I don't know which is better quality. Just thought I'd chime in on the proc/cons of having both showerheads on at the same time. My valve from Hudson Reed lets me do that, and I've only used it for that purpose, perhaps 2X in four years. I have a 3/4" line coming to my shower (so much bigger than the normal 1/2" line), and when I have both on full blast, I run out of hot water pretty fast. So I basically only have one or the other on anyways. For me, what is really really convenient, and I would never choose anything else, is being able to have the temperature pre-set and being able to have a volume control. Some valves are only off/on, no volume control, so be sure to check that.

jani - Grohe was the first. Hans - the brother/cousin/son - had a falling out and left to start his own firm. This was a loooong time ago. Hansgrohe has a larger offering and cultivates relationships with world renound designers to style some of their products. They were acquired by the global building products giant Masco about 10 years ago and have retained independence from big brother at least on the surface. Delta is also a Masco brand which is why there is a lot of similarity in showerheads. Re: price. It's not cut a dried enough to say one is more expensive than the other. You just have to look at the indiv. products YOU are considering. Same with quality. Both are good. Service: Hansgrohe has a larger U.S. presence and can also leverage their parent's resources so in my opinion their service is better.

I had read about the Hansgrohe valve, but I didn't care much for it. Can't understand exactly how I could control temperature, volume and diverter with only 2 handles... We recently installed a new shower with a rainshower head and handheld head, run by one of the Hansgrohe controls. It's very simple to operate. The temperature is controlled by the smaller handle on the outside. I think I've touched it once; after putting it on a temperature both my wife and I apparently find desirable, we never touch it. The larger, inner handle controls volume and diverter. With the Thermobalance II, shown above, you turn the handle left of center to use one shower head, or right to use the other showerhead. Want to be able to use both at the same time (as I did)? For a few more dollars, you get the Thermobalance III valve and trim... This unit could control three different showerheads, or the plumbing can be configured to control two showerheads -- which is what we did, and what I think you're saying you want to do. Turn it left to the for one showerhead, turn all the way to the left and the second showerhead runs; in between, both showerheads run. It's easy to adjust the volume between the two, although I have to say I just go mid-way and let them both run full force. I like the simplicity of having only one control and one handle on the wall. You can certainly configure it with three different handles if you prefer; I just wanted to explain how the Hansgrohe works if you're interested. -- Eric

"How many middle-class wives and mothers killed themselves to present a house as neat and gracious as they saw on early TV programs and in advertisements?" Oh yea, I struggled with this and wasted tons of money I really didn't have trying to match that tv this is what real people's lives look like. Years of wondering why our house, things, clothes, cars, didn't look like the ones of those favorite tv shows. Sometimes I call it my Imelda Marcos syndrome, those of us who didn't have money and felt embarrased, filling up our closets with shoes later in life (or my case things other than shoes but you get my drift). Now that I'm older I don't care as much. But even now sometimes I get those niggling feelings, "people will think I'm strange because I don't care because I do what I want and don't have that fit in need anymore"