Narvik (Scott Jordan) / Sonata (Berkeley Ergonomics)?

[phoenix]

Hi mikenyc,

Two questions:

1. Other than the names, is there any difference between the Narvik, Sonata and Astor?

I believe they are the same mattress (and are the only triple coil mattress that BE makes).

2. The Narvik comes in 2 firmness levels. The sales person described the choices as “softer” and “firmer”, however to me the “softer” side felt very “mid” (ie, 5 out of 10) while the “firmer” side felt “firm”. I am keen to avoid “soft” (ie 2/3 out of 10) and “firm” (ie 7/8 out of 10) as I am a back and side sleeper and have found these to be bad options for me. In the “Astor” post that I linked above, the poster described the options as 5 or 7 on the firmness scale, which made sense to me (based on subjective view).

There are no “standard” definitions or consensus of opinions for firmness ratings and different manufacturers can rate their mattresses very differently than others so a mattress that one manufacturer rates as being a specific firmness could be rated very differently by another manufacturer. Different people can also have very different perceptions of firmness and softness compared to others as well and a mattress that feels firm for one person can feel like “medium” for someone else or even “soft” for someone else (or vice versa) depending on their body type, sleeping style, physiology, their frame of reference based on what they are used to, and their individual sensitivity and perceptions. There are also different types of firmness and softness that different people may be sensitive to that can affect how they “rate” a mattress as well (see post #15 here) so different people can also have very different opinions on how two mattresses compare in terms of firmness and some people may rate one mattress as being firmer than another and someone else may rate them the other way around. This is all relative and very subjective and is as much an art as a science.

In case it is helpful to knowledgeable forum participants, the bed will be used by a 250lb 6’2" man and a 150lb 5’8" woman. We both liked the “softer” option. I thought the “firmer” option was just “ok” while my wife found the “firmer” option to be “good”.

The first “rule” of mattress shopping is to always remember that you are the only one that can feel what you feel on a mattress and there are too many unknowns, variables, and personal preferences involved that are unique to each person to use a formula or for anyone to be able to predict or make a specific suggestion or recommendation about which mattress or combination of materials and components or which type of mattress would be the best “match” for you in terms of “comfort” or PPP or how a mattress will “feel” to you or compare to another mattress based on specs (either yours or a mattress), sleeping positions, or “theory at a distance” that can possibly be more accurate than your own careful testing (hopefully using the testing guidelines in step 4 of the tutorial) or your own personal sleeping experience (see mattress firmness/comfort levels in post #2 here).

Post #2 here has more about the different ways to choose the most suitable mattress (either locally or online) that is the best “match” for you in terms of “comfort”, firmness, and PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences) that can help you assess and minimize the risks of making a choice that doesn’t turn out as well as you hoped for but the most reliable way to know whether a mattress is “soft enough” or “firm enough” or is otherwise a good “match” for you in terms of PPP will be based on your own careful testing and personal experience.

Phoenix