slightly softer than other mattresses rated as soft. I loved it but the soft did not work for the awkward “h” shaped side position I sleep in because my mid section sinks in a little too much to keep me aligned while I have my knee at a 90 degree angle. My knee ends up being elevated higher than my waist. The soft worked when I slept in the traditional “s” shaped side sleeper position or when I roll on my back.
The first few weeks, the medium felt like you are laying on top of the mattress but lets the heavier parts of your body dip in just slightly to relieve the pressure points and did an amazing job of it. Hip pain that we’ve had for over a year was gone after about a week. Then the medium broke in around the mid-section. Remember, we are heavier people in the 200+ pound range. I contacted DLX and they helped us fix the problem with some added center support and a upgrade to a latex version in medium. Now it works great.
Because I’m not waking up several times in the middle of the night due to an uncomfortable mattress and having to reposition all night, I’m not only physically rested but my brain is fully rested when I wake up. No interuptions to my REM patterns. It’s been years since I’ve been able to sleep through the whole night and now I am.
I am not a good resource to review the temperature of the mattress. It is not warmer or cooler than any other mattress I’ve had. My thermostat is always set at a very cool temperature.
The construction of this mattress is GENIUS with a top that zips off to reveal the under layers and offering the ability to easily change out the foam or rotate the piece. Just unzip, replace, and sleep.
The top layer that zips on is plush but not overly plush and adds the perfect amount of softness. The only thing I would recommend to DLX would be to consider offering options for the zip on top layer. The one that came with it works perfect for us but I suspect others may want an option that is more like a pillow-top.
This mattress feels like a good solid mattress that will work for just about everyone. Finding the right firmness for your needs and body weight is the key and the premier hybrid allows you to do that. If you are unsure about what to select, talk to the DLX staff who are extremely helpful and seem to be experts.
Good luck to all that are trying to decide on a mattress. I highly recommend the DLX brand Premier Hybrid.
Hi Christine3,
I am going to start by saying, the first line in your review freaked me out a bit, then I read the rest of your review.
I am not gaining anything from this review.
Initially, I took it to mean you thought my post was not helpful and you were not gaining any information by reading it. LOL 
Then I realized the word gaining, was referring to "you were providing an unsolicited review and no one was offering you anything to post a honest and accurate review of your experience.
I am so happy that your experience with @DLX was one that you feel compelled to highly recommend them to others who might be searching for that perfect bedding system.
I have mentioned many times before that I have a elderly family member who was in a lot of pain with her 1 year old mattress (that she did not consult with me before purchasing) and I transitioned her to a DLX premier hybrid and for more than a year now, not one complaint. So, you have a nice long time to enjoy your mattress.
All the best and thanks so much for your review.
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience! We’re really glad we could help you find something comfortable, and we appreciate you recommending us—word of mouth means a lot to a small family business like ours.
And thanks for the suggestion about offering more options for the zip-on top layer—we love hearing feedback like this!
For anyone reading this who is still deciding, don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions about comfort. We’ll give you a straightforward answer and even let you know if we might not be the right fit. Comfort is highly subjective—what feels soft to one person might feel firm to another. We’re not perfect in our recommendations, but we have a high success rate in helping people get closer to what works for them.